Numbers (14 page)

“No, but I’d like to.”

“Is there something you’ve always wanted to try, but
haven’t?”

He considered it. “I’d like for you to teach me how to
dance.”

Her eyebrows arched, but she seemed pleased. “Really?”

“Yes. I’ve seen Species do that, and it looks fun. I want to
be able to take you there for dates.”

“You’re a romantic.”

“You inspire me.”

“I’d love to teach you anything I know. Just name it. Any
time. Anything.”

“I don’t want my being Species, and you being human, to ever
come between us.”

“It won’t. We talk.”

“Yes, we do. We have total honesty. I never want that to
change.”

“The great thing about us is that we are determined to make
this work.”

“Yes.” He paused, something on his mind. “Dana, would you
like me to change my name?”

Her eyebrows shot upward and she looked surprised. “What?”

“I took the name Mourn after losing my mate. I grieved her
loss. I could change my name to something to reflect us if you want.”

She stroked his hair. “Why do you think I’d want that?”

“I’m worried that my name will cause you pain or it will be
a constant reminder that I was mated before.”

“It doesn’t. You’re Mourn. I don’t want you to change. I was
Dana when I was married to Tommy. Should I change my name to something new?”
She smiled.

He grinned. “No. You’re Dana.”

“You’re Mourn. I don’t associate it with your past. The only
reason you should change your name is if you hate it. Do you?”

“I’m used to it now.”

“I’m kind of fond of it myself. I love you, Mourn.”

“I love you, Dana.”

He slowly eased his semi-hard dick out of her and turned
them over so she ended up sprawled across his body. She settled onto him,
stroking his chest and arms.

“Dana?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for talking to me and taking my hand that day.”

“We’re kindred spirits. How could I not?”

“I don’t know what that means.”

She smiled. “We’re very much alike.”

He chuckled. “Yes, we are.”

Three months later

“Dana? Open the bathroom door.” Mourn gripped the locked
handle and growled.

“Go away,” she muttered. “I’m going to be sick.”

“I know you dread your mother’s visit but she’s isn’t
staying with us. We feel bad for Paul, remember?”

“It’s not that.” She groaned.

Mourn snapped the lock as he viciously twisted the handle,
opening the door. He rushed forward the moment he spotted Dana crouched on the
floor. He just dropped to his knees next to her, wrapping an arm around her.

“I’ve got you.”

“This is so embarrassing. It’s why I locked the door. You’re
supposed to stay out there.”

“You’re my mate.” He cradled her closer. “We hide nothing
from each other.”

“You don’t need to see my lunch come up. Why do they call
this morning sickness? It’s afternoon.”

He brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “You’re carrying
my son. I wish I could suffer this instead of you.”

“Trisha said it should pass soon, because of the increased
gestation thing while carrying a New Species baby. Morning sickness can hit
fast and hard but it hopefully won’t last more than a week or two.”

“I hope that is fact. I worry so much about you.”

“Don’t. It’s normal. I’m healthy. You know that since you
have Trisha check on me every day.”

“I can’t let anything happen to you.”

She clutched his hand and lifted her head, staring into his
eyes. “I’m going to be fine. We’re lucky. I mean, we got pregnant the first
month. Some couples try for years.”

He grinned. “My seed knows it belongs inside you.”

“You did promise that you wouldn’t let me feel empty after
sex.” Dana took a few deep breaths. “The nausea is passing. It helps, having
you stroke my back like that.”

“Good.” He kept doing it, staying at her side. “I’m going to
take a few weeks off to be with you.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“I want to. I already asked, and they are assigning my
duties to another male until you’re feeling better.”

“You’re the best.”

“I try to be.”

“You are.”

He rubbed her back for a good five minutes. “How are you
feeling?”

“Better.”

He took his hand off her back, lifted her in his arms and
carried her into their bedroom. He set her on the bed, removed her shoes, and
started undressing her.

“We have to meet my mom.”

“We will after you take a nap. You look tired.”

“I am.”

“I am going to hold you while you sleep.”

“She’ll be pissed if we don’t show up for dinner on her
first night here.”

“She’s already pissed because you moved here and mated me.”
He shrugged. “We will cheer her with news of our son.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“She wanted a grandbaby. Species young are cute. He will
capture her heart.”

