Fury Read online

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  Ellie darted glances at the intimidating big men who surrounded her and fought a claustrophobic feeling from too many bodies pressed tightly together. No one touched her but she knew if she lifted her arm she’d brush against an NSO officer. Justice acted as though her life were in extreme danger. It made her more than a little terrified until they entered the conference room. The shock at seeing the room packed to full capacity overwhelmed the fear. She clenched her teeth to prevent her jaw from dropping open as her glance darted around the room filled with at least sixty-plus people. It had to set a new record for attendance for a meeting.

  Director Boris stood behind a table in the back. “Ms. Brower.”

  Ellie’s gaze met his and anger surged. She glanced at Darren Artino, who stood next to the director. Other familiar faces were present but most of the people weren’t ones she recognized. Their seemed solely focused on her. It left her feeling as though she were a bug under a microscope. Justice motioned his NSO officers to spread out with a flick of his hand but he stayed at her side to address Director Boris.

  “Here is Ellie Brower and you can see she is fine.” Justice’s irritation sounded in his voice.

  Darren Artino cleared his throat while he studied Ellie. “It has been brought to our attention you might want to leave Mr. Fury’s home. We’re concerned about you.”

  Ellie crossed her arms over her chest and thrust her chin out, really uncomfortable with everyone staring at her. “I’m fine. Mr. Fury has been nice enough to let me crash in his guestroom.” She paused, glaring openly at Director Boris, not bothering to hide her dislike of him. “I was nearly kidnapped by a few members of the hate groups who picket outside after I left Homeland. Mr. Fury is concerned about my safety. I’m much better off here than outside those gates.”

  A blonde woman with her hair pulled into a tight bun stood. She wore a trim, black business suit. “I’m Doctor Trisha Norbit.”

  The woman appeared too young to be a doctor but Ellie didn’t share her opinion aloud. “It’s nice to meet you.” She wasn’t sure what else to say.

  “We were told you and Mr. Fury have become very close. I’d like to examine you to make sure you are in good health and we could discuss some things.” The woman glanced around the room and then gave Ellie a meaningful look. “In private, of course.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about and I don’t need a medical exam.” Ellie sighed loudly, not wanting to spend the day there. “Look, I’ll get to the point. I heard the reports on the news. I know you believe Mr. Fury has hurt me or some other bullshit but that’s not true.” She shot another dirty look toward Director Boris and then turned her attention to the doctor. “I’m his guest who sleeps in the spare bedroom. I hardly see him and there’s nothing dirty going on. I don’t even know why I’m here but Mr. North said I had to show up so everyone can see I’m all right. My day was going great until I had to come here for everyone to gawk at me, imagining the worst.”

  “Are you and Mr. Fury involved in a physical relationship?” A stranger spoke.

  Ellie glared at him. “That is rude to ask a person, way out of line, but the answer is no. Didn’t I just say that? Mr. Fury is a perfect gentleman. I sleep in his guestroom.”

  “But you are living with him.” The man glared at Ellie, his hostility clear. “We know you both are sexually active together.”

  Ellie lost her temper. She took a step toward the rude man but stopped. “We’re roommates. Did you miss that part? Are you one of those stupid people who believe a man and woman can’t share a home without jumping into bed together?”

  An older man sighed. “We didn’t mean any disrespect, Ms. Brower. It’s just that we need to know about it if you and Mr. Fury are having sexual relations. You would be the first couple between the two species who have had sexual intercourse that we’re aware of. We need to run tests and study this.” He shoved his glasses higher up the bridge of his nose. “There could be dangerous side effects. We’re looking out for your best interest and Mr. Fury’s. You wouldn’t want to harm him in some way, would you?”

  Ellie frowned. “I understand what you’re saying but understand this. I am not with Mr. Fury in the way you’re implying. We aren’t having intercourse, as you put it. He’s just a really nice guy who allows me to live with him until I can find another job. I went outside the gates and my association with New Species nearly got me kidnapped by fanatical freaks. I’m safer here, living at Homeland.”

  “Fine.” Director Boris sighed loudly. “You can have your job back at the women’s dorm immediately. We’ll send security with you to Mr. Fury’s home to collect your belongings.”

  The floor may as well have opened up under Ellie. She gaped at Director Boris. That evil bastard. She had to calm down before she responded by shaking her head no, refusing to allow him to force her away from Fury. All eyes inside the room were scrutinizing her for a reaction and she knew it. Damn it. She forced her mind to work as she cocked her head to glare at the jerk.

  “I would love my old job back, believe me, but the reason I lost it in the first place is because you were trying to force me to commit perjury. You didn’t like the new NSO security team who rescued me when Homeland guards couldn’t handle the attack. You ordered me to file a false complaint saying horrible things against them that weren’t true. They saved my life while your security guards couldn’t even get to me.”

  She saw the color leave his face and many of the gazes turned from staring at her to fix on Director Boris. He appeared too shocked to do much but dart his gaze around the room.

  “I don’t work for people who tell me to make up false accusations, nasty ones at that, and then fire me because I won’t do it. I would have quit if you hadn’t canned me. I refuse to work for you, Director Boris. I’ll find my own job where I’m not ordered to lie.”

  “That’s not true,” Director Boris finally sputtered. He pointed a finger at Ellie. “Have her escorted out of here now and I want her removed from Homeland permanently!”

  Justice glared at one of the security guards who stepped toward Ellie. She nearly backed into an NSO officer who’d inched closer to her. She realized all the NSO officers had surrounded her again protectively. Ellie froze in place and so did the security guard intent on removing her from the room.

  “That is a good point,” Justice’s coldly stated. “Do you have a problem with my teams, Director? Unless someone lied to me, this place has been set up so we may structure our own community, create a real home for New Species, and that includes training our own security teams. Ms. Brower informed me about the conversation that took place between the two of you the day you fired her. Speaking of which, you had no right to do that in the first place without my consent. You really overstepped your bounds and here you are repeating that offense. This woman is under New Species protection yet you dare order her removed by force?”

  An older man sporting a suit stood suddenly and moved around a table. He walked toward Director Boris, a deep frown creasing his face. “Jerry?” He obviously knew the director on a first-name basis.

  “It’s not true,” Director Boris sputtered. “One of his men, that Fury she’s living with now, carried Ms. Brower into a bathroom and stripped her naked. He gave her his underwear to put on. She washed up at the sinks and he had to have watched her strip and bathe. I just tried to protect the woman by making her tell the truth and come forward about the abuse she suffered. We can’t have security forcing women into bathrooms to take advantage of them.”

  The older man arched his eyebrow at Ellie. “Is this true?”

  “No,” she ground out. “Yes, Fury took me into the bathroom since blood covered me. He stepped into a stall, removed his underclothing to lend me something to wear, while I washed myself privately. I had blood caked on my skin. The only other option involved walking around naked or putting my wet, bloody clothing on again. We were in lockdown and no other clothes were available. I told the director this clearly bu