“Where is that?”
“The Persian Gulf.”
“Where is that?”
“On the other side of the world.”
“He’s going to run?”
“It appears he plans to but he won’t get far. Don’t worry, True. We won’t allow him to escape. He’ll pay for what he’s done to your mate and our people. We’re all over him.”
He needed to believe that or he’d sneak off Homeland the way Moon had done to find his mate, only he’d have fewer loving reasons. He wanted to get his hands on the human and wring his neck until he drew his last breath. True wanted to make certain Boris could never harm Jeanie again.
“Um, clothes and personal grooming supplies were left outside the door of your home. They didn’t want to ring the doorbell in case you were sleeping. We were aware that you didn’t get any sleep last night. Place a call to the community gatehouse when you want food supplies delivered. They stored them in their fridge until you’re ready for them. We figured you might attack an officer who entered the home to put them away.”
“Thank you. I’ll call them now. You didn’t get much sleep either. You were interrogating the guards at Fuller.”
“I’m good without sleep.” Darkness chuckled. “I like to keep busy.” His tone turned gruff. “Besides, I would have had nightmares after the things I learned.”
“It was that bad?”
“We’ll discuss it later. Right now your mate is our priority. How is she holding up?”
“Good. Jeanie is brave.”
“You haven’t snarled so I assume you’re keeping your temper in check because she’s sleeping?”
“Good guess.”
“Go back to her and get plenty of rest. Enjoy your new mate and allow us to take care of all this. She is your main concern.”
“I want ten minutes alone with that male when he is arrested.” Darkness didn’t answer. “He should die for what he’s done. I volunteer to be the one.”
“I agree with you but you aren’t the only Species he’s harmed. We might have to draw straws for who gets the pleasure of killing that male.”
“He went after my mate.”
“Fury holds that grudge too. Perhaps you could both tear him apart like a turkey wishbone.” Darkness chuckled. “That’s a good image, isn’t it?”
True silently agreed.
“Get your supplies from out front and call the gatehouse when you want food. I need to make more calls. I’ll text you if there is more information to share.”
“Thank you.”
True disconnected and unlocked the front door. Four boxes were piled in the shade of the porch. He glanced around but didn’t see any movement. It only took two trips to carry them inside before he locked the door again. The food could wait.
He crept back down the hallway and stripped out of his pants then climbed back into bed with Jeanie. She mumbled in her sleep but turned to face him, snuggling against his chest. He grabbed a lock of her hair and inhaled. His mate was safe and in his arms. He’d take Darkness’ advice and worry about the rest of it later.
His dick stirred at just the feel of her against him but he ignored the urge to make love to his mate. She needed sleep more than she needed him. He relaxed, closed his eyes and slowed his breathing until he drifted to sleep.
Chapter Twenty
Jeanie stood back from the table, eyeing the meal she’d laid out. True was on the phone, had been for a while. She went in search of him, finding him in their bedroom. His gaze met hers and he made excuses to end the conversation.
“Dinner is ready. I made a tri-tip and made sure I left the center pretty rare.”
He approached her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You did?”
“I know you like your meat bloody.”
“Will you be able to eat it?”
“I’ll cut off the well-cooked ends.” She grinned, wrapping her arms around him. “Come eat before it gets cold.”
“My mate prepared a meal for me.” He beamed.
“I do remember how to cook. It’s just been a while. I’ve lived alone since I graduated college and no longer had roommates around who thought meals only came in microwavable varieties. It’s kind of pointless to do it just for myself though.”
He lifted her off her feet and walked down the hallway. She lifted her legs, wrapping them around his waist. The feel of his stiff cock trapped inside his pants rubbed against the front of her pussy, making her more than aware that he was aroused.
“Keep this up and we can eat later.”
“No. We’ll share sex after. I’m eager to eat what you made for me.” He forced her to release him when they entered the dining room. He pulled out her chair. “Sit, mate.”
He was always thoughtful. They’d only been mated for just over a day but she had a feeling he wouldn’t be a man who stopped giving her special treatment any time soon, if ever. He sniffed, grinned, and took the chair next to hers. She leaned up and began to dish out food on his plate first, then her own.
“This is wonderful.” He cut into the rare meat, took a tentative bite and groaned in appreciation while staring into her eyes as he chewed and swallowed. “Perfect.”
“Great. There was a recipe for it in one of the drawers from someone who used to live here so I made it from that.” She cut a piece of meat. “May I ask who you were talking to on the phone? You’ve been in there for quite a while.”
“You’re my mate. You can always ask me anything.”
“I thought it might be private New Species business.”
“You are Species now. There is no information you can’t know, Jeanie. It was Darkness on the phone. They’ve discovered a pattern of Boris flying to Oregon for the past few months under one of the two assumed names he’s been using. They were able to locate the car rental business where he spent money and have sent one of the task force members there to see if they use GPS systems in the cars to get an exact location of where he went.”
