Numbers Read online

  “Your job is safe.” Bluebird leaned against Kat. “We like you. I especially enjoy it when you get angry. I’ve learned all kinds of words.”

  “Fuck,” Kat muttered.

  “Motherfucker,” Sunshine chanted.

  “Cocksucker,” Rusty chimed in.

  “I love this game.” Halfpint grinned. “What a dickhead.”

  Bluebird frowned. “Cock, dick or head. I’m coming up blank on what to associate that with.”

  “Son of a bitch.” Sunshine chuckled. “Dick, in that sense, makes me think of a bastard.”

  “Enough,” Kat pleaded. “Come on. I’m going to go upstairs and get Missy. That will make me feel better. I know a lot of you are reading her books. She’s teaching you way worse things.”

  “You aren’t going to disturb her. She’s working on the next book.” Rusty crossed her arms over her chest. “I want to read it and she promised to let me see whatever she writes.”

  One of the feline females crossed the room and stood next to Rusty. “We’re Missy’s beta readers. We’ll restrain you and call your mate to come collect you if you try to interrupt what she’s doing. He’ll see you all tied up and want to share sex with you. You’ll find yourself over his shoulder and hauled home immediately. Missy thinks she might finish the book at some point today so don’t try it.”

  Candi was stunned. They were threatening to tie up Kat, but the female didn’t look alarmed. She just rolled her eyes and shook her head.

  “Great. Missy gets a set of guards for writing about sex, but what do I get? Jokes about liking a dominant man. You all suck.” She shoved the cookies at Candi again. “Do me a favor. Eat every single one of those. Please.”

  Candi accepted the plate. “There are a lot of them.”

  “I’ll get you some milk.” Kat spun around and stalked back toward the kitchen.

  Rusty chuckled. “She’s the one who sucks,” she announced and pointed down at her groin. “She admitted doing that for her mate.”

  The females around Candi burst into laughter. She didn’t understand what was so funny but they were amused.

  “I heard that!” Kat slammed something in the kitchen. “I’m never answering your questions again if they involve sex.”

  Hero entered Security and discovered Justice, Slade and Fury waiting for him. He followed them into a conference room and everyone took a seat. He wasn’t sure why he’d been called away from his post but he didn’t see any alarming expressions on the males around the table.

  “What is it?” Hero glanced at each of them.

  Justice spoke first. “A few FBI members wish to speak to Candi.”

  “They have questions for her,” Slade interjected. “It’s her choice whether she agrees to talk to them.”

  “They can’t force us to give them access to your female.” Fury paused. “You need to speak to her on the matter. They implied they wouldn’t upset her in any way.”

  “No.” Hero shook his head. “I don’t want any humans around Candi. Why is the FBI involved? I thought human police were hunting for my mate.”

  Justice answered. “Darkness’s mate worked for the FBI. She informed me that they have better resources to handle something like this and your Candi was effectively kidnapped as a child, held at Mercile, and then transferred across state lines when she was taken to that psychiatric hospital. She fears local law officials from the jurisdiction where Penny Pess died might overlook details that could prevent your female from being charged with murder. I agreed with Kat, and asked them to get involved. They took over the investigation.”

  “Candi only killed so she could survive and reach Homeland. I refuse to allow anyone to upset my mate. She’s been through enough.”

  Fury nodded. “That’s what I suspected you’d say, Hero. We still had to ask.”

  He rose to his feet. “I’ll return to duty.”

  Slade stood. “Go home to your mate. We have someone covering your post for the rest of the day. Tell her what is going on. You need to discuss this with Candi, and at least ask her if she wants to talk to them. Trust me on this. Females get pissed otherwise.”

  Justice nodded. “They sure do. Jessie throws a mean right punch to my gut when I make decisions for her. That’s what I get for mating with someone from Tim’s team. She’s sneaky and waits until my guard is down. One second I’m standing there, and the next I’m doubled over and she begins to yell about how she hopes that hurt, like I hurt her feelings.”

  Fury laughed. “Ellie just yells at me and slams things around.”

  “Trisha has threatened to slip sleeping pills into my meals and swears one day I’ll wake up with my penis glued to my stomach.”

  Everyone gaped at the male.

  He shrugged. “She said it would be the kind that will melt off if I soak in a warm tub so there is no lasting damage but it’s an effective threat. I don’t ever want to discover how uncomfortable that would be.”

  “You have a mean mate,” Hero assessed.

  He shrugged. “She’s a doctor. There are a lot worse things she could threaten. My Trisha has a temper, but she gets over things quickly. She hasn’t actually done it.”

  “Just tell your mate what is going on and ask if she wants to speak to the humans.” Fury sighed. “Females like to make decisions, and you’re newly mated. You have a lot to learn. I’m certain she will agree with you. Humans have never done anything but harm her.”

  Hero nodded and left Security. He decided to walk, thinking as he made his way to the women’s dorm to pick up Candi. He reached the front door and knocked. One of the females let him in and led him to the conference room where a group of females were talking with Candi. They were laughing and seemed to be having a good time. Conversation stopped as he hesitated just inside the open doorway. She spotted him and stood to rush toward him. She looked happy to see him, and he didn’t detect any stress.

  “Hi. Is everything all right? I wasn’t expecting you for a few more hours.”

  He nodded. “How was your day?”

  “Great. I’ve learned a lot.”

  “We’re telling her all about the NSO,” Kat stated. “The history of it and what has been accomplished. We’d just reached the part about how Reservation is being expanded.”

  “And all the rescue animals we accept from all over the country,” Bluebird added. “It gives the Wild Zone residents a purpose to help those poor creatures adjust to freedom. They have a lot in common with animals who’ve been caged and abused by humans.”

  “Thank you.” Hero made eye contact with all the females seated at the table. “I appreciate you taking care of my Candi.”

  “It gives us something to do.” Kat stood. “You’re on duty tomorrow, right?”

  Hero nodded. “Noon.”

  “We’ll see you then.” Kat smiled at Candi. “We’ll teach you about the world outside the NSO gates.”

  Hero took Candi’s hand and they strolled outside. He took one of the carts parked for general use and drove her to the men’s dorm. They didn’t speak until they were closed inside their home. She turned to him, studying him with a frown.

  “What is wrong?”

  “Tell me about your day first.”

  “I had fun. Now what is wrong?”

  “I was called to Security. The FBI has requested to speak to you. I told the males you aren’t interested.”

  “Why do they want to speak to me? Are they planning to arrest me for killing Penny?”

  “I don’t know what they want, and it doesn’t matter. They can’t do anything to you. You’re Species, and they have no jurisdiction on NSO lands. They can request things but that doesn’t mean we have to submit to them.”

  She bit her lip and turned away, walking to the window. She crossed her arms. He clenched his teeth, regretting informing her of what had happened. He shouldn’t have listened to the males. She’d endured enough upset. He stalked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “There’s no re