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“I don’t know if you rushed out of that guard house or if you were already outside but that prick on the passenger side tried really hard to turn me into Swiss cheese. Those explosive devices could have gone off in my hands before I threw them into that van. I could have been blown to bits right along with those pricks. How dare you?” She glared at him. “You think you’re the only one having a bad day? I just wanted to come to Homeland to have some fun, meet New Species and teach some classes. That was my only agenda. Now I’m locked in a room with a paranoid idiot.”
The silence was absolute. She replayed what she’d just said to him and closed her eyes. Shit. Get hold of yourself, damn it. I’m falling apart faster than a recruit on day one of training.
He released the chair, gripped her rib cage and yanked her right out of her seat. Her feet didn’t touch as he walked across the room and dropped her ass-first on the table. He grabbed the chain linking her handcuffed wrists in front of her body and forcibly raised her arms by jerking them up. He sidestepped the table and she fell back as he hauled her along the surface, only stopping when she was stretched out flat atop it.
“Fight your way up,” he snarled, bending enough to get in her face again. “I dare you. Show me how skilled a crime lab technician is at hand-to-hand combat.”
She lay still. He hadn’t hurt her. She might have a bruise or two on her ass from the hard surface when he’d dropped her but that was the extent of it. The tabletop was cold. He kept a fisted hold on the chain to keep her arms restrained above her head. It was imperative that she defuse the edgy situation. She could use her legs by bending them up and kicking out at him, try to knock him back, but it would only prove that she wasn’t who she claimed.
“I’m sorry I called you an idiot. I was just really upset that you accused me of such a horrible thing. I risked my life out there. It wasn’t staged.”
He reached down and grabbed the front of his pants. Kat had forgotten that she only wore a pair of panties and a bra until that moment. Real fear shot through her that he’d sexually assault her. He was a big bastard, really strong, and probably weighed double what she did. She was tough but doubted she could fight him off for long. Every muscle went rigid in preparation to at least try. He didn’t expose his dick but instead tore the drawstring tie from the sweatpants.
She slightly relaxed until he began to secure her to something above her head. She twisted enough to look up and saw the bolted-in ring then peered at his face.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure you stay exactly where I want you.”
She felt exposed, stretched out practically naked on her back. “I want to sit in the chair.”
“I want the truth.” He straightened and took a step back.
Kat tugged on the handcuffs but the thick cord held. She glanced at the sides of the table but couldn’t roll over without falling against the chairs on the left or into him on the right.
“Who are you really? Let’s stop playing this game. Your ID was good but my officers are better. Someone fucked up when they created your history. Our security check only tracked you back three years then you end. There’s nothing on you.”
She stared up into his eyes, hoping he might be bluffing, but she saw the truth reflected there. Shit. That rat bastard Mason had screwed up the paper trail and, in fact, had blown her cover.
“I got divorced,” she lied. “I took back my maiden name.” It was worth a try.
He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Here’s an interesting twist. Checking the current database showed you exist but when we searched outdated internet sites that social security number belonged to an Eleanor Brinkler. She was a seventy-year-old housewife who died ten years ago.” He slowly raked his gaze down her body then back up. “I’m no expert on what an eighty-year-old looks like but I’m certain you’re nowhere near that age.”
Kat panicked but tried to mask her features, struggling to think of something to say.
He stepped closer. “You don’t look dead.” He stared at her chest. “You’re breathing.” His gaze met and held hers. “What is your real name? Who sent you and why?”
“This has to be some horrible mistake.” It was all she could say. She was nailed and Robert Mason had sent her into one hell of a mess. Her cover identity had been a muddled rush job.
Darkness leaned forward, putting his face close to hers again. “I don’t want to hurt you.” His voice lowered to a rasp. “Don’t make me do that, sweetheart. I have enough memories to assure I suffer nightmares almost every time I sleep. Just tell me who you really are and why you came to Homeland. You’re busted.”
She licked her lips, tempted to tell him the truth. Mason never should have sent her to Homeland undercover. It would probably get them both fired, but it would be even worse if she talked. No one wanted an agent working for them who cracked under pressure. Darkness was just doing his job and he was good at it. She respected that.
“You look so soft and fragile.” He paused, watching her. “Let me tell you a few things about me. Have you ever heard of a human named Darwin Havings?”
Kat blanked her features but her heart rate jumped. Havings was currently number thirty-two on the list of the Department of Homeland Security’s most wanted. He’d been a rich bastard with businesses mainly in the Middle East and ties to third-world countries. He was also suspected to have invested heavily in Mercile Industries. That last association had earned him a hard look from authorities and what they’d uncovered was some pretty nasty suspicions but no actual evidence. Havings was rumored to be wrapped up in drug and sex-slave trafficking. They’d also found indications that he might be guilty of stealing from the US military in Afghanistan and selling the stolen weapons to rebels. That had put his name on the wanted list.
