New Species 12 Darkness (9 page)

“You’re smart enough not to insult me.”

“So that’s what it takes to get your hands on me?” She arched her eyebrows.

“I don’t want to share sex. I told you not to take it personally.”

“I’m a caregiver. It’s my nature, it seems. I’m drawn to damaged males with anger issues.”

“It’s not an issue.”

She glanced at the downed bag again and smiled. “The equipment would say otherwise if it could speak. I imagine it would be crying right now or at least muttering
ouch
.”

Her sense of wit amused him. He smiled back, relaxing a bit. “I suppose it would.”

“I’m attracted to you. Call it a flaw of my nature but any time I see a very aggressive male it turns me on.”

“All of us are aggressive.”

“True, but you more so than others. Perhaps I miss the sense of danger when undressing for a male who doesn’t have his emotions under control.”

“I’m in control.”

“For now.” Her smile faded. “You are on the edge. I watch you closer than any other male because I want you. It’s only a matter of time before you break.”

“I’d never allow it to happen.”

“I just insulted you but you don’t have me pinned against a wall.”

“You’re testing me?”

“I’m just proving what I said. You feel something for the teacher.”

Bluebird irritated him. “Fine. I am attracted to her but I’d never act on it.”

“Why not? I didn’t see her struggling or yelling for help when she could have. That implies she didn’t mind your hands on her.”

“Mind your own business.”

“Fine.” She took a step back. “You know you don’t have to talk to her during shared sex. She’ll only be here for a short time unless you were to ask her to stay. I don’t see that happening since I was working the day she arrived. We both know she’s not who she pretends to be. You’ve never shown interest in a female before. You should take advantage of it.”

“Use her?” He didn’t like the concept.

Bluebird shrugged. “Humans used us. You’re walking a fine line, Darkness. I don’t care how tough you are. Everyone has a breaking point. I don’t need to tell you that though.” She paused. “Perhaps I do. You’re damaged, by your own words. You avoid our females but she isn’t one of us. She won’t have any expectations if that’s what you worry about.”

He scowled.

“I don’t mean sexual worries. I’m certain you’re skilled. We expect to be treated a certain way but she wouldn’t know that.” She seemed to appreciate the sight of his body. “You’re full of sexual frustration. I can spot it a mile away.” She looked into his eyes. “Unleash some of it on her and release the pressure. You’re about to boil over. She’s perfect for that. You know not to trust her and she’s playing games. I think you’re a master at that too.”

She turned without another word and strolled away. Darkness clenched his teeth and spun, wishing to hit the bag again. It remained on the floor, damaged. “Fuck.”

Bluebird had a point. A few of them, actually. He was sexually frustrated. Kat wasn’t anything like a Species female and she also wasn’t some innocent human. She’d come to Homeland with a hidden agenda. A highly trained individual never took sex personally when they were on a job. He couldn’t hurt her feelings and she wouldn’t expect any commitment.

I could have her
. His dick stirred and it pissed him off. It was a matter of pride. He’d never fall into that trap again. It had cost him too much.

He left the training facility and returned to the guest cottage. After a quick shower, he sat on the bed with his laptop open. He watched Kat in the home next door. She fixed a sandwich for dinner and ate it at the bar.

His fascination with her wasn’t healthy. She was the exact type of female he needed to avoid the most. It frustrated him that she was also the one who piqued his interest. Why couldn’t he have formed an obsession with a harmless human?

The answer came easily. He’d destroy some soft-hearted female with his cold ways. They’d want to be with a male who could feel and show emotion. He kept everything inside where it was safe. Memories surfaced but he pushed them back. It only brought pain to remember the one female he’d ever allowed to get close to him. She’d fooled him and the price had been far too high.
Lesson learned.

His cell phone beeped and he blindly picked it up. “Darkness here.”

“How are you?”

He growled low. “Fine.”

Fury paused. “I heard you destroyed a poor weight bag today. What did it do to you?”

“Don’t you have anything better to do with your time? I bet Ellie and your offspring would enjoy you talking to them.”

“I’m worried about you.”