Dana curled onto her side and smiled as Mourn got naked and
spooned behind her, molding their bodies together. “I know you captured mine.”

He chuckled. “Felines are irresistible. We purr.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. I know.”

Mourn slid his hand forward to tenderly cup her belly. “We
made a baby with our love. Do you feel amazement over that? I do every day.”

She nodded. “We’re really blessed.”

He held her a little tighter. “Yes, we are, and this is just
the start of our life together. It is only going to keep getting better.”

Twenty-three years ago

Christopher had one of the techs open the door and he
carried the unconscious girl into the room. He glanced down, guilt making his
steps hesitant. She’d seen too much. It was either kill her too, or put her in
a place where she could never tell the police what he’d done. His plan would
put her in danger, but she had a chance of survival if he made her part of one
of his experiments. None of his supervisors would complain or refute his
decision. They’d welcome having a human child at their disposal.

The male pup backed up into a corner. It sniffed the air,
looking unsure, and its big, dark eyes narrowed. Christopher glared back. “Her
name is Candace.” It helped to say her formal name, not the one he’d called her
since her birth. “She’s your new roommate. You hurt her and I’ll kill you
myself. Am I clear?”

The pup growled as Christopher lowered the girl to a
sleeping mat and left her there. He backed up quickly. The pups were strong and
fast, despite their young age. He’d never turn his back on the little bastard.
Many of the staff had already learned to be wary. No deaths had occurred yet,
but the test subjects were growing more dangerous as they developed. He felt a
little safer knowing Tad would shoot 927 with a tranquilizer dart if he lunged
for his throat.

“I mean it,” Christopher warned. “She dies, you die. Got
it?”

The pup growled at him again.

Christopher was certain the pup understood a lot more
English than it pretended to, despite its refusal to speak. He’d bet the little
animal would actually speak to his daughter after they spent enough time
together. Mercile would welcome the opportunity to monitor their interaction,
and they’d learn exactly how smart the little bastards really were. Candace
would be key to that research. She was about the same age as the pup.

He backed out of the room and the door slammed with
finality. There would be no taking her from that cell, from the life he’d brought
her into. His Candi might as well have died with the bitch who’d birthed her.
His pain and rage were equal. Just the memory of coming home to find the woman
he’d married in bed with the neighbor almost sent him into a rage again.

“Are you okay, Dr. Chazel?”

“Yes.” Christopher wasn’t about to admit to Tad that he’d
just killed his so-called loving wife and the man he’d considered a friend. His
house had to have already been reduced to rubble and ash. He’d set the fire
himself. It had been easy to dig out the bullets expelled from his gun and
bring some candles into the bedroom. He’d taken booze from the bar and spilled
it all over the bed, and then knocked one of the candles over. The
whish
he heard as flames spread had felt appropriate. His marriage had ended just as
destructively and fast.

He’d almost walked out of the bedroom, but movement caught
his attention. Candi had stood there, cowering against the wall behind the
door. The shots from his gun must have woken her. She wasn’t supposed to be
home. It was one of the reasons he’d left work early. She’d been invited to a
sleepover. He’d wanted to surprise his wife with a romantic evening but she’d
started without him, with another man.

Candi had trembled in her little pink nightgown, eyes wide
and showing signs of shock. He wasn’t sure how much she’d seen but obviously
too much. The bullets he’d dug out with a steak knife were in his pocket. So
was the knife. He moved fast, the fire spreading at an alarming rate. She’d
stiffened in his arms when he’d lifted her and strode down the hallway. Then
she’d whimpered. He’d glanced down and knew without a doubt that she understood
he’d just killed her mother.

“Where did you get the girl?” Tad tapped the monitor by the
door after they entered the hallway. “She’s a cute little thing.”

The black-and-white screen came to life and pulled
Christopher from his memories of an hour before. He looked up at the feed. The
pup moved cautiously toward his daughter. His spine stiffed. He would kill the
little bastard if it tore into Candi’s throat, but it just sniffed at her and
then reached out, touching her cheek with a finger. It explored her
honey-colored hair next, sniffed at it and began playing with the strands.

“What?” He hadn’t paid attention to what Tad had said.

“The little girl. Where’d you get her?”

