New Species 01 Fury (18 page)

“That’s the best I can do,” Fury said in a deep, tight voice. “You’ll need a shower but I can’t see any more blood. You managed not to get it in your hair from what I can see and smell.”

Ellie opened her eyes finally when he didn’t touch her in any way again. Her gaze instantly found his image reflected on the mirror and her mouth opened in shock. Fury 89

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had his back to her while he removed his vest and unbuttoned his shirt to peel it from his broad shoulders.

“What are you doing?” Surprise sounded in her voice and she hated it.

“You need something dry and clean to wear. I thought I’d give you my shirt and briefs.” He glanced over his shoulder and met her gaze in the mirror. “Do you want to leave this bathroom naked?” Dark eyes narrowed. “I won’t allow it so don’t even think about it. If you’d told me to send in another male to help you get undressed that wouldn’t have happened either.”

She shook her head and crossed her arms over her breasts to hide them from his view. “Please lend me the shirt and your briefs. I’d appreciate it.” He turned his head away. “You don’t have to watch me strip.” Ellie realized she stared as he unbuttoned his shirt and removed it to expose a tan, muscular back. She squeezed her eyes closed, her only choice since she faced a mirror and turning around would just be facing him in the flesh. She listened as he undressed and it seemed like forever before he finished and spoke.

“I’m decent. Here.”

Ellie opened her eyes to find Fury closer, nearly touching her back. He faced away and held his shirt and a pair of blue boxer briefs over his shoulder toward her. Ellie turned and reached up to take them from him. She noticed again how much taller he stood than her.

“Thank you.”

“I owed you.” He growled the words.

Anger flared over his gruff taunt about their strained relationship. She clenched her teeth to avoid snapping out a rude response. She didn’t need to be reminded of that now. She dressed quickly instead. The boxer briefs were soft cotton, still warm from his body, and hung baggy, low on her hips.
I have a fly now.
She smirked at that thought while she put on his shirt. It smelled of him, held his warmth, and she was happy to be covered up again.

“You can turn around now.” She finished buttoning the borrowed shirt.

He slowly faced her. He looked sexy with just the vest on with his form-fitting pants. His arms were totally exposed, big, thick muscles showcased by the tight vest that looked too small for his impressive frame. She tore her gaze away from those biceps and rolled up the sleeves of the shirt until they didn’t fall past her hands. Fury stepped forward to help her by brushing away her fingers to do the task. She stared at his vest where NSO had been printed in large letters across it.

“I didn’t know you guys had your own security team.” He inhaled deeply. “Yeah, well, we can’t trust humans to totally protect us. We’ve been training in secret and none of your people knew until now. Look what an incompetent job they did today. Mercile gave us strength, reflexes, and the ability to 90

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take a beating but remain fighting beyond normal endurance. The ones of us with any skills are teaching the others. We’re fast learners.”

“Why do it in secret? It’s your Homeland. You can do whatever you want.”

“Tell that to your people.” He hesitated. “They denied our requests when we asked for a space to train just for such a purpose or to have their instructors train our males in fighting skills. Now we do it ourselves in the men’s dorm out of their sight. We have removed all cameras inside. We tore them out when security refused to comply.” She frowned. “Mike doesn’t tell on you to the director?”

“The dorm father?” Fury shook his head. “He drinks smelly alcohol every evening.

After nine, a bomb could go off inside his apartment and he wouldn’t move. He has no idea what we do at night.”

“I’m sorry you have to do that.” She didn’t know what else to say. “If your women want to train here, I won’t tell on them. They won’t have to hide it from me.” He shrugged. “We work around the roadblocks they throw in our path but thank you for the offer to the women. I’ll pass it along. One way or another, we’re going to become self-sufficient.”

“I know you will.”

He reached up but then froze midair, his fingers inches from her face.

Ellie couldn’t resist inching closer until the tips of his fingers brushed her check.

Fingers curled around the curve of her face, slid into her hair, and she pressed her face against his palm. His touch soothed her. She wouldn’t say it aloud but she’d been happy to see him even under horrific circumstances.

