New Species 13 Smiley (20 page)

“So soon?”

“I’m not like your males.”

Their short nap had been interrupted by a phone call. Smiley
had kissed Vanni’s cheek and told her to go back to sleep. He’d been notified
of a meeting he had to attend. She’d gotten out of bed the second the front
door closed and stood on unsteady feet. Every muscle from the waist down seemed
to hurt. She groaned and made it to the bathroom to soak in a hot tub.

“What do you expect? You’re doing Mr. Fitness,” she muttered
when her legs trembled after she climbed out. Her inner thigh muscles burned a
bit and her lower ass wanted to go on strike with each step. The bath
alleviated her discomfort.

She bent at the waist to dry her hair and groaned. Her girl
parts were fine but she might have strained the muscles in her ass. She
finished rubbing her hair and used the counter to help her straighten.

The image in the mirror made her cringe. Her hair hung in
wet, stringy strands and her lips appeared swollen from Smiley’s kisses. She
turned away from her reflection and wrapped the towel around her middle.

“Must work out more,” she muttered, limping to the bedroom.
She made it to the bed and just fell over, happy to be off her feet. She stared
at the phone on the bedside table and wanted to call Beth. Her friend would
laugh at her dilemma. Beth would find it funny but all it did was make Vanni
wonder how she was going to hide her discomfort from Smiley.

The phone rang and she groaned, stretching out to get it in
case it was Smiley calling to check on her. “Hello?”

“Were you date-raped and drugged?”

She winced, identifying her brother’s stern voice. “Hi,
Count. No. It’s not true if you heard that story.”

“What the hell have you gotten us into then?”

She tried to think of what to say.

“Answer the damn question,” he demanded. “Mom and Dad are
AWOL and we’re sequestered in a hotel. Of all the guys you had to fuck around
with, you picked a New Species? Couldn’t you have had a last fling with a
stripper at your bachelorette party like any normal person?”

She rolled onto her back, gripping the phone to her ear and
stared at the ceiling. “Mom and Dad went to the cabin but I’m sure you already
guessed that. It’s where they always go.”

“That’s all you have to say? You wrecked our lives this
week. I want answers. What the hell is going on? You’re lucky I didn’t shoot
the security team that arrived. We heard something about you holding a press
conference and that you’d been victimized by the NSO and then they showed up
here, saying
we
were in danger. You should have warned us what kind of
hell was about to rain down on our family.”

She hated the tears that filled her eyes. She was the baby
of the family and had always tried really hard to fly under the radar. Count
had every right to be angry. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry doesn’t change the fact that you embarrassed this
entire family and we’re all paying for it. I don’t even know what to think.
What kind of idiot goes to a bar and picks up a stranger? Then you had to do it
with cameras rolling so it was fodder for everyone to see. We raised you
better!” He cursed. “Knock that off, Mia. I’m talking to her.”

“You’re being a prick,” her sister insisted from somewhere
close to the phone. “Let me talk to her.”

“I’m not done,” Count insisted. “Couldn’t she have made
cooking videos or something if she wanted to be an internet sensation? Fuck no.
Our sister has to become an interspecies porn star.”

“Goddamn it!” Mia yelled. “Give me the phone, barf breath.
Did you brush your teeth? Your poor wife. Go find a toothbrush. Do I need to
remind you of the shit you pulled in high school? Do your cop buddies know you
used to smoke weed? Don’t jump her ass.”

“She’s not in high school. She’s an adult.”

Vanni winced. Her siblings were fighting because of her.
They were close in age and it could get ugly once they started. The usually
mature pair turned into a set of five-year-olds occasionally when they argued.
Mia must have won the wrestling match over the phone since Count howled in pain
and Mia’s voice came over the receiver.

“Are you okay, Vanni? Ignore our idiot brother. He didn’t
mean any of that. We’ve just been really worried. We’ve heard a lot of
conflicting things.”

Vanni blinked back the tears. “Count meant it. He’s angry.”

“Okay, so he did.” Mia paused and a smacking sound could be
heard. Count cursed. “Stop that. Try to take it again and I’ll scratch the shit
out of you,” Mia threatened. “I wasn’t kidding about your breath. You smell
like ass. Go brush your teeth.”

