New Species 01 Fury (20 page)

“We can’t make waves right now, Fury. There’s a time and a place for everything.

You did the best thing for our people. I’m sorry that it comes at such a price since she means so much to you. The only thing I can say is you can offer her a job again when we’re ready to totally take control of Homeland.” Some of the pain eased inside Fury’s chest. “I want her to come back.” He needed her. To never see her smile again or hear her voice―that concept left a bitter taste in his mouth. A bleak future loomed in his mind’s eye. “I believe she was fired for standing up for us. It doesn’t feel right not to do the same for her.”

“Then definitely offer her the job she held as soon as you’re able to. It won’t be too much longer. We just need to learn enough to do things right. There’s so much though that we don’t know yet. Every day brings us one step closer to controlling our own destiny.”

100

Fury

“What if she doesn’t want the job? What if she never wishes to return? She could find another job out in her world.” A flash of grief sliced through Fury. “I might never see her again.”

“Then you let her go, Fury. You try to get over your feelings.” Fury said nothing but the burning pain inside his chest spread. He didn’t want to let Ellie go and he sure didn’t believe he could ever get over the emotions he experienced when it came to her. She was in his blood, a part of him, but now she would no longer be a part of his life.

“Come,” Justice urged softly. “We’ll take a walk together. You shouldn’t be alone right now.”

Fury hesitated, glanced at the gate, but knew she wouldn’t be back. He nodded.

“Thanks.”

* * * * *

Ellie cursed viciously while staring at the spray-paint job on her car, knowing that one of the protesters must have followed her to the motel. She’d looked for a tail but hadn’t seen one after she’d left Homeland four hours before.
Those assholes are sneaky,
damn it. And obsessed jerks.
They knew what motel she’d checked into and had vandalized her car because of her association with the NSO. She really hated bigoted idiots.

Ellie stomped to her room, angry that she’d have to call the police, file a report, and contact her insurance carrier. She sure couldn’t drive a car around town with those bad words sprayed in large letters along the side of it. It would make for a really bad impression when she showed up at job interviews. She snorted and gripped the bag of fast food tighter as she fished for the motel-room key in her back jeans pocket.

Ellie pulled the key out and tried to shove it into the lock but something prevented it from going inside. She bent to peer at the small keyhole, her eyes narrowed as she examined what appeared to be green gum crammed where the hole should be, and wondered what kind of troublesome kid would go around screwing up doors that way.

The door next to her room suddenly banged open.

She turned her head in time to watch three big, mean-looking men step out onto the walkway to glare at her. Fear slammed her when she realized they were totally focused on her. She released the handle of her door and stumbled back. Ten feet of space separated her room from the next one, not nearly far enough, in her opinion, from those guys, and it was confirmed when the lead man lunged fast.

“We got you,” he gasped and grabbed Ellie when she tried to run.

“Drag her in here, Bernie,” one of the men muttered urgently.

“What the hell is your problem?” Ellie latched onto the railing with both hands while panic gripped her as tightly as the cruel hands on her hips. “Let me go!” 101

Laurann Dohner

“My problem,” the man hissed against her ear as he slid his arm around her waist and jerked, attempting to yank her free from the rail, “is we got word you’re screwing one of those animal things and we’re going to save you. You’ve been brainwashed.”
Save me?
At least they weren’t trying to kill her.
That’s something
, she thought. The idiots believed she’d been forced to change her way of thinking. She screamed and kicked hard at the bigger man. Her gaze frantically darted around, seeking help. She saw a few people lingering in the parking lot below and they gaped up at her. Someone yelled from the distance for the guy to let her go.

“Damn,” a man yelled from the next room. “People are seeing!” He sounded panicked. “Run.”

The arm around Ellie suddenly released her waist. All three of them bolted the opposite way. She panted, hurting from the struggle, and sagged against the railing.

The big crazy jerk who’d assaulted her had been strong. She twisted her head and watched while the three men reached the far corridor, nearly fell down the stairs in their haste, and fled from the parking lot to disappear around the building. She nearly crumpled to the walkway but managed to lock her knees to keep upright. She trembled all over. A door opened and she spun toward the noise, expecting another threat. A woman holding a baby stood there looking pale.