“Stop.”

Fury growled back. “I can’t help it. I wish it wasn’t so but those are the facts.”

“I’m fine. I hit the damn thing too hard. End of story.”

“This female is getting to you. Do you want to assign her to someone else?”

It was tempting.

“You think you’re the only one who has ever experienced this? There are things you don’t know about me.”

He watched Kat rise from the chair and begin washing her dishes. Darkness kept his gaze on the screen but he was curious about Fury’s remark. “Like what?”

“I hated Ellie once. I believed she’d betrayed me.”

That actually amused Darkness. “That female is so in love with you that I don’t buy it. She’s also very easy to read. She’s about as dangerous as a kitten.”

“She worked at Mercile.”

“I’m aware. She was the one who provided the evidence that blew the lid off them and got us freed.”

“A technician had it out for me and came into my cell. He…” Fury cleared his throat. “He did bad things and was about to do worse.”

“They were assholes.”

“He sexually assaulted me,” Fury snarled.

Darkness closed his eyes and leaned back. Pain stabbed at his chest. That was one indignity he’d never been subjected to. A strong sense of compassion rose in him over what Fury had suffered. “I’m sorry.”

“Ellie came in and bludgeoned him to death with her testing kit.”

That astounded Darkness and he opened his eyes. “Ellie?”

“Ellie,” Fury confirmed. “She killed him and then set it up so it appeared that I’d done it before the paralytic drugs he’d given me took effect. She’d been kind to me up to that point but as I lay there helpless, realizing what she was doing, I felt betrayed.”

“I can’t believe she’d do that. I mean, you were mistaken, right? No female is more loving than she is toward you.”

“She’d acquired evidence that day that she needed to smuggle out to save all of us. She felt sure that I wouldn’t be killed for the crime and had to blame me. They would have killed her if they’d known she’d taken the male’s life. I didn’t understand that until much later. I attacked her on sight after Homeland opened. It was the first time I’d seen her since the incident. I couldn’t let it go even after I learned the truth. She’d seen what that male had done to me. It was a matter of pride and rage. I never got the chance to make that male pay. She became a target to me.”

“I understand.” He did.

“I became obsessed to the point that I stalked and kidnapped her. I took her to my home for payback.”

Darkness flinched. “You hurt her? I can’t see you doing that. You love that female.”

“I was fucked up,” Fury admitted. “I had her tied to my bed but I couldn’t follow through with all the horrible things I wanted to do. Luckily. I still wake up some nights in a sweat, imagining the horrible consequences if I’d allowed that rage to take control. She’s my life. I would have lost her forever.”

“I’m glad you regained control of your emotions.”

“Me too.” Fury took a few breaths. “Kathryn Decker must remind you of the female who betrayed you.”

“They look nothing alike.” He lifted the laptop off his thighs and quickly stood. “You are out of line with that comment.”

“She’s here under false pretenses for an unknown reason. You’re attracted to her but you know she’ll betray us in some way. We all expect it. It has to make you relive the past. Tell me I’m wrong without lying.”

“Fine. I have been having issues with the past but I know she’s not Galina. I did have the ability to get my revenge on her.”

“You never told me that part.”

Darkness wanted to toss the phone into the wall and smash it into a hundred pieces. “She’s dead.” He left it at that.

“You killed her?”

He clenched his teeth and spun, pacing the confines of the room. “I don’t want to discuss this.”

“I’m not judging you. We’re brothers,” Fury rasped. “You did what you had to do.”

“We share the same human DNA. That doesn’t make us brothers.”

“Does that make it easier for you if you say that?” Fury growled. “We are brothers. Not all of yours are dead. I’m still here.”

“I’m fine. Good night. I have a job to do.” He hung up and resisted smashing the phone.

It rang just seconds later. He looked down and saw the name. He used his thumb to turn off the ringer. He didn’t want to speak to Fury again. Not while he was in a bad mood. It had been a trying few days. He needed to be calm. Fury had gotten under his skin. He glanced down at the phone a minute later and saw a message had been left. He turned it on and dialed Security.

