New Species 06 Wrath (31 page)

“When do we leave?” He wanted it to be right then.

“We’re set to go in an hour,” Justice stated. “The helicopters should be setting down in the parking lot in about fifteen minutes. That should give Tim time to plan the mission. We don’t want to rush in there without a plan in place. We’re going to hit them hard and fast, but effectively.”

Wrath grimly nodded. “Agreed.”

* * * * *

Lauren watched the men eat and tried to hide her aversion. It wasn’t cooked at all, just bags of totally raw chunks of meat. She declined when 140 offered her some.

“You need your strength.”

“I can’t eat that,” she admitted. “Really. It makes me sick.”

He frowned and offered it to her again after he used his teeth to tear off a small strip. “One.”

She took it and popped it into her mouth. The metallic taste of cold blood was horrible and it was chewy. It took a while but she managed to choke it down.

“Eat another.”

“Nope. That was it for me. Trust me on that. You don’t want to see it come up.” Her stomach churned. “I’m good until breakfast.”
Hopefully I’ll be out of here by then.

140 sighed, appeared slightly disappointed with her, but didn’t argue. He divided her portion of the food into fours, which he split among the other men. They didn’t talk even after they finished their quick dinner and Lauren leaned back against the cage wall. She was tired and it seemed as if a lot of time had passed.

Footsteps drew her attention and Mark walked out from the hallway. He stopped about six feet from her cage. “I called them and they accepted the deal. They are getting the money and my immunity paperwork in order.” He puffed out his chest. “I told them I insist on it being on paper so I have proof. They are planning on having it all done by three. I’m going to leave and they’ll come right after I give them the address.” He pulled out a small little camera and waved it slowly at the cages. “My proof that you are alive and well.”

“Is that deal for all of us?” Lauren worried about that.

“Yeah. You, them, and the woman in the basement.”

Lauren glanced at 140 and he seemed relieved his mate was included. She didn’t blame him. He’d said the woman was sick and she hoped it would be something simple that a full medical staff could handle. The NSO would make sure she got the best doctors. They took really good care of their own.

“I’m going to go pack,” Mark informed them. “I have to think of where I want to live.”

He left quickly and turned off the lights. She wished he hadn’t as darkness settled around them. The bastard no longer cared what happened to them as long as he got his deal. Hope swelled in her chest that he’d remembered to give her code word and that someone would run a search on it, figure out there used to be a club, or that they’d call Amanda to ask her what it might mean. Her best friend would instantly remember their old hangout.

Wrath was smart and he’d figure it out. She definitely had faith him. Time had lost meaning and she couldn’t even estimate if it were still early evening or past midnight. All she could do was wait in the darkness. It sucked.

“Are you cold?” 140’s voice startled her.

“I’m okay. A little chilled but I’m not touching that blanket. It reeks and who knows where it’s been or what’s been done to it.”

He chuckled. “True. Come here and I’ll keep you warm.”

“No thank you.”

“I have a female. I won’t attempt to mount you.”

“You’re damn straight you won’t. I have a guy and I love him. No offense.”

“Come here. I will hold you. Our bodies are warmer than yours.”

She hesitated. “You won’t touch me in a sexual way?”

“No. I said I have a mate.”

“And that means what?”

“I do not want another female. I only want to mount mine.”

There is that mounting word again.
She hesitated but nodded. “Okay. Where are you? I can’t see a thing.”

Big, gentle hands touched her waist. She gasped when he just dragged her closer, forced her to lie on her side, and he shoved an arm under her head. One arm tightened around her middle and jerked her closer to his body. She found herself spooned by a stranger. 140 just held her, didn’t try anything funny, and his body heat was nice. She relaxed against him.

“Thank you. You are warm.”

He rested his chin on her head. “You are chilled. Your skin is cooler than it was today.”

“You remember my skin temperature?”

“I noticed everything. It’s what we do.”

“Are we alone in here with just the other New Species men?”

He lifted his head. “Yes.”

“Can all of you hear me if I whisper?”

“Yes.” His body tensed. “Why?”

“Will anyone else hear me? Do you know if they have listening devices or cameras?”

“They don’t and none of them are nearby. I’d smell them.” 140 sounded sure.

She whispered. “I tricked that man into calling the NSO. I am hoping they will send help to us really soon. Homeland traces all incoming calls and they might know where we are. They will come get us before any scheduled exchanges. I don’t want any of you to be alarmed if that happens.”

The arms around her middle tightened noticeably, almost squeezing her to the point of pain. “Will they kill us?”

She knew he meant him, his mate, and the three other men in cages. “No. They are your people, 140. They are going to rescue you. They work with my people and I don’t want any of you to be alarmed if they show up.”

His hold eased. “I am afraid to hope for freedom.”

“I understand.”

Time seemed to stretch on forever. Lauren yawned, the stress of the day getting to her. 140 wasn’t Wrath but in the dark he reminded her of the man she loved. She wasn’t afraid to have hope.
I’m getting out of here and I’m going to see Wrath soon.

* * * * *

Wrath wanted to go into the dark building immediately but Brass gripped his arm, shaking his head.

“Wait. They are setting up now. We need to do this right, hit it at once from all sides and take over as quickly as possible to avoid any fatalities. The infrared is showing a lighter heat signature near the hot spots. That means it’s a human.”

Tim watched the portable tablet device monitor in his hands and spoke. “We found her.” He looked grim when he lifted his head, seeking someone out in the group clustered around him.

Wrath didn’t like the way Tim held his gaze with a look of near pity. He glanced back down at the screen.

Brass addressed the issue. “What is wrong, Tim? Tell us.”

