New Species 05 Brawn (20 page)

“Just hurry. He’s fit to be tied.”

Becca walked to where she’d been caged in time to watch two
New Species males unlocking 919’s cage. He was still huddled in the corner,
snarling at his rescuers and the human members of the team hung far back. Brawn
stood watching and she moved to stand at his side.

“Think he’ll be okay?” She didn’t touch him this time in
case he was distracted and hadn’t heard her approach.

“I hope so. It’s his mental state that holds my worry.” He
turned and met her gaze. “Becca, I—”

A howl sounded and someone shouted. Becca jerked her head in
time to see 919 tackle one of the New Species males, throw him out of the way
and slam a fist into the second one. He rushed out of the cage, a wild
expression on his face and his gaze located her. Pure rage twisted his features
and he barreled forward.

“No!” Brawn shouted and threw his body between them, nearly
plowing into her as 919 attacked.

Becca scrambled to get out of the way but it was too late.
The enraged, drugged-out New Species punched Brawn in the face. Brawn staggered
and 919 howled again as he lunged her way. She didn’t even get a scream out
before brutal hands grabbed her. One hand wrapped around her throat, cut off
her air and the other one held her arm so tightly she was sure it would snap.

A roar was the only warning before Brawn attacked. All three
of them went down in a tangle of bodies, the hand was torn off her throat and
919 screamed in pain. Becca tried to roll away but her legs were pinned under
their combined weight as they exchanged blows.

Someone grabbed her arm, she looked up to see Trey’s pale
face and he jerked hard enough to make her cry out when he dragged her free. He
kept pulling her along the floor until a good ten feet separated her from
Brawn. She stared at the sight of him fighting with 919. It was brutal and the
sounds they made were flat-out terrifying.

“Get that human out of here,” Brawn snarled. “He is out of
his mind.”

Trey cursed, bent and scooped Becca into his arms. She
twisted when he lifted her up and jogged for the door. She watched in horror as
Brawn and the male kept fighting while no one seemed to help him. Her mouth
opened to yell that someone needed to pull them apart but by then Trey had
taken her from the room and bounded up the stairs.

“Put me down.”

He panted, kept moving and ignored her order. He slowed as
they neared the top and she was grateful for that because all that jostling
wasn’t easy on her stomach or her bones.

“Rebecca!”

She’d know that shout anywhere as she turned her head,
searched the crowded warehouse filled with team members, New Species and some
of the teams medics. Trey halted and eased her down onto her feet.

Tim nearly slammed into her but he skidded to a stop before
they crashed together, wrapped his arms around her and encased her in a hug.
“Baby.” His voice broke. “Thank God you’re alive.” He rocked her in his arms.
“Are you okay?”

Tears filled her eyes and she didn’t try to stop them as her
face was smashed against her father’s shirt. “I’m going to be fine.”

“Get a medic!” he shouted, making her wince.

“I’m fine.”

“Sir,” a man reported, “let her go and let me see her
injuries.”

Her dad eased his hold on her and she glanced at Bucky, one
of the team medics, happy to see another familiar face. The redhead reached
out, cupped her jaw and stared at her face.

“Let’s get her to a truck.”

“I’m fine.” She pulled away from his touch.

His gaze lowered down her body, seeming to take note of
everything. “Are you sure?”

She stepped back from her dad, looked up at him and smiled.
“I’m really okay, Dad. A few bumps and bruises but I’ll live.” Her shoulder
ached and her head throbbed some from when she’d crashed to the floor but she
wasn’t going to complain about that.

“Shit!” Bucky grabbed the back of her head. “You’re
bleeding.”

She froze as his gloved hands touched something that made pain
lance through her scalp. “Ouch!”

“We have helicopters about to land.” A New Species male
stepped up to her father. “We’ll take your daughter to Homeland. Our doctors
are standing by there to treat the injured.”

Tim shook his head. “I’ll take her to a hospital, Brass.”

The tall male frowned, glanced at Becca and addressed her
dad. “That will involve your law enforcement. We’d prefer to keep this a
Species matter.”

“I don’t give a fuck what you want.” Her dad’s temper
showed.