“I’m sending you the feeds to the human’s cottage. I’m going for a jog. I’ll be back in about forty minutes.”

“Good deal,” the male announced. “We’re ready on this end.”

He bent and typed in the commands. Kat sat on the couch, watching the news. She was oblivious of the hell he felt. He switched the feeds over and slammed the laptop closed. He needed to run and expend his energy.

Darkness approached his current residence and stopped running. His nose flared and he growled as he faced the male who stepped out from behind a tree near the patio doors. He shouldn’t have been surprised to find Fury waiting for him.

“I told you that I don’t want to talk.”

Fury shrugged. “I told you that I’m worried about you.”

“Stop.”

Fury took a step forward. “Family can be a pain in the ass.”

“We aren’t family.”

Anger flashed on the male’s features. “I’m tired of waiting around for you to heal enough to deal with what the tests revealed. We are family. Maybe it doesn’t bother you to refuse to acknowledge me but I’d like you to be part of my life. We’re the only blood ties we each have. No one else matched my DNA test.”

“Only the human part.”

“I’m canine and you’re feline. Big deal.” Fury came a little closer. “I see a resemblance. We both ended up with dark hair and brown eyes. We have the same chin too. We got those traits from our humans. Do you ever wonder who they were? I do.”

“No. I never consider it. The records were destroyed so we’ll never know.”

“Have you ever thought about putting your DNA out there to see if we can find a human match and possibly find other relatives? They have adoption registries that might help us find close relations.”

The concept horrified Darkness. “No!”

“I have. These are things family should talk about. We could have fully human siblings.”

“Don’t do it.” Darkness advanced until they were a foot apart. “They are nothing like us. The connection died the moment the humans were paid by Mercile.”

Fury frowned. “I’m talking about the children those humans could have created. Not the parents who made that choice.”

“I want no part of it.”

“That’s the problem. You want no part of anything.”

Darkness leashed his temper. “Stop taking it personally.”

“How can I not? I know I can’t replace the full-blooded siblings you lost. I’m not trying to. I just want to be closer to you.”

“No.” He unfurled his fists.

“Did they look like us? They were my brothers too. Tell me something personal about them.”

Pain stabbed at Darkness’ chest. “Stop.”

“Did they have our hair color? Our eye color?”

“STOP!” He hadn’t meant to shove the male but Fury stumbled back, assuring him that’s exactly what he’d done.

Fury rubbed his chest and snarled.

Darkness lifted his hands, not willing to fight. “Sorry. I don’t want to discuss this.”

“Too damn bad.” Fury took a menacing step forward. “Do I have to beat it out of you?”

“You don’t want to do this.”

“Are you going to kill me?” Fury kicked off his shoes. “You hold everything inside. Stop blaming yourself for something out of your control. I know you somehow blame yourself for their deaths but it’s just survivor’s guilt.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then make me. Tell me everything that happened when they took you away from Mercile. Why do you blame yourself for the deaths of our brothers? Why are you such an asshole by refusing to accept our bond? Talk to me because I’m tired of waiting. I deserve answers.”

“It’s better if you don’t know all the details,” he admitted.

“I never took you for a coward.”

That infuriated him. “I’m not.”

“Then tell me more about them,” Fury snarled. “Talk to me, damn it.”

“I’m going inside.” He tried to walk around the male but Fury grabbed his arm.

“This isn’t over. I’m not leaving until I have answers.”

He glanced down at the fisted hand gripping his forearm. He held the male’s furious gaze. “I won’t fight you.”

Fury released him. Darkness relaxed. He understood the male’s frustration and wasn’t even surprised by it. Fury had tried repeatedly to get him to talk. He just didn’t want to share the details. It would hurt the male, the last thing he wanted.

“Some things are better left unknown.” It was the best advice he could give.

“That’s bullshit. You’re going to tell me everything that happened when you were taken from Mercile and exactly how our brothers died. All I know are the barest basics. They died there and you were the only one to survive. There was a human female there who helped train you but she betrayed you. I want the information you won’t share.”

He faced Fury. “It’s not a good story.”

