Missy grabbed her arm, her fingers digging in. “We should feed the dog and cat soon.”
Kat winced. There was no way to save the animals. It was Missy’s life on the line. She knew her friend had guessed at what she was doing and had said it to remind her that they were upstairs. “They aren’t a priority right now.”
Tears filled Missy’s eyes and Kat had to look away. It hurt her too. The smell of gas reached her nose. Mason slammed one drawer and had to crouch to open the one under it. His gun rested on the desk, pointing their way. Kat moved to get between Missy and that gun. She glanced at the curtains. They were horrible, the same flower print that matched most of the house. The home had been a dream of theirs but they’d buy another one. Missy couldn’t be replaced.
“Nothing.” Mason moved around the chair and opened the other drawer. He suddenly tensed. “What is that smell?”
“What smell?” Kat gave him a blank stare. Time was up.
He sniffed and rose, moving toward the hallway door. His gun wavered and Kat spun, praying the lighter lit on the first try. She pressed it against the curtains, pushing down on the tab. A flame burst forth. The second she realized the curtains were on fire, she dropped it and wrapped her arms around Missy.
“What the fuck?” Mason yelled.
Kat shoved Missy away from the flames that shot up the curtain to keep her from catching fire. The window was single-paned since they hadn’t replaced them for more efficient ones. Missy had installed a thick blackout shade, the only thing that stood between them and the glass.
A gunshot rang out as Kat spun, using all her strength to hurl both of them through the window. They slammed into the glass and when it shattered there was nothing but luck, the shade and their clothes to protect them.
Darkness approached the house with the team, motioning for them to separate and surround the house. The sound of a gunshot fractured the night. He froze, terrified of what it meant. It was immediately followed by an explosion at the back of the house. There was a blinding blaze of light and the windows along the front of the house blew outward. The sound was deafening and set off car alarms along the street. They honked and beeped, flashing lights.
“Move,” Darkness roared. “Get in there!”
Any plan to sneak in and take out the male was forgotten. Darkness rushed to the side gate and jumped, not caring what was on the other side. He landed on concrete and stared horrified at smoldering chunks of the building. The back of the house had been destroyed—a flaming open wound of jagged destruction. Flames shot upward from inside, reminding him of a torch in one area. Dark smoke choked him as he rushed to enter, prepared to go into the burning house after Kat.
His peripheral vision caught movement and he froze, whipped his head in that direction. A bare arm rose from what appeared to be a section of wood paneling. The hand was small and appeared female.
“Kat!” He rushed toward her, dodging smoldering and burning debris.
Blood smeared her palm when he grabbed hold, using his other hand to grip the wood on top of her. He threw it aside. It wasn’t Kat staring up at him when he dropped to his knees. She had blonde hair and terrified blue eyes and wore a long nightshirt. Cuts and fresh blood marred her limbs but she didn’t appear to be critically injured.
“Where is she?” She tried to move but cried out.
“Kat?”
She nodded. “The house blew up and it ripped me right away from her.” The female tried to sit up again but collapsed flat, whimpering.
“Stay down,” Darkness ordered.
Book was at his side in an instant, tending to the female. Darkness rose and frantically searched the yard. A large piece of roof lay crumpled about five feet away. A bloody bare foot poked out from underneath the edge. It was small and lifeless.
“Kat!” He was terrified when he bent, afraid of what he’d find. The roofing appeared heavy, about eight feet long and five feet wide. It had sustained profound damage. His fingers hooked an edge and Trey rushed to the other side to help him move it.
“Now,” Trey urged.
They lifted at the same time and threw it to the side. It wasn’t as heavy as it had appeared. Darkness stared down and pain tore him apart. He’d found Kat. His knees collapsed. She was on her side, one hand over her face as if she’d tried to protect her head. Blood from a gash on her forearm smeared her skin. Blood covered her chest but he wasn’t sure if it was from the first injury or worse. Her sleeping pants were torn up, red-stained in spots.
“Fuck,” Trey hissed. He grabbed his phone. “Airlift them to Homeland or call for an ambulance?”
