New Species 05 Brawn (26 page)

“My late husband has family over there and I asked a few
favors.” Becca blinked back tears. “Just let me leave. I have money and can
disappear again. My father…” She paused, pleading with Trisha with her eyes.
“He can’t find out about this. He is going to go ballistic and he won’t let
this go. He is going to be out for blood and we know whose he’s going to want.
He’ll blame him for touching me regardless of it being consensual. He’s never
reasonable when it comes to me. Just let me go and let’s end this right now
before it’s a full-blown nightmare.”

“We can’t, Rebecca. That baby is going to need to be here
where you’re safe. Did Flame tell you anything about what to expect from the
pregnancy? A full-term New Species baby develops in about twenty weeks. You’re
what? Eight weeks along?” Trisha took a step closer.

“Nine.”

“You’re almost halfway through your pregnancy. It’s why you
are showing and can feel the baby move. I have a son with Slade. The New
Species’ altered genetics are strong and override everything so the baby will
be male and he will have the New Species physical traits. You can’t just have
this baby and hide it. Your dad is going to have to find out at some point
unless you were going to lie and say you were staying in Europe forever.”

“I sometimes fantasize about making up something about a car
crash and possibly faking my death.”

Trisha’s eyebrows arched. Becca shrugged.

“I didn’t have all that planned out. I’ve been kind of
trying to live day by day to avoid the stress.” Her hand rubbed her distended
belly. “I think about it and yeah, stress. I know that’s not good for the
baby.”

“We have to inform the father of the baby, Rebecca.”

“No.” Becca shook her head. “It’s my baby.”

“We have to. Your dad will find out at some point and you
know that. He’ll go after him. You said so yourself. He needs to be warned at
the very least. Would you like us to bring him here to give you the opportunity
to tell him in person?”

Becca shook her head firmly again. “We have nothing to say
to each other. I can’t stop you from telling him but if you do, I don’t want
anything from him except to stay away from me.”

“You blame him for what happened?” Trisha’s face paled. “He
was a victim too.”

“I know that and that’s not why I don’t want to see him.
Just tell him I don’t want anything from him but for him to stay away. I was
stripped of the choice to come here or not. Please don’t force me to see him
too. Please?” Becca hated that tears filled her eyes. Hormones and the fear of
what would happen were making her highly emotional and taking their toll.
“Don’t I have enough to deal with already?”

Trisha hesitated, looked uncertain, but then blew out a
breath. “Let’s go look at the baby and check you out. We’ll worry about that
first and the rest later. Why don’t you go inside and strip everything off?
I’ll be there in a minute.”

Becca nodded grimly and stepped into the exam room. She shut
the door the second she was alone, leaned against it and closed her eyes. They
were going to tell Brawn and her father the truth. The thing she’d worked so
hard to avoid was a total bust.
As in I got busted. Damn. Damn. Damn.
She
put her hands over her stomach and rubbed. The baby moved and she knew at least
one thing was right in her world.

Flame frowned. “You know who the father of her child is?” He
peered at Trisha, waiting for an answer.

She nodded. “Don’t tell anyone who the father is until he is
informed first. Hell, this information is considered completely classified so
he’s the only one you tell. You heard her. She won’t tell him herself. I need
you to do it, Flame.” She glanced at Pink. “Not a word to anyone about this.
We’re the only ones who will know besides Justice when Slade calls him.”

Pink nodded.

Flame hesitated, looking grim. “Who am I going to go give
the happy and shocking news to?”

Trisha glanced at her husband before addressing the Species
male. “Find Brawn. He was forced to share a cage with her when he was kidnapped
and they shared sex. This is going to be…” Trisha sighed, at a loss for words.

Slade put his arm around her. “Difficult for all.”

“Son of a bitch,” Flame cursed. “I think I know where he is.
I heard some of the females discussing something this morning at breakfast,
before I left for my work shift. I’ll go now.” He spun, noticed Pink’s shocked
expression and totally understood that emotion. He stormed toward the doors.

