“We’ll take care of all that.” He turned, almost brushing his head on the dirt roof. “I’m going to help you down. Do you need me to carry you on my back? I’m a very good climber and I promise I won’t allow you to fall.”

“I think I can manage if you just help me down. Slade had to catch me a few times. I’m afraid I’m not as coordinated as you guys are.”

He nodded, smiling. Trisha had a good idea why he was named Smiley. He seemed to do it easily and often. “It’s a gift we have.”

Trisha slowly walked toward him and studied the ground below when she reached the edge. She wasn’t big on heights and it was a long way to fall. Smiley moved, climbed out first, and looked up at her.

“Just turn around and start down. I’ll be right here below you. I’ll catch you if you fall.” He winked. “I’m strong. I promise not to drop you.”

She was scared but she turned and tried not to look at the ground below. Climbing down was worse than going up had been. She slipped twice but Smiley’s hands always gripped her, kept her in place, and finally they reached the bottom. Trisha had the urge to kiss the ground but resisted to prevent her rescuers from believing she’d lost her mind.

The redhead glanced at Trisha and nodded. She saw his nostrils flare and he frowned. He moved closer to her, sniffed again, and looked grim.

“I’m Flame. What happened to you?”

Trisha stared back at him, unsure exactly what he meant. He was about six-foot-three, a good foot taller than her, and obviously New Species with his wide-shouldered, muscular body. He looked as though he could easily kick some serious ass. He was more frightening to look at with his pronounced cheek bones and the sharp teeth his lips barely contained.

“I was captured and beaten. I was also in an SUV that rolled down the side of a mountain and we hit a few trees along the way. It’s been a rough few days for my body.”

Flame sniffed again. “You have Slade’s scent on you but I also smell two human males. You smell of blood, fear, and sex.” He looked even more dangerous. “You were raped by the humans?”

Her mouth dropped open but then Trisha closed it. “Slade saved me.”

She was a little freaked out. She knew their sense of smell was amazing but it was downright eerie that the man could pick that much up just by sniffing at her. It left her really uncomfortable to know they had heightened senses to that degree.

“I’ll track the two humans down and kill them.” Flame blinked. “I swear this to you. They won’t live for what they have done.”

Trisha’s heart pounded. “They’re dead. Slade took care of that.”

A quick jerk of his head and Flame turned away. “Good. I’m going to go babysit the four stooges we captured, Smiley. Don’t allow her out of your sight.”

“I won’t.” Smiley turned to Trisha and examined her face. “Why don’t you sit down? The helicopter will be here soon.”

Trisha sat. She was already coated in a layer of dirt and didn’t care if she got more of it on her. “Where will it land?”

He hesitated. “It won’t. It will hover. We’ll hook you up and they will lift you out. The trees in this area are too dense for a landing and we don’t want to risk hiking you out. You’ve already suffered enough trauma without that. It will be a piece of cake.”

“Great.” Dread gripped Trisha. “Did I mention I’m afraid of heights?”

Smiley grinned. “It’s a good way to face your fear.”

Just great. Soon enough she heard a helicopter in the distance that grew louder as it approached. Smiley kept silent as he regarded her, something he’d been doing the entire time she’d sat there. He finally turned his head and glanced at the sky.

“They are here. It will be loud. They will drop down a harness and I will hook you up. It will lift you and someone inside will pull you in to belt you into a seat. You will be flown to a hospital and two of our men will be with you until you reach home. You now know what to expect.”

“Thank you for everything. Could you please tell Flame that I said ‘thank you’ too?”

He nodded. “You are welcome from both of us. We are glad you are alive.”

“Could you tell Slade to contact me as soon as he’s found? I’m worried about him and I won’t stop until I know he’s safe.”

“I can do that.” Smiley’s gaze returned to the sky as he turned his back on Trisha. “Here we go. Cover your ears. Those things are very loud. They give me a headache but some things can’t be avoided.”

Trisha stood when the helicopter hovered above the treetops at just enough distance to avoid hitting anything. The wind kicked up debris on the ground that swirled around her until it forced her to cover her eyes. She completely understood when Smiley swore—a loud, foul word. She really wasn’t looking forward to the next few minutes.

Someone touched her arm. Smiley gripped her and moved her to where a harness dangled nearby. He gently pushed her toward it and indicated for her to step into the openings of the thing. He lifted it up her legs and two belts were pulled over her shoulders and the last belt snapped closed around her waist. Smiley winked before he stepped back. Trisha gripped the harness in a death grip when Smiley gave the helicopter a hand signal. The harnesses tightened as it lifted Trisha off her feet.

She closed her eyes tightly and tried not to panic when the wind swung her around. She didn’t open them until someone grabbed her around her waist. She stared below and saw Smiley had covered his face with his own arm, not looking up. Dirt and dust swirled furiously near the ground from the massive helicopter blades. The person holding her waist hauled her inside the doors until she couldn’t see below anymore.