“Mary? Why don’t you come eat something with me? Snow spread out a blanket for me. We’ll have a little picnic. The NSO sent some sandwiches and drinks.”
Mary didn’t even bother to glance at her friend, keeping her focus on the house. “Not now, Mel.”
“It’s been hours. At least come sit down and drink some water or something.”
“Not until my parents are safe.”
Lash felt frustrated. What if they stayed there all night? It was growing a little chilly for a human, but he thought he could keep her warm, since she stayed in front of him, allowing him to keep her against his body.
“Mary, your folks would want you to take care of yourself. They’ve got food and stuff inside their house.” Mel stepped closer. “Come on, best friend. Have something to eat with me and get off your feet for a bit. You need a break.”
Mary tensed and turned her head. “For all we know, that asshole has them locked in a closet. He’s old. I can’t see him being able to keep a gun trained on them for all this time. Do they get a break from this shit? No.” Mary stared at the house again. “I’m glad you’re here, but don’t bug me right now, Mel.”
Mel sighed and backed away, taking Snow with her. They took a seat behind the barn with other Species, eating the food that had been sent. Lash was hungry, but he wasn’t letting go of his mate or leaving her side.
A gunshot suddenly pierced the night.
It came from inside the house.
Mary tried to jerk out of his arms. Lash tightened his hold on her. She struggled but he was stronger. “Calm,” he snarled.
“Oh God,” Mary sobbed. “He shot one of them!”
“You don’t know that.”
The Species with them all tensed, preparing to rush at the house. Timber hurried to Brass, seeking permission to act. The response was a firm no. The male reminded them that they were ordered to stay in place until Sheriff Cooper allowed them to take over.
The white-haired human behind the car suddenly stood up, holding some horn-shaped device.
“Arron, answer the damn phone,” Sheriff Cooper’s voice boomed. “What’s going on in there? I told you that it’s going to take time to arrange for your sons to be transferred from county lockup. There’s a lot of red tape to cut. Pick up the phone!”
“You’re lying to me,” a fainter male voice shouted from the house. “I want my sons!”
“I’m not lying,” the sheriff said through the loud device. “I told you the truth. We don’t have the means at my station to hold people I arrest long term. There’s just a few cells in my station. I usually only hold drunks there or domestic violators for a few hours until they sober up or cool off.”
“Those Species have my Darren! I saw them take him away. Why haven’t they brought him to me?”
“I told you. They only took him in for questioning but then released him into my custody. I drove him to county lockup. Are Jennifer and Zack alright? Let me talk to them again.”
“You aren’t getting anything until I have my sons!”
Mary sniffed. “He shot one of them. I know it!” She twisted in his arms. “Oh God, Lash!”
His vision was excellent at night. He could see the pure terror and panic in her pale blue eyes.
“I have to do something.” She struggled, trying to break free again. “Let me go! He’s in the front of the house. Even I can tell that. I’ll enter through the back. There’s a spare key under the rock next to the stairs to the mud room. I’ll sneak in and hit him from behind or something!”
“No.”
“Sheriff Cooper isn’t doing shit! What if one of my parents are bleeding to death?” A sob choked her.
Timber growled low from about twenty feet away, grouped with their males. “Fucking humans,” the male whispered. “We’d have dealt with this already if they’d let us. As officers, we swore to follow orders. I know this is tough for us all. Just remain calm.”
Brass and Jaded had come with them. They approached the group. “None of us like this,” Brass admitted. “But the humans are in charge.”
“The hostages are the parents of a Species mate,” Jaded paused. “We could argue that.”
Lash watched his mate suffer, her agony clear on her face—and he’d enough.
He suddenly lifted her, walking fast, taking her to Mel and Snow where they sat on a blanket.
Mary fought, kicking and smacking at him. “Put me down!”
“Silence,” he snarled, and then practically dumped her on top of the other female. “Hold her.”
Mel hesitated but then did as he demanded, wrapping her arms around Mary and trying to keep hold of her. His mate didn’t use her elbows on her but she did struggle.
Lash crouched, grabbing Mary’s face to make her look at him. “I’m going to get your parents.”
Mary froze, her eyes widening.
“Promise to stay here. I’ll get them.”
“Lash…” She paled.
“Promise me,” he growled. “You stay safe.”
“I’ll keep her down,” Mel swore, throwing one of her legs over Mary’s.
He rose up and turned, slamming right into Timber.
The male shook his head. “No.”
“I’m not an officer. I made no promises.”
Timber appeared conflicted.
Jaded cleared his throat. “He is a Wild Zone. They do whatever they want. Let him go.”
“You’re encouraging this?” Brass sounded pissed.
Jaded opened his mouth but Lash cut him off.
“Look at my mate,” Lash hissed. “She’s suffering.”
The males glanced around him to where Mary sat with the other human mate. She was clinging to the other female now, appearing both scared and teary eyed at the same time.
Brass softly growled. “Don’t take out the wrong male, Lash. Try not to kill just in case you attack the female’s father. Be careful and go in the back. Your mate is right. His voice came from the front, somewhere near the door on the big porch area. Do you even know how to use a key?”
Lash stepped around the male, moving toward the side of the barn. Species stepped out of his way, not trying to stop him. He paused there, studying the open ground to the house, debating how to get there without being seen.
Jaded bumped into him. “Take to the trees to circle around. I scoped it out. Fuck using the back door. Get in by going onto the roof. Land softly to muffle your sounds. Few humans lock windows too high for them to reach. There’s an attic window back there. I saw it. It’s three floors up. I doubt an old human would hear you force it open.”
Lash studied him. “Why are you helping me?”
“We’re all Species but I never get to do the fun shit. Go get your mate’s family. She’ll appreciate it. I’ll ask Brass to make his way to where the sheriff is, to ask permission to take over. He won’t agree, but it should distract the shitty human inside the house.”
Jaded walked toward Brass.
Lash lunged toward the tree line slightly behind them. His mate’s father hadn’t cleared those. He ran fast, heading opposite the very back of the house. Then he turned, running full speed at the house. He leapt when he was about ten feet away, landing quietly on all fours about fifteen feet up.
The roof was a little slippery, but he dug his claws in, trying to be quiet. Then he climbed higher, toward the window that had to be the attic.
Chapter Twelve
The window wouldn’t open at first. Lash figured out it was one that slid to the side, and he used his muscle to do as Jaded had suggested. There was a small pop from inside but it moved. The next problem was trying to fit his big body through the small opening.
He got inside and had to put his finger to his nose to avoid sneezing. There was a lot of dust. Boxes and sheets covered things littering the floor. He scanned the area and saw narrow stairs leading downward. He crept forward, hoping the floor under him wouldn’t creak.
The small stairwell had him stifling a snarl. He had to turn sideways and the steps barely fit his big feet. The door at the bottom wasn’t normal-size either. At least it wasn’t locked as he turned the handle and pushed it open. He had to hunch down to get his head through, then he stood in a long hallway. A few lights were on up.