“Nope. Is he an action star?” A crime lab technician wouldn’t be familiar with that name because it hadn’t been in the news.
“He’s a bad human I’ve met.”
She had to remember to regulate her breathing, something that was tough to do since she was frantically trying to figure out how that meeting was possible. Why? How? When? A horrible suspicion gripped her that her dickhead boss might have been right. Are they in business with Havings? The NSO would be the perfect place for him to hide. We don’t have jurisdiction at Homeland or Reservation. He could flip us off from inside the gates and there wouldn’t be a damn thing we could do about it.
“I was one of a group of Species he took from Mercile.”
“Why?” She relaxed slightly. That meant it had happened in the past when Darkness had been a prisoner of the company. Havings would have had access to New Species then. Is the connection still active?
“It was a test.” He growled, cocked his head and continued to watch her eyes. “They put explosive collars around our necks. We were biological brothers and they knew we were aware of the connection because they showed us proof. We were birthed from the same batch of embryos they’d created from two particular humans they had matched up. They always created multiple embryos, often from the same pair of humans, sometimes by pairing one or both with other donors for different physical characteristics. Our animal genetics varied but our human DNA showed a familial match. That was why he wanted us. He knew we’d protect each other and do anything for our brothers.”
Jesus. Some of her control slipped and she knew her expression revealed the sympathy she felt. “Why explosive collars?”
“We knew they’d set them off and kill our brothers if we didn’t follow orders.”
“That’s fucked up.” Also a terrorist tactic—an extreme one. She didn’t mention that last part.
He cocked his head and leaned in. His nose tickled as it brushed against her throat. He inhaled deeply, seeming to smell her. Kat didn’t protest but it made her aware of him in a new way. It was kind of sexual.
“We’re protective of our own by nature and they used that,” Darkness whispered. “Do you want to know what they made us do?”
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“Sure.” Her gut twisted from a bad feeling that she wouldn’t like the answer.
“They taught us how to fight and kill. We were four breathing weapons with faster reflexes, stronger bodies and keener senses than humans.” He lifted his head and came at her neck from the other side, inhaling again. It brought his chest into light contact with her breasts. “Our teachers were mercenaries with strange accents. They were brutal.”
Fuck. The strange accents he spoke of were a tipoff. Darwin Havings only hired his bodyguards from his Middle Eastern contacts. They were the sorts usually linked to presumed assassinations. It was really bad news that they had trained Darkness. She could just imagine the things he’d been subjected to.
“I learned everything about how to torture someone into telling me whatever I want to know.”
Suspicion confirmed. She took another deep breath, shaking inside, terrified. She’d been trained to withstand torture but not the hardcore stuff he’d probably learned. Would he use it to break her? If so, he’d do whatever worked to get answers. It meant it could get ugly and dangerous, with the possible loss of body parts or death.
He moved again until he could stare directly into her eyes. “You’re frightened. I can smell it on you. Just tell me the truth.”
She wasn’t sure what to do. “Is that why you’re sniffing at me?”
“I’m not human.”
She really didn’t need the reminder. “May I have some time to think about it?”
His eyebrows rose. “You want me to wait while you try to come up with more convincing lies?”
“I want to tell you the truth but can’t.”
He braced both hands on the table, one on each side of her chest, and leaned in closer until he was almost half on top of her. “Do you know how animalistic some of us can be?”
“Not really. I read the papers and have watched interviews.”
“You see what we want you to. I’m not Justice North.”
She could believe that. Mr. North seemed downright friendly, even cuddly on television. He displayed a quick sense of humor and an easygoing personality. Darkness was none of those things.
He parted his lips and showed off those fangs again. Kat stared at them and hoped he wasn’t implying he’d use them to bite her. That would probably hurt like hell.
“Imagine honing predatory instincts, combined with being encouraged to become the worst of humanity. That’s what I was made to be when I was pulled from Mercile and sent to those humans, if they could be called that. Tell me the truth or you’ll see what I’m capable of. It will be brutal.”
Real tears filled her eyes and there was nothing she could do but blink them back. He was a master at instilling fear since she believed every word he’d said.
“Honestly. I had no hidden agenda. I just wanted to stop those men from hurting your people.” She stared into his striking eyes, hoping he’d see the truth. “I don’t want any New Species hurt. I was looking forward to teaching some classes and getting to spend time here at Homeland. I thought it would be cool, almost a vacation.”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t do that, sweetheart.”
“I swear on my life that every word I just said was absolutely true.”
“I meant don’t cry.” He closed his eyes and tucked his chin to look away. “Fuck.”
His reaction astounded her. He was either an amazing actor or a master at deception. Otherwise she’d think he was feeling a twinge of empathy. He looked at her again and the tortured expression on his face stabbed at her heart.
“I can’t do this.” He shook his head. “It’s not worth my soul or what’s left of it.”
“Can’t do what?”
