“Does everyone have on vests?” Slade yelled to be heard.

Tiger relaxed slightly when they were assured all the high-alert protocols were being followed. He noted the arrival of the local sheriff and four of his deputies. They were there to help with crowd control outside the gates. Sending officers outside wasn’t something he wanted to do—it was too dangerous.

Thoughts of Zandy tormented Tiger. He wondered where she was, if she were alive and just wished she were in his arms. Anger gripped him over having to deal with the current situation when all he really wanted to do was make more calls to have more resources focused on locating her. He’d apologize for the things he didn’t remember saying and make her forgive him. It didn’t matter how long it took but he’d convince her that he was her male.

Bestial growled. “Look at all the news vans pulling up. Who are these people?”

Slade shrugged. “I’ve never heard of them. They are calling themselves Salvation from Sin.” He snorted. “They said they want to tell the world about how evil we are.”

Bestial chuckled. “I don’t suppose we could just shoot them when they arrive to prove them right?”

Tiger wasn’t in a good mood. “Don’t tempt me to give that order.”

“I want to know how they got so many reporters out here. They are obviously crackpots,” Slade said. “They stated they have proof that we are dangerous to humanity and promised the news stations something they’d want to show on the six o’clock news as the top story.”

Tiger gripped his radio to address the officers. “They might try to provoke an attack from us. Hold your tempers in check. Do not open fire unless I give the order or you are fired upon first. They are up to something since they wanted so many cameras on scene. Just be prepared for anything. Do we have smoke gas ready?”

“Yes,” a male responded. “We are prepared.”

Slade sighed. “Great. Just remember to keep your cool, everyone. We are better than these ass**les. They want to give some kind of speech and I’m sure it’s going to test our restraint. The calmer we appear at their hateful words, the more asinine they seem.”

Tiger snorted. “True.”

Bestial grinned.

Tiger counted at least fifteen news vans parked along the street but they were far enough from the walls not to be a threat. The protesters had been cleared a good fifty feet away from the gates by the sheriff and his deputies. Sheriff Cooper waved and Tiger acknowledged him with a nod.

“So when is this bullshit supposed to start?” Bestial grew impatient.

Slade glanced at his watch. “Soon. They said they would be here at 5:40.”

“There’s a motor home coming and a car. Do you think it’s them?” One of the officers jerked his head.

Tiger narrowed his gaze, watching the approaching vehicles. “Yes. They have a Salvation from Sin banner on the side of it.”

Bestial snorted. “Look how old that thing is. We’re being visited by the past.”

Slade chuckled. “At least we can rule out them having missile launchers. They couldn’t afford them.”

Tiger agreed. “Maybe we won’t have to worry about them firing on us either. See the rust on that thing? I doubt they can afford bullets.”

Tiger tensed when two males climbed out of the cab of the motor home. One walked to the back of it and used a ladder to climb onto the roof where he stood at the back. He bent and lifted a microphone.

“Is this thing on?” The male’s voice broadcast from speakers obviously rigged to the vehicle.

“The speakers work,” the driver shouted from the front bumper.

“I am Brother Adam from Salvation from Sin. I am the leader of our group. I am here today to tell you that we will not stand for the evil spawn of the devil tainting our women. No God-fearing woman would lay down with a devil. It is wrong and against the word of God to fornicate with an animal. We want the women out there to know that you are condemning your souls to hell by even associating with the spawns of hell that call themselves New Species. Any woman who associates with these demons will burn in hell and I am here to tell you that considering being a bride of the devil will be punished in the fires of hell. Any woman who goes near these vile beings is letting the devil tempt her to be his bride. God has spoken and told me and mine to do this. I am hoping that others pick up the word of God that I preach today and do the same.”

“That’s a terrible speech,” Bestial muttered.

“They spent their money on speakers instead of a publicist,” Tiger quipped.

The human holding the microphone pointed up at the top of the wall. “You shall not put your evil hands on our women anymore. Take heed of our warning that God-fearing men will cleanse their souls.” He moved over and felt for something under the tarp. He yanked hard at whatever it was.

Slade rolled his eyes. “We came out here for this?”

Bestial chuckled. “I’d enjoy an evil woman in my bed.”

One of the New Species males close to them laughed. “Me too. Sinful is best.”

“Shit,” Tiger muttered, grabbing for his radio. “Alert. The human is unhooking the tarp at the back of the motor home. He might have males hidden under it with guns.”

The human male at the front of the motor home bent and the sound of a soft whine started. Slade cursed, putting his radio to his mouth.

“Alert. It could be a weapon.”