* * * * *

Brawn danced closer to one of the females, happy to be
distracted. He’d spent another sleepless night, a day with too much paperwork
and hoped he’d wear his body down enough to rest. Breeze grinned at him, bumped
her hip against his and her hand curled around his arm.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” He spun her, dipped her body until her hair
nearly reached the floor and yanked her upright.

“For agreeing to come with me. Isn’t this fun?”

He had to admit it beat staring at walls. “Yes.”

“You’re taking me to dinner later.”

He hesitated.

“You are. I learned a new saying. All work and no play makes
males boring.” She chuckled. “Or dull. Either way you need to have fun. You are
grumpy and snarl at everyone.” She leaned into his chest and peered into his
eyes. All humor fled. “I worry about you. We’re friends. You’d do the same for
me.”

He couldn’t refute her words. He nodded. “I am aware.”

“Do you have nightmares?”

He forced his gaze from hers. He dreamed but he wouldn’t
admit about what. He inched back so space was between their bodies.

“You’re not sleeping well.” She patted his chest through his
shirt. “I will help you tonight.”

He tensed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“You’ve avoided everyone since you were rescued.” Her chin
lifted and her dark eyes narrowed with determination. “I owe you.”

“Not that.”

She cocked her head. “Just take me out to dinner and allow
me to care for you. You need a friend and I’m a good one.”

“You are.”

“Stop talking and dance.”

He pushed his thoughts back and grabbed her hand, spun her
and smiled at the way she giggled. To see her experience such joy at such a
little thing brightened his day. She was one of his, from his testing facility,
and it was his job to keep her happy.

Motion drew his attention as Flame waved his arms from across
the room. He stood by the bar, staring directly into Brawn’s gaze. The male had
a grim look on his face and he knew instantly that something was wrong. He
stopped dancing and released Breeze. Flame walked in his direction, paused ten
feet away and all doubt left that the male had something to say to him. Brawn
glanced at Breeze.

“I’ll be back.”

“Doubtful,” Flame muttered.

Brawn heard him and shot him a confused look. “Has something
bad happened? Has a council meeting been called?”

“No.” Flame backed up to the bar and waved to motion Hound
over. “Give me two more please.”

Breeze fisted his shirt. “You will pick me up at six, Brawn.
Don’t make me hunt for you.”

He forced a smile and nodded. She released him and he edged
around dancers to reach the male. Flame lifted two small glasses that contained
dark liquid from the bar where Hound had set them. He met Brawn’s gaze and
jerked his head toward the door.

Whatever had happened was bad enough to need privacy.
Brawn’s shoulders straightened and he hoped that no Species were hurt. He
followed Flame out of the bar. The male kept going, led him through the lobby
of the hotel and stayed far ahead of him until they reached the outside.
Confusion at Flame’s odd behavior kept him trailing behind him until they walked
a good hundred free from the hotel to the grassy area in front of it.

Flame spun and held out one of the glasses. “Drink this.”

Brawn tried to sniff to determine what it was but Flame
stood upwind of him. He glanced at the murky drink, raised his gaze and
frowned. “What is it?”

“Whiskey. I took two big gulps of it already before you saw
me trying to get your attention.”

“I don’t drink that stuff.”

“I don’t usually either but today is the exception. Trust
me. Swallow. You’re going to need it.” Flame drank his down fast, snarled
softly and fisted the empty glass.

“Just tell me the bad news. I assume something horrible has
happened.”

“You want the news?” Flame shoved the drink at him again.
“Down that first and then I will tell you.”

Irritation flashed for a second before outright dread.
Someone had died. It must be someone he knew. He accepted the tiny drink. He
gave it a dirty look but lifted it to his parted lips, forced his hand to raise
and the horrible taste plowed through his mouth as he swallowed.

“Ugh. That is terrible.” He wiped his mouth to glare at
Flame. “Tell me.”

The male hesitated.

“Get it out. Don’t torture me with the unknown.”

“You should sit down on that bench to your right.”

Brawn growled at him. “Don’t give me orders and stop
stalling.”

“Please, sit. We have a serious situation happening at
Medical.”

Brawn sat, just to prevent the male from dragging it out
anymore and didn’t want to beat the information from him. He was tempted
though. “What is going on?”

