Shock paled the man’s features while he blinked at her a few times. His shoulders, broad as they were, seemed to relax. “Perhaps you should be excused from this meeting. You’ve had a trauma and I’m sure someone here could fill you in on what will be discussed at your convenience tomorrow, after you’ve had time to recover.”
Director Boris moved forward. “We shall remove her from Homeland immediately, Mr. North. Please accept our apologies.”
Dread spread through Ellie. She’d moved to a new state to be a part of the project to assimilate New Species into a normal way of living but now she’d lose that job. She didn’t blame Director Boris for firing her, considering the circumstances. Homeland had been given to the New Species to be a safe haven from the abuse they’d suffered. Having a walking reminder on the premises would violate that concept.
Justice frowned as he stared down at Director Boris. “Firing her won’t be necessary. She saved our people from the testing facilities and we won’t thank her for that selflessness by taking her away from something she helped make possible. It’s not our way to do that. This is our Homeland, is it not?”
Director Boris’ mouth popped open from shock. “But Fury hates her and he’s your second in command.”
“Fury will deal with his anger.” Justice glanced at Ellie then. The harsh expression eased from his features and softened. “Go rest, Ms. Brower. Your job is secure. You can continue to run the women’s sleeping dorm. You have been quite refreshing with your candor and I appreciate your understanding of Fury’s behavior.”
Ellie knew to escape when given the opportunity. She eased off the table. Her knees trembled but held her weight once she stood. She kept her head down, her gaze on the floor, and strode quickly toward the empty hallway. She paused outside the conference room, leaned against the wall and then covered her face. Her entire body shook. It took a minute to pull her frayed emotions together.
Ellie finally moved, dropped her hands to her sides, and exited the outer door. 416 had survived but now he had taken the name Fury. Worse, he had to be Justice North’s second in command. She shivered when she stepped outside. The armed guard frowned at her but didn’t say anything as she moved toward her golf cart.
Justice headed the New Species Organization. His people had voted him to lead them, the face and voice of New Species as a whole, but they’d also appointed council members to represent groups of the survivors, thus helping him do his new job. One survivor from each of the four testing facilities had become a member. The NSO as they titled themselves, had proclaimed their own government order when they’d been assured the United States would back them on having free rein to structure their independence.
The fact that the government had unknowingly funded those testing facilities with large research grants had gone a long way to make Uncle Sam bend over backward to be accommodating with anything they asked for. They’d used taxpayer’s money to help create New Species and continue the horrific research that had been done on them for decades in the name of perfecting prescription drugs and vaccines. A lot of money had exchanged hands at the expense of the suffering of New Species. The newly built military base had been gifted to them as their Homeland, rumored to be the government’s grand gesture to save face and garner favor with public opinion overall.
Ellie parked the golf cart in front of the dorm and climbed out. She rubbed her aching arms and hurried toward the front doors. She had nearly reached them when the hair on the back of her neck prickled. She stilled after she pulled out her ID card and slowly peered over her shoulder.
A man lurked under the shadow of a tree across the street, just a dim outline of a figure, but Ellie sensed him watching her. She knew it had to be Fury. She stood there staring at him. She held her ground and he held his while neither of them moved.
Ellie bit her lip, wondering if she should approach him. She could apologize again for what she’d done to him and maybe explain in more detail until he understand her actions fully that day inside his cell. Indecision kept her in place while she struggled with the need to talk to him and the fear that he hadn’t calmed down.
He didn’t move and she couldn’t make her legs respond to go to him. The memory of his rage, of his hands squeezing her flesh, changed her mind about talking to him at that moment. Fear motivated her to face the door, swipe her key card, and hurry inside the dorm. She made sure the locks slid into place before dashing for the elevator.
An eerie silence settled into the dorm late at night. She entered the elevator with the sensation of being watched. With walls of glass, she knew he could see her from where he stood outside. The doors shut firmly to put her out of view of the street and Ellie sagged against the wall. Would he let it go? She didn’t know but now he knew where she lived. He also worked at Homeland and probably lived in one of the housing units built just blocks away for the council and high-ranking members of the New Species.
Damn.
The elevator dinged when it opened on the third floor where she currently was the only resident. Once more women were transferred to the dorm, the rooms would fill up until the building would be full of life on every level. She suddenly minded being alone up there a lot.
The building was secure, she reminded herself. The only people who had access to the building were the women living there and the security guards assigned to guard it. Not even a member of the council had access. Fury wouldn’t be able to get in. She unlocked her door.
She’d left the lights on inside her small apartment and her balcony doors still stood wide open. She moved toward them quickly to close the doors firmly and locked them for the first time. No one could reach her balcony but she didn’t care about logic. She looked down at her arms after she undressed—verifying both were red and bruised from Fury’s hands—and then stepped into her bathroom to shower.
Fury survived! That thought kept circling inside her mind. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. If that day had never happened she would have had a chance to get to know him. He may have…Her eyes closed in pain. What? Fallen in love with me the way I’ve fallen for him? It was insane to even consider that possibility. They didn’t really know each other but she wanted to change that. He hates me. That had been clear when he’d slammed her onto the table and rage had poured off him.
Ellie reached up and wiped at her tears. What she’d done to him couldn’t have been avoided. She could only hope that one day he’d forgive her for leaving him inside the cell to take the blame for her crime. Then maybe…
“Damn it, don’t do this to yourself,” she whispered aloud, shaking her head.
Chapter Three
Ellie watched the New Species women with frustration. She knew making friends with them would be a difficult task but she’d had no idea how hard a time they planned to give her. Not one of them had been friendly toward her. They were a tight group but not with Ellie. She hoped she hid her hurt feelings. Helping them had become her mission in life, her sole purpose, and they had refused to allow it so far.
“Would any of you like to learn how to cook? I can teach you or I’ve acquired a ton of cooking DVD’s to show you.” She glanced from one face to another. “I’m sure some of you are tired of the meals provided by the main NSO cafeteria. I enjoy cooking. It’s good to learn and everyone loves food.”
No one spoke as three dozen pairs of eyes watched her. Ellie sighed. “I swear, I’m not the enemy. I’m here to help you learn living skills and to help you integrate into society. I want to help you in any way you need. I really wish you would allow me to do that.”