Brass cringed. “They will want us to turn over those we’ve
arrested here today. Do you really wish for them to face charges in your
courts? They won’t be as harsh on the offenders, your daughter might have to go
into a court to testify and we’ll have to explain why we breached this building
without consulting them first.”

The idea of any of those monsters responsible for everything
she’d survived getting a lighter sentence or a drawn-out trial had Becca’s
temper flaring to life. She stared at the tall Species guy until he met her
gaze.

“Your laws are harsher?”

“They worked for Mercile once from what we understand and
they tortured New Species. They won’t walk away from that.”

That was good enough for her. “I’ll go with you.”

“No.” Tim gripped her arm. “I’m taking you to a hospital.”

She reached out and gripped his fingers. “I don’t want them
to get away with what they did. I’m going with them to see their doctors. Let
them handle this, Dad. Please?”

The loud sound of a helicopter came from outside and it
seemed to land on the street or somewhere nearby. She tugged on her dad’s
fingers to urge him to let her go.

“It will be fine.”

He opened his mouth but Brass held out his hand. “I’ll
escort you myself and guard you. You’ll be perfectly safe, Miss Oberto.”

“I’m going too,” Tim demanded.

Brass took her hand. “Wouldn’t you rather transfer the
prisoners to Homeland? Your daughter will be there when you arrive.”

The indecision on his face assured Becca that he was torn.

“Do that, Dad. Make sure they get there and are locked up.”

“I’ll be there within four hours.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Brass’ hold was gentle as he led her out of the warehouse.
It was sunny outside, it blinded her a bit after being kept inside. The wind
tore at her hair as they approached the helicopter.

“You will be fine!” Brass yelled to be heard over the
engines of the helicopter.

He lifted her inside and helped buckle her into a seat and
took the one next to hers. She watched them lift in the injured New Species
who’d been hooked up to machines. He was still unconscious. She didn’t know the
medic’s name—he was one of the newer members of the task force team she hadn’t
met yet. Her gaze searched for Brawn but he didn’t join them when the doors
closed and the helicopter lifted off.

Where is he?
She hoped he was okay since he would have
been flown to Homeland if he needed medical attention. The sound inside the
helicopter was too loud for her to try to interrogate Brass. It would have to
wait until they landed.

The big New Species next to her opened a blanket and turned
in his seat, offering it to her. She gave him a grateful smile, wrapped the
soft material around her body and leaned back against the seat. They’d been
saved. She buried her face in it and let the tears fall. It had been a hell of
an ordeal.

Chapter Eleven

It felt like a long ride to Becca but the helicopter finally
landed. She’d never been to the NSO Homeland before. Her father had said it was
a nice place when she’d bugged him about it out of curiosity. The engine cut
off and the doors opened. They removed the gurney with the unconscious male
first and shock tore through her when two large, tall females suddenly
appeared.

They had to be at least six feet tall and had the altered
New Species features with their well-defined cheekbones. One had catlike eyes
that reminded her of Brawn but her hair was shocking—a mix of different colors.
Both women wore black uniforms with NSO printed in white letters above their
left breasts. They smiled timidly.

“It is safe,” Brass assured her. He stooped to avoid hitting
his head on the ceiling and helped her unfasten her belt. “This is Rusty and
Sunshine.”

He got out first and reached back to gently lift her down.
The two women kept their smiles in place. The redheaded one had yellowish
eyes—they were pretty, but eerie in a way. She waved to a Jeep.

“I’m Rusty. Sunshine doesn’t talk much. We welcome you to
Homeland and promise you safety.”

The woman with the multicolored hair nodded but didn’t say a
word. Becca kept the blanket wrapped around her and was given the passenger
seat. Brass stayed behind with the injured male while they loaded him into a
van. The Jeep took off and she tried not to stare at all the New Species they
passed. Rusty drove.

“We’re taking you to Medical. We have excellent doctors,”
Rusty said.

“I’m Becca. I’m Tim Oberto’s daughter.”

“We are aware of your name and who you are.” Rusty shot her
a sympathetic look. “Tiger called ahead to tell us what happened and that you
were on your way.”

