Brawn - Laurann Dohner [83]
She turned her head to stare outside, worried someone who knew her would be waiting. A female New Species stood there instead and smiled. She was tall, muscular and sported an NSO uniform. Her gaze fixed on Becca’s midsection and she had no doubt the New Species knew she was pregnant. Worry ate at her that word might be spreading far enough to reach her father but so far she didn’t think they knew her name. It was only a matter of time.
Two male New Species startled her when they stepped from each side of the open doors and reached up. Becca hadn’t known they were there. Once again Flame was gripped by his upper arms and lifted. The males placed him gently on his feet. The redheaded Species flashed them a thankful look.
Her captor strode toward a waiting black SUV and she looked over his shoulder to watch the female follow. When they were clear, the helicopter lifted off again. Becca jerked her head back around to avoid the rush of air from the big blades.
“It’s nice to meet you,” the Species woman called out, rushing to catch up. “I’m called Pink.”
Becca met the woman’s eyes. She’d only seen a few of the New Species women but they were very attractive if the ones she’d seen so far were an indication. The males were photographed sometimes but never the females. It was rumored they had to look pretty bad for them to be hidden from cameras. It just proved how wrong rumors could be.
“What is your name?”
Becca opened her mouth but then closed it. “Just call me Screwed.”
The woman blinked, her smile faded and her gaze dropped to Becca’s round stomach. “You certainly were at one point, to get in that condition.”
Becca suddenly laughed, unable to help it and liked the woman instantly. “Yeah. In so many ways. I’m sorry. That was rude of me. I’m just in a world of trouble and having a really bad day.”
“You’re safe here.” Pink smiled again. “No one is going to hurt you. You and your baby are welcome at the NSO and are considered family. Your baby is New Species and you are considered as such, as the mother.”
“Thank you. I mean that.” It touched her that strangers were trying to be so kind. She really wished they’d just let her go. That would be the best thing of all but it wasn’t going to happen. “Where are we going?”
“The Medical Center,” Flame answered as he waited for Pink to open a back door so he could place Becca in the seat. “Doctor Trisha is waiting for you.”
Becca turned her head to glance at the open terrain with tons of grass and a lot of trees in the distance. She’d never been to Reservation. No pictures of it were ever released and all helicopters and airplanes were banned from flying over it. The NSO guarded their home territories with relish.
Pink walked around the SUV to drive while Flame climbed in the backseat with Becca as if he worried she’d try to flee. It wouldn’t have done any good. She knew security walls totally enclosed the vast property of Reservation and she’d never get away. They drove slowly away, toward buildings that were within view.
Becca studied the two-story building they parked in front of. It didn’t have a wall of glass at the front like the Medical Center at Homeland. This building had small, blacked-out windows that were high above the ground. Flame opened the door of the SUV and slid out, holding out his hand to help her. His cat eyes stared at her grimly.
“Should I carry you or will you walk on your own?”
She hesitated. “Do you have a gun?”
He blinked. “It’s holstered at my ankle but you won’t be able to take it from me.”
“Could you just shoot me? Trust me. We’d all be better off.”
Pink laughed as she rounded the front of the SUV. “She’s Screwed.”
Becca nodded. “That’s exactly what I am.”
Flame wasn’t amused as he sighed and reached for Becca. She slapped at his hands. “I’m going. I can walk on my own.”
Flame kept close as Becca slid off the