Brawn - Laurann Dohner [63]
“Open the door,” Brawn demanded.
Trey studied the chains and the lock. “Back up.”
Brawn moved to the side as Trey pointed his gun at the locks, fired twice and tore the chains away. Brawn shoved open the door quickly, stepped out of the cage and stormed toward where the men had disappeared.
“They’ve got it,” Trey called out as he walked into the cage.
Becca stood and walked to him. The second she was in range he grabbed her with one arm, hauled her against his body and holstered his weapon. He kissed the top of her head, hugged her tightly with both arms and chuckled.
“Goddamn are you in trouble. Your old man has been going off the wall with worry. Are you okay, kiddo?” He eased his hold enough to peer down to study her face closely. One of his arms released her and fingertips traced her cheek.
She flinched, had forgotten about being hit and she saw rage in Trey’s gaze. “I take it there’s a bruise?”
“Who’s the motherfucker who hit you?” He whipped his head around to glare at something.
Becca leaned enough to see that Brawn stood outside the cage watching them. She glanced up, followed the path of Trey’s anger and gripped his shirt to gain his attention. He met her gaze.
“One of the guards did this. Brawn would never hurt me.”
Trey wrapped his arms around her again, yanked her right off her feet and hugged her tight enough to be considered a bear hug.
“Are you okay, kiddo? Tell me the truth.”
“Put me down.” She squirmed to break free, more than aware that her nightgown rose dangerously high and she no longer had panties on. “I’m great besides you trying to break my ribs.”
He laughed as he eased her back onto her feet. “I’m just so glad you’re alive. We were so damn worried.”
“Stop mauling her,” a deep, harsh voice snarled. “We have Species males in need of medical care while you are flirting with that female.”
Becca was stunned over Brawn’s anger. Trey totally released her and turned to face him. “You’re Brawn?”
“I am.” His chest puffed out as he filled his lungs with air. “I want a weapon.” He threw out his hand.
Trey marched over to him—stood shorter by some inches—and lifted his chin. “No offense, sir, but no. How are you? Were you drugged?”
“No.”
Gunshots sounded and Trey spun, rushed for Becca and took her to the ground. She gasped as pain exploded in her back from hitting the floor and his weight crushed her down. A roar sounded and she knew without being able to see that it had come from Brawn.
The weight was jerked away and she stared at Brawn, crouched next to her. He bared his teeth, snarled at Trey who was sprawled feet away, and she realized what had happened. Brawn had thrown her friend away from her and now looked ready to attack him. She sat up quickly, ignored her throbbing head, which had smacked the concrete when she’d been tackled, and put her body between them. Her gaze met Brawn’s.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Rage glittered in his eyes as he glared back, snarled at her and he lifted. “Don’t touch her,” he warned, turned his back and stood there.
Trey shot her a what-the-hell look and she shrugged, not sure why Brawn had attacked him but no more gunshots were heard. Another team rushed into the room from above and some rushed through the double doors the first team had disappeared through while the rest approached the cages.
Brawn spoke softly to a few of the Species males. Becca left the cage and Trey followed closely, almost as if he didn’t want to let her more than a few feet away. She glanced at 919 and found him cowering in a corner of his cage, watching the strangers with dread. Pity welled up. He was drugged out of his head and probably thought more people had come to harm him.
Curiosity made her turn toward the back of the room where they