Flame inched backward to put a few more feet between them.
“We have a human female at medical who is pregnant with a Species baby. We had
to track her and bring her in against her will. She refused to come on her
own.”

“I heard something about that. I was told some human female
had contacted Homeland saying she had gotten pregnant by one of our males but
refused our protection. I’m glad she was located. Did you find the father?”

“That’s the problem.” Flame stared at Brawn. “The woman
refused to tell him herself and hell, she said she doesn’t want to see him.”

Brawn didn’t like that news. “Do you want the council to
hold a meeting and try to determine who the father is by asking our people? Do
you have a photo of her? It would help. We’ll show her to the males and find
the father if she won’t reveal his name.”

“Trisha recognized the female and knows who the father is.
The pregnant female has requested he be kept away from her.”

“What is the problem? Keep him away. Hers and the baby’s
welfare comes first. You bothered me for this? It sounds as if everything is
already handled.”

“I’m glad you said that. It will make things easier.”

Brawn cocked his head, more than a little confused and
irritated. Flame was speaking in riddles, not making sense. “I don’t
understand.”

“The woman is Rebecca Oberto.” Flame stared at him
sympathetically. “Ring any bells, daddy?”

The glass in Brawn’s finger slipped to the ground. He was
glad he sat as shock ripped through his system. He stared at Flame, unable to
even form words, as his brain tried to assimilate the information. Becca was
the female? Pregnant? His heart exploded in a thunderous pounding and blood
rushed to his ears.

Flame nodded. “She tried to run and hide. She told her
father she was in Europe. She’s definitely pregnant and it’s Species. I smelled
her myself.”

Brawn suddenly inhaled. He closed his eyes and a vicious
growl tore from his throat. He lunged and grabbed Flame.

He couldn’t believe it. It had to be a lie. Becca couldn’t
be pregnant. The doctor had given her pills. Surely she had to have been taking
birth control. She would have told him if they’d created life. The male
stumbled to get out of his way but he was faster. His fists gripped Flame’s
shoulders, his face lowered and he took a deep breath. The scents assaulted his
senses as he tried to take it all in.

“You touched her! You have her scent all over you and I
smell her fear,” Brawn roared, totally losing all control.

Flame’s body flew airborne before he could leash his rage.
The male cried out as he hit the grass on his back a good six feet away, rolled
a little as he struck and came up on all fours when he stopped. Brawn’s body
tensed, ready to attack and he crouched. Another roar tore from his throat.

“Easy, damn it!” Flame panted. “I didn’t hurt her, Brawn.
She refused to come in. She was living in some cabin fifteen miles from here
and I had to carry her onto the helicopter. Should I have left her there alone
and unprotected? She’s at Medical and she’s safe!”

The words penetrated his haze of rage, but barely. He
snarled.

“What is wrong?” Two officers rushed to the area, both
putting themselves between the males. The one who spoke addressed Brawn.

Flame slowly rose to his feet. “Nothing. We’re fine. This is
a private matter. I had to give Brawn some upsetting news. Please leave us. We
won’t fight.”

Brawn gave a sharp jerk of his head, straightened up from
the fighting position and clenched his teeth. The officers glanced between them
before they left. Brawn watched the other male brush grass off his clothes and
finally Flame met his gaze.

“How are you doing now? Calmer? I know this must be a shock.
Hell, especially for you. I know how you feel about human females. The good
news, I guess, is that she doesn’t want anything from you. She’s not demanding
you mate and marry her. She actually requested that you stay away. She’s going
to have to live with us so you’ll be able to see your son when you want to. I’m
sure she’ll allow that.”

Brawn had to force his breathing to slow and got control of
his unstable emotions.
Becca is pregnant. Becca is here
. He slowly
stalked toward Flame. “I won’t attack you. I want a deeper scent.”

Flame didn’t look happy but held his ground. “Why?”

Brawn inched closer to him and inhaled. It wasn’t enough
until he lowered his head and closed his eyes. His nose brushed Flame’s shirt
and he sniffed.
Becca
. Her scent was something he’d never forget and he
traced more of her, hating the sweet smell of her fear that he picked up.