Darkness Read online

  The male whimpered again. “What do you want to know?”

  “I want the name or names of your contacts in the FBI. I want to know why they give a shit about you. I want details. Why would anyone want to retrieve you from us? That plan failed, by the way. There is no rescue for you, Boris.”

  The male swallowed. Darkness dug the metal tip into the man’s skin, opening a small cut on his chin. Jerry cried out. Darkness paused.

  “Talk.”

  “My brother-in-law,” he blurted. “Robert Mason. I was married to his sister. He’d try to help me.”

  “Why?”

  Jerry grabbed hold of Darkness’ wrist but failed to tug his hand away to remove the nail file from his face. It was a useless attempt since the human was weak. It angered Darkness though. He released the male’s head and applied pressure on two of Boris’ fingers until he felt bones break. Jerry screamed and lost his grip on Darkness’ wrist.

  “Don’t touch me again,” Darkness warned. “I’ve seen what you like to play with when you’re alone. Keep talking and don’t stop until I have heard enough. Otherwise, I’ll take one of your eyes.”

  “Robert knew I worked for you.” Jerry rushed his words. “He knew what happened while I was the director at Homeland. He sent some of his people to arrest Jeanie Shiver because I told him she was a lying cunt trying to help New Species get me fired from Fuller. I told him the NSO held a grudge against me because I had tried to prove they were incompetent to run Homeland.” He sucked in a breath. “I warned him you assholes would make me disappear. And I did but he knows I’m here.”

  Darkness eased the pressure on the nail file against the male’s face. “Keep going.”

  “I don’t know what else you want me to say. Robert is family. He’d do anything he could to help me. He knows you bastards had it in for me.”

  “You extorted blood money for information to rescue our people. That’s on you.”

  “You owed me!” Jerry cradled his injured fingers against his chest.

  Darkness snarled. “You’re owed death for what you’ve done. You allowed Species to needlessly suffer while you played games and tried to shift the blame to a female who only wanted to help rescue my kind. That makes you a piece of shit.”

  “Robert will get me out. He’ll have a federal judge order you to hand me over to his custody.”

  Darkness straightened. “It’s just paper here. Your laws don’t apply.”

  “He’ll get me. He knows where Fuller is. I told him.”

  That news irritated Darkness. Fury’s soft growl was proof the Species had overheard their exchange. “Too bad you won’t be sent there then.” He lunged and gripped the male’s neck. It was tempting to snap the bone. One good squeeze and a twist would end the male’s life. He might need more information later though. He tightened his hold enough to choke off the human’s air supply, watching his face change color and his eyes bulge.

  “Darkness, enough.” Fury spoke softly but his voice carried.

  Several seconds passed before Darkness released the male and backed up. “You think on the matter. I’ll be back. I want more information.” He lifted the nail file to remind the jerk. “Next time I’ll bring pliers. You don’t need fingernails and you don’t need eyelids if you don’t have eyes. Or I could bring a sewing kit. I could practice putting stitches in you.”

  Boris whimpered and his body quaked. Darkness backed out of the cell and locked the door. He spun and stomped across the room. Fury stood next to the elevator with his arms crossed over his chest. He said nothing as he inserted his key to open the secure elevator. They stepped inside and waited for the doors to close.

  “Would you have really killed him?”

  “No. I just wanted him to think it.”

  “I smell his blood.”

  “It is no worse than a few paper cuts. I did break two of his fingers. He grabbed me so I grabbed back. We have a name and an association. We need to run the name Robert Mason.”

  “It will alert him if we look into him through regular channels. Word will spread among the medical staff about Boris’ new injuries and I’m sure the human will protest what you did. Justice’s father-in-law might be able to get information without raising any suspicions. Justice is going to find out either way.”

  Darkness considered it as they left Medical. Fury had sent an officer down to watch Boris again. “I could say I stopped in to check on the male and got the name. We leave Kat out of this.”

  “I assumed.” Fury paused by his Jeep. “Let’s go talk to Justice now. It’s better he hears about our little visit from us before the officer calls it in.”

  Darkness climbed into the passenger seat. “Just remember that Kat stays out of this.”

  “We’ll also ask for the names of all the agents who work with Mason. That way we’ll at least find out your girlfriend’s real name. I think the Senator would agree with that since this Mason might be a threat to the NSO if he’s trying to get his brother-in-law back.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend.” He shot Fury a glare. “Are you going to drive or harass me?”

  Fury started the engine. “Do you think Mason helped Boris with his extortion scheme?”

  “I don’t know but Boris’ heart rate was too high. I needed to end the interrogation or he might have had a heart attack. That is one out-of-shape male. I’ll go back later, when he’s more stable. I got the information I needed most.”

  “We have a name,” Fury sighed. “That’s good.”

  Darkness silently agreed. Mason would have to be in a position to give Kat orders. He hoped pictures could be obtained of the agents involved with Mason. Otherwise he’d have to guess when he saw the list of names.

  The drive to Justice’s home was short. Fury parked at the curb, turned off the engine but hesitated. “Maybe I should call him outside.”

  “Jessie will want to know what is going on and it’s her father we need to contact.”

  “Agreed.” Fury slid out of the seat. “Let’s go.”

  Darkness followed him to the front door and pressed the bell. Jessie answered. She grinned. “Hello. I didn’t expect you two. Come on in. Justice is on the phone but he’ll be off in a few minutes.” She waved them inside.

  Darkness peered around the cozy living room. Pictures of the happy mated couple adorned every wall. The place smelled of freshly baked cookies and the lingering scent of shared sex. He studied Jessie, noticing her dress was creased in a few places and her hair mussed. He hid a smile. She noticed his look and arched her eyebrows.

  “Don’t assess me,” she whispered. “He had a rough day and I wanted to make it better. I know you can smell what we did but you don’t need to be so obvious about it. You single males are too curious. Fury didn’t do that.”

  “I’m smarter.” Fury chuckled. “And have a mate who greets me at the door when I have a bad day. We’ll avoid sitting on the couch. My nose tells me where you shared sex.”

  “Don’t let your nose tell you anything else. Got it? Follow me into the dining room. I just took out some cookies. I’m baking a shitload of them for tomorrow.”

  “What is tomorrow?” Darkness pulled out a chair at the table and sat.

  “We’re flying up to Reservation in the evening. We’re going to spend a few days in the Wild Zone. Justice needed a break and I demanded he take a few days off. You’d be surprised how friendly the residents become when you bring them oatmeal cookies. They love them.” She smiled. “Do you want a few? By that, I mean a dozen. I know how you guys eat. I’ve been in the kitchen all day. I’m turning domestic. It’s scary.”

  Fury grinned. “I’m taking over while they are on a mini vacation. You’re good for him, Jessie.”

  “That phone has been attached to his ear, unless he’s been in the shower, naked with me, or sleeping.” She pointed a finger at Fury. “You better not call unless it’s major, mister. I mean it. I want him to relax. He needs to have some fun without hearing bad news.”

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