Ellie raised her gaze to his. “Thank you for saving me.” His dark eyes were beautiful and some unknown emotion flickered inside them for a heartbeat. “I told you I don’t want you dead anymore.” He caressed her face. “I was worried about you.”

She hesitated. “I’ve been told by a few of your women that they’ve seen you outside watching the dorm. Why are you out there?”

His cheeks flushed as if it embarrassed him but then his features blanked. His hand pulled away, dropping to his side. “I like to know where my enemies are. Come,” he growled. “The blood wasn’t yours. You have bruising and some scratches but you will live. I have a job to do. I need to see what is happening.” It felt as though he’d slapped her with his out-of-the-blue harsh words, letting her know they weren’t even friends. She tore her gaze from his. “I’ll put on my shoes.”

“Don’t. They have blood on them and I just cleaned you. I can’t do that again. I’m not that strong,” he muttered.

What does that mean?
Ellie wasn’t sure as she walked toward the bathroom door.

Fury stayed at her side but didn’t touch her as he slid his gloves back on as they crossed the room. He opened the bathroom door for her and then walked away, leaving her to 91

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follow him. She stared up at the back of his head, wondering what his thoughts were.

He had been nice to her up until the enemy comment.

The four NSO officers guarded the damaged entrance. Darren Artino and a dozen of his security guards waited. He glared at Fury.

“Your men wouldn’t allow me to go inside.”

Fury gave a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He showed sharp canine fangs. “You may enter now.”

Artino uttered a foul curse and waved his men into the dorm. His angry gaze traveled down Ellie’s body and he visibly tensed. His focus zoomed in on the men’s briefs she wore, just an inch or so of them displayed at the bottom of the shirt, and his mouth gaped. He spun to glare at Fury.

Fury shrugged. “She needed clothes. You should put showers and towels inside the bathrooms on the lower floor if you have shitty security. When the people you fail to protect need to clean up the blood that was spilled, they can do it in comfort after they save their own asses. Paper towels weren’t going to cover her modesty afterward but my underclothing was much preferable to walking around naked.” Ellie put her hand over her mouth to hide the smile. Artino’s face reddened as the words sank in. The head of security could be a real self-righteous prick sometimes and she enjoyed him getting a good verbal kick. She let her hand drop as she watched Fury nod at his men. They walked out of the women’s dorm without a backward glance.

Artino faced her. “Can you believe he said that to me?” He glared at Ellie in outrage.

She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. She wasn’t in a position to tell him his security had failed big time. “You really should put in at least one shower and real towels on the first floor bathroom. It would have come in handy.” Ellie tore her gaze from his stunned expression to head over to one of the couches.

She collapsed onto the soft material. Exhaustion and the need for a good cry set in.
Or a
stiff drink. Maybe all of the above
.

* * * * *

Fury paused outside on the sidewalk to face his men and to stare over their shoulders at Ellie. She sat on the couch looking tired and pale from her traumatic ordeal. It had taken every ounce of his willpower to leave her when he really wanted to wrap his arms around her to give comfort. If she burst into tears he knew he’d go back inside regardless of how stupid it would be to cuddle her until her fear eased.

His phone rang and he snatched it up. “Yes, Justice?”

“What did you do with the human female while you were inside the bathroom?

The cameras followed you when you carried her there but there is no footage inside.

Are things well?”

“Yes.” Fury tensed.

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“You should have sent one of our men with her if she needed assistance. We’ve had long talks about her, my friend. Are you all right?” He lowered his voice. “They touched her and hurt her but I kept my cool.”

“Good.” Justice paused. “You did a damn good job, Fury. I’m proud of you. The humans are a tad upset that our team saved the woman. They weren’t happy when they realized we have our own security now.”

“It’s our Homeland. We were told by the President of the United States that this is our home and, when we’re able, we can run it ourselves.”

“I know. They feel guilty for funding Mercile Industries without knowing exactly what they paid for. They want to make it right with us and it would be very bad publicity worldwide if we pointed a finger at them. We need to tread lightly still until we’re in a position to govern ourselves. The conversation with Darren Artino appeared unfriendly. What was said?”

