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  Justice rounded the table, stopping behind Jeanie. “Species Jeanie remains at Homeland. She’s safe here.”

  “We’re talking about organized crime, Mr. North. These aren’t going to be a bunch of idiots with an agenda to cause a media stir to gain attention for whatever cause they’ve decided to back by launching some half-assed attack at your gates. We’re talking about highly skilled killers who may or may not decide to silence her if she could possibly link them to Cornas. Last year they took out a public figure with a large security detail after he refused to allow them to buy up a large quantity of property they wanted to use to start a gambling monopoly.”

  “We’re organized and prepared to handle any situation. She’s not leaving with you. She wasn’t an accountant and True has firsthand knowledge that she spoke the truth since she used to take his blood samples. I can get you dozens of statements from other Species who will tell you the same since she took their blood too. Your informant is wrong.” Justice nailed them with a stern look. “You’ve wasted your time coming here, gentlemen.”

  “Our informant might be wrong but that’s the information he’s been giving out. We heard it and the cartel might have too. She could be a target.” Special Agent Spears wasn’t ready to give up.

  “Who is your informant?”

  The agent’s lips sealed together tightly.

  “Leave,” Justice ordered. “Your interview is over.” He reached down and gently gripped Jeanie’s arm, urging her to stand.

  She did, True took hold of her next, and rushed her out the door. It closed behind them and faint yelling could be heard. Fury stepped out and nodded at one of the New Species officers.

  “Take them home now.” He reentered the room with Justice and the three agents.

  Jeanie was confused as they left the building and were hustled into a waiting SUV. “That was weird.”

  “Perhaps their informant is Jerry Boris. He wants you removed from our protection.” True lifted her off the seat and onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist.

  She leaned against him and shivered. “What if we hadn’t mated? Would they have been able to force me to go with them?”

  “I’m uncertain,” True admitted. “It doesn’t matter though because we are mates and the laws that protect us, protect you. You’re Species and out world authorities have no right to take any of us from the NSO.”

  * * * * *

  After they returned home, Jeanie went to take a bath. True was furious but he waited until she started to fill the tub to dial Darkness, knowing her human hearing wouldn’t be able to pick up sounds beyond the running water.

  He answered on the first ring. “I knew it would be you, True.”

  “It was a ploy to take my mate, wasn’t it?”

  “It appears so. They refused to give the name of their informant but we suspect who it is.”

  “I hate that human. How was he able to tell that lie to them without us knowing about it?”

  “He probably placed the call from DC before he arrived home after learning the kidnapping attempt failed. Their government agencies don’t work as fast as our task force. It may have taken them all this time to come here asking to speak to your mate.”

  “Could they have taken her if she wasn’t my mate?”

  “They did come with paperwork establishing her as a hostile witness. It was a court document, signed by a judge, ordering us to remand her into their custody for those reasons. Don’t worry though,” he rushed on, “it isn’t valid with the NSO. It’s more posturing than anything. Her being Species makes it null and void. No human judge has authority here.”

  He snarled. “The human isn’t going to stop until he takes Jeanie from me.”

  “He’s currently at home watching television. I can see him on my computer screen, True. He’s actually a boring male. He ordered a pizza for dinner and has avoided going to Fuller since some of the task force team members have taken over for their guards until new ones can be hired. The task force linked me to their feeds so I can keep an eye on him.”

  “Have there been any more calls to the unknown male suspect from Oregon?”

  “No, but he did call a massage therapist and made an appointment for her to come by his home tomorrow morning.” He cleared his throat. “She’s got a record for prostitution so I don’t think it’s his back he plans to get rubbed. Be happy you don’t have a link to the camera feed into his home. I’m not looking forward to seeing that. He is not a fit human, nor was the female’s arrest photo an attractive one when we ran a background check on her. I hope he’s paying her a lot of money because she’ll earn it if she has to fake interest in him.”

  “He pays for sharing sex?”

  “It’s a human thing.” Darkness snorted. “Perhaps that’s why he hates us. Human females line up at the gates just hoping to meet one of us. I doubt anything this human does is enjoyable and he sure couldn’t attract a female with his appearance. He’s currently wearing a pair of ratty boxers that have multiple stains and he keeps scratching his balls as if he’s got fleas. I want to bathe, just watching him.”

  “My mate is taking a bath.”

  “Go join her. Relax, True. Enjoy time with your mate. We have this and you have a pass on your duties until this is over. Many males would envy you the time you get to spend with her without interruption.”

  Darkness made a good point. “Okay. I want to be updated.”

  “Will do. Oh shit.” Darkness growled. “I’m sickened.”

  “What happened?”

  “He enjoys porn and just shoved his shorts down. That female really deserves a lot of money tomorrow. I haven’t seen something that small since I visited Fury’s home and his son decided he enjoyed removing his clothing and running around their home bare. Salvation is bigger than this male is. Go be with your mate. I’m going to turn away from the monitor or I will be sick. He just spit on his hand instead of getting lotion.”

  True hung up, grimacing. The urge to be near Jeanie overrode everything as he stalked down the hallway and entered the bedroom, passing through it to reach the bathroom. The sight of her undressing next to the steaming tub was appealing.

  “Hi!” She grinned. “This is a big enough tub for two. Why don’t you get in it with me?”

  He was tempted but her smile looked a little forced. “Are you well?”

  “I’m great.”

  “Jeanie?”

  “Okay. I keep thinking about those FBI agents, okay? It’s kind of intimidating, thinking they want to take me. Where I come from, well, they get what they want.”

  “We don’t care what they think.”

  “I know.” She straightened, totally bare. “It just kind of freaked me out. Why don’t you come distract me?” Her arms lifted as she reached out to him.

  True was across the bathroom in a heartbeat, lifting Jeanie against his body until their faces were level. “I should call Justice and ask him to arrest the human so he can’t use other ways to try to get you away from me. It’s obvious he’s the one who lied to the government males.”

  “No. We need to find the other New Species first, True,” Jeanie reminded him.

  “It’s not worth your constant fear, Jeanie.”

  She bit her lip. “I have lived with far worse than this, True. This isn’t even that bad. At least I haven’t been shot this time,” she joked.

  True growled. “No one will get that close to you.”

  “It was a joke. I know that. I’m safe with you.”

  He sniffed at her, that sweet scent detectable. “I keep scenting your fear and it’s driving me insane. I can’t stand to know you’re afraid. Every instinct I have is howling at me to protect you. It makes me crazy. You shouldn’t have to live with fear.”

  She hugged him tighter around his shoulders and lifted her legs, wrapping them around his waist. “We need to let this ride, True. It’s too important to try to find the other New Species. I’m going to be fine.”

  He kissed her foreh