Darkness wasn’t even sure if she lived. He breathed in, the stench of smoke was overpowering but he could smell her blood. It took a lot to reach out and touch her. He gently gripped her arm and moved it. Blood covered her cheek. Her eyes were closed and he wasn’t sure if he breathed while he checked for a pulse. He pressed his fingertips against the column of her throat. He didn’t feel anything.
“No!” he roared out in anguish. Her arm twitched and he snarled. “Airlift.” He just wanted to get her to Homeland.
“On it. Don’t move her,” Trey demanded.
Darkness bent over Kat, shoving away debris. “Kat? I’m here. It’s Darkness.”
Her eyes remained closed but she was alive. He wanted to pick her up and cradle her in his arms when something inside the house blew. It was a smaller explosion but enough to make him fear more of the home would come crashing into the yard. He turned, evaluating the house again. Both floors were gone on the back of the house. Flames had spread to other sections.
“This is Trey,” the human yelled. “We need that helicopter to turn around. Land it right in front of the house if you can. We have two injured females. Alert Medical. Severe trauma.” He paused. “The fucking house exploded.”
Darkness blocked out everything but Kat. He put his body over hers but kept all his weight off. He wanted to protect her from more hurt. Someone grabbed his arm, jerking it. He turned and snarled, looking into Trey’s eyes.
“Let me help her. I have some medic training. She’s bleeding.” The male released him and tore off his vest, then his shirt. He started tearing it into strips.
Darkness knew Trey was right. Kat needed help but he was frozen, his mind blank.
“Move,” Trey repeated. “We’ve got to stop the bleeding or she’s not going to make it.”
He backed off a little. Trey took over. It made Darkness feel helpless, something he hated. Kat made a soft sound of pain when Trey moved her bleeding arm and wrapped the sleeve of his shirt around the wound, using the ends to tie it.
“It’s too tight.”
Trey frowned. “Do you want her to bleed out? Look for something flat that we can tie her to. The helicopter wasn’t expecting a medical emergency. We don’t have a backboard on it. I asked.”
Sirens grew closer. Darkness didn’t move away from Kat. He watched Trey carefully wrap the cut on her ankle, the source of the blood on her foot. Darkness knew he should handle the humans and take control of the scene. New Species were in danger if he didn’t. He just couldn’t leave Kat. He couldn’t even follow Trey’s directions on how to help her. It was as if he’d shut down until he gently held her hand on the ground next to his knee. It wasn’t bloody but it was lifeless.
Trey stood. “I’ve done all I can. I’ll find something to use as a backboard or grab one from an ambulance. I’m going to send the paramedics to her. I’m sure they’ll come with the police. Everyone along the block must have called for assistance.”
Darkness ignored him, staring at Kat’s face. Her eyes remained closed. “Kat? Can you hear me? I’m here.”
It was his fault she lay there on the ground. He’d sent her away from Homeland. She’d be sleeping safely in his bed otherwise. He visually examined her body. Every cut, every trace of injury rested squarely on his shoulders. She’d wanted him to give a relationship between them a chance. He’d shut her down.
“Kat
,” the soft female voice whispered.
Darkness turned his head. The blonde female crawled to his side. The raw fear etched on her features might have reflected on his own face if he were able to look in a mirror. Tears fell freely down her face and he envied her ability to cry. He hurt enough to but his eyes remained dry.
“She saved me,” Missy sniffed. “She blew up the house because I think Mason was going to kill me.” Her shoulders rocked as she fought tears. “She threw us through the window before it blew up,” she gasped, crying. “She put herself between me and the glass. We hit the ground and she rolled on top of me. When the house went, it just tore her away. I should have held on tighter. I should have…” She stopped talking, dissolving into gut-wrenching sobs.
Darkness realized he should try to comfort the female but he couldn’t. He turned his head, staring at what once had been a home. The entire back side of the house was exposed to show the burning interior. The roof had collapsed inward where it hadn’t been blown outward. Kat had done that to save her friend. He wanted to kill Missy. Pure rage hit but he didn’t strike out at the blonde. Kat had to love her to sacrifice her own life.
