“We’ll follow you,” Trey acknowledged. “Your people are better at tracking than mine.” He glanced at his men sternly. “Remember, no one harms the New Species no matter what you find. Are we clear? They could be heavily drugged. Just contain and hold him until the NSO team arrives if you find one on your own.”

Tiger glanced at his men. “Remember that there may be breeding drugs involved. Sedate Brawn if he’s not clear-headed. Talk to him first to make sure he is rational before you release him.”

The two teams studied each other and tension was palpable. Usually none of them minded working together but this was a special circumstance. All the humans on the task force knew Tim’s daughter and Tiger worried about their reactions if they found her harmed or worse. One moment of rage or grief could make a human take action and kill Brawn or another Species.

Tiger was tempted to have them hold back and send in Species only but he knew that would cause long-term issues. The task team needed their trust, they’d given their word to remain calm and he had to accept it. Of course he didn’t have to blindly trust either. An idea struck him.

“Let’s mix our teams.” Tiger glanced at Trey.

Trey nodded. “Sure.” He addressed his men. “NSO calls the shots. You listen up good, boys. Break into teams and one of them is in charge.”

The human males separated into small groups. Tiger quickly assigned a few of them to lead, dividing the rest so they were distributed to each team. “Let’s surround and go in.” He purposely located and stared at Brass.

“Are you sure you scented them?”

Brass checked his sidearm. “Positive. I didn’t follow the trail inside in case there were alarms or cameras but Brawn has been there. I backed away fast and was careful not to tip them off. I also didn’t smell explosives.”

“Let’s move,” Tiger commanded, motioning for Trey’s team to take the entry breach assignment with his own team while the other teams surrounded the building.

The moment Tiger stepped in the door of the warehouse he inhaled and nodded at Trey. “They were here but it’s very faint. If they’d left the doors open or there were any broken windows their scent wouldn’t have lingered but I’m picking up Brawn and your female.” He inhaled a few times. “Many human men. I think under ten but that could be off if they weren’t here recently. I smell…” He inhaled. “Another human female. It’s barely there but that’s what I’m picking up. It’s pretty stagnant in here.”

“Shit,” one of the humans sighed, pointing to the open van door. “See that big cage and someone left this behind.” He fingered an assault rifle. “Military issue, old school, so we’re looking at someone who was probably ex Army or Marines.”

“This may be a breeding facility,” Tiger reminded grimly. “Expect the worst. I’m worried since I’m picking up two female scents.”

“Damn,” Trey looked shocked. “They are really putting a lot of pressure on your man to perform if they brought him two women.”

Tiger shot him a frown, not amused with the grim humor. “It would not be enjoyable for either party involved.”

Trey nodded sharply. “You take point.”

Tiger took the lead. He inhaled and followed the faint scents to an archway that led to a stairwell. He looked down and held back a curse. He hated going underground and reached for the flashlight on his belt. His gaze scanned for cameras or sensors but spotted none.

“This is why we lost his signal. They are underground. There’s enough building to mask it.” His gaze roamed the assembled men. “Watch for surveillance cameras, sensors and don’t forget to keep inhaling for explosives. If one of my males raises a hand, halt! We go silent now to prevent them from hearing us coming. Take it damn slow. Better to creep in than let them now we’re here before we know what we’re facing.”

Trey turned and made hand motions to his men to make sure they understood their orders. Tiger didn’t signal his team. Species hearing was extremely sensitive and they would have heard every word spoken.

Tiger pulled his gun. He hated them but being shot at without one would be worse. He waited for Trey to turn after silently talking to his men before taking the first step downward. His body was tense, his gaze constantly moved and he hoped they weren’t walking into something horrible. Recovering dead bodies would be the worst scenario he could imagine, besides being blown to hell.

* * * * *

Brawn knew Becca had fallen back asleep as he held her. He was tired but he wasn’t ready to sleep after watching them bring 919 back to his cell. The male didn’t sleep this time, instead he paced his cell and acted insane. They’d over drugged him from the strong smell coming off him.

Other worries filled his mind, keeping him awake as he watched Becca doze. He could have gotten her pregnant when he’d mounted her. He didn’t dare ask if she was on some form of birth control because it was top secret that Species males could impregnate a healthy human female who was not taking preventative measures. He was certain it would be fine. Species sperm didn’t survive as long as it did with human men. His gaze lowered to her belly where his hand rested.

She’d hate him. Worse, Becca had gone into heat over the past few hours. He could pick up the faint scent but it had just started. She hadn’t been when he met her or even when they’d shared sex. He swore not to touch her again—he couldn’t risk it.

She was a female human in her late twenties, single and would be on birth control. He knew that about female humans since he loved to read. They were smart and took care of their bodies but he still wouldn’t risk it. No matter how much he wanted to take her again, to sheathe his dick inside her hot, welcoming body, he’d resist.

Just the thoughts of what it was like to touch Becca made him hard. He clenched his teeth and forced air through his mouth to avoid her tempting scent. A woman in heat strongly affected Species males, made them do wild, crazy things. Being aware of the problem was half the battle or so he’d heard. He was pretty sure that saying was correct.