She forgot about the food on her plate. “There is another place where New Species are being held then.”
“Uncertain but suspicious.”
“Are there any research development companies in the area? That’s where I’d start looking.”
“Three. They are attempting to see if any had dealings with Mercile Industries.”
“Can you search all three of them?”
“We could but not at once. We’re concerned that, if one location is compromised, the other two might catch wind of it. If we choose wrong, they could move Species or kill them to prevent us from rescuing them.”
“Why can’t you hit all three at once?”
“We only have so many trained males to do it without bringing in outside resources. We’d rather not risk that. They aren’t equipped to handle captured Species or the issues we’ve had with other facilities that held them prisoner. It’s best if we investigate until we’re certain which one, if any, may be involved with Mercile or someone who was once an employee with access to our people.”
She nodded, taking in that information. “I see.”
“It might not be a research company. It might be a private individual who owns a Gift Female. It’s in an area where a lot of wealthy humans live.”
Jeanie would never forget what it meant to be tagged with that classification. “You’ve rescued so few of them, right?”
“Yes.” He took a sip of milk. “Boris could be there for other reasons. We don’t want to be rash. We need to know what we’re dealing with.”
“What about the phone taps? Anything?”
“He’s speaking to a human male but their conversations are very brief. We haven’t been able to track those calls. They only give times and dates of meetings before hanging up. All numbers besides the phone Boris uses seem to be untraceable. We tried to call one of the numbers Boris contacted, planning to say it was a wrong number, but it went directly to voicemail. It was an automated voice and we couldn’t pinpoint the location. They set up a
meeting for next week. Boris booked a flight to Oregon so we’re certain the other male is from that area. A team will shadow Boris to discover who the human is, then follow him too.”
“This is frustrating.”
“Eat,” True urged.
She picked at her food, her appetite gone. True enjoyed his meal enough to have three helpings. It made her happy that he seemed to really like her cooking. She’d been nervous while preparing his meal, hoping the meat would be rare enough and to his liking.
His phone rang and they both looked down at his front pocket. He sighed, withdrew it and glanced at it. “I need to get this.”
“Go ahead.”
He pushed back from the table, stood and walked a few feet away. “True here.” He listened and frowned. “Why? What do they want?” He paused, his gaze fixing on Jeanie. “No,” he growled. “My mate isn’t going to meet with them.”
“Meet who?” She got to her feet, laying her napkin next to her plate.
He told whoever was on the phone to hold and frowned at her. “Three FBI agents arrived at the front gates and wish to speak to you.”
She gripped the back of her chair, stunned. “Why?” She had no clue why agents would show up requesting to see her.
“They haven’t said but Justice wants you to meet with them to see what they want. Tim came to talk to them but they’ve refused to give him answers.”
“Is that who is on the phone? Justice?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t put him on hold.” She was horrified. “He’s your leader. I should talk to them if he wants me to.”
“I don’t care what he wants. You’re my mate and I don’t want you near other humans. They could have come here to do you harm.”
“They are federal agents. I have no idea what they’d want to talk to me about but I’m sure they are fine, True. I mean, major background checks get done on them. It could be important. I should talk to them.”
He growled and lifted the phone back to his ear. “She wants to see them but I am going with her. I don’t trust them.” He listened and hung up. “Let’s go. An SUV has already been sent. You don’t leave my side, Jeanie. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly.”
“Justice and a few others will be present.” He glanced down at her. “You need shoes.”
She would have liked to change into something more professional looking but the T-shirts and stretch pants were about the nicest outfits she currently owned. Her belongings from her apartment were supposed to be forwarded by the task force team who’d gone to check out her story but they hadn’t arrived yet. She put on shoes and rushed into the bathroom to brush her teeth and tidy her hair. True waited for her at the front door.
“I don’t like this.”
“I don’t either but aren’t you curious? I am.”
“No. I want to keep you away from everyone.”
“This is happening here at Homeland, right? We’re not leaving to go meet them somewhere else?”
“It will be here. You aren’t leaving NSO territory.”
“Then it will be fine.”
The drive to the office building near the front gate seemed far too short to Jeanie. True kept her on his lap and she could see by the grim set of his jaw that he wasn’t happy. Justice and Fury met them outside when the driver parked in front of the side door.
“Don’t answer any of their questions without looking at me first,” Justice demanded. “I’m sorry to use you this way but they have refused to give us even a hint of their purpose. The questions they ask you should indicate why they are here.”
Fury nodded. “Tim is sitting in as well. He made some calls and none of his contacts were even aware we were going to be visited by agents. It’s very curious.”
“Speak slowly.” Justice waved them toward the building. “Remember to look at me before you answer. I placed a call to the president but he’s out of the country and unable to take calls.”
The President of the United States? She gaped at him, pretty sure that’s who he meant. It boggled her mind that he might have someone so important on his list of personal phone contacts. It slammed home, though, how serious the situation was.