“Were they muggers?”

Ellie relaxed. “No.”

“The police are on their way,” a man shouted from the parking lot. “Are you all right?”

Ellie had to clear her throat. “I’m fine. Thank you!” She saw her fast food bag on the ground where she’d dropped it when she’d grabbed the railing. She leaned down to pick it up and winced at the ache the movement caused around her sore middle. She cursed under her breath, hoped the jerk hadn’t left bruises with his little tug of war with her body, and staggered back to the stairs. She sat down hard, darted glances at the people staring at her, and noticed a crowd gathered to gawk at her. Her heart pounded still from her scary ordeal but she was safe and hungry. She reached inside the bag. She might as well eat while she waited for the police.

Ellie munched on her burger and twisted the lid off her flavored water, glad she hadn’t bought a soda since it wouldn’t have survived being dropped. She wiggled her fingers into her back pocket to dig out her cell phone. She’d already left a message just an hour before with Homeland to let Justice know her cell number but his secretary had insisted on her leaving an address as well. She could no longer stay at the motel since the nut jobs knew where she’d rented a room. She hit redial to connect her to Justice’s office. She wanted to reach someone before they left for the night and her watch stated she only had minutes before five o’clock.

“Hi,” Ellie said after finally getting transferred to a woman who claimed to be Justice’s secretary. “I think we spoke before. I’m Ellie Brower. I left my motel information in case Mr. North wanted to contact me but I’m afraid that information 102

Fury

isn’t any good anymore. I have to switch motels. I guess I’ll call you tomorrow morning with the new information. You have my cell number so you can reach me still, right?” The woman on the other end of the line went silent for a moment. “Why would you change motels?”

“Uh…” Ellie spotted a cop car turn into the parking lot. “I had some problems. I promise I’ll call in the morning with my new address. I really need to be going now.

The police have arrived and I need to pack quickly to get a safe escort out of here when I leave. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Ellie hung up.

* * * * *

Fury paced his office. Ellie wouldn’t ever come back, he’d never see her again, and he needed to get a grip on that painful bit of reality. A knock sounded on his door. He took a deep breath, schooled his features, and cleared his throat.

“Enter.”

Brass, his friend, and the man he’d placed in charge of scheduling classes for the Species to learn different skills, walked in. He closed the door behind him and leaned against the wood.

“We have a problem.”

“What else is new? What is it this time?”

“Some of the human guards have been flirting with our females. Our males are very protective of them.”

A grin curved Fury’s mouth. “Our women can handle a human. I’ve yet to meet a human who could take down a Species, male or female, when they are angry.” The smile died. “Is it harassment or just typical flirting?”

“Typical flirting but our males may start fights over it. None of the women feel threatened or have filed a complaint. I wish to avoid conflict between the humans and us. If our males start busting the heads of humans who wink at our women it may cause a lot of tension.”

“I’ll talk to them. Call a meeting.” He glanced at his watch. “Let’s say in two hours?”

“Sounds good.” Brass flashed a grin. “You realize you’ve become a father figure to everyone. You give advice and deal out harsh threats when we misbehave. Justice is our mother figure—protective, nurturing, and nesting to make our new Homeland a home.”

Fury’s hand lifted and his middle finger extended. “There’s your lesson today, son.”

A bark of laugher filled the room. “I decline if that is an offer. You aren’t my type.”

“No one is.” Fury chuckled. “Our women are too smart to choose to mate with you.”

103

Laurann Dohner

Brass pushed away from the wall and took a few steps closer, his smile fading. His eyes narrowed as he studied Fury.

“Speaking of women, I heard the little human you saved has left Homeland.” All humor fled. Fury nodded. “The director fired her and Justice asked me not to get involved. I wanted to overstep the director’s authority, give her job back, and keep her here. I saw the danger it placed her in to be associated with us after the attack we suffered. Justice made me understand she’d have a better life without me in it.”

“If you’d pulled rank on that pompous asshole, he would realize we’re aware of the power we yield.”

