“He came into the clinic room a few days before we were rescued. She was there with me and he demanded she go with him. She said she was busy but he grabbed her arm. He was furious. I wanted to kill him when he dragged her out of her seat but they had me chained down. He struck her across the face before he forced her to go with him. She returned a few hours later with bruises on her arms. She refused to tell me how they got there but I thought he’d done it. You’re telling me he offered her to our males, to mount her as punishment?”

True felt a stabbing sensation in his chest. It hurt hearing confirmation of why Shiver feared Polanitis. He’d been in charge of Drackwood, therefore responsible for all that had been done to her. He was convinced now that she’d been forced into breeding experiments.

“It seems so.”

Flirt snarled. “Who accepted? I want their names.”

“I don’t know. I didn’t touch her.”

Flirt closed his eyes and turned away. “Ask her or I will. I want to know if any of our males hurt her.” He took a few ragged breaths. “They’ll pay if they did. She was kind to everyone they brought in for medical treatment. I was there a lot and saw her interaction with our kind. She didn’t deserve that.” He slowly turned, opened his eyes, and studied True. “You know that, right? She wasn’t like the others.”

“I know.”

“She had a heart.”

“I know.”

“I saw pain in her eyes often when we were hurt. She cared about us.”

“I know that too.”

“She was afraid. I asked her once why she would work for them.” He hooked his thumbs in the loops of his jeans. “Do you know what she said?”

“What?” True really wanted the answer.

“They’d kill her if she stopped and she wouldn’t be there to help us. She whispered that to me and meant each word. She was as trapped as we were.”

True had heard enough. He swiped his card to unlock the door and pushed it open. “Don’t allow anyone in. She’ll be safe here.”

“Don’t hurt her in any way, True.” The threat hung in the air. “We’ll make the NSO understand she’s not like the other humans and gain her freedom. She deserves that for all she did.”

His temper flared. “Do you think I’d cause her pain in any way?”

Flirt hesitated, closely studying him. “I’ll kill you if you do.”

“Kill Polanitis. He’s responsible for her being harmed at Drackwood. I think she was given breeding drugs.”

Shock widened the other male’s eyes.

“She admitted he had that done to her. That’s why I refuse to allow her to be sent to Fuller. He’s there.”

“Son of a bitch,” Flirt snarled.

“It seems she made a deal to allow them to dose her with the drugs to save my life. That’s what stopped them from killing me that day they were leading me to the outer building and that’s why she’s staying in my home. Don’t insult me again. I’d break my own fingers before I’d lay one on her that would cause her any more pain.” He stepped inside and closed the door with his foot.

One quick survey of his home assured him he needed to clean the place before Jeanie woke. He worked a lot of shifts and his uniforms were strewn across the floor. He slowly tugged the blanket away from her body, no longer worried about concealing her modesty. She looked peaceful in her drugged sleep as he cradled her in his arms, carrying her into his bedroom. The bed wasn’t made but the sheets were semi clean since he’d done two loads of laundry the day before. It helped that the covers were shoved down as he crawled onto the side of the mattress and gently stretched her out on her back.

She looked tiny in the center of his large bed as he pulled his arms out from under her and adjusted her hospital gowns down over her pale thighs. It was a temptation to remove the scratchy material—he hated to sleep in clothing—but she might be alarmed if she woke naked. He climbed off the bed and pulled the covers up to her chest.

He caressed her soft skin along the side of her face with one finger. She didn’t feel cold but he still walked over to the thermostat, paused, debating what would be a comfortable temperature for her. He settled on turning it up to seventy-eight degrees. It would be warm for him but he didn’t want her chilled.

True quickly fled the bedroom to pick up the living room and do dishes. Fifteen minutes later he returned. She slept in the same position. He hesitated before lifting a chair, carried it to the side of the bed and took a seat. He’d remain there until she woke. It was important that she not be afraid. He wanted to be the first thing she saw so he could assure her that she was safe.

* * * * *

Darkness calmly waited until the males entered the men’s dorm before he stepped into their path. Justice, Fury and Tim Oberto didn’t look as upset as he’d expected. A task force team consisting of six humans assembled outside the main doors, appearing to be on high alert, indicated by their tense body language.

“I expected you to arrive at least five minutes ago.”

Justice blinked, his expression calm. “We have a situation.”

“I’m aware. True heisted the human from Medical and took her to his apartment.” Darkness put his hands on his hips. “Flirt is guarding his door to prevent you from taking her back.”

Fury cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”

Darkness hesitated, carefully gauging his words. “Because of what she did for them at Drackwood. I reread her entire file while I waited for you to show—all of it—and no Species spoke bad of her. They were actually flattering in their statements. Were you aware of that?”