enough to help him through a rough spot. He’d done that for her. She didn’t want to upset Valiant but she wanted him to understand.
“Do you remember your first day of freedom? Well, I remember my first day at school. That was kind of a whole new world. I’m his friend. I’m going to hold his hand the way my mom held mine and I’m going to walk him outside. I love you so don’t feel jealous. I totally belong to you and I am so happy about that.”
Valiant relaxed. A smile split his lips. “School? You compare being set free to school?”
She shrugged. “Well, you guys were set free from a living hell. I got imprisoned in the school system for thirteen years of my life. It was a form of mild hell.
You’re missing the point. It was all new and scary to me.
My mom held my hand and walked me to my first class.
She stayed around until I got settled. It made me feel better. It’s my only fond memory of her. He doesn’t know any of you but he’s spent some time with me.”
Justice suddenly laughed. “She’s taking his mother role.”
Tiger winked at 927. “Lucky you. You have a mommy.”
927 looked confused. “A what?”
“She is protective of you as though you are her child,” Valiant sighed. “Welcome to the family, son.”
The New Species laughed. Tammy frowned at them.
She dropped her offered hand. “Fine.”
927 reached out and gripped it suddenly. He grinned down at her. “Thank you. I’d love for you to walk with me outside.”
Tammy smiled at him and squeezed his hand. She shot Valiant a smirk and started to leave the room. 927
stayed close to her side. Tiger and Justice led the way.
Valiant came up behind Tammy and took her other hand.
She looked up at him, grateful he understood. They walked outside together.
Two New Species jogged off to drive the SUVs to their location. Tammy glanced at the three assholes who stood in handcuffs with two New Species guarding them.
Pete, Mike, and the doctor appeared pretty scared now that they were the ones under the control of others.
Valiant growled when Tammy faced the three, released his and 927’s hands, and took a few steps closer to the prisoners. Valiant’s hand halted her by gripping her upper arm.
“Where are you going?”
Tammy gazed at him. “I just wanted to talk to them for a second. They are all shackled up and those men gripping them aren’t going to let them go, right?”
Valiant frowned. “You should have nothing to say to them.”
A nger gripped her. “I don’t plan to talk to them.” She pulled out of his hold. She walked up to Mike and Pete.
She glared up at both men. She hesitated for a second before kicking Pete hard in the shin. He cursed, hopping on one leg. Tammy turned to Mike and kicked him in the balls. He doubled over with a loud gasp, groaning in pain.
Tammy reached up to the doctor, took his glasses, and just tossed them away. She didn’t bother kicking him. When she backed away and turned, it was to find Valiant gaping at her, his shock apparent. She met his eyes, shrugged, and returned to his side.
“I owed them.”
“You bitch,” Mike groaned, doubled over.
Valiant lunged and punched him in the side of the face. Mike hit the ground hard and groaned. A snarl tore from Valiant. “Don’t talk to her. You’re lucky I’m not allowed to kill you or I would.” He spun and marched to Tammy.
“Thank you, Valiant. He made a remark about holes that I didn’t particularly like.” She rubbed his arm. “My hero.”
Valiant hesitated. “A ny time, Tammy. Do you feel better now that you kicked them and took the property of one away?”
Tammy hesitated. “In one second I’ll feel great.” She turned and stormed over to the older man. “I hope you rot in hell, you miserable bastard. I hope they give you ten years for every day you tormented them and those poor women. You’re a vile monster.”
The older man glared at her, his eyes squinted since she’d taken his glasses. “I’ll never see prison.”
“You think not?” She snorted. “If it’s not prison, you’ll be facing the death penalty.”
“I know I won’t. I’ll cut a deal. I know too much.”
Justice was there suddenly. “You think so?”
“I’m too valuable not to be given a deal. I know where two smaller testing facilities are located where more of your kind are being held.”
Justice paused. “Do you want total immunity for your information from your law? I can give you that. I have the authority.”
Outrage blasted through Tammy. “You can’t give them that.”
Justice shot her a look. “Quiet, Tammy. I know what I am doing. Saving New Species is paramount.”
She closed her mouth and stewed silently. Valiant squeezed her shoulder. She studied his relaxed features, it dawning on her that he’d be really mad if there were a real possibility of any of those men being released to harm anyone else. It made her understand that harm anyone else. It made her understand that something was going on that she wasn’t aware of and she should trust Justice.
“Yes,” the older man said. “I demand total immunity for any crimes.”
“Fine. We’ll take you to Reservation, you will tell us whatever it is that we need or want to know and you shall have total immunity from prosecution on all charges, from your people.”
“I want that too,” Mike groaned from the ground.
“I will give it happily if the information you share saves the lives of more of my people.” Justice glanced at him with a frown. “You better know something useful.”
Valiant gripped Tammy and turned her. He took her for a walk far from the men. Tammy was steaming mad but she held her tongue until they’d moved out of earshot of Justice and the captured men.
“He’s going to give them immunity? A re those jerks just going to get away with everything they’ve done?”
She hissed the words to make sure they didn’t carry.
Valiant leaned down, his face inches from hers.
“Justice is giving them exactly what they are asking for.
Immunity from the human prison system.” His eyes sparkled. “Justice will learn everything they know before he introduces them to New Species law.”
It took her a few seconds to grasp that meaning. Her anger drained quickly. “What is the punishment for kidnapping and being evil bastards who enjoy torturing people under your laws?”
Valiant pulled Tammy into his arms, holding her. His lips brushed her ear. “They will be locked up and eventually they’ll die. We have the right to defend ourselves and the right to punish those who put themselves under our law. By asking for immunity from their own justice, they now belong to ours.” He turned his head, his gaze purposely fixing on Justice North.
“He’ll show them the same amount of mercy they showed you and our people.”
Tammy was glad he held her when she glanced at Justice North. A s she studied the handsome New Species leader, she detected his anger and nearly felt sorry for those jerks. That was until she replayed everything she’d overheard them say since she’d met them.
That old doctor had been doing horrendous things to Valiant’s people for a long time. The two thugs who had helped him had made a twenty-dollar bet on whether she’d get raped or murdered. Her sympathy fled instantly.
“I’m glad,” she admitted. “They deserve it.”
Valiant suddenly growled. “His scent is on you.”
“Whose?”
“927.” He pulled back, frowning. “Did he touch you?
I smell him all over you. I was told he slept on you.
Why?” His voice dropped deeper.
“It was cold. He didn’t touch me in any sexual way, Valiant. I swear.”
He forced his temper back. “I need my scent back on you.”