Jeanie crept along the wall to get a better look at True to confirm her suspicions of what they talked about. A large wet spot stained the front of his pants on one side, near his groin. No wonder he wouldn’t let me see what was wrong with him. He wasn’t caught in his pants. He lied. Shit! She glanced at his face, the splotches of bright color on his cheeks a sign of mortification.

“Leave him alone,” she demanded. She stared at 712. “Flirt? Is that what you’re called now?”

“Don’t talk to him,” True ordered.

Part of her knew she should keep quiet just because it’s what he wanted. The other part was enraged that anyone would attempt to humiliate someone who’d saved her from going to prison. True was a good man.

“I’m Flirt now, Shiver.” His tone softened when his bright-blue gaze met hers. “Come here. I’ll take you to my home. You don’t need to stay with that male when you deserve a much better one.”

“No!” True bellowed.

Jeanie gasped when True grabbed Tiger and threw him out of the way. The big New Species’ body missed her by a few feet, landing sprawled on the carpet facedown. Her gaze lifted from him just in time to witness True tackling Flirt. They both slammed into the wall near the door with enough force from their combined weight to punch a big hole in the plaster.

“Fuck,” the guy on the carpet groaned. “Security. Get to True’s place now.”

She wasn’t sure if he used a radio or a cell phone to call for help. She couldn’t look away as the two New Species exchanged punches. The sound was horrific as their fists made contact with flesh. True had Flirt pinned in the damaged wall. His ass and part of his back was actually inside the hole they’d created but his arms were free enough to hit back.

“Stop it!” She realized she’d been the one to yell.

They ignored her. Flirt managed to brace his body and shoved True away. He stumbled but regained his balance. Flirt jerked out of the wall, chunks of white crumbling to the carpet as he straightened. They snarled at each other and lunged forward at the same time. Their bodies slammed together hard, clawed hands tearing into flesh. Bright-red blood appeared on their skin.

Jeanie had to break up the fight, not caring that it would be dangerous. Flirt grabbed True’s throat in a move to choke him. True responded by bending his arm, throwing it forward with all his strength behind it and ramming his forearm into his opponent’s face. The feline’s head snapped back, blood exploding from his nose.

“STOP!” She rushed forward but a hand snagged her ankle. The air was knocked from her lungs when she hit the carpet on her belly. It took a few seconds to gasp in a breath. She used her arms to push her chest from the floor and look over her shoulder, ignoring the dull ache of her injury that throbbed from the impact with the floor. Tiger had tripped her.

“Don’t,” he warned. “Stay away from them.”

She tried to kick free of his hold, desperate. “Let go.”

“You’ll get hurt.”

She didn’t care. True and Flirt had separated enough to exchange punches again. Blood marred both their arms where they’d been clawed and it ran down Flirt’s face. His nose looked broken. True’s mouth had taken a hit if the bright red smeared over his lips and chin was any indication. The sounds of blows hitting flesh made her wince.

“Stop them,” she pleaded, looking away from the fight, unable to watch anymore. Her gaze locked on Tiger. “Do something.”

“I am. I’m keeping you safe until help…” he paused, cocking his head as if he heard something, “arrives.”

Four New Species burst into the bedroom. Two of them wore uniforms but two didn’t. A big blond male in a pair of black boxers grabbed Flirt when he stumbled back after True’s fist slammed into his chest. The new guy wrapped his arms around Flirt from behind and yanked him off his feet. One of the uniformed security officers grabbed his flailing legs, suspending him midair between them. He struggled but couldn’t get away.

The New Species sporting a pair of sweats and a tank top prevented True from attacking Flirt again by grabbing his arm, spinning him around and shoving him against a wall. The second uniformed New Species helped keep True pinned there as they whispered words at him she couldn’t hear.

“Never get between aggressive males.” Tiger released her ankle. “Especially if you’re what they are fighting over.” He sat up. “You’re a troublemaker, Jeanie Shiver.”

“This isn’t my fault.” She looked away from him to check on True. The two New Species prevented her from seeing much but he didn’t appear to be struggling to break free any longer. She should stand but hesitated when a deep rumble reached her ears. It was something she couldn’t identify and had never heard before.

A tall black-haired male stomped into the room, the source of the sound. A chill crept up her spine as she studied him. The New Species stopped making the disturbing noise but it didn’t make him any less fearsome. He was good-looking but there was something sinister about him. She could just sense it deep down as if he threw off vibes screaming “predator” and “danger”.

The room grew eerily silent and the hairs along her arms rose. The dark-haired News Species slowly assessed the room with his icy gaze until it lingered on her. He frowned, not something she took as a good sign, before he turned away to stride closer to Flirt. He stopped a few feet away.