Laurann Dohner: Valiant

“No. I’m really glad you are here. I doubt I’ll sleep. Valiant just called.”

“How did it go?” Breeze set the tray on the coffee table and lifted the lid. She sat on the couch and handed Tammy a spoon that had been rolled inside a napkin. “I haven’t heard anything yet.”

“Valiant said they got them all and everyone is fine. A few injures but nothing life threatening.”

“I am so happy to hear that. I must make arrangements for the half-dozen women we were told were being held there.”

Tammy hesitated, not sure if it was her place or not but really wanted to do something. “Do you need help?”

“I would love that.”

Tammy lifted her sundae and examined it. Her eyes widened. “Thank you so much. Wow. This is just…wow! Look at all that chocolate. Are those walnuts?”

“Yes.”

“I love walnuts and brownies. Chocolate hard-shell syrup.” She took a bite. “And small chocolate chips. This is so good. You have to thank Ellie too.” She paused.

“You can eat chocolate? Valiant says it makes him sick.”

“Some Species get ill from it and some don’t.” She grinned, took a big bite, the enjoyment showing on her face. “I love it.”

Valiant watched silently as six women were led past him by one short human female. His gaze followed the woman. Her hair was eye catching. It was flaming red and in a ponytail that fell to her ass. The human female led the Species women to the waiting helicopter and they climbed inside. Valiant frowned. He turned, looking at Tiger.

“Who was the small human woman with the bright hair?”

Tiger glanced at the helicopter. The woman was clearly visible since the doors were still open. She checked each seat belt of the six Species before taking a seat last. The pilot closed the side door and climbed in the cockpit.

“That’s Jessie Dupree. She’s the human female who usually is on hand when our Gift females are found. She is part of the human task force assigned to us by the government. She comforts our women when they are found. I am surprised she is here. She usually only deals with our women who were sold.”

“You would think she would be afraid of our females. She is small compared to them.”

Tiger shrugged. “I don’t know what her deal is but she’s the one the humans send in when they locate one of our females. I don’t know why she’s here since these women weren’t sold but instead were still contained for testing. We did invite the humans in on this one and it was their call to bring her with them.”

Valiant nodded. “She is flying with them to Reservation? Are the rest of the humans on her team coming as well?”

“No. Just her. She demanded to personally deliver them and get them settled. I got tired of arguing with her so I agreed she could go. She is small but her mouth is loud.”

“Justice doesn’t mind?”

Tiger shrugged. “I do not know. He is still inside with the human task teams, thanking them for their help and smoothing niceties. He didn’t get to meet her and he’s lucky for it. She’s fierce with her mouth. He’ll take the last flight with us.” Tiger glanced at his watch. “Do you want food? The humans had pizzas delivered to feed everyone. They taste amazing.”

Valiant nodded. “I could eat. I need to learn more about human food. I don’t think Tammy enjoys watching me eat. I’ve noticed she avoids looking at me during meals.”

Tiger chuckled. “Let me guess. Seared meat? Yeah, most humans get grossed out by that. You’ll enjoy pizza. It’s really good. She’ll love it too. I think all humans eat it the way we do meat. It must be a nutritional requirement or something for them.” He shrugged. “Everything on it is cut up into bit-sized slices to help them because of the flat teeth they have.”

Valiant followed him. “If we have a baby this must be good to feed them.”

“Yeah. They probably just cut the slices smaller for their little mouths.”

“I must try this food. Tammy will be pleased I am preparing for fatherhood.”

Tiger patted his back. “You’re a good mate, my man.”

“I will try to be.” Valiant missed Tammy. He couldn’t wait to return home to marry her and remove her underwear. Not in that order though.

At 5:10 in the morning Breeze’s pocket chirped. Both women jumped. They had been watching a scary movie on the television. Tammy laughed. Breeze grinned, reaching inside her pocket. She fished out her cell phone.

“This is Breeze.” She listened. “I am on my way now. Thank you.” She stood and smiled at Tammy as she hung up. “I must go. The helicopter is about twenty minutes out. It is the one delivering our freed women. We have made arrangements for them to live here inside the hotel. It is going to be a long morning for me. I do not know how bad they will be. I got elected to do this job and I am not really good at dealing with women in shock. I know I suffered from it when I was freed. We aren’t equipped to deal with newly freed women. We usually send them elsewhere but it happened too fast and Justice decided they would be happier here. He is probably right. I just wish I had some experience in this. All I have is my memories of the humans who took care of me.”

Tammy stood. “Do you still want help? I wasn’t just offering to be polite.”

“You helped make a list to order clothing for them. You want to help greet them and get them adjusted too?”

“I’d love to. I’m not going to sleep. It’s already morning.” Tammy grinned. “Can I go with you? It beats sitting around here waiting for Valiant to return. I won’t sleep until he’s back.”

“Yes. I would appreciate that.”

“Give me two minutes to toss on some clothes and run a brush through my hair and brush my teeth.”

“May I use your bathroom