A New Species opened the side door. “They are pacing in the conference room,” he muttered low. “They have refused offers of coffee or water.”
Justice paused, staring down at Jeanie. “I’m sorry to do this to you but it bothers us that they are being so secretive about why they wish to speak to you. We informed them of your mate status in case they are trying to pursue a human criminal case against you but they didn’t reverse their request.”
“A criminal case?” She grabbed hold of True’s hand.
“They deal with organized crime and some of the practices of Drackwood or Cornas Research could have captured their interest. Of course as a mate you are no longer subject to human laws and are protected under Species law. They can’t arrest you or take you from Homeland. They have no jurisdiction to do so.”
She regretted agreeing to meet with the FBI agents but it was too late to back out. “You’re sure about that?”
Fury chuckled. “Yes. We showed them a copy of your mate papers as proof in case they didn’t believe us. They are more than aware they are only here and able to speak to you because we allowed it out of politeness.”
She felt some of her fear easing. “Okay. I got it. Talk slow, see what they want, and look at you before I answer.” She stared up at Justice North. “I can do this.”
“I knew you could.”
She was glad he had faith in her because hers wavered a little as she entered a small conference room and spotted the three men dressed in suits. They were very neatly groomed, ranging from early thirties to late forties and all of them stared at her with serious looks.
“Ms. Shiver,” the eldest one spoke. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with us. I’m Special Agent Spears, this is Special Agent Parks, and Special Agent Green.” He pointed to the other two as he stated their names.
She took a seat before anyone else, her legs threatening to buckle. “I’m kind of surprised,” she admitted. “I’m clueless why I’m here.”
It was much worse than the time she’d been pulled over by a cop and given a speeding ticket when she’d been in her late teens. The three agents sat across from her, still looking stern. Her nerves made her regret eating as her belly seemed to do a flip. True sat next to her while Fury took a seat on the other side. Justice and Tim leaned against the wall behind the agents. One of the agents looked back, frowned, but said nothing as he faced her again.
“We’ve been running an investigation of criminal activity that may have helped fund Cornas Research. We’re hoping you can help us.” Special Agent Spears leaned in. “You were the accountant there and we’re hoping you can answer our questions.”
She remembered to glance at Justice. He frowned at her and nodded.
“I wasn’t an accountant. I suck at math, actually. I’m the last person who should be in charge of money. I can barely balance my checkbook.”
Special Agent Spears frowned. “Our information states that was your job title.”
“It wasn’t.”
“Jeanie was a medical technician,” True confirmed.
“The technical term is a phlebotomist,” Jeanie explained. “I took blood samples.”
“Our informant says otherwise.”
She glanced at Justice, seeing his frown. He didn’t nod or shake his head so she stared into the agent’s eyes. “I don’t know who told you that but it isn’t true. You can check my tax records. My occupation is listed and I never fudged on them. You can also look up the courses I took in college. It’s no secret. I have certifications that are up to date. You can check those too.”
“You’re saying our informant lied?” Special Agent Green frowned.
“Obviously, since no one in their right mind would let me near their money. Hell, look at my bank statements for the past few years. I get fined regularly f
or not paying attention to my bank balance.” She halted, blushed, and wished she hadn’t said that. “I don’t write bad checks on purpose. I pay for overdraft protection and it’s never more than like thirty bucks over. I always pay it back and pay the fees for the bank having to cover it when I go over. That’s why I have overdraft protection. I’m just going to shut up now before I put my foot deeper into my mouth.”
“I see.” Special Agent Spears frowned. “We’ll have to speak to our informant again on this matter. We need to know where to reach you.” He dug inside his jacket and withdrew an electronic device. “I need a number and an address where you can be reached.”
Justice pushed away from the wall. “You can contact her through Homeland.”
“I don’t think you understand the importance of our investigation. I need access to her.”
“I don’t think you understand that she’s New Species.”
“She looks human to me,” Special Agent Green muttered.
“She’s a mate and therefore she is Species. That means you need to go through proper channels to contact Species Jeanie.” Fury crossed his arms over his chest, looking intimidating as he glared at them. “That would be the main office at Homeland. You don’t need direct contact with her via phone or a physical address since she lives at Homeland.”
“What if she moves to Reservation? We’re aware that it’s impossible to keep track of your people between both locations. You don’t exactly keep DMV records or file flight plans or passenger lists with the FAA.” Agent Spears glanced at her, then Justice. “Can you at least keep her here so we can interview her again soon?”
Justice’s eyes narrowed. “Possibly, but I make no promises.”
Special Agent Spears stood. “Cornas Research has been linked to a mob-backed organization. They might have used the company to launder money. If she was the accountant and can prove they were transferring funds to and from there, it could put her in danger. I think you should agree to allow us to put her in protective custody.”
True stood. “Never. Jeanie goes nowhere.”
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