Tiger Read online

  “Yes! Are you happy now? Where is Tiger? I want to see him.”

  Smiley released her and grabbed for his cell phone. “How many times? I need to report this immediately.”

  Her mouth fell open. “What? It’s no one’s business how many times Tiger and I have slept together. I demand to know where he is, damn it. I want to see him.”

  Smiley took a deep breath. “He’s under heavy guard by both the NSO and the human task team assigned to protect him. I’m going to have to get you clearance, Zandy. You can’t just go to his hospital room to see him. They’d never allow you near him without them being ordered to do so. I have to contact Timber, he’s in charge of Reservation with Tiger injured, and he’ll have to give permission for you to go where Tiger is being treated. He’ll want to know the extent of your relationship.”

  She wiped at her tears. “We’ve been seeing each other since the first day I started working here. We’ve spent the night together a few times. We’re dating. I was supposed to have dinner with him last night at his house but he was called to Homeland, okay? He said he’d call me last night but he didn’t.” She sniffed. “He couldn’t because he was in that accident. Please, Smiley. I need to see him.”

  The male’s gaze softened. “You have deep feelings for Tiger.”

  “Yes.”

  He dialed, watching her. “It’s a few hours away. You might want to get a spare set of your clothing while I get this cleared. I’ll try to put together an escort for you as quickly as possible. We don’t have another helicopter at our disposal.”

  She spun and fled back inside the apartment. Her hands shook badly as she rushed into her bedroom to grab clothes. All she had to pick from were shorts, sweats and T-shirts provided by the NSO.

  Smiley hung up the phone when she walked outside carrying one spare set of clothes. “Timber is calling the task team to clear you to visit Tiger.” He paused. “You need to wait until dark when some males can be freed from their current duties to escort you off Reservation and to the hospital where Tiger is being treated.”

  “No. I want to go to him right now.” Impatience burst forth and so did the need to get to Tiger as quickly as possible.

  “That’s the best we can do.”

  “Take me to my car. I’ll go alone.”

  A soft, animalistic sound came from Smiley. “No. It isn’t safe.”

  “I don’t give a damn. No way am I going to be able to sit here all day waiting for someone to get around to driving me. Tell me what hospital he’s at and take me to my car.”

  “No.”

  Her anger surged. “You can’t stop me. I’m leaving. Tell me where Tiger is, damn it. He’s hurt and I want to see him.”

  “Smiley,” one of the males interrupted. “She wishes to go. She’s not a prisoner.” He cleared his throat and red-hued engrossing eyes fixed on her. “I’ll escort you to your car. You’ll need identification for the human task team. They’ll want to see that if you arrive without escorts to prove your identity.” He sniffed. “You don’t carry Tiger’s scent.”

  “Stay out of this, Jericho.”

  The big male had black hair that was pulled back in a long braid. He growled at Smiley while glaring at him. “The female is highly agitated. We both know if Tiger is sharing sex with her that she must mean a lot to him. I know she’s in heat and that may be making you irrational but she wishes to leave.” He hesitated. “She might be little but I would bet she isn’t one you wish to anger. Females have a way of getting even.” He stepped closer and held out his arm to her. “I’ll escort you to your vehicle. Do you have identification? They will ask for it.”

  “In my purse,” she admitted, grateful as she curled her fingers around his upper arm. His eyes were so strange she couldn’t help but stare a little.

  He hesitated. “I’m primate like Smiley but those traits are more pronounced with me. There aren’t a lot of us.” He tugged her forward. “You probably haven’t seen eyes similar to mine before. I get stared at often when I come in contact with humans.”

  “They are really pretty.”

  He made a snorting sound. “Scary perhaps but not attractive.” He helped her into a Jeep.

  She glanced at Smiley and saw how unhappy he looked when he frowned deeply. Her escort climbed into the driver’s seat and pulled away from the curb as soon as he started the engine.

  “Smiley was highly interested in you. He spoke of you often. He also was clear that you turned down his offers. Don’t feel bad for him.”

  “Right now all I feel is terror and worry. Is Tiger going to be all right?”

  “He is a strong male in good hands with medical professionals. We heal at an accelerated rate—faster than typical humans do. They designed us this way and it’s a good sign that Tiger has survived all these hours. I would bet a week of my cream pies that he will live.”

  She gawked at the New Species. He smiled, his attention on the road. “I can feel you staring at me. I have a fondness for cream pies and wouldn’t give them up easily or bet them away without being certain I am right.” He chuckled. “And no, banana isn’t my favorite. I enjoy chocolate and coconut more.”

  She appreciated his attempt at humor and his assurances that Tiger would make it. He gave her the name of the hospital and told her to ask for Trey Roberts when she arrived there. “He is heading the human task team protecting Tiger. He’ll ask for identification. Don’t forget that.”

  “I won’t.”

  He drove her to the east gate and parked. “I’m going to have two officers follow you down the stretch of highway to the main road. We don’t want to risk you being attacked.” He leaped out. “Go to your car. I’ll arrange it now.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  He cocked his head to stare at her with those strange yet appealing eyes. “I am hoping your presence will help Tiger heal faster.” His gaze swept quickly over her body. “He will be motivated to heal at the sight of you.” A small smile appeared. “Not to mention that we joke about how the scent of a female in heat could make us do anything they desire. You want him well.”

  Zandy liked the man. He spun away to talk to the officers at the guard shack. They had two of the heavily armed ones come down from the overhead walls and climb into a Jeep. She followed them for a few miles until they pulled over to the side of the road to wave her past them when they were sure no one hung around the wooded area looking for an easy target.

  She gave them a grateful wave and drove toward her house. She needed to print out a map and grab some of her own clothing. The area was still unfamiliar to her and she wished she had a GPS system in her car. Money was always tight though and it was an expense she couldn’t spare. Seeing her house after a few days away made her realize she hadn’t missed it much.

  The two-bedroom home had been in her price range and her budget. She’d bought it for that reason more than loving it. She unlocked the front door, stepped over the mail on the floor that had been pushed through the mail slot, and walked over to her desk. She turned on her laptop while she rushed into her bedroom. In minutes she’d changed into a pair of comfortable jeans, a tank top, and had packed a small overnight bag.

  It only took her a minute to pull up driving directions to the hospital where Tiger had been taken and print them out. She grabbed the overnight bag and left her house. She wanted to get to him as soon as she was able. Worry ate at her. Would he really be all right? Jericho had seemed so certain that it helped keep her calm over the next few hours as she drove.

  * * * * *

  The woman at the front reception area stared at her blankly when she asked to speak to Trey Roberts. “I don’t know who that is.”

  Zandy lowered her voice. “He’s in charge of a security detail here. A New Species was brought in last night. His name is Tiger and he might be listed under the last name of North.”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed. “We have no New Species patients.”

  “You do,” Zandy insisted. She reached inside her p