The blond just threw the syringe on the floor and walked back to the door. They’d drugged or killed the guard at her door. He grabbed the downed New Species by one arm and dragged him inside the apartment. The locks engaged with a soft metal click when he sealed them inside.

Jeanie sagged against the one who held her, her lungs starved for oxygen. Spots danced before her eyes and the urge to fight was strong but her limbs felt really heavy. The tight hold around her throat loosened when he let go of it to snag her around her waist instead. She tried to scream as soon as she could breathe again but she just pitched forward. The only thing keeping her from slamming into the floor was the man holding on to her.

“The doctor said it would work fast.” He lifted Jeanie and dumped her on the couch, crouched and stared into her eyes. “She’s with us still but she shouldn’t be able to move much.”

She blinked, realizing that while she was awake, her body wouldn’t respond to her commands. Her lungs worked as she exhaled and inhaled but she couldn’t even manage to lift her hand when he grabbed her jaw, jerking her head until she stared into his eyes.

“Scream,” he demanded.

She couldn’t even open her mouth. She was helpless. The dark-haired man released her after grinning, seemingly satisfied the drug was effective, and straightened. She could only watch as he removed his vest to reveal a tight coil of thin nylon rope. He addressed the blond.

“We do this fast. I’ll carry her. As soon as we’re in the van I’ll stash her under the seat bench in the back. You drive. We practiced this. Just remember, they can smell nervousness so think about banging that stripper girlfriend of yours or something when they stop us at the gate. Got it? Don’t blow it by speeding until after we’re outside.”

“I’m not a dumb f**k.”

“I didn’t say you were.” The dark-haired man threw the rope. “Let’s go. Fast and quiet.”

Jeanie felt sick to her stomach as she was lifted and none too gently dumped over the man’s shoulder. Though almost completely healed, her gunshot injury throbbed from the brutal pressure. He carried her into True’s bedroom and opened the slider to the balcony. The blond bumped against her as he passed them, her limp arm nearly tangling with his leg.

“Don’t drop her,” the blond joked.

“Fuck you. I didn’t risk my ass for nothing. We’re getting paid a lot and he was clear that there’s no money in it if we bring him a corpse. He needs to get important information from her.”

Numbness settled into Jeanie. Her mind was alert but her body seemed totally deadened.

True! She silently screamed his name.

“Let’s get her to Fuller. I want to be paid and then get laid.”

She had to believe that True would come for her. She silently prayed he’d come home soon and realize what had happened. That man Tim had obviously lied to True and had her kidnapped so he could interrogate her.

True will come for me. She had to believe that.

* * * * *

The first sign that something was wrong was when True stepped out of the elevator. Slash wasn’t in the hallway and he picked up the faint scent of human males. The stench of cologne couldn’t be denied. No Species male wore it. It was offensive.

He tried the door, found it locked. He realized he hadn’t taken his keycard. He knocked but no sound came as he strained to hear anything. He backed up, his heart accelerating with fear, and kicked out. His foot landed next to the lock and wood splintered as it snapped, forcing it open.

The sight of Slash on the floor enraged him. He jumped over the male and glanced around. “Jeanie?” A quick search of his home revealed that she was missing and the slider to the balcony was wide open.

True rushed to the balcony just in time to see a human face disappear over the edge of the railing. He grabbed hold and stared down, shocked when he spotted a second male on the ground below. The one closest to him had Jeanie hanging over his shoulder. Terror gripped him at seeing her precarious position and how limp she appeared to be. It sank in that she was unconscious. The male could drop her and she was helpless to even grab hold to prevent a deadly fall. The human’s upraised arm gripping the rope and the male’s neck was the only thing keeping Jeanie from slipping out of his grasp.

True howled in rage, unable to do anything else for the seconds it took him to evaluate the situation. A blond male looked up, his face clearly visible in the lights coming from the bottom floor and True memorized his features before the man spun and rushed off without his partner in crime.

True gripped the railing tightly and swung over it, his feet finding purchase on the other side. It was tempting to grab the rope but he feared it might dislodge the male’s grip and send Jeanie hurtling to the ground. He twisted his head, leaned back, and judged the distance to the second-floor balcony. He released the railing to drop an entire floor. The sensation of falling was unpleasant but he managed to catch the metal rail to break his fall. His muscles straining, he clung, glanced over his shoulder, and saw the male with Jeanie release the rope once he reached the yard.

True just let go and twisted in the air. The twenty-foot drop might hurt but he was motivated enough by rage and fear to attempt it. He had to save Jeanie. Felines were better at landing on their feet without causing injuries from those heights but the soft earth cushioned him as he hit the ground in a crouch. His gaze sought and found the male who carried his female.

His hands clawed the ground and he shoved up with all his power, launching toward himself at the male. He wanted to just attack him but refused to risk Jeanie being hurt if he tackled the male. He got in front of him, turning with a snarl. Both arms were thrown wide to block the male from passing him.