Moisture filled his eyes, making his vision blurry. He leaned down, getting close to Kat’s face. He detected her breathing against his lips. It was shallow but she lived. He just didn’t know for how long. She would die. Sirens stopped nearby. His brain began to function and a new target for his rage surfaced. He leaned up and turned his head, grabbing hold of Missy’s shoulder. He shook her once.
“Where is Mason?”
She lifted a shaking finger at the destroyed house. “We were in my office. He was near the door. He smelled the gas and walked toward the hallway. He shot at us when Kat threw us through the window. It blew up.”
He could see she was in shock. He was torn between going to hunt for Mason, if anything remained, and staying by Kat. His legs decided it for him when they refused to work. He just stayed on the ground next to her. He didn’t want her to die alone. Not Kat. He bent, pressing his face close to hers.
“I’m here, Kat. Don’t leave me.”
“Over here!” Trey yelled. “This way.”
“Please open your eyes,” Darkness urged, watching, hoping she’d do it. “You’re a tough female. Don’t let that bastard win. He wins if you die.”
Something heavy crashed next to them and Darkness jerked his head up, snarling at the threat. A human female in a dark blue uniform was on her knees on the other side of Kat, a medical kit gripped in her hand. Her eyes widened and she paled.
He glanced down, realizing what kind of uniform it was. “Help her. You’re a medic.”
She nodded, seeming to snap out of the fear he’d instilled. “What’s her name? Do you know?”
“Kat. She’s mine. Don’t let her die.”
Trey gripped his shoulder. “Darkness, back up. There are more of them. They need access to her and you’re in the way.”
He looked up at the male. “I can’t.”
“You have to.” Trey bent, staring into his eyes. “Let them help her.”
“My legs won’t work.”
Trey glanced down him. “You broke something?”
“I can’t move. I can’t leave her.”
Pity flashed in the male’s blue eyes and he bent, wrapped an arm around Darkness. He hoisted him up, grunting a little in the process. “Fuck, you’re heavy. Lock your knees.”
Darkness did as he said, found himself standing again. Trey kept hold of him and forced him back. Three more humans crouched around Kat, shoving debris away from her to get access. Two more humans helped Missy move about five feet away, asking her to lie flat so they could examine her.
Book showed up. The male had dark smudges under his nose and around his mouth, as if he’d breathed in a lot of smoke. He carried a dog in one arm and a kitten in the other. They were alive but seemed too petrified to move around. They just lay on the male’s forearms, clutched against his chest.
“You went in there after them?” Trey shook his head. “Crazy fucking Species.”
Book frowned. “Missy was hysterical and worried about them.”
“I can’t believe they survived.” Trey eased his hold around Darkness’ waist. “You good now?”
He remained standing. “Where is that helicopter?”
“It’s waiting.” Trey released him. “You didn’t hear it? Darren set it down at the end of the street. He didn’t want the blades to affect the fires here.”
“We need to get Kat to Homeland.”
Trey hesitated. “They’ll want to transport her to the hospital.”
“Homeland,” Darkness snarled.
Trey walked away and crouched next to the paramedics, softly talking to them. He couldn’t hear the words. A bunch of humans were yelling and he turned his head, staring at the ones he hadn’t noticed until then. Firemen were putting water on the house and police were moving debris, looking under it for other victims.
Trey returned to his side, looking grim. “She’s critical. They can’t find any breath sounds from her left lung. It’s the side she landed on. She might have possible crush injuries. Internal bleeding.” He paused. “Her vitals are bad.”
Darkness kept his knees locked. The paramedics laid out a backboard, put a cervical collar around Kat’s neck and turned her against the board. They used restraints to wrap around her head and body, even her legs, to keep her immobile.
“Darkness,” Trey murmured, “they don’t think she’s going to make it. I’m so sorry, man.”