“Mind your own business. Keep watch. Stun the little bastard
and chain it up if it attacks her. I want to see if it’ll accept her as one of
its own. She’s important to our research. Make sure she gets medical attention if
she needs it.”

“You gave a pup a pet?” The guard laughed. “That’s
hilarious.”

Christopher wasn’t amused. He had things to do. The police
would contact him soon. He’d swear he never left work. The company would back
him after he talked to his supervisor. Mercile Industries needed to make sure
they produced bogus proof to give him an airtight alibi. Evelyn would salivate
once she realized the kind of research they could do with Candi.
Candace
,
he corrected. He had to distance himself from her.

He spun away and stormed down the hallway. He wasn’t going
to prison. His own daughter would put him there if she ever told the police
what he’d done. No way did he plan to go down because his wife had been a
whore. It was unfortunate but he needed to save his own ass. Evelyn would
agree. She’d hired him herself, and believed in his research. He’d be
protected.

Four days ago

Candi sat calmly in the chair, her fingers curled around the
arms. It was never good when Penny wanted to have a conversation.
Did
someone notice I faked taking my pills again?
She’d mastered the pretext of
being still and emotionless. Patience had been learned since the last time
she’d tried to escape.

The door opened and the woman who walked in took a seat at
the empty desk. There were no pens, mementos or even a paper clip on the
surface. The room had been stripped of anything a patient could steal. Sunlight
glinted off the bars through the clean windows of the office but Candi ignored
it. It would not attract her attention if she was as drugged as she wanted them
to believe.

“Look at me.”

Candi lifted her gaze and stared into what most would
consider to be kind amber eyes, framed by a pair of matronly glasses. She knew
better. Penny had no heart and the morals of a brick. The two of them had a
long history. She’d believed once that the truth would set her free. Instead it
had gotten her more heavily medicated and they had locked her in solitary
confinement.

“I have some sad news. Your father passed away a few days
ago of a pulmonary embolism. I was just informed.”

Christopher is dead.
Candi had dreamed of hearing
that news for too long. It didn’t bring a sense of relief the way she had once
believed it would. That had been back when she’d been naïve, thinking her
prison sentence would end once his life did. She knew better now, being older
and smarter. They were never going to let her out, not even after she’d seen
those news stories on the television. Penny would have seen them too. Nothing
had changed.

Movement by the door registered at the edge of Candi’s
vision, but she didn’t turn her head to look. She could just make out two big
shapes. Orderlies had just arrived.
Shit
. She kept her emotions hidden,
aware that the director watched her closely.

Penny turned her head. “Give us a few minutes.”

The door closed and Candi verified that the two figures had
left—their footsteps were soft in the hallway. She remained still, just
blinking a few times.

“Did you hear me, Candace? Your father died.”

She nodded slightly after calculating how long ago she’d
been given her pills. Twenty minutes had passed, tops. She’d be pretty out of
it, but not entirely.

“How do you feel?”

“Sleepy.” She purposely slurred the word.

“I knew the truth,” the other woman admitted, keeping her
voice low. “I did a little side work for Mercile Industries. The money was too
good to resist. I counseled some of the staff who had issues dealing with the
important work they did.”

It pissed Candi off. She’d suspected something was fishy
when she’d seen those news stories with Justice North but no one had released
her. She’d thought at first that Penny might have been afraid to admit she’d
helped keep Candi under wraps, but time had proven that she didn’t have the
balls to do the right thing. Now she knew she’d never stood a chance of that
happening. Her grip tightened on the plastic padding of the chair, but she
relaxed before it was noticed. She’d worked too hard to give herself away in a
fit of anger.

“Christopher and I were close.” Penny reached up and
adjusted her glasses. “Lovers. It ended a few years ago when he had to leave
the country after the facilities were raided, but no one could tie me to that
mess. He paid well for me to keep you here. I’ve felt guilty about that more
than a few times. You know I looked out for you though, don’t you? I made sure
none of the orderlies or staff messed with you.”

Candi yawned, blinking a few more times.

“You’re a pretty girl,” the director went on. “You were
never beaten or sexually abused. It happens in these places, but not to you. I
only assigned the people I trusted and made damn sure they knew your father was
a rich, powerful man who would see them in hell if anyone ever laid a finger on
you.”