“I’m getting your husband,” Count taunted.

“Go do that. He’s afraid of my fingernails too when I’m
pissed. Try to grab the phone one more time and you’re going to bleed,” Mia
warned. “And don’t breathe on my husband. What the hell did you eat?”

“Please don’t fight,” Vanni urged.

“Hang on.” Mia slammed a door. “Ha! It’s locked, jerk!” Her
voice lowered. “I’m in the bathroom. He wouldn’t dare kick it down. You should
see this place they have us staying in. It’s ritzy as hell. The door probably
costs more than his beloved rusted piece-of-junk car he calls a classic.”

“I’m so sorry,” Vanni whispered.

“It’s done. I just hate that we couldn’t talk to you before.
Why were you avoiding our calls over the weekend? What is really going on,
Vanni?”

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“It’s okay. Are you okay? That’s the most important thing.”

“I am.”

“How are you holding up? I can’t imagine what you’re going
through.”

“I’m fine.” She wasn’t about to share her sex injuries,
which were making her ass and thighs ache. “It’s just been kind of a nightmare
with the press and with the Woods Church.”

“The security team said the Woods Church was a threat to us
and that’s why we’re here. I knew that family was shit once I found out who the
father was. They are a bunch of lunatics. What did Carl do to you? Did he hit
you? I didn’t like that asshole. He was too smooth and controlling.”

That astonished Vanni. “I thought you liked him as much as
the rest of the family did.”

“I was being nice. I’ve racked my brain thinking why you’d
end up getting tanked in a bar and picking up some guy you didn’t know from
Adam. I know you too well. Carl either cheated on you or hit you. Which one was
it?”

She couldn’t tell her sister the entire story so she hedged
over the main parts but shared how he’d tricked her into going to the
convention and the way he’d treated her. “I was done. I didn’t mean for that to
happen in the bar but I don’t regret it.” That was the truth. “Smiley is here
with me. He’s wonderful.”

The silence at the other end of the phone connection became
uncomfortable. Her sister finally spoke. “Can he hear what I’m saying?”

“No. I’m alone right now.”

“Are you being held there against your will?”

“No.” Vanni sat up and winced, forgetting her soreness. “Smiley
is amazing. The NSO is protecting me from Carl’s dad and his crazy worshipers.
They are saying I was drugged and forced to, um, you know.”

“I know. We heard. That’s what I told Count after we watched
the news earlier today. You looked happy but scared. I like the way that guy
you’re with was so protective of you.”

“Today?”

“When the NSO took you shopping. It was all over the news.”

Vanni’s gaze drifted to the TV on the dresser. She was
tempted to turn it on to see if they were playing the footage but she resisted.
“It turned kind of hairy when all those people showed up but I’m fine. Really.”

“What kind of threat are you looking at from the Woods
Church? Do they want revenge because you dumped Carl? I remember that one
religious group who tried to burn a woman alive in front of the gates of the
NSO for sleeping with a New Species.” Mia’s voice quavered. “Are they going to
want to kill you?”

“Maybe. They are crazy, Mia. I’m safe here though.”

“Thank god. Don’t leave there.”

“I won’t.”

“This Smiley guy is treating you well? He looked pretty
concerned today.”

“Yes. He’s really sweet and wonderful.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Count is fit to be tied but don’t let
him get to you. You know how our brother is. It’s his twisted and controlling
way to be a big asshole when he’s worried. He had a complex as a kid and now he
has a badge so he thinks he knows everything. I don’t have to cook or clean so
I’m looking at this like a free vacation with a lot of security guards. I just
wish they hadn’t given us connecting suites because two more days of listening
to our brother and I’m going to consider tossing Count out a window to see if
he turns into a bat and can fly.”

Vanni chuckled. It was an old joke. “Thanks, Mia. I was
afraid you’d be mad at me too.”

“I’m just worried. You do what your security team says. They
seem to know their stuff. They had us packed and hustled out of our homes in
short order and put us in the penthouse suites of this hotel. We have the
entire top floor so we’re safe.”

“I was worried.”