NO! He shoved Trey away and stomped to the humans lifting Kat on the backboard. He glared at the female he’d frightened. “You have an ambulance in front?”
She nodded.
“Trey, team, grab Missy. Let’s go.” He turned, studying the animals in Book’s arms. “Bring them too.”
“You can’t all ride in the ambulance with her,” the human female informed him. “There’s not enough room.”
“They are going to go to the helicopter and wait for your ambulance to drive Kat to them. I’m staying with her.” He shot Trey a furious glare. “You don’t take off without us. Inform Homeland we’re coming. I want all our doctors on standby and tell them to get the healing drugs ready.”
Book stepped forward. “She’s human.”
“She isn’t going to die,” Darkness snarled. “I won’t allow it.”
Trey paled. “Do as he says.”
“I can’t allow you to do that,” the human female protested.
Darkness snarled at her next. “What is your name?”
“Heather.”
“I’m your worst fucking nightmare, Heather. Realize that and stop arguing with me. Do as I say. You come with us in the helicopter. I insist. You can work on her and keep her alive until our doctors have her.”
“Fuck,” Trey muttered. He raised his voice, deepening the tone. “That’s official NSO orders. We have jurisdiction. We’re taking over the scene and your ambulance.” He pushed forward and stopped before Heather. “You are working for the NSO now until further notice. Let’s go. You heard him.”
Darkness glanced at Trey. The male shrugged. Both of them knew they were overstepping their bounds but he appreciated the male backing him up. Darkness inclined his head, acknowledging the debt.
“Tim and Justice are going to hand us our asses,” he muttered low enough that only Darkness could hear. “But what the hell. That’s your woman.”
Darkness stayed with Kat as they loaded her into the ambulance and drove her down the street. The helicopter had come down in a four-way intersection. Cars were lined up, traffic blocked. A lot of them were outside their cars. Darkness ignored them, yelling out orders for the paramedics to carry Kat to the helicopter. Heather looked frightened but she boarded with them.
Missy sat next to Book. He held her against his body, as if she had a hard time sitting upright without assistance. Two of their males had her pets on their laps. The dog looked fine but the kitten appea
red terrified, its claws digging in Jinx’s vest. He petted its back, his face lowered, lips moving as if he talked to it.
Darkness took the floor after helping secure the backboard along the bench seat. He kept close to Heather since they couldn’t buckle in. He gripped the underside of the bench and glared at her.
“I’ll make sure you don’t fall. Keep your attention on Kat. Don’t let her die.” He had to speak loudly to be heard.
“This is insane!” she yelled. “She needs to be taken to a hospital.”
Trey closed the side door and crouched next to them, grabbing a strap since there was nowhere to sit. He snatched a headset, yelled at the pilot. “We’re a go. Fly like you’ve never flown before, Darren.”
The helicopter lifted straight up, fast. They banked hard. Darkness hooked an arm around Heather when she swayed but she fisted the sides of the backboard, clinging to it. He focused on Kat’s face. She was breathing but her complexion was too pale. She had to survive until they reached Homeland.
Heather drew his attention when she gripped his hand. He turned his head, peered at her. She moved it to her belt, making it clear he should hold her there. He fisted it at her spine. She opened her medical kit and began an IV. He admired her courage and skill as she worked under pressure.
Fury believed he’d been drawn to Kat because she was a brave female. He felt no attraction to Heather, despite her pleasing appearance. Memories of Kat surfaced. She’d drawn him like no other. It wounded him, seeing her lying on that backboard when other images were so fresh in his mind—her laughing and even glaring up at him in anger. Such life had sparked in her eyes.
He might never see that again or hear the sound of her voice. He’d be left with nothing except bitter reminiscences, knowing everything could have been different if he hadn’t denied how important she’d become to him. He’d wanted to protect her but he’d left her vulnerable instead. Emotions rose, almost drowning him in grief.
He fought to draw air, the pain crushing him from the inside. He wanted to roar out his rage at the unfairness of it. Part of him wanted to beat on something until his fists bled. Another part of him knew he’d never forgive himself if he lost her.
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