“I don’t care.”

“It’s best you never met them. You didn’t get to know them the way I did so you can’t ever know the loss I feel. That’s a good thing. Be grateful for it.”

“That’s it,” Fury snarled. “You think I don’t care? They were family. Share the burden and get it off your chest so you can accept me as your brother. This thing is like a wall between us and I want it torn down.”

“Good night.” Darkness turned away.

Fury howled with rage, the only warning he got before the male attacked. He spun in time to catch a fist to his jaw. It sent him reeling back. The force of the blow almost made him fall. He regained his balance and braced his legs.

“Stop it!” he yelled.

Fury shook his head and raised his fists. “I’m tearing down that wall even if it means we both end up bloody, in Medical.” He threw another punch.

Darkness jerked his head to the left, barely missing a direct hit to his mouth. He threw out an arm and nailed Fury in the ribs. The male stumbled back and snarled. He advanced. Darkness retreated.

“Stop it. This is immature.”

“Brothers sometimes fight.” Fury waved his hand toward his chest, urging him to come at him. “Let’s figure out who is the toughest, bro.”

“Goddamn it,” Darkness hissed.

The fight was on. Fury grabbed his shirt and nailed him in the ribs with a knee. He groaned but regained the upper hand when he managed to land a blow to the male’s chin. Fury stumbled back but Darkness didn’t retreat that time. The male wanted to fight and he was up for it. He tackled Fury around the waist, taking them both to the ground.

They rolled, exchanging punches. He heard someone approaching but ignored the audience they seemed to have drawn until males pulled them apart. Security had surrounded them quickly. He glared at Fury, who was being held by two other males.

Fury actually grinned. He had blood around his mouth. “Tell me that didn’t feel good.”

“What is going on here?” Jinx glanced between the two of them.

“A little harmless competition,” Fury announced. “Release us.”

“Harmless?” Jinx shook his head. “You’re both bleeding.”

“We’re bleeding the same blood type though, aren’t we?” Fury arched an eyebrow at Darkness.

“Release us,” Darkness repeated. “The fight is over.”

“But the discussion has just begun. I’ll be back tomorrow night and every night after until we work this out,” Fury warned.

“You’re crazy,” Darkness accused.

The males restraining Fury released him. “No. You could have done a hell of a lot more damage to me if you wanted but I’m your brother. You were playing with me or I would have broken bones. I’ve seen you fight.”

“You caught me by surprise.”

Fury snorted. “See you tomorrow night. Talk or it’s on again.”

Darkness watched Fury walk away and ordered the males to go with him. The male had lost his mind if he thought they’d fight again. It amazed him when he found himself smiling though. He admired Fury. He even liked him. He turned to go into his home to shower.

Kat stood on the grass next to her patio. He could see her shocked expression and tell she was upset by the way she hugged her middle. His good humor died, knowing she’d witnessed the fight. She approached him cautiously.

“Are you okay?”

He didn’t want to deal with her or more questions. He spun and stalked toward the pond. He lifted his shirt and wiped at the blood on his mouth and forehead with the material. It was mostly from split knuckles. Fury had a point. Their blood was shared, even if it was just from their human side.

His keen hearing picked up soft footsteps and a female curse. He slowed his pace. Kat followed him. It was tempting to leave her behind. She wouldn’t have a chance of finding him if he sprinted off but curiosity rose. He reached a shadowed area under a tree and sat on the ground, staring out at the pond. Lights reflected off it, the water slightly rippling from the wind.

She approached but he didn’t turn his head. When she reached him, he glanced at her once, really taking in her appearance. The oversized T-shirt she wore was three times too big and thin cotton pants hugged her legs. Her bare feet caused him to frown. They were probably too tender to go barefoot outside since humans were rarely without shoes. It wasn’t his concern though. She’d made the choice to follow him into the night.

A sudden weariness settled in. He was tired but it wasn’t the kind that sleep could cure. Fury had been right. He’d carried a burden alone and the male deserved to know the truth. He might not like the answers he received. It might even make them enemies.

