“She saved my life. That guard on the floor came in to kill me but she shot him first. She said help was coming and she had to disable the locks on the doors to protect us. She was hurt but your males have hurt her more. She is always kind to our people. She stopped a guard from mounting me last month.” 433 sounded pissed and frantic. “Make them help her, please. She’s hurt. Smell her blood.”

“Do as she says,” the deep voice commanded. “Get help for the human female. We’ll sort this out later.

“She’s an employee here.” Someone yanked on her coat. “Here’s her card with her picture. She’s one of them,” a man declared. “Technician Jeanie Shiver.”

A deep snarl sounded and the rough grips securing her hands and hair were gone. Someone else grabbed her arms and she groaned when she was gently rolled onto her side. Pain made her cry out. She closed her eyes and felt blackness taking her. I’m dying.

“Look at me,” a deep voice snarled.

Jeanie forced her eyes open again. More flashlights had been added until the hallway was now well lit. 710 glared down at her. His dark gaze swirled with fury but she saw recognition there. He remembered her.

She studied him. He was tanner than he had ever been and his blond hair had grown longer. He wore all-black clothing and his vest had white NSO lettering, which stood for New Species Organization. She’d been given proof that 710 had survived the rescue assault she’d helped set up on the testing facility but had never thought she’d get to see him in person again.

“Shiver,” he rasped, his voice sounding harsh but gentle at the same time.

She blinked at him, holding his gaze, running her tongue over her dry lips. She tried to speak but nothing came out. His nose flared as he inhaled and a scary growl tore from his parted lips as he looked at someone behind her.

“Your men shot her?”

“She was that way when we found her. There were two dead security officers also shot.” The man who spoke sighed. “It looked as though they turned on each other.”

“Get help for her now,” 710 snarled. “She’s dying.”

“Okay. Medic, come to the subbasement, lowest floor. We have a critically injured.”

Another man snorted. “Let the bitch die. They obviously shot each other to avoid being caught for questioning. It will save us from having to kill her later.”

710 obviously disagreed. “Get those handcuffs off.”

Jeanie moaned as someone touched her and pain shot up her shoulder and down her injured side as the metal was removed from her wrists. It hurt to move but she wanted to touch 710 just once more. She knew she wasn’t going to survive, despite medical intervention. One glance at the pool of blood she lay in was enough to convince her of that grim fact.

She reached out and covered his hand with hers where it rested on the floor as he crouched over her. His face was only inches from hers. She curled her fingers around the back of his fist. He felt really warm, where she was so cold. She clung to him as tightly as possible.

He glanced down at the contact but didn’t jerk away from her touch. She was afraid he might. Blood soaked her hand, staining his as well. She half expected him to get pissed. She just longed to touch him. She was scared to die alone.

He lifted his gaze to hers. He turned his hand under her palm and tightly clasped her fingers. Gratitude filled her that he’d care enough to attempt to give her some comfort. She licked her lips again, desperate to get words out.

“I tried to save them all. Did they make it? Did they all survive?”

He blinked. “They made it. No Species died.”

Tears blinded her but she blinked them back, desperate to keep him in focus. She’d succeeded in saving all the men and women trapped inside the building. It had come at a high price but she had known the risks when she’d driven to work that morning. So many of them—all those lives were more important than hers. She closed her eyes and a sense of peace came, blocking out some of the pain.

“Shiver?” He growled her name. “Open your eyes.”

The demand was one she couldn’t resist as she peered at him again. He’d inched closer until his warm breath fanned her lips. Breathing took effort as she struggled to make her lungs keep functioning. Blood loss and her body going into shock were taking their toll. She hoped she smiled when she tried, wanting to convey to him that it was okay.

“Don’t die,” he rasped. “Hang on.” He glanced away. “Faster!” His tone deepened. “Get over here.”

“Move!” a man yelled and something heavy clattered to the floor behind her. The coat she wore was jerked hard, fabric tore and she couldn’t prevent the whimper when gloved hands explored her now-exposed side.

“You will be fine,” 710 said, drawing her attention. “Just stay with me.” He nearly crushed her smaller hand with his, as if he could force the issue by clinging to her tighter.

“Shit,” the medic cursed.

“Fix her,” 710 snarled.

“It’s bad,” the medic answered. “Jed, get your ass over here. Open the kit and start an IV.”

Her mouth opened. She didn’t have the energy to tell 710 any of the things she always wanted to say if they’d ever been alone without the risk of being overheard by Dean Polanitis or the people who’d worked for him. It was important that 710 understood how he’d changed her life and made her realize her purpose was to save his kind. He was the motivation that had given her the courage to conquer her fears. Not a day had passed since she’d laid eyes on him that he hadn’t filled her thoughts or haunted her dreams.