“Pretend you’re a female from my past so I can effectively do my job. I actually admired your skill out there. I don’t think I could have done as well as you did or dealt with those humans as quickly. You either think fast on your feet or it was a brilliant strategic move. You’re one of the best assassins I’ve ever met if that’s the case. If I’m wrong…” He looked at her chest. “It makes you exceptionally sexy.”
Kat didn’t know if she should be flattered or offended. She said nothing.
He blinked a few times. “You pose a problem for me, Kat. If that is your name.”
“It is. Everyone calls me that.”
“I doubt it.”
“Why? What’s so unbelievable about my name?”
“You’re at the NSO and have the name of a feline?”
It sank in. “It’s spelled with a K.”
“I don’t care. Why not use a more human name like Mary?”
“That’s not what my parents stuck me with. I’m actually named after my grandmother. She died while my mom was pregnant with me.” That was also true. “It’s just a weird coincidence.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“It’s too obvious if you think about it. I’d have to be dumb to pick that name and I didn’t even make the connection to cats until you brought it up. I’m not an idiot. I would have done a fantastic job at building a false identity for myself.”
“That, I believe.”
“Good.”
“Who do you work for?”
“Bakersfield Police Department, crime lab.”
“What color is your bra?”
“Black.” He was testing her, trying to gauge facial expressions or her tone of voice to determine if he could spot a sign that she lied. She’d done the same thing to suspects.
“My hair is brown. So are my eyes. I’m five-foot-five. Don’t bother asking my weight. I’m not telling. Everyone lies on their license about that.”
“You’re about a hundred forty pounds. No need. I lifted you out of that chair.”
He was good. She was actually a hundred thirty-eight pounds.
“You appear to be lighter, about one twenty-five, but you have good muscle tone. That tells me you work out or train often.” He studied her breasts. “No plastic surgery.” He lifted away and stood, his gaze raking over her stomach and thighs. “No children.”
“How do you know that?”
“You have scars on you. Your upper arm, one near your calf. They are noticeable. It is telling. Pregnancy would have marred you as well and left signs. Your lower belly and upper thighs are flawless. No signs of stretch marks.”
“Not all women get them.” She admired his skills of observation. It was kind of hot.
“Not all but most have at least a few.”
“I don’t have kids,” she confirmed.
His focus returned to her face. “You don’t wear makeup. It also explains your plain undergarments. No lace on them and your bra isn’t a padded one to give your breasts a larger appearance. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself from men. Why is that?”
“Maybe I just didn’t have time to do my face this morning. As for my bra, pushups are uncomfortable as hell.”
He regarded her, expressionless, and she would have loved to know what he was thinking.
Darkness hoped fear provided the last push he needed to get the female to break. Everything he’d told her was true. He did admire her. An image flashed of what would happen if he struck her or broke bones. She’d scream. He’d feel like the monster the humans had tried to create. He couldn’t hit her.
She had beautiful, expressive eyes. He hoped he could read her correctly and that the males who’d attacked the gates weren’t with her. It would anger him if she were evil. He’d already fallen for one female who had betrayed him. He could use that anger on Kat but one glance at her frail build stopped him cold. There was no honor in harming Kat. She was helpless and, damn it, he really liked her.
Frustration came next. It was his job to get answers and find out who she really was. He just couldn’t do it effectively. He considered his options. Someone else would have to take his place. He didn’t even want to be in the building, knowing what would go down in that interrogation room. A wave of compassion and protectiveness washed over him. Queasines
s pitted in his stomach, thinking about another male inflicting pain on her to make her talk.
He stared into her eyes again, torn between duty and the unexpected desire to just escort her to the gate. That would put an end to it all but that wasn’t possible. He decided to try one more shot at intimidation and fear.
Chapter Three
“Look at me.” He removed his tank top.
“I am.” Kat studied Darkness.
“All of me.” He backed away from the table a few feet. “Tell me what you see.”
“You’re tall.” She took in his naked chest. “Very fit.” The tight, well-defined muscles displayed across his abs were perfection all the way down to the waistband of his sweats. She jerked her attention to his face.
“Never entice a predator into playing a game you can’t win,” he rasped. “The NSO isn’t to be fooled with. I don’t want to hurt you because I have an issue with hitting females but others won’t have that same problem. Tell me everything, the whole truth, or this is going to get extreme.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” She really didn’t.
He stepped closer and her heart pounded when he braced his hands on the table on each side of her breasts and leaned over. He pressed his nose against her throat, inhaling. She turned her head to give him access and to keep her face away from his scary teeth.
“I can smell your fear, yet you won’t break. Fine. I’m going to get someone else in here.” He reached up and untied the cord then straightened and gripped her arm, hauling her into a sitting position. “I strongly suggest you talk to whoever replaces me. I would hate for you to see the inside of Medical.” He let her go and glanced down her body. “Something so beautiful should never be bloodied and battered.”
He spun around and stalked toward the door. It sank in what was happening and Kat panicked. “Wait!”
He halted and slowly turned to face her. “You’re willing to tell me the truth?”