Brawn - Laurann Dohner [86]
He tensed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You’ve avoided everyone since you were rescued.” Her chin lifted and her dark eyes narrowed with determination. “I owe you.”
“Not that.”
She cocked her head. “Just take me out to dinner and allow me to care for you. You need a friend and I’m a good one.”
“You are.”
“Stop talking and dance.”
He pushed his thoughts back and grabbed her hand, spun her and smiled at the way she giggled. To see her experience such joy at such a little thing brightened his day. She was one of his, from his testing facility, and it was his job to keep her happy.
Motion drew his attention as Flame waved his arms from across the room. He stood by the bar, staring directly into Brawn’s gaze. The male had a grim look on his face and he knew instantly that something was wrong. He stopped dancing and released Breeze. Flame walked in his direction, paused ten feet away and all doubt left that the male had something to say to him. Brawn glanced at Breeze.
“I’ll be back.”
“Doubtful,” Flame muttered.
Brawn heard him and shot him a confused look. “Has something bad happened? Has a council meeting been called?”
“No.” Flame backed up to the bar and waved to motion Hound over. “Give me two more please.”
Breeze fisted his shirt. “You will pick me up at six, Brawn. Don’t make me hunt for you.”
He forced a smile and nodded. She released him and he edged around dancers to reach the male. Flame lifted two small glasses that contained dark liquid from the bar where Hound had set them. He met Brawn’s gaze and jerked his head toward the door.
Whatever had happened was bad enough to need privacy. Brawn’s shoulders straightened and he hoped that no Species were hurt. He followed Flame out of the bar. The male kept going, led him through the lobby of the hotel and stayed far ahead of him until they reached the outside. Confusion at Flame’s odd behavior kept him trailing behind him until they walked a good hundred free from the hotel to the grassy area in front of it.
Flame spun and held out one of the glasses. “Drink this.”
Brawn tried to sniff to determine what it was but Flame stood upwind of him. He glanced at the murky drink, raised his gaze and frowned. “What is it?”
“Whiskey. I took two big gulps of it already before you saw me trying to get your attention.”
“I don’t drink that stuff.”
“I don’t usually either but today is the exception. Trust me. Swallow. You’re going to need it.” Flame drank his down fast, snarled softly and fisted the empty glass.
“Just tell me the bad news. I assume something horrible has happened.”
“You want the news?” Flame shoved the drink at him again. “Down that first and then I will tell you.”
Irritation flashed for a second before outright dread. Someone had died. It must be someone he knew. He accepted the tiny drink. He gave it a dirty look but lifted it to his parted lips, forced his hand to raise and the horrible taste plowed through his mouth as he swallowed.
“Ugh. That is terrible.” He wiped his mouth to glare at Flame. “Tell me.”
The male hesitated.
“Get it out. Don’t torture me with the unknown.”
“You should sit down on that bench to your right.”
Brawn growled at him. “Don’t give me orders and stop stalling.”
“Please, sit. We have a serious situation happening at Medical.”
Brawn sat, just to prevent the male from dragging it out anymore and didn’t want to beat the information from him. He was tempted though. “What is going on?”
Flame inched backward to put a few more feet between them. “We have a human female at medical who is pregnant with a Species baby. We had to track her and bring her in against her will. She refused to come on her own.”
“I heard something about that. I was told some human female had contacted Homeland saying she had gotten pregnant by one of our males but refused our protection. I’m glad she was located. Did you find the father?”
“That’s the problem.” Flame stared at Brawn. “The woman refused to tell him herself and hell, she said she doesn’t want to see him.”
Brawn didn’t like that news. “Do