“We’re more worried about you. You aren’t exactly tough.”

“I’m not a wimp.” She resented the implication.

“No, you’re not, sweetie. You’re just a bit sheltered and we’ve
always been protective of you.”

“I’m no longer a child and I’ve told you to stop. I
appreciate that
you
try, at least.”

“I need to go. Count, that rat bastard, blabbed to my
husband. They are arguing outside the door. I don’t want them to come to blows.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Mia suddenly yelled, “Knock it off!”

The call disconnected and Vanni replaced the receiver in the
cradle, grateful she wasn’t staying at the hotel with her family. Her siblings’
families living together sounded like a nightmare. They could never be under
the same roof for more than a few hours without it turning into pandemonium.

Vanni inched off the bed and cursed. She needed a massage
and muscle relaxers. She settled on going to the kitchen for a soda instead
since the first two were not viable options. The bags from their shopping
expedition were on the counter. She popped open the can and took a sip,
deciding to get dressed. Moving around might help ease some of her soreness
before Smiley returned.

She also remembered she needed to make some calls. Gregory
Woods still had her wallet and all her credit cards. She needed to cancel them
but she didn’t want to go against Justice North’s orders about the phone
restrictions. She’d asked Smiley and he’d said it would be fine. Canceling and
replacing everything would be a hassle.

Smiley hated that everyone in the room had overheard Vanni’s
conversation with her sister and brother. The meeting had come to a halt when
they’d received word that a phone call had come in for her. It had been patched
through Justice’s phone, their side muted. He’d disliked her brother instantly
after he’d torn into Vanni. When the phone call ended, he stood.

“I’m going to check on her.”

Justice frowned. “She sounded fine. We’re not done.”

“I don’t know why everyone had to listen in on her
conversation.” It wasn’t the first time Smiley had protested.

“I’m sorry about that.” Justice frowned. “But we needed to
know what was said. We needed to know if her family is unhappy about her being
here and if they resent being held in a hotel. They have a history with Carl
Woods and he could use that association to taint their view of us by urging
your female to leave Homeland.”

Smiley knew he was right. “That didn’t happen. Her sister
told her to stay here where she’s safe.”

“Good thing.”

Smiley shot Jericho a glare. “What does that mean?”

“We just had the bartender delivered to us. I thought you’d
want to be present for that instead of tying Vanni to a bed to keep her safe. I
would do that if she were my female.”

Fury laughed. “It does work.”

Justice growled low. “Don’t remind me.” He narrowed his gaze
on Fury. “And I remember you having Ellie tied to your bed for a different
reason.”

“I believe I was hired right after that,” Miles Eron
muttered. “You needed a lot of help with your public image.”

Fury’s humor faded. “Who gets the pleasure of scaring the
shit out of this human and making him talk?”

“I do,” Smiley volunteered.

Jericho stood. “No. I’ll do it.”

“He drugged me and Vanni.” Smiley faced him, ready to argue
his case.

“Exactly. It’s personal. He can’t talk if you lose your
temper and break his jaw. Take your feelings out of this by answering my
question with complete honesty. Who will terrify the human more? Me or you?”

Smiley hated it but conceded to Jericho’s logic. “Fine but I
get to be there.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Jericho nodded. “The
sight of you will make him nervous.”

“I remember when I used to be in charge,” Justice mused. “I
even have the nice office and desk.”

“Sorry.” Jericho didn’t look it though.

“I really don’t think this is a good idea,” Miles protested.
“I think the task force team is doing a fine job.”

Justice stood. “Noted, Miles. We appreciate your input but
this isn’t happening outside the walls of Homeland. Jericho has a good plan.
Let’s go. They are holding the human in interview room two. We all want to see
this.”

“Are we going to record it?” Fury arched an eyebrow
questioningly.

Justice nodded. “We’ll leak it to the press.” He glanced
between Smiley and Jericho. “Keep that in mind. Humans are squeamish about
things they perceive as too violent or frightening.”

“That’s why I think the task force should handle this.”
Miles stood too. “It will appear you terrified this man into a confession. You
pay me to tell you what my people will think. There it is.”

“Give it up,” Cindy muttered. “No one else agrees with you.”