“That’s what Justice said. I felt conflicted, Brass. I didn’t want her to go but I have responsibilities to our people as well. I’m torn in half. The only way to have her stay was to take on the director. That action would have undermined our plan for our community.”

“You really care for this female?” His eyebrows arched. “I saw her plenty of times and she’s very unlike our women. She’s small.”

“I am aware of our size difference.”

“And she’s human.” Brass frowned. “She also worked for Mercile. I’m aware of why she did, everyone has been briefed that she worked there undercover to gather evidence, but I also heard you had a personal issue with her. I was in that conference room, Fury. I feared you’d kill her in front of a room full of humans.” Fury sat down hard on the edge of his desk, crossed his arms over his chest, and sighed loudly. “Something happened between us and I felt betrayed by her. I completely lost my control.”

“No shit. I’ve never seen you so feral. What did she do to you?” He paused. “She is the one I told you about when we were freed and detained inside those motels while we waited to be moved here. She’s the human who came into my cell and killed Jacob.”

“Shit,” Brass muttered, at a loss for more words.

“I have never reacted to anyone as strongly as I do to her. I’m…” He searched for a way to express his emotions. “I’m obsessed with her. She smiles and I melt. I want to hear her voice and just be close to her.”

“Shit,” Brass repeated.

“I want her back. I couldn’t be with her but I drove by the dorms nightly and at least got to watch her interact with our women from a distance. Now I don’t even have that. It…hurts me.”

The silence stretched. Brass finally spoke.

“When we take over Homeland you could invite her back. You’ll be in control of security. We won’t have to worry about how the humans react. Can you just hold off until then?”

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Fury

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I just want her back. I want her near me.” He paused.

“I need her close even if I can’t truly be with her. All I can think about is what she is doing right now, where she will go, and…” His voice deepened into a snarl. “If human males are attempting to touch what is mine.”

Brass’ eyebrows shot up. “Yours?”

“Mine.” Fury nodded. “It is how I feel when I think of her.”

“Hang in there. Our people learn quickly and we’ll be able to completely run Homeland soon. You’ll be able to invite her back. I hope for your sake she accepts your offer.”

“I do as well.” Fury stood. “Make those calls and set up the meeting. I’ll talk to our males and schedule extra training sessions to give them an outlet for their anger. The humans within our walls aren’t our enemies, for the most part.” 105

Laurann Dohner

Ellie finished packing her bag after the motel clerk had jimmied her door open to allow her to retrieve her things. She was grateful she hadn’t unpacked yet. She studied the policeman at her door, watching her every move. “Thank you. I’m done and ready to go now. I appreciate you babysitting me.”

The policeman shrugged. “It’s my job.”

Ellie gripped her purse and her suitcase. The policeman moved out of her way and closed the motel door for her. She walked down the stairs, trying not to notice that some of the guests of the motel were still outside, gawking at her as though she were the evening’s entertainment. She sighed. She didn’t like being the main source of morbid amusement for strangers.

She winced at the words on her car. The police had made a report of the damage, had taken pictures, and given her a card with the police report number. The policeman unlocked her trunk while she lifted in her suitcase. She closed it and forced a smile when he handed the keys back.

“Would you like some advice?”

She nodded. “Sure.”

He glanced at the car and then at her. “Go get a rental car and leave this inside the parking lot of the rental company. This is a small town. If these morons are set to harass you all they have to do is drive around to motels and hotels looking for this. You’d be pretty easy to find until your insurance company has it painted.”
Great
, Ellie thought. Her finances were going to be tight until she found another job.

She could almost mentally see money burning but he made a valid point. “Thank you. I think that’s a great plan and I will do that.”

“I can’t wait for these morons to leave this area. Ever since the protestors showed up it’s been like this. The locals were happy about accepting Homeland, for the most part, and we welcome those poor people out there into our community. It beat having a military base as a neighbor. I lived next to one as a kid and they were always tearing up the town when they drank in their off hours. The New Species don’t do that. Then these Humans for Pure Humans jerks showed up on the scene. You’d think they’d have something better to do.”