New Species 03 Valiant (12 page)

or she could have a litter of puppies if she got pregnant

by that thing.” It was the unhurt man who spoke while

he studied her. “Do you think, if it was possible, that

she’d have as many as a dog bitch would have? My pit

bull had six puppies last time.”

“Shut up, Mark.” Paul shot him a glare. “Everyone

knows they are sterile so don’t even go there. It makes

me sick. That’s a blessing they can’t have kids. They

probably would breed like animals, with litters. Let’s just

get some sleep, rest up, and in the morning we’ll hike

out of here and take her to the house. Our

reinforcements will hit town the day after tomorrow with

the doctor. We just need to keep her alive until he

arrives. That should give us plenty of time to make her

tape a statement that we can send out to the press to

show everyone that those things are dangerous.”

Ned stumbled to his feet and glared at Tammy. “Two

days waiting around with her is a long time. She loves

animals, obviously. I think I know how to pass the

hours.” He reached for the front of his pants and started

to unfasten them.

“Don’t,” Paul ordered. “The doctor wouldn’t be

happy. I know what kind of experiments he’s into. He’ll

castrate you if you injure her in any way that might screw

up his plans.”

“She’s already done an animal. Who really gives a

fuck what we do to her as long as we don’t kill her?” Ned

opened his pants, shoving them down his hips.

Terror gripped Tammy as she realized he planned to

rape her. Mark, the unhurt guy, stood quickly. “We don’t

screw with the doctor. Pull your pants back up, damn it. I

don’t ever want to see your dick again.”

“Mark is right.” Paul stood too and moved between

Ned and where Tammy lay bound on the ground. “The

doctor would go ballistic if you raped her. You’re the new

guy on the team and don’t know much about what he

does but he’d kill you if you jeopardize his work. He’s the

one who signs our paychecks. Find a whore if you want

to get your rocks off or take a walk out into the woods

and jerk off.”

“But she’s the bitch who broke my nose. I’m not just

going to take that shit without some payback.”

“I understand.” Paul’s voice lowered. “I’m angry too.”

He held up his arm. “I have to explain how the hell this

happened to my wife when I get home. She’s not stupid

and this looks just like what it is. Fingernail marks. She’ll

be convinced I cheated on her. That pisses me off but the

doctor scares the hell out of me. You can’t rape her.”

Mark turned his head to glare down at Tammy, his

dark eyes narrowed, and he smiled in a way that turned

her blood to ice. Pure glee transformed his features as he

turned to face her. Whatever plan he’d hatched wouldn’t

be good for her.

“We won’t rape her or do anything the doctor would

get mad about but we need to get that statement from

her.” He turned his head to grin at Paul. “Do you have

the video camera with you? I don’t know about you guys

but I’m not tired and we’re stuck here until morning. I

say we use the time well.”

“I’ve got video camera function on my phone.” Paul

had a confused look as he dug it out of his back pocket.

“But she isn’t going to agree to say anything bad against

them. You heard her. She’s somehow been brainwashed

by those animals.”

Ned jerked up his pants and zipped them. “The

animal infected her. I’m telling you they carry diseases.

The doctor probably wants her because he knows that. I

bet he’s going to document it when she becomes one of

them. That would definitely turn the public against them

and help our cause. Everybody will panic, they’ll want

them dead before it spreads past their gates, and we’ll

finally get to watch them die.”

“What are you thinking, Mark?” Paul stepped closer to

study Tammy before he glanced at the other guy. “We

can’t do any damage. The doctor wants her healthy. He

calls her a money-making opportunity. You know he’s in

a financial jam now. A ll of them are.”

Mark’s grin widened as he peered down at Tammy

too. “There’s a lot you can do to a woman without doing

permanent harm or causing internal damage. We’ll get

her to say whatever the hell we want and make our boss

happy at the same time.”

Tammy whimpered at his vicious glare, knowing

whatever he planned had to be horrific. She struggled

against the belt that held her wrists together but they

didn’t allow her to wiggle out of them. When Mark

dropped to his knees next to her and his hands grabbed

her shirt, she cried out in fear as he shoved her onto her

back and pinned her arms under her. He leaned over

until his face hovered inches above her own and she

could make out his hazel eyes clearly from the firelight.

“Not her face,” Paul ordered. “I can video her up

close but if you beat on her, do it from the neck down.”

“Don’t do this,” Tammy begged. “I won’t press

charges. I’ll swear it was some prank from friends who

grabbed me or something. Just let me go.”

Material tore as he gripped her shirt and ripped it

wide open. Shock made her gasp as air hit her skin. His

hands didn’t stop at just parting it. He totally destroyed

the thing, tossing it away once he’d yanked it out from

under her.

“I still say we should rape her,” Ned grumbled,

stepping closer to watch. “She’s got nice tits.”

“Shut up,” Mark ground out. “I like silence while I

work.” He reached down and came up holding a pocket

knife. He flicked it open, hooked his finger between her

breasts and sawed at her bra.

Tears blinded Tammy and she took a deep breath. A

scream tore from her throat as brutal hands continued to

strip her. He sliced the straps, jerked her bra completely

away and tossed it into the fire. When she tried to turn

away, he dropped down on her waist, straddled her, and

grabbed her throat with one hand to hold her flat. She

stared up at him in horror when she realized she couldn’t

breathe.

