927 demanded in a harsh tone.
861 snarled back. “Never for humans.”
Breeze softly cursed and reached back. Her fingers fisted the front of the sweater Tammy wore and pushed, moving Tammy toward the elevator. The pounding of booted feet drew everyone’s attention as more New Species wearing the NSO black uniforms rushed into the lobby. They quickly assessed the two men circling each other and Tammy saw what they saw—the men were going to fight. 927 would protect and defend her.
“It’s the primate in the red,” Breeze called out loudly.
“He came after Valiant’s mate.”
The man in the red, 861, lunged for 927, and the fight was on. The New Species officers rushed forward, pushing everyone out of the way. In seconds they had grabbed 861 and restrained him flat on the floor.
Tammy relaxed. Breeze’s hold on the sweater eased and she turned her head, studying Tammy.
“A re you all right?”
“I’m fine. What was that about?”
927 approached. His hand was gashed from where he’d hit the other man in the face. A sharp tooth had cut his skin. He stopped a few feet back. “I apologize. These men are from the same place where I was locked up.
They do not trust or like humans. When he calms I will speak to him rationally.”
“It’s all right.” Tammy sighed. “I guess I can understand that.” Her gaze dropped to his hand. “Do you want me to clean that up and bandage it?”
One of the New Species officers approached. “We’ll let him calm down and have a talk with him.” He glanced at Tammy. “A re you unharmed?”
“I’m fine.”
He inhaled. “Just frightened.” He turned and met 927’s gaze. “Thank you for defending her until we were able to take him down. Let me take you to medical and they will care for your injury.”
927 agreed. “Of course.” He flashed Tammy a smile.
“I apologize. I will talk to all of them. You will be safe from harm. It would not hurt if Valiant spoke to them as well. He will intimidate them if I don’t.”
Breeze laughed. “He’s good at that. I’m Breeze.
Breeze laughed. “He’s good at that. I’m Breeze.
Thank you for the backup there.”
927 studied her carefully and smiled. “I’m 927. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Breeze’s smile widened. “You are a charmer. You’re also new. Come look for me if you need any help settling in.”
“I will.”
The officer smiled. “Let’s go to medical, hero.”
Breeze gripped Tammy’s hand and led her out of the lobby to where a white van waited. One of the New Species officers sat behind the wheel to drive them.
Breeze turned to Tammy the second they were inside and the door closed.
“You know that male? He’s gorgeous and did you see those dark eyes?” Breeze fanned her face. “I need to change my pants. I’m that wet. When he picks a name it should be something as sexy hot as he is.”
Tammy grinned. “You like him, I take it?”
“I think I’m definitely in lust. Do you think he is attracted to tall women?”
“He looked interested in you to me.”
“He did? I will make a point of finding him later after I get some sleep. I wish to be well rested when I seek him out.”
In minutes they reached the helicopter pad. The helicopter had just landed and was already being refueled. The side door opened when the van pulled up and women began to climb out. Tammy stayed with the van at Breeze’s side to welcome the new women. She hoped none of them would attack her. Tammy had never considered that anyone would hate her on sight or want to hurt her. 861 sure had.
“Wow,” Tammy whispered, spotting the flaming-red hair of the woman who climbed out of the helicopter first. “She’s the smallest New Species I’ve ever seen and what do you think she was mixed with to get that hair color? It looks as if someone set her hair on fire with something really bright. It’s gorgeous.”
Breeze laughed. “She’s one of yours. I would say she’s mixed with a hair dye. That can’t be natural.”
“Maybe the black pants and black shirt just makes her hair more striking.” Tammy shrugged.
Breeze smiled and shrugged too. “We could ask her.”
“No!” Tammy laughed. “Never ask a woman if her hair color is real or her age. Human women get all pissy about it.”
“Really?” Breeze let it sink in. “I’ll try to remember that.”
The redhead approached. She nodded and stopped by Breeze. She lowered her gaze and her head. She waited a few seconds before glancing up.
“I am Jessie Dupree. I wanted to personally escort your females here. I’m the human representative for the United States Government, a part of your human task force that handles search and retrievals of your lost females. I ask your permission to escort them to their new homes and stay to help with their integration into your society. They trust me.” Her gaze flickered to Tammy and took her in at a sweeping glance. The woman frowned slightly. “I don’t know you. Who brought you in?”
Tammy blinked at her. “Valiant did.”
Breeze chuckled. “You think she’s New Species, do you not, Jessie Dupree? She is not a recovered Gift Species. She is a human mate to one of our males. Her name is Tammy Shasta.”
The redhead with bright blue eyes blinked and her eyes widened. “Oh. I apologize. I was under the impression that no humans lived on Reservation. Because of your size and your lack of facial markings I assumed you were one of the rare Gift females. Some have been recovered, and until you see their teeth or ears, you can’t really tell they aren’t fully human.”
“Valiant told me what was done to them. It is so horrible it makes me sick. But I’m human. Sorry for the confusion.”
The woman nodded. Her attention returned to Breeze. “May I have permission to help get them settled?
I’d really appreciate it. I know they are not Gift females but I have the time and I am very experienced in helping your females handle the sudden change in lifestyle.”
Breeze glanced at Tammy, who shrugged. “She’s got experience.”
A grin split Breeze’s face. “Sure. They put me in charge of this task and to tell you the truth, I have no idea what I’m doing. We don’t handle this kind of thing.
They are usually sent somewhere else but Justice wanted them brought here. We would appreciate the help.”
“Thank you.” Jessie smiled. She was a really pretty woman in her late twenties or early thirties. “I’d love to do everything I can.”
Tammy studied the New Species women who exited the helicopter. They were all tall, sturdy women. They were muscled and in excellent physical shape. Their clothes were off-white and their pants were exactly like the ones 927 had worn. She even spotted the same thick side seams of their clothing as one of the woman walked past. The woman glanced at her and Breeze but no one objected to her being there.
“What is up with the clothes? Why are they all dressed that way?” Tammy kept her voice low, her gaze on Breeze.
The taller woman showed signs of anger when her nostrils flared. “We were restrained with chains on all our limbs. It was easier for our captors to strip us and change our clothing with seams that pull apart. They have Velcro that sticks when pressed back together. It kept them from having to pull the pants down our legs or shirts over our heads.”
The answer sickened Tammy and she felt a whole new appreciation for the kind of hell the survivors had endured. The ugly clothing had a purpose and it wasn’t a good one, in her mind. She pushed those grim observations back and tried to appear friendly to the freed women.
Everyone fit in the van. Tammy smiled at the women but none of them returned the friendly gesture. Five out of the six New Species women openly stared at her though. A few of them looked baffled while one of them appeared frightened. Two of them completely hid their emotions. Tammy focused on the frightened woman sitting on the seat behind hers.