Penny paused for a few seconds. “That wasn’t true. I mean,
he had money, but he pretty much went off the grid once your mother died in
that fire. He became paranoid that he’d be arrested. The thing is, now he’s
dead, and he won’t be able to make the payments for your care anymore.”

And here it comes
, Candi surmised.
The death
sentence.
She had to give the other woman some credit for at least finally
telling her the truth, even if her reasons were selfish. It was a guilt dump in
some sorry attempt to make herself feel better.

“I can’t let you walk out of here. You’d tell them what I
did. I never documented the things you told me from the therapy sessions about
your childhood, and that would look suspicious. I never allowed anyone else to
work with you, and they’d pore over your medical records if anyone actually
believed your story. I’d go to prison.”

That would be nice since you’ve kept me in one
. Candi
wished she could say it aloud.

“I can’t afford to foot the bill for your care. That leaves
me in a bad position. Do you understand?”

Yeah. You’re a cold-blooded bitch, willing to do anything
to save your sorry ass
. Candi yawned again and lifted her hand to rub her
eyes. The signs of exhaustion were easier to fake. She was getting tired of
hearing the bullshit.

“We’re going to go on a little trip. We’ll visit the woods.”
Penny paused. “I told the staff that your father wants you transferred. Because
of a few lawsuits, we are legally bound to give your body to the coroner’s
office so they can perform an autopsy, or I’d just end things here. I can’t
risk that since I’d be held accountable if you overdosed or had an accident.
They’d do an inquiry and then I’d have to explain too much. I told the staff
your father is retiring and wants you closer.” Penny stood and rounded the
desk, stopping behind Candi’s chair.

By sheer will, she did not flinch away when the woman put a
hand on her shoulder and bent, placing a kiss on the top of her head. Penny
wouldn’t dare kill her at that moment, but she would soon. Candi’s carefully
laid plans to escape the building and grounds were smashed. She’d have to think
of something else, and fast.

“You just sleep. You’ll wake in a much better place. I’m
sorry, honey. Close your eyes.”

Candi fumed inside but she let her eyes close, making her
body go lax. Her chin dipped and she concentrated on slowing her heart rate.
She had a lot of practice at it. Time ticked by. It was probably only a few
minutes, but it seemed to take forever before Penny moved away and opened the
door.

“Jorg? Marco? Come in here. She’s out. Can you please take
her to my car?”

Candi knew it was Marco who slid his arms under her, lifting
her from the chair. He wore a nice cologne that was her only reminder of what a
summer day might have smelled like. It wasn’t as if she could really remember
that far back. He was one of the few she didn’t hate. He never groped her or
said mean things.

“Your car?” He sounded a little suspicious. “Why not an
ambulance? That’s how we usually transfer them.”

“I told you about her father. The less paperwork, the
better. He personally asked me to drive her to the private hospital and have
her admitted. It’s the least I can do.”

“Do you want one of us to go with you? I mean, how far away
is this place? She should be out for at least five hours, but there’s a slim
chance she might wake.” Jorg sounded close.

“She’s a doll now,” Marco argued. “She won’t give the
director any problems. Hell, it’s been about ten months since she had an
episode.”

“That’s what you want to call that?” Jorg snorted. “She grabbed
a nurse and threatened to break her neck if someone didn’t give her a phone.
She wanted to call that NSO place because she thinks she’s one of them, and she
sure was acting like an animal.”

“The private-care hospital her father found is less than an
hour’s drive away.” Penny’s voice came from behind them. “It will be fine.”

Yeah, she doesn’t want any witnesses when she kills me.
Keep lying, Penny
.

“I don’t know,” Jorg argued. “She’s a tricky one. My first
week here, she tried to tell me she was being kept prisoner and to please call
the police.” He laughed. “Like that was a new one. Most of the patients say
that, but she was making up some crazy shit.”

“We don’t use that word,” Penny snapped.

“Right.” Jorg moved ahead, probably opening doors for them.
“Just make sure you warn the poor bastards who are going to care for her next.
She’s a fighter when the drugs wear off. She broke Sal’s nose and two of
Emily’s fingers. Do you want me to sedate her a little more just to be sure,
Dr. Pess?”