Sunshine finally spoke from the backseat. “We know how it is
to be locked up and under the control of others. We have lived it. We
understand so you are not alone.”

Becca turned in her seat enough to give the other woman a
grateful smile. “Thank you. It wasn’t so bad. Brawn was there so I wasn’t
really alone.”

The drive to the Medical Center wasn’t a long one and they
parked in front of it. It was a single-story building with large glass windows
along the front but they were tinted to hide the interior. Inside were chairs
and a small waiting room. A counter separated the room and behind it were a few
desks. There were hallways that led to both the right and left of the reception
area. A human guy waited by the door in scrubs and she assumed he was the
doctor.

“I’m Paul, the nurse. Trisha is expecting you. She’s one of
our doctors on staff here. Dr. Treadmont is handling the more severe case
coming in.” He hesitated, glanced at the woman and pointed. “That way. Your
escorts will be at your side, Miss Oberto. It’s standard procedure that you
aren’t to be left alone with me.” He smiled. “I’m a dreaded male.”

Rusty snorted. “You’re a good one and we doubt you would
molest her but our orders are to remain at her side to be supportive.”

“Just call me Becca,” she offered.

A short blonde woman wearing a white coat stepped into the
doorway. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she smiled too. “Hello,
Miss Oberto. I’m Trisha and I’ll be your doctor. Please follow me to an exam
room.”

“It’s just Becca,” she repeated.

“Okay. Please come with me, Becca.”

The exam room was similar to every other doctor’s office one
she’d ever visited and she sat on the paper-draped table as the door closed. It
was just her and Trisha in the room. The doctor looked young, maybe thirty and
her smile faded. “Where are you hurt?”

“I don’t need to be looked at,” Becca admitted. “I have some
bruises and I think I may have a scratch on the back of my head.”

The doctor came forward, had her tilt her head and put on
gloves. She touched her head, found the sore spot and stepped back. “It’s not
bad. Any dizziness? Double vision? Let me see your cheek. I spoke to Brawn
while you were being flown in and he told me you suffered a few falls and that
one of the creeps who kidnapped you struck you in the face.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. He stayed behind to answer questions but he’ll
be back here tonight. Please answer my questions.” She held up two fingers.
“How many?”

“I don’t have a concussion. Two. I’m not dizzy and my vision
is fine. To be honest, I kind of accepted the ride here just to get my dad to
back off. He would have taken me to a hospital and raised hell for me to be
seen. One of the New Species made it clear that it would be better if they
handled this situation without having the cops notified. I appreciate your
concern but I’ve felt worst after a trip to the gym than I do right now. I
really am fine.”

“I was informed you were given a shot. Do you know what was
in it? Did the doctor say? Brawn noticed the needle mark on your arm.”

That surprised her. “She took blood and swabbed my cheek.
She wanted samples from me.”

“I hate those scientific freaks,” Trisha muttered while
touching her arms, examining them. She lifted her nightshirt enough to check
out her knees and finally the bottom of her feet before straightening. Her gaze
held Becca’s. “Would you like to talk to someone? We could get you a therapist.
You’ve been through an ordeal.”

“To be honest, I just want a shower, a hot meal and my own
bed. That is what would do me a world of good.”

The doctor stripped off her gloves, tossed them at the
counter and nodded. “I totally understand. I have some pills for you to take,
just to prevent you from getting an infection. I don’t know if they used a
sterile needle when blood was drawn but I’d rather not take the chance. Are you
allergic to any medications? Are you currently taking any?”

“I don’t have any allergies and I’m not taking anything. I
don’t do drugs and only drink once in a while.”

“Okay.” Trisha hesitated. “Um, Brawn spoke to me as I said.
Whatever you say is confidential. Are you injured at all? Brawn told me the two
of you had sex and he was concerned he may have been too rough. Do you want a
pelvic exam just to make sure you’re okay? They don’t carry venereal diseases
and I can assure you that he’s completely healthy.”

Becca blushed. “I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me and I’d really
like to keep that a secret. You can assure him that I’m healthy too. I get
regular checkups and I’m sure about that.” She wasn’t about to mention she
didn’t have a sex life to expose her body to sexually transmitted diseases.