Fury Read online

  “Don’t be ridicules,” Ellie sputtered. “Fury loves me. He was just upset that Nurse Bitch in there threw herself at him. He didn’t hurt me and he wouldn’t.”

  Tiger watched her face closely. “We can’t take any chances.”

  She hesitated. “I understand but I’m not leaving him. Let’s just go talk to him and you’ll see that he’s fine.”

  A car pulled up in front of the house. Ellie turned as Slade opened the driver’s door of the car and Justice climbed out of the passenger side. Trisha and a stranger got out of the back.

  “You’re safe.” Justice looked relieved. “You need to leave. Tiger will drive you to Doctor Norbit’s house.”

  Trisha held out keys to the tall New Species. “These are to my house. I have a guestroom.” She visually scanned Ellie from head to foot. “Help yourself to my clothes and anything else you need. My closet is your closet.”

  “Where is the nurse?” Slade glanced around the area.

  “Inside still.” Tiger shrugged. “She’s packing her things.”

  “Damn it,” Justice growled. “He might attack her. She started this. Get Ellie out of here.”

  Slade jerked open the front door and stormed into the house, Justice right behind him. Trisha and the stranger stood outside. Ellie studied the man with curiosity.

  “This is Doctor Ted Treadmont. He’s the leading scientist on New Species,” Trisha said. “You need to go, Ellie. You can come back when it’s safe.”

  “How many times do I have to say that Fury isn’t going to hurt me before someone listens? I’m not leaving.”

  Tiger cursed. “He’s going to kill me for this.” He suddenly lunged, grabbed Ellie around her waist, and clamped his hand over her mouth. He jerked his head at Trisha. “Don’t stand there, Doctor Norbit. Could you please go open the trunk of the car for me? There’s a release pull for it on the dash. I need to get her away from him in case he goes nuts.”

  Trisha ran for the car. Ellie struggled and clawed at Tiger’s arms but he wouldn’t put her down and she couldn’t do more than make soft sounds with his palm cupped firmly over her mouth. She kicked at his legs but no matter how many times she nailed him with her bare feet, it didn’t slow him down. The trunk opened and Tiger dumped Ellie inside.

  “Don’t,” Ellie screamed. The trunk slammed closed, leaving her in the dark. Ellie kicked at it and shouted. “Let me out!”

  The car started. Ellie kicked again but the trunk lid above her wouldn’t open. She screamed, still shocked that she’d been locked inside the trunk of a car by Tiger. She’d trusted him. She stopped screaming as the car speeded away.

  She hated small, cramped places. She fought a panic attack. The car turned suddenly and Ellie rolled to bang into something hard. Pain slammed into her knee. She screamed again. She’d take a beating inside the trunk from being thrown around if he made a lot of sharp turns at that speed. The car turned sharply again and Ellie slammed against the back of the trunk against the passenger compartment. Pain shot up her arm.

  Ellie curled into a ball and struggled to breathe normally until the car finally stopped. She knew there was plenty of air but it didn’t stop her from suffering. Her claustrophobia had never been this bad. The trunk opened and Ellie tried to frantically claw her way out. She gasped in gulps of fresh air as Tiger reached for her.

  Ellie smacked at his hands. He jumped back when Ellie practically threw her body from the trunk. She stared at him wildly.

  Tiger frowned. “What is wrong with you? We’re at the Doctor’s house.”

  “Don’t you ever lock me inside a small space again!” Ellie shouted. She stumbled back a few steps. Hot tears slid down her cheeks. “I hate small, dark places!”

  “Stop shouting,” Tiger ordered. “I’m sorry. Calm down, Ellie. Just take some deep breaths. You’re fine. Breathe in and out. That’s it. I didn’t know you had hole sickness.”

  “I don’t have hole sickness!” She stopped shouting. “What is hole sickness?”

  “You panic when you are put inside dark, small places. That’s what we call it. I’m sorry. Are you all right now? We should go inside. That nightgown is thin and I am afraid we will draw unwanted attention here. This is the human area of Homeland.”

  His words sank in, she realized she was nearly nude and wanted clothes immediately. Then, I’ll find my way home. Ellie nodded and followed Tiger to the front door. He unlocked the door. Ellie walked in and then turned, kicking Tiger in the shin hard enough to hurt her foot.

  Tiger cursed and growled at her. “What was that for?”

  “Everything. I don’t suffer from hole sickness. I have claustrophobia.”

  He frowned. “Doesn’t that mean the same thing?”

  “Go to hell.” Ellie stormed away from him into Trisha’s bedroom, remembering where it was from her last visit. She slammed the door between them and headed to the doctor’s dresser.

  Ellie borrowed a pair of sweatpants, an exercise bra, and an oversized T-shirt from a rock concert Trisha must have attended. She tried on a pair of the doctor’s shoes but they didn’t wear the same size. She had to remain barefoot. Ellie grabbed up the phone from the bedside table and called home, wanting to talk to Fury. She shot a nervous look at the door, afraid Tiger would walk into the room and stop her.

  “Ellie?” Fury sounded pissed.

  “Hi, Fury. They made me leave. Are you all right?”

  “Where are you?” He growled.

  “Don’t tell him!” Tiger yelled, nearly exploding into the room.

  “Where are you?” Fury repeated, roaring the words.

  Tiger tore the phone from her fingers and slammed it down into the cradle. He glared at Ellie. “Did you not hear the whole scent and prey talk we had?”

  “I just wanted him to know I’m safe and ask him how he is doing. You guys are seriously overreacting if you think Fury is a danger to me.”

  Tiger arched an eyebrow. “Really?” He picked up the phone. “Let’s see how off the mark we are.”

  “Who are you calling?”

  “Justice.”

  Ellie sat on the edge of Trisha’s bed, glowering up at Tiger. He listened and a frown marred his features. He hung up. “Something is really wrong. Justice didn’t pick up his phone. It connected to his voice mail after six rings.”

  “So he’s busy.”

  “He always answers.” Tiger dialed another number. He listened and his face grew pale before he hung up.

  “Slade didn’t pick up either and he always answers by the third ring. They both entered the house and they aren’t answering their phones. Shit.” He dialed another number. He cursed after a minute and hung up. He waved the phone at Ellie. “Doctor Norbit isn’t answering either.”

  “Maybe they are talking to him right now and don’t want to be rude by answering their cells.”

  “Call home, talk to him for a few minutes to see how he is, but don’t tell him where you are. Can you do that?”

  Ellie accepted the phone. “This is just moronic.”

  “Just talk to him. You know Fury. See if he’s your male or if he’s not quite himself. Ask him where Justice and Slade are.”

  “You’re going to feel stupid.”

  “I’ll risk it. Just don’t tell him where you are. Promise?”

  “Sure,” she muttered, glad to speak to Fury. Tiger was being paranoid.

  Fury answered on the first ring by snarling her name. He sounded so mad she barely recognized her own name coming from his lips.

  “It’s me. Are you all right?”

  “Where are you?”

  “They were afraid you were reacting to one of the medications they’ve been giving you and think you’re dangerous to me. I’m fine. Are Justice and Slade still there?”

  “Where are you?” He ground out the words harshly. “Tell me right now, Ellie.”

  Ellie met Tiger’s concerned gaze, having to admit that Fury was acting weird. “I’ll be home soon. Are Justice and Slade still ther