Was he willing to risk it? He almost wished he could go back in time and just tell Fury the truth. Then he’d know for sure. It wasn’t as if things could get worse. He was a loner at the NSO. There were mental walls he had put in place. Perhaps it was time to tear them down, as Fury had suggested.

Kat sat down under the tree next to the brooding man she’d followed. Darkness turned his head. Enough moonlight peeked through the trees for her to make out most of his features.

“Hi.”

“I allowed you to trail me and you did. Why are you here?”

“I was worried about you.” She shrugged, getting more comfortable. “Are you all right? That looked pretty intense. Do you fight with other New Species often?”

He sighed, looking away. “I’m different.”

Sympathy welled. “Because of what was done to you by that guy who took you and your brothers?” She really hated Darwin Havings at that moment and hoped he’d screw up soon and make it possible for the authorities to capture him. He’d never know freedom again once the government got their hands on him.

“Yes.”

Darkness wasn’t the most talkative person. She glanced around. The park was abandoned at night and the water in front of them looked pretty and the muted sounds were soothing. She looked at him.

“Do you come here often?”

“Yes.” He watched her as well. “It gives me a sense of peace.”

She let that information sink in. “Demons are a horrible thing to live with.”

He was silent for a full minute and she wondered if he was done talking. It might have been a mistake to follow him but she just hadn’t been able to resist after the scene she’d witnessed.

“He was angry because I don’t talk when I should.” His words were spoken so softly that she strained to hear them.

“That was what the fight was about?”

“Yes.”

The silence stretched again. She wanted to help him somehow. “Do you want to talk about it? That can help at times.”

“That depends.”

She waited for him to say more but a good minute passed. She finally broke the silence. “On what?”

He took a deep breath, blew it out. “Who are you going to repeat it to?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yes you do.”

She really didn’t. He cleared it up though.

“Are you on duty or off right now, Kat?”

She wondered again if he still suspected she wasn’t who she said she was. “I’m off duty. What is said will stay between us. I know you don’t trust me but you can.” She meant it.

He hesitated, turned his head and stared out at the vast darkness of the water. “Fury wants to know more about what happened to my brothers.”

“Aren’t they here somewhere?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Reservation?”

He was quiet for a full minute. “They are dead.”

Bad scenarios filled her head. Had Havings had them killed? Had they been returned to Mercile Industries and died there? Some had died when it had been seized by government agencies. Others had died during rescue attempts at other locations. There’d been that explosion linked to a facility associated with Mercile Industries. Everyone had died according to the news reports. The NSO didn’t share too much information with the general public but she got her intel from reliable sources. The NSO had tried to breach the lower floors of the company but it had been rigged to explode. Everyone below ground had died before they could be rescued.

“I’m sorry.” She wanted to ask for details but resisted.

He stared out across the water. “I am as well. Fury wants me to speak of them but I refuse.”

“Why?”

“It’s not a happy story to tell. I don’t want him to suffer. He’s a good male.”

She let that sink in. “Why would he be hurt?”

“They were his brothers too.”

Shock rolled through her. “You’re related to Fury North?”

He jerked his head in her direction and growled low.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just didn’t expect that.”

“We’re half brothers. Are you going to share that information?”

“No.”

She was tempted to ask him who he thought she’d tell but refrained. She had been stunned when she’d heard noises and stepped out onto the patio to see Darkness fighting another guy. Security had rushed to the scene and broken it up pretty fast but she’d identified his opponent. Fury North was an NSO celebrity, almost as popular and well-known as Justice North.

“He wants us to be closer but I don’t allow anyone to get too close.”

Darkness might suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. She guessed he’d seen a lot of shit go down when Havings had him. None of it would have been good. “Are you getting counseling?”

His scowl was answer enough. She sealed her lips, not one to preach that seeking treatment might help.

“I don’t need it.”

She disagreed. He was an Alpha-male type and most of them refused to admit they might have severe and lasting issues until it was too late. Of course he wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met before. His childhood had been a nightmare so he’d never had an easy time of it. “So you’re dealing with it by getting into fights with people who care about you? How is that working out?”