New Species 02 Slade (34 page)

body at Slade. In horror, Trisha watched the men go at

each other. She’d never seen two New Species fight

before. It looked to be a combination between a dog fight

and a no-holds-barred kickboxing match. It became clear

within minutes that Slade was the better fighter. He

punched Brass in the face and threw a kick that sent

Brass sprawling onto his stomach. Brass groaned but

didn’t get up. Slade panted, obviously still enraged.

“You thought you could protect her?” Slade snarled.

“You can’t even protect yourself against me.”

Brass lifted his head, looking a little dazed, and

blood smeared his mouth. He turned his head to glare at

Slade. “Someone had to try to protect her.”

“Well, you can’t.” Slade marched toward the cabin.

Moon had edged around the fighting men until he

stood guard at the bottom of the porch steps, blocking

Slade’s path to Trisha. Harley suddenly released Trisha

and leaped down the porch steps to stand next to Moon.

Both men appeared tense.

“Move,” Slade snarled, stopping just feet from the

men.

“Why? You are upset and aren’t being reasonable.”

Harley kept a calm tone in his voice. “You hurt Brass

over being angry with Valiant. We didn’t know he was

here or Brass would have gone to talk to him before he

picked up the scent of a human. You are one of our best

fighters and you knew you could take Brass alone. You

could take both of us one-on-one too. We know that. But

you’ll have to take on both of us at once if you wish to

upset Trisha. Your fight isn’t with her.”

Slade’s dark-blue gaze locked with Trisha’s. He

panted hard and seemed so enraged that it scared her.

She never thought she’d be afraid of Slade, especially

after their time alone in the woods, but she’d been

wrong. She was terrified of him.

“I knew you were attracted to Justice more than you

admitted to me. I would not have avoided you if I had

known you were so hot to have a Species male in your

bed. I thought I was protecting you,” Slade growled.

“Being with one of us puts you in danger. You went

through too much and I didn’t want you to be with me

out of gratitude for saving your life. I knew only time

would give us a chance.” He shook his head. “I could

kill you. I told you that you were mine. Mine!” he

snarled. “You can stay here and have your bastard but I

better never see you again. You don’t have permission to

leave the cabin while Justice hides you and his love child

under my nose.”

Slade spun and stormed away. Trisha locked her

knees so she wouldn’t collapse on the porch. Slade

thought she was pregnant by Justice? Her mouth opened.

“Slade?”

He ignored her completely, as though she hadn’t

spoken, as he jumped in his Jeep.

“Slade?” Her voice rose.

He turned his head and sheer rage showed on his

features. “You’re dead to me, Doc. Don’t ever say my

name again. I regret ever speaking to you and I wish I’d

never touched you.”

The Jeep roared to life and he threw it in reverse.

“Slade? You need to listen to me,” Trisha yelled. “It’s

not Justice’s baby!”

He stomped on the brake and turned his head back,

curling his lip. “Brass? You should have picked someone

stronger, Doc. He just got his ass kicked and I didn’t

even break a sweat. I bet he says your name though,

doesn’t he?”

Trisha managed to take a step and grab the porch

railing to keep standing. She was mad now. “It’s not his

baby either. It’s yours, you stupid son of a bitch!” She

yelled the information at him. “You might have been

able to beat up Brass but at least he’s here for me. He

never abandoned me when I needed him the most and he

doesn’t lie to me by swearing he’ll come back for me but

instead runs away as if he’s a big coward, the way you

did. And that bastard you referred to is a great way to

title your own baby. I hate you.”

She saw his expression change as emotions crossed

his features with rapid speed. Anger, shock, and finally

he paled before his expression returned back to rage

mode again. He shut off the Jeep and climbed out. His

features became unreadable when he stomped toward

Trisha. Brass managed to get back on his feet and he

staggered into Slade’s path.

“Don’t.”

Slade growled at him. “Move.”

“Don’t do this,” Brass urged softly. “Do you want to

upset her enough to make her lose the baby? She’s been

through enough.”

Slade’s gaze jerked to Trisha. “The baby is really

mine?”

She fought tears. “You mean ‘bastard’, don’t you? Go

to hell, Slade. Yes, the baby is yours in the biological

way. In every other sense the baby is mine and mine

alone. Don’t worry though. In the last weeks I’ve learned

exactly what to expect from you so stay away from me

just the way you have been. I waited a week for you to

call or come see me. When you didn’t I was even hopeful

for another week. Then you took this job and didn’t even

have the decency to tell me you were leaving. You just

left. I hate you for that, I really do, and I will never

forgive you. You lied to me and you just blew me off.

Well, I can do that too. Leave me alone and stop beating

up my friends, because they actually care about me.” She

took a ragged breath, fighting the urge to cry. “They

don’t make me cry. They don’t abandon me or break my

heart.”

She turned and fled inside the house, running for the

stairs. She barely made it inside the bathroom before she

threw up. When it was over, she washed her face,

brushed her teeth, and finally braved opening the door.

She was afraid Slade would want to confront her again

but it was Moon who sat on the edge of bed.

Slade stood in the yard in absolute shock. A baby. It

wasn’t possible. Species couldn’t impregnate females.

