Tiger (New Species Book Seven) Read online

  “It’s best if we leave her tied up, Sister Deanie.”

  The woman glared at her leader. “I raised you better than that.”

  His voice lowered. “Come on, Mom. Not in front of everyone.”

  Zandy’s eyes widened in astonishment. The older man got involved. “Son, it will turn your followers against you if you abuse that woman. Listen to your parents.”

  Holy shit. Her gaze darted between the three of them, seeing a resemblance. They were obviously a really screwed-up family.

  “Fine.” Adam nodded at the men. “Put her down but make sure she can’t run away.”

  The bench was eased to the ground and the two large men unfastened her restraints. She’d been flat for so long that she felt a little dizzy when she sat up. The older woman approached, looking fearful.

  “Now, don’t you spin your head at me or anything.”

  Zandy’s smart mouth kicked in. “I think you watched way too many horror movies. I’m not possessed.”

  The woman frowned. “Do you need to go pee-pee?”

  Pee-pee? Really? Just bitchin’. I’ve been kidnapped by idiots who use a two-year-old’s vocabulary. “Yes.”

  They didn’t remove the handcuffs which held her wrists locked in front of her. The woman gripped them in the middle and led Zandy over to one of the campers, tugging on the chain as if she were leading a dog.

  “Don’t try anything evil,” Deanie warned. “I’m watching you.”

  Zandy’s gaze swept the interior, looking for a weapon but the place was pretty bare. Dishes had all been put away and the woman refused to release the chain on the restraints. The bathroom was a tiny one.

  “Go ahead. You hurry up.” Her voice lowered. “Stop giving my son grief, young lady. You’re trying to make him look bad in front of his followers. Do you know how hard it was for him to gather so many of them?”

  It was a struggle to get her pants undone and use the bathroom with her hands locked together. “No. Not really. I haven’t read much about cults.”

  Deanie gasped. “Shame on you for even saying that. We’re—” The woman glanced down and gasped a second time. “Sinner! I see that whore’s underwear instead of what should be decent covering for your private area. Tsk, tsk! No wonder you were lured to the dark side.”

  Zandy blinked a few times. “They had really good cookies and they approved of thong underwear. What can I say? I didn’t stand a chance.”

  Her sarcasm was totally lost on her captor as Deanie frowned. “What does that mean? What kind of cookies?”

  “Oh geez. You people are seriously screwed up. No wonder your kid is so messed up.”

  “You’re an evil sinner with a potty mouth. Shame on you.” She turned around and jerked open a drawer built into the wall. She turned, holding out bright blue shorts. “Remove that whore garment and put this on.”

  “Are those swimming trunks?”

  “Yes.”

  “No.”

  “You will. You can’t cleanse your soul when you’re wearing that bright-red sin tempter. We’re trying to save you, not send you to hell.”

  “I’m already there, lady.”

  Deanie’s face reddened. “Change or I’ll have the men come in here to do it for you. These are clean and pure.”

  The thought of Adam or those other creeps taking her pants off made Zandy decide to comply. The men’s swimming trunks were a bit big but it seemed to have soothed the upset woman when she almost smiled.

  “Much better.”

  The irony wasn’t lost on her. They were going to burn her to death wearing swimming trunks. Fire and water. It just keeps getting better and better. She was led outside and shoved back down on the bench. Zandy tried to struggle but couldn’t get away from four men. They tied her down tightly.

  “Now how do we get her up there?” It was the young kid with the holey clothes.

  Zandy realized they were talking about the top of the motor home. She had no clue why they wanted her put on top of the motor home but she didn’t like it. “Oh hell no.”

  Brother Adam glared at her. “We’ll turn her on her side. Two of us will grip the sides and climb the ladder while two will hold the bottom and push. We’ll get her up there. She doesn’t weigh that much.”

  “It hurts when you do that,” Zandy informed him.

  Brother Adam smiled and a gleeful look crossed his features. “I know.”

  “You bastard,” Zandy hissed. “Do you know why I think you’re so mean? I bet you have a tiny little dick and have to behave like a huge one, trying to compensate.”

  The man gritted his teeth and rage turned his face splotchy red. His lips opened but no words came out.

  “That’s what I thought, tiny dick. Or should I just start calling you prick?”

  “You bitch!” he yelled.

  “Dickless,” she taunted.

  “Enough!” Deanie snapped. “She’s baiting you, Brother Adam.”

  “Baiting him?” Zandy snorted. “He’s too small. I’d have to toss him back if I caught him.”

  Brother Adam screamed and lunged for her but two of his followers grabbed him to hold him back. She smiled grimly. He might set her on fire later but he looked ready to have a stroke. She could only hope something killed him before he ended her life.

  * * * * *

  Tiger was glad to be out of the casts. His leg still ached a little and his ribs hurt but he wasn’t really in pain. He’d had to swear to Dr. Allison to take it easy. The normal speed of bones healing for a Species was two weeks. The enhanced drugs had mended him in days.

  Slade North pointed to one of the chairs in his office. “Sit down, Tiger. Stop pacing. You need your strength when we find her and your bones aren’t completely healed yet. They will hold your weight but don’t press your luck. I know Dr. Allison didn’t want to release you for another twenty-four hours but you refused to stay in the hospital.”

  “Zandy is out there somewhere and I need to find her.”

  Slade grimly nodded. “I know this but the good news is they didn’t kill her right off the bat. They took her for a reason and they will hopefully keep her alive until they make whatever they want known to us.”

  “Mercile employees could have her.” Tiger was miserable as he took a seat.

  “I doubt it. They wouldn’t have vandalized her home. They would have just taken her. This isn’t their way.”

  “They held us captive for most of our lives,” Tiger snarled. “They could be hurting her if that’s who has stolen her from me.”

  “It’s not them,” Bestial agreed. “Slade is right. This has to be one of those hate groups or someone who wishes to ransom her for money if they learned she is an NSO employee.”

  Richard shifted in his seat. “I’ve given all the information to the FBI and local law officials about the groups that have been the most vocal about female employees and about women who hook up with New Species. Hopefully they can track them down and find Zandy soon. I’m hoping that’s the case or we have no leads if it was the criminals’ intent on using her to blackmail the NSO out of money.”

  Justice North and Tim Oberto were on speakerphone conference call in Slade’s office. “They have to know she’s not Jessie. We held a news conference here an hour ago to make sure of that. My mate addressed the press and it was on every channel. Whoever has Zandy Gordon would have heard about it or seen it.”

  “No one has contacted us for a reward?” Tiger sounded hopeful.

  “No one who panned out. One male called to say she was being held prisoner by aliens from another planet.” Justice sighed. “He is in need of medical care but we are checking out every call that comes in, Tiger.”

  “I’m never letting her leave Reservation again if I get her back,” Tiger growled. “Ever. I don’t even want her out of my sight.”

  “Was there any connection to the males who shot down the helicopter?” Bestial glanced at Slade.

  “No,” Justice answered instead. “We thought of that