“We didn’t detect Lauren Henderson’s heat signature right off because another masks it. She’s with one of yours and they are lying on their sides. He is right against her. She’s smaller than him, at first it seemed a blurred image but we got a better angle. They are lying together real tight.”

Rage filled Wrath. “They’ve forced bred her to one of the males.”

Shadow gripped his other arm when he tried to spin around to rush to Lauren’s aid. Brass’ hold clamped down tighter as both of them held him in place.

“You don’t know that for certain,” Shadow rumbled. “Calm.”

“Calm or leave,” Brass agreed.

He took a deep breath to regain control of his anger. He nodded sharply to let them know when he had. “We need to go in there.”

“We have to wait until the lesser heat signatures are farther away from the hotter ones. They could have guns. The problem is that we’re picking up a human close to a Species.” Tim touched his screen and turned it to show the men around him. “This is the blueprint of the building. There’s a small storage basement and that’s where one of yours is being held.” He tapped the screen. “The human is damn close. It’s harder to read the heat signatures belowground but we’ve got them here and here.” He pointed.

“We need to create a distraction,” Brass suggested.

“That’s what I was thinking. We put an SUV in the parking lot to observe the back of the building. We could set off its alarm. That might pull the human to the back of the building to check out what is causing the noise. We can breach if they fall for it.”

“Do it,” Wrath urged, desperate to get in there and find Lauren.

Tim tapped his ear. “Trey?”

Everyone on the teams could hear any chatter on the coms and a male answered. “Yeah?”

Tim outlined the plan. “Everyone get ready to blow in on my command. We all go in at once, no delays, and remember we’ve got five victims in there. We’re assuming the four New Species have never been freed so wait for New Species assistance before you free them unless we hit a hot zone.” He released his ear and stared at Brass. “Are your teams ready?”

“We’re already prepared to fight for the freedom of Species.” He glanced at Wrath. “And for the females of our males.”

“What if it is a hot zone?” Wrath didn’t even want to think about someone taking the time to set explosives or other deadly precautions that would kill anyone inside the building in case of a breach. “We aren’t abandoning them, are we?” He wouldn’t leave Lauren.

“It’s a grab-and-go if it’s a trap.” Tim frowned and held Brass’ stare. “You sure he’s okay? This is personal for him.”

“It’s personal for all of us. There are Species in there as well. He’s got a right to try to save his female.”

“Shit.” Tim sighed. “I don’t think this is a good idea. We need everyone coolheaded.”

Brass released Wrath’s arm and leaned in closer until they were practically nose to nose. “You go for your female. Don’t hurt the male with her, Wrath. Do you understand me? We don’t know the circumstances and until we do, swear to me that he’s safe from you. I give you my word to personally lock you in a room with him later if he hurt her without justified cause.”

“I swear.” They were hard words for Wrath to say but the most important thing was Lauren.

Tim reached up and touched his ear. “Set off the alarm. Everyone get ready to breach on my mark. Remember the damn layout.”

Wrath’s heart pounded and fear gripped him hard. He silently swore to get Lauren past whatever horrors she’d endured. They could deal with anything together, as long as he got her back alive.

Chapter Seventeen

A car alarm going off in the distance woke Lauren and she tensed, disorientated, but the arm around her waist reminded her quickly of reality. She was locked inside a cage with 140, her cheek pillowed on his arm and the sound she heard was a typical one.

“It is fine,” he assured her. “We hear those sounds sometimes.”

“Car alarm,” she supplied. “Everyone seems to have one these days. I’m guessing it’s windy outside or a cat jumped on it. My Tiger has set off many of them.”

“Tiger?”

“My pet.”

“Are you warm enough?”

“Yes. Thank you.” He was keeping her warm, made sleeping bearable in the confined space, and she closed her eyes again, ready to drift back off.

140 growled, his body turned rigid and his head jerked up.

“What is it? Do you see a rat?”

“No. I smell humans.”

“I do too,” one of the other Species hissed.

“Unfamiliar,” one of them growled.

“Thank God!” Joy hit Lauren as she tried to sit up but 140 held her against him. “Let me up. It’s got to be the cavalry.”

“Who?” 140 didn’t release her.

“The NSO. They must have found us, got my message, and figured it out. Everyone remain calm,” she whispered. “These will be the good guys and some of your people should be with them.” Tears filled her eyes. “Wrath must be out there too.”

A male shouted and it was the start of rapid action that had Lauren screaming in terror and confusion. The boards over the windows blew apart, glass shattered and loud booms deafened her. Men’s shouts, blinding lights, and smoke came with it.

Big shapes seemed to fly through the now-destroyed windows and the big body behind her was instantly gone. He almost stepped on her when he pinned her body between his calves, planting himself above her in a half crouch. He snarled.

She had to blink a few times to adjust to the flashlights bouncing all over the big room. Boots pounded over the old dance floor and she watched dark shapes rush past the sides of the cages. One of the big shapes hit the other side of the cage and snarled. Her head jerked in that direction and Wrath crouched down enough for her to see him clearly.

“Wrath!” She tried to turn on her stomach and crawl to him but 140’s legs still pinned her.

140 spun, snarled at Wrath, and refused to let her go. Wrath showed sharp teeth but didn’t make any scary sounds. He did lift his flashlight though, enabling her to see more of his features. It was the best sight Lauren had ever seen.

“140? This is Wrath. It’s okay. Can you ease up on my legs and let me go to him?”

He moved, stepped away, and she crawled a few feet to Wrath. His hands came through the narrow bars, cupped her face and pulled her so close her skin brushed against metal. His eyes looked black as she stared deeply into them. The sounds of shouted orders from the task force faded away as all her concentration centered on him.