Slade Read online

  “Fine but remember you said you were going to take her out of my home tonight.”

  Slade stood and his gaze met Trisha’s. “You’re safe here and I’ll be back in a few hours when the sun goes down. I’m going to take you to my house. Get some rest.”

  “Okay. Hurry back.”

  Slade smiled. “I will. I’ll come for you soon.”

  Trisha cringed. She’d heard him say that to her before yet he’d never returned. Instead he’d avoided her by accepting a job overseeing Reservation. She watched him go, realizing she had to learn to trust him or she would always be afraid every time he walked away from her. She didn’t want to live that way.

  “Don’t look so fearful. You are safe here with me. You’re too skinny to draw my sexual interest, Slade has claimed you, and I’m too angry at what was done to my home to be aroused by your tempting female scent. He’ll be back for you.” Valiant growled low. “He knows I’d kick his ass if he left a human with me for more than a day. I have some cleaning to do. Relax. Sleep. Just don’t leave. There is a bathroom by the front door in case you need it. The intruders who breached my domain didn’t damage it. Brass is going to help me right everything.”

  “I am?” Brass stood in the doorway.

  Valiant nodded. “I’m bigger and I say you will help me.”

  “Works for me.” Brass winked at Trisha. “I’m going to go help the large feline clean up.”

  “I’ll be right here resting and not helping,” Trisha teased.

  Brass chuckled before he turned and followed Valiant out of the living room. Trisha finished her muffin and lay down on the comfortable couch until she realized her hands were still bloody from Harley’s wounds. She’d been so distracted by all that had happened, she hadn’t noticed it before.

  She stared at the dried blood and fought the urge to be sick. She stood and went in search of the bathroom, knowing it was a losing battle. Her stomach heaved and she barely made it in time before she lost her snack. Ten minutes later she stretched out on the couch. Exhaustion helped her fall asleep quickly.

  * * * * *

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Slade hung up the phone, his gaze meeting Tiger’s, and he blew out a deep breath. “Harley survived surgery. Justice sent a human team to back up Moon. Guard him with a few more of our men. He’ll be safe.”

  “We’ve heard from the authorities. They wanted permission to go to the crime scene but Justice is handling it with Fury’s help. We can’t allow them to go into the wild zone and I had one of our males sent to retrieve all of the doctor’s belongings. We don’t want any trace of her left there in case the police manage to talk Justice into allowing them to see where the attack took place.”

  “Thanks.” Slade leaned back in his chair. A hand lifted to run through his hair. “I could have lost her. Again.”

  “But you didn’t. This is why I don’t envy you for having a human.”

  “One day you might meet one you can’t resist.”

  “Don’t make threats.” Tiger glared.

  A grin curved Slade’s lips. “It’s not so bad.”

  “You’re going to be a father. You’re biased. Your woman has given you a miracle.”

  That reality kept making Slade’s heart race. “I am, but she is one to me before I ever learned of the baby that grows within her. I’m happy but worried. She’s not Species. Humans aren’t as tough as our women. I think of all the things that could go wrong.”

  “Stop. She’s a strong female of mind, if not of body. That matters.”

  “She is pretty tough.”

  Tiger snorted. “You should see your face.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing. It’s just obvious that you care deeply for her. You look proud and happy.” Tiger stood to pace the office. “They are never going to leave us alone and just allow us to live in peace.”

  Slade knew Tiger meant the humans who hated them. “I know but we can hope. I’ve been told that people fear what they don’t understand. Perhaps with time they will learn more about us and see that we aren’t their enemy. We’ve even segregated our lives from theirs for the most part to assure them they are safe. A lot of them fear we’re unstable or that we’d attack them without provocation.”

  “Perhaps that is the problem. Maybe setting up our own living environments wasn’t the best way to have them accept us.”

  “I don’t know but think of all the lives that would have been taken if they could attack and pick us off one by one. It may not be the best way to get them to accept us but it’s the best way for us to survive. They don’t seem ready to be our neighbors just yet. At least not all of them. Time is something we need to learn how to live with each other. Some Species hate humans. Remember the reason Reservation is necessary.” He blew out a deep breath. “I’m glad I don’t have Justice’s job. Mine is to finish Reservation, to make it a safe haven for our people and to protect Trisha. Anything beyond that is more than I want to think about right now. Trying to handle our own people is difficult enough without trying to deal with the humans too.”

  “We’re going to have to tighten security again. I don’t know how we’re going to do it. Our men are already tired and overworked. We’re overrun with humans who may not be here just to do construction. Those males who attacked the cabin purposely took jobs seeking an opportunity to kill some of us. Justice is going to switch some of our men out to give them a rest. I’ll just be happy once we’re fully functional here and can close the gates to restrict which humans enter.”

  “It won’t be too much longer.”

  “I know.” Tiger leaned against the wall. “I’m just grateful your doctor wasn’t harmed and that she was able to save Harley. That was amazing. It would have destroyed you to lose her and hurt all of us if we’d lost him. Where are you on the whole issue of you being a danger to her? Do you still believe that you claiming her as your own will put her life more at risk?”

  “I’ve learned that she’s in danger whether I’m a part of her life or not. She chose to work with us. She’s dedicated. I’m just happy that she’s decided to give me a second chance. I won’t let her down again.”

  “I know you won’t.” A grin curved Tiger’s features. “Did you ever think you’d revolve your entire life around a human? Or a woman at all, for that matter?”

  “No.” Slade grinned back. “But this time I’m happy that I was wrong. This is the good kind of surprise that life threw my way.”

  “Don’t dump all the work on me.” Tiger growled. “I know you won’t want to leave her side but Brass did a fine job protecting her and I can’t finish Reservation without you. We’re a team. You can protect her and our people.”

  Slade nodded. “Securing Reservation will secure her safety. It’s one and the same now.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Doc?”

  Trisha didn’t have to look to know it was Slade who rubbed her arm. She opened her eyes and he smiled.

  “Hi. Did you have a good nap?”

  She couldn’t resist reaching up to cup his face. The guy warmed her in every way just by looking at him and appreciating his pure masculine appeal. She smiled back at him.

  “It would have been better if you’d been sleeping with me and we were naked.”

  Slade’s smile turned into a flat-out grin.

  “I didn’t need to hear that,” Valiant growled.

  “Crap,” Trisha sighed. “We’re not alone, are we?”

  “Nope,” Brass stated.

  Trisha’s hand dropped away from Slade’s face. “I’ll sit up if you move to give me room.”

  Slade inched away, straightened and held out his hand to help her up. “It’s dark outside now.”

  She glanced around the living room, remembering she was in Valiant’s home. The home’s owner sat on a chair not too far from her and Brass had stretched out on a lounge chair in the corner with his long legs spread out. Slade pulled her to her feet.

  “Thank you for the hospitality and