They’d been sure of that. Mercile had tried too hard.

They would have figured out a way if it were feasible.

Trisha wouldn’t lie to him though. He knew she

wouldn’t intentionally mislead him about something that

important.

“Happy now?” Brass spit out grass from between his

teeth, brushing off dirt. “You upset her.”

Slade glared at the other male. “I didn’t know.”

“You weren’t around to find out. You haven’t been

anywhere near her since her retrieval. I take it that’s

when you bred with her?”

Trisha is carrying my baby. He tried to allow the news

to sink into his still-shocked brain.

“You had her and left her. I’ve heard of stupid moves

before but that is one of the worst. You may be able to

take me in a fight but never get into a battle of

intelligence with me. I’d kick your ass,” Brass said before

storming toward the side of the house and the water

hose.

Slade stood there feeling numb, staring up at the

house. He wanted to go after her, wanted to talk to her,

and would even beg her forgiveness for the harsh words

but he didn’t even know where to start. He’d called her

child a bastard.

Why am I always fucking up so bad around her? Damn it!

His chin lowered to his chest and pain gripped him. He

was his own worst enemy. Every time he opened his

mouth he seemed to push away the woman he loved by

saying something that pained or hurt her.

He turned, stumbling toward the Jeep, knowing he

needed to cool down and think. He had to figure out a

way to make this right. He jumped in the driver’s seat

but his hand hesitated. He didn’t want to leave her. He

couldn’t. He let his hand drop but then reached for the

key again. Anger and pain gripped him. He couldn’t

seem to do anything right when it came to Trisha.

Perhaps he didn’t deserve her but he wanted her so

badly it made him feel bitter at the concept of losing her

forever.

He started the engine and slowly drove away but

he’d return. He’d shower, change his clothes and calm

down. He’d think clearer and find a way to fix the mess

his temper and jealousy had created.

A baby. Trisha is having my baby. A warm feeling

spread throughout his chest.

* * * * *

“I totally lost it.”

He nodded. “I saw and heard.”

“How is Brass?”

“Harley is outside, hosing him off with water but

he’ll be fine. His pride suffered the most at being beaten

but Slade really is one of our finest fighters. I told Brass

there is no shame in getting his ass kicked by the best.

There should only be a sense of shame when you lose to

someone weaker.”

“I’m so sorry this happened.” Trisha wiped at tears.

Moon stood and slowly approached Trisha. “It is not

your fault. Slade deserved your harsh words. He had sex

with you and disappeared afterward. It is his shame to

carry, not yours. You are a gift, Trisha. Any man would

be lucky if you cared about him and allowed him to

touch you the way he did but he threw it away. He was

stupid to do that. Lie down and rest. The supplies

arrived a few minutes ago and we will bring you dinner

soon. Think of your baby and don’t worry about Slade or

anything else. We will take care of you. I’m sure once

Slade cools down he will return to talk calmly with you.

We made him see the good reasoning in leaving you

alone until he calms. He didn’t want to but his brain

started functioning again. I think he was such a dick

because he was insanely jealous, believing you had

allowed someone else to touch you. He wouldn’t have

been such an asshole if he didn’t care about you and he

must care a lot since he was such a big one.”

Trisha didn’t protest when Moon tucked covers

around her after she lay down and he pressed a kiss to

her forehead. Trisha smiled at him.

“Thank you. I’m impressed, by the way.”

“About what?”

“I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you say at one

time.”

Moon grinned before he returned downstairs. Trisha

tried to relax. It wasn’t easy. She was still upset by what

had happened.

Well, Slade knows about our baby now. She’d fulfilled

what Justice had asked her to do and it had been a

disaster. She fought tears. She hadn’t dreamed in a

million years that she’d end up screaming the news of

fatherhood at a man whose baby she carried and she’d

called him names on top of it all. Just…crap!

Was Moon correct? Slade had been an extreme

asshole. If he didn’t care he wouldn’t have reacted so

violently to the news of her being pregnant. It had really

hurt when he’d instantly assumed she’d slept with

Justice. Maybe he thought she slept around with men

regularly. He didn’t know her at all if that was the case.

The whole “mine” thing remained stuck inside her

head. He’d said she was his when he’d attacked Bill at

the camp where she’d almost been raped. Then when

they were outside he’d screamed at her that she knew

she was his but if he considered her that, why had he

abandoned her? He’d said something about protecting

her and it was just confusing when she tried to make

sense of his words. He wanted to give her time? He’d

said only time could have given them a chance or

something close to that. Time for what? For me to feel used

and stupid for thinking something meaningful happened

between us?

She heard the stairs creak a short time later and

wiped away her tears. Harley walked upstairs carrying a

glass of milk and some food with him. A spoon peeked

out of the bowl.

“I brought you milk for the baby and soup for your

upset stomach. Moon told me you were sick enough to

lose your last meal. I’ll bring you chocolate-chip cookies

if you hold all this down. They sent a large bag of them. I

told the guys to at least save you one.”

Trisha smiled as she sat up. “Just one?”

“Maybe two. You are eating for two people now.”

Harley grinned at her. “You be careful with this. It’s hot. I

don’t want you to get burned.”

Trisha stared at him with gratitude. “Thank you for