919 growled and whined, drawing attention to his plight. Brawn turned his head to peer across the room, watched the male crouch and dig at the floor with his hands, testament that he wasn’t sane. He probably should try to talk him down but it wouldn’t work. Sadness gripped him as he watched one of his kind suffer.

A howl pierced the room and Becca jerked awake in his arms. He held onto her, met her frightened gaze and rubbed her back. “They returned him and he’s drugged.”

She lifted her head enough to peer around his body, which blocked her view. He hated to see her pained expression and the way tears filled her pretty eyes when they lifted to meet his gaze.

“He’s going to tear up his hands.”

“I know but he won’t listen. He will be irrational until the drug leaves his system.”

“I hate these bastards.”

He silently agreed. “Sleep.”

“I can’t.”

She put her hand on his chest as she turned on the narrow bed, bumped into him and rubbed his skin near his nipple. It hardened instantly and his dick did too. He was in a world of hurt when she curled into him tighter, faced him and her thigh brushed between his legs to make room for it.

“I want to get out of here so bad.”

“I do as well,” he agreed.

“What would you do first?”

He hesitated. Take her home with him, to his bed and mount her until they both couldn’t walk was the first thing that came up on his list. He wouldn’t mention that one though. “I’d cook a large meal.”

She smiled. “I want a bath.”

The image of her na**d and submerged in water only made him want her more and the urge became so strong that he quickly released her, rolled off the bed and stood. He didn’t miss her stunned expression as he put space between them.

“Baths are good.” He looked anywhere but at her, focusing on the male instead.

The cot creaked as Becca adjusted on it and he breathed in her scent. His dick throbbed over her being in heat and he gripped the bars to grab them instead of her. She made it worse when she came up behind him, stood close and peered at 919 too.

“How long do you think he’s going to be high on that stuff? Last time he slept for a long time.”

“They gave him too much. He was probably gaining a resistance to it.”

“They could have killed him.”

He remained silent in agreement.

She rubbed his arm, her fingertips traced his biceps and he jerked away. A snarl tore from his throat before he could trap it and she backed away.

“Don’t touch me right now. I’m agitated.”

Pain flashed in her eyes and he felt like a bastard. He opened his mouth to explain that he didn’t mean to reject her that way but wasn’t sure how to tell her how he barely held onto his restraint and fought the urge to pin her over their cot and mount her again. The reasons for that replayed. She’s in heat and the humans could show up again to watch. Becca distracted him too much for him to stay on guard.

“Becca, I—”

A slight noise distracted him and he turned, listening intently. The sound had been faint, a squeak from across the room where the doors were and not something he’d heard before. His gaze lifted to the vents along the walls. He saw cobwebs blowing and figured it was just the air system until he inhaled deeply through his nose.

“We have company,” Brawn whispered.

Becca tensed, expecting the goons to step out from the double doors to haul her and Brawn back to the room where she’d have to take more sperm samples. She wondered why touching the Species had made him angry. He always sent her mixed signals and hoped his mood wouldn’t worsen once he was secured to the bed. Getting him turned-on would be rough if he didn’t want her to touch him.

Sorrow filtered through at the possibility that he might begin to hate her for being human. The guards and that crazy doctor weren’t exactly stellar examples of humanity as its finest. Of course if he was beginning to blame her, he might rethink her plan to at least try to escape. Maybe she’d survive. Sure, she would be shot but that didn’t necessarily mean death.

Brawn glanced her way with a grin on his face suddenly, surprising her once more with his sudden mood swing as he sniffed the air. “You might get hit up for another booty call offer from your friend at any moment.”

It took her a second for his words to have meaning and her knees weakened. Brawn smelled Trey Roberts, knew his scent from his visit to her house and she trusted his nose. Tears of relief and happiness blinded her. Her father’s team was coming for them.

Brawn moved fast, grabbed her around her waist and hauled her off her feet. He stormed for the cot, used one foot to hook a leg of it and yanked hard. The thing crashed over, he darted around it and took them to the floor. His body crushed hers against the cold concrete when he flattened over her.

“Don’t move,” he ordered. “There may be a gun battle.”

He was protecting her from stray bullets with his body and the cot. Her hands opened on his chest and her heart raced with excitement. “I can’t believe they found us.”

“They have,” he rasped in her ear. “The vents are pushing air and their scents are filling the room. It must be from the other doors. Just stay low and be safe. I scent your friend and other humans along with my own kind. Many come.”

He eased a little upward. She watched him turn his head to peer around the fallen cot and stare at the doors. She wished she could see what was going on but Brawn’s big body kept her still.

“Anything?” she whispered.

“Not yet but the smell is stronger.”

Seconds ticked by into at least a full minute and suddenly she heard a loud noise as metal hit a wall. Brawn tensed above her, sucked in air and shouted a warning.

“They are inside the double doors to your left. There’s a female doctor and several human males armed with guns, Taser darts and they have drug weapons.”

He moved, rolled off her and was gone so fast she had to struggle to follow him. She sat up to watch over the top of the cot as men filled the room. A New Species guy grinned, seemed in charge and rushed for the other set of double doors with men at his heels. Trey was a sight for sore eyes as he broke away from the others, rushed toward the cage and grinned as their gazes met.

“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.