Brawn - Laurann Dohner [64]
A male was strapped to a medical bed, his black hair matted so badly it was shocking and he was hooked up to tubes and machines. She walked to the bars and gripped them. The male didn’t move at all. She could see a heart monitor and read the numbers from where she stood. Trey paused beside her.
“Holy fuck,” he hissed.
“Open the door.”
He hesitated. “No. We’ll get a medical team in here.”
“Open the door,” she demanded again. “He’s not moving and his heart rate is really low. He’s unconscious.”
“He’ll probably be dangerous if we wake him. I’m sorry but that door isn’t opening until we’re sure it’s safe.”
She turned to meet his gaze. “Call for help.”
He nodded, reached for his radio but realized quickly that he couldn’t get a signal to the topside. “Let’s go. I’ll send one of the guys up to relay that we need medics pronto.”
Becca hated to leave the male alone so she offered to stay. Trey balked at first but she pointed out no one was there to hurt her and the Species was locked up and tied down. He stalked away and she turned her full attention back to the poor victim inside.
Humans sucked at times and seeing what he’d been reduced to nearly broke her heart. His heart beat but she wondered if he’d survive. He was big but his skin color was really pale, he looked half starved, judging by the way his ribs showed.
It didn’t take long for Trey to return with medics and get the cage door open. She stayed long enough to overhear them state that he was in critical condition. They planned to call in a life flight. Depression hit and she just wanted to find Brawn. Trey grabbed her hand as she tried to ease past him.
“We caught all the bastards and the area is secure. They are going to transport the New Species to Homeland. Do you want a paramedic to look at you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Your father is being kept topside. You really should go see him. He’s been pretty frantic and I think his patience is wearing thin.”
“I just want to talk to Brawn and then I’ll find him.”
“Just hurry. He’s fit to be tied.”
Becca walked to where she’d been caged in time to watch two New Species males unlocking 919’s cage. He was still huddled in the corner, snarling at his rescuers and the human members of the team hung far back. Brawn stood watching and she moved to stand at his side.
“Think he’ll be okay?” She didn’t touch him this time in case he was distracted and hadn’t heard her approach.
“I hope so. It’s his mental state that holds my worry.” He turned and met her gaze. “Becca, I—”
A howl sounded and someone shouted. Becca jerked her head in time to see 919 tackle one of the New Species males, throw him out of the way and slam a fist into the second one. He rushed out of the cage, a wild expression on his face and his gaze located her. Pure rage twisted his features and he barreled forward.
“No!” Brawn shouted and threw his body between them, nearly plowing into her as 919 attacked.
Becca scrambled to get out of the way but it was too late. The enraged, drugged-out New Species punched Brawn in the face. Brawn staggered and 919 howled again as he lunged her way. She didn’t even get a scream out before brutal hands grabbed her. One hand wrapped around her throat, cut off her air and the other one held her arm so tightly she was sure it would snap.
A roar was the only warning before Brawn attacked. All three of them went down in a tangle of bodies, the hand was torn off her throat and 919 screamed in pain. Becca tried to roll away but her legs were pinned under their combined weight as they exchanged blows.
Someone grabbed her arm, she looked up to see Trey’s pale face and he jerked hard enough to make her cry out when he dragged her free. He kept pulling her along the floor until a good ten feet separated her from Brawn. She stared at the sight of him fighting with 919. It was brutal and the sounds they made were flat-out