“I hate screaming,” he hissed at her. “Shut up. You’re

going to tell Paul that the animal who grabbed you

brutally raped you, bit you repeatedly, and whatever else

you can think up to horrify the public.”

She nodded, unable to speak, and just wanted air.

“She agreed.” Paul chuckled.” Move back and I’ll film

her.”

The hand eased enough for her to suck in air. “I

don’t believe her.” Mark suddenly pinched one of her

nipples hard, twisting it while his finger and thumb

squeezed together. Pain forced another scream from her

throat. The agony subsided when he eased his vicious

hold. He laughed. “This is fun.” His hand slid over her rib

cage to her stomach. He patted her once before he lifted

his hand away.

Tammy began to sob. Her nipple throbbed, hurt

badly, and she wasn’t sure it was still attached. She

questioned that because of the pain radiating from it. The

monster sitting on her suddenly dropped his palm down

hard over her belly, the sound of the slap louder than her

crying, and she groaned.

“A re you having fun?” Ned stepped closer. “Let me

hurt her a bit. She broke my damn nose.”

The guy on top of her lifted his weight higher onto

her stomach and pressed down until it hurt. His hands

reached behind him and she stared into his eyes while he

glared at her. He made sure she couldn’t get away as he

fumbled with her jeans.

“Pull them down. Wait until I remove that underwear

if you think her tits are sensitive. We won’t rape her but a

little bruising in that area won’t make the doctor upset.

It’s her insides he’ll be interested in.”

Tammy tried to scream as her shoes and jeans were

torn down her legs but Mark just leaned forward, glared

at her, and clamped his hand over her nose and mouth.

She couldn’t breathe, her eyes widened, and it seemed to

please the monster watching her struggle for breath.

“There. Got them off.” Ned chuckled. “She’s wearing

a blue thong. She’s a whore. I knew it. That’s why she

won’t tell us she was raped by the animal. She probably

wanted it and begged him to fuck her.” His amusement

left. “Think the doctor would care if I fucked her in the

ass? That doesn’t really count, right?”

“Shut up, you moron. No rape. Get over that concept

already. She’ll be in hysterics by the time I’m done and

it’s going to really look good for the video. They’ll think

she’s really been traumatized by those animal bastards

when we send it to the news stations for broadcast.”

Mark released her mouth so she could gasp in air and he

scooted down her body to sit over her hips again. He

reached up and pinched her other nipple hard, squeezed,

and twisted.

The sound that tore from Tammy actually hurt her

throat. She couldn’t get away from the pain and worse,

she heard them laughing when she ran out of air, making

it clear her pain amused them greatly.

* * * * *

Frustration gripped Valiant as he dropped to his

knees, pressed his nose closer to the ground and tried to

pick up the stench of his enemy. The men had reached a

rocky area and the wind had picked it. He refused to give

up even though he’d lost the scent. His eyes narrowed as

he scanned the area for any recent signs of disturbance.

“Spread out,” he ordered the other Species. “Find it.”

“Easy, Valiant,” Tiger crooned. “You’re sounding a

little wild with the way you’re snarling.”

Valiant snapped his head around to glare at Tiger.

“They have my Tammy.”

“Understood.” Tiger backed away, heading to the left

to try to find the trail.

Valiant doubted anyone understood what he was

feeling. He’d missed her and she’d occupied all his free

thoughts. Her scent had faded from his bed and he’d

mourned the loss. Not finding her would be

unacceptable.

“Here,” Rider called out softly. “I found a trace.”

Valiant was on his feet with a leap, sniffed the area,

and picked up the faint stench of sweaty human. One of

them had rubbed against the trunk of a tree. He moved

forward and scanned the darkness, searching for the

easiest way to walk if he’d been a weaker human carrying

a woman over his shoulder.

“Follow him,” Tiger urged. “Don’t let him out of your

sight.”

“I’m going to kill them,” Valiant swore.

“That’s why we’re sticking close. You’re so agitated

that you might get her and us killed.” Tiger closed the

distance between them, keeping close behind him. “Think

before you act.”

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to save her.”

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to save her.”

“That’s what we’re afraid of,” Rider sighed. “We want

to rescue the female too but be smart about it.”

“Leave him alone,” Brass growled. “I understand

wanting to protect a female. I am very close to Trisha.

They aren’t as strong as our females and this Tammy

won’t be able to defend herself. That’s why I wanted to

come along. Harley and Moon wished to come as well

but knew you didn’t want to overwhelm the humans with

too many of us. If these males have harmed Val’s female

he should get to kill them. They are assholes who need

killing.”

Valiant snarled in agreement.

“Great. Really helpful, Brass.” Tiger shot him a glare.

Brass shrugged. “It’s the truth.”

A high-pitched scream rent the air, coming from the

east, and Valiant responded at the pained call of his

woman. He threw back his head as he darted forward to

find her.

* * * * *

“She’s going to say whatever the hell you want her

to, Paul. See?” Mark laughed. “It’s all just a matter of

convinc—”

A loud roar suddenly shattered the night. Tammy’s

ears rang from the sound. She’d heard that roar before.

Valiant was out there and close.

Tammy glared at the jerk who pinned her down. He

frantically swiveled his head toward the woods around

them, searching for the source.

“What in the fuck was that?” Ned inched closer to the

fire, peering around the woods.

“I don’t know,” Terry whispered. “It was close.”