“He wasn’t happy we succeeded where his security failed. It displeased him that I ordered my team not to allow anyone access to the dorm until I made sure of Ellie’s safety and well-being.”

Justice hesitated. “Are you in control? I need you to be. Our people need leadership and guidance the most right now while we learn to thrive in the world outside captivity. I chose you to be my second in command because you’re respected, you usually keep your emotions on a tight leash, and you want what is best for our people as much as I do.”

“You have nothing to worry about,” Fury swore, his gaze still locked on Ellie. “I know I can’t have her.”

“I wish you could.” Justice sighed softly. “You deserve happiness. Return to the male dorm. I’ll be there soon to address our men.” 93

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Director Boris glowered at Ellie. “I want an explanation for your refusal right now.” She glared back at him, furious, and beyond ready to tell the man off in a rude way.

“What is to explain? Don’t make me go over this again. I already have a hundred times and nothing is going to change just because you have a problem with them having their own security officers. Officer Fury helped me clean up inside that bathroom. I shook too badly to walk from being that upset. I had to kill two men, I’m not military, and I don’t have that kind of background.”

“I know that,” he snapped.

“I was shaken up that day those crazy freaks broke into Homeland and I couldn’t even walk. If you saw the videos of what happened then you know Officer Fury had to carry me. My clothes were bloody and he just lent me his briefs and a shirt. He did the decent, kind thing. What is your problem?” She rose to her feet and resisted the urge to smack the offensive asshole.

“He inappropriately touched you and I want a formal complaint filed by six o’clock today. We need to show them they can’t do whatever the hell they want. They didn’t get authorization to do what they did.”

Unbelievable
. Ellie gaped at him. “I won’t do it. He didn’t inappropriately touch me.

If you want to have a pissing contest with someone to show who’s in control, don’t pull me into it. I don’t even have the right equipment.” He ignored her sarcastic comment. “That man carried you into a bathroom where you stripped naked in front of him and he stripped naked in front of you, obviously, to give you his damn boxers. That is totally unacceptable. Write that report now. That is an order.”

“There are no cameras inside that bathroom. You don’t know what went on in there!” Ellie yelled, beyond furious.

“I can guess. Is that it, Ms. Brower? Do you have the hots for Officer Fury? Did you two do more than exchange clothing? Did he fuck you?” She took a step back and her hands balled into fists. She wanted to deck him so bad she had to struggle to get hold of her temper. She couldn’t. He’d gone too far.

“You’re a dirty-minded asshole, Director Boris. That man and his team saved my life. Where the hell was your security when those men were using vehicles to ram down the front doors of the dorm? Where were they when they chased me through the first floor and I was forced to kill two men? Where were they while those jerks manhandled me and planned to brutally rape me in front of your cameras before they killed me? Let me tell you where they were. They were watching from their safe control room. The 94

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NSO security officers saved my life and Officer Fury, for your information, stepped into a stall while I cleaned myself, kept his back to me the entire time, and his eyes closed.

He never saw me naked,” she lied. “And I never saw so much of an inch of his skin except his arms,” she lied again. “Don’t tell me to commit perjury on some bogus report because you’re pissed they saved the day when your shitty security measures were a joke.”

Director Boris rose to his feet. “You’re fired. Get your shit and get off Homeland immediately. I’ll personally have you arrested for trespassing in one hour if you are still here and let my shitty security toss you onto your ass out the front gates. I’ll have the local police waiting to give you a new home inside the city jail.” She nodded. “You’re a spineless prick.” She spun and stormed out of his office.

Ellie choked on tears as she headed for the outer door. She only had one hour to gather everything she owned and leave the only home she had. She’d have to call security to ask them to bring her car to the dorm to load her belongings. All personal vehicles were stored inside a secure parking lot at the back of Homeland. It was a standard security measure to prevent their cars from being messed with. She had no home anymore, only a few thousand dollars in her savings account, and no job. What hurt most would be that she’d miss the women she’d grown closer to. She reached the security guard at the door that lead outside and he moved suddenly to block her path with a grim demeanor.