That terrified Candi. One jab of the needle and she wouldn’t
stand a chance. She was tempted to snap her eyes open and fight but held off.
There wasn’t any way she could get through the locked doors, and they were
still inside the building. Jorg and Marco were too strong. They’d take her down
fast and subdue her.

“No.” Penny sounded irritated. “She’ll be fine.”

Realizing she might actually survive, Candi’s fear faded.
She kept her muscles relaxed, even when Marco bumped her arm against one of the
walls. It would probably leave a bruise, but that was the least of her
troubles. She still needed to figure out what to do once she was alone with
Penny, if something didn’t go wrong before then.

Cool, fresh air caressed Candi’s skin. It felt glorious. She
was outside. The temptation to open her eyes made her ache. It had been what
seemed like forever since she’d seen it without dirty glass and bars marring
the view. She’d lost track of time, the only hint of its passing was the
decorations the staff put up at holidays, but there were large gaps when they’d
kept her so heavily sedated that she wasn’t sure what year it was anymore.

A small dinging sounded and Marco maneuvered her body,
putting her on something soft but firm in a sitting position. He slid his arms
free and arranged her hands on her lap. Something crossed over her chest and
lap.
A belt.
He gripped her chin and the back of her head last, turning
it so it rested on something solid.

“There you go. I wouldn’t take turns too fast. She’ll
slump.” Marco let her go.

“She’ll be fine.” Penny kept close. “Thank you. I’ve got it
from here.”

“Are you sure you don’t want one of us to tag along?”

Damn Jorg. Paranoid asshole.
He’d thwarted her many
times in her attempts to escape.

“I’m sure.” Penny’s tone took on a hint of irritation. “She’s
not going to give me any problems and the hospital staff will meet me outside
with a wheelchair.”

Something clicked next to her—the car door being closed.
Another one opened and the car moved a little when Penny settled in somewhere
ahead of her and a little to the left. Candi had learned to use her hearing as
well, if not better, than her eyesight to keep tabs on everything around her.
The second door closed and an engine started. It made slight vibrations under
her ass and along her back. The vehicle pulled forward, soft music coming from
four directions. They were moving.

Candi remained still, knowing they needed to pass the guard
shack. Ten-foot walls surrounded the property. They were almost impossible to
climb. She’d found that out once right after she’d been brought to her new
hell. They also had barbed wire along the top. She had the scars on one palm to
prove that, acquired when she’d climbed a tree to get that high. The car
stopped and the music lowered. A soft whine came next and fresh air poured into
the interior from the left.

“Hello, Director Pess. What’s going on?”

“I’m transferring a patient.”

“By yourself?” The guard sounded surprised.

“She’s one of our special guests. Her father is a
politician. He’s managed to keep it out of the press so far that his daughter
needs help, and he wants to keep it that way. She’s sedated.”

“Of course. Have a good day.”

There was a slight whine again and then the fresh air was
gone. The car edged forward seconds later and picked up speed. Candi barely
opened her eyes to stare at the backseat of the car. She’d been belted into the
back right passenger side. The first time the car made a turn, she let her head
roll, allowing her to see more. They traveled along a country road. A few cars
passed.

She was outside the gates, no longer behind the bars and
glass. Her heart pounded and adrenaline surged, but she kept still.
Patience.
It’s not time yet
. Penny would have to take her somewhere remote to kill
her.
Boy, is that bitch in for a surprise.
A smile threatened to curve
her lips but she resisted the temptation.
I’m so close.

Candi allowed her mind to drift to keep her occupied during
the wait. One memory always surfaced first. It kept her sane when she wanted to
just give in and die…

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His eyes were dark brown, almost black. They scared everyone
but her. A glint of humor sparked in them and he fluttered those long black
eyelashes. It was his attempt to look innocent, but she never bought it. She
knew him too well.

“Don’t,” she warned.

“What?” He leaned closer until their breath mingled.

“You know.” She was certain he did. She turned her head,
glancing at the camera in the corner, and then back at him. “They are
watching.”

“They always watch.” He smiled.

He had the best lips. She stared at them, wanting to run her
finger over the bottom one. It was slightly fuller than the top. It looked so
soft and tempting.

“Now who is being bad?” His voice grew husky.

She peered into his eyes. “They’ll make me go back to my
room if you touch me.”

“I want to.”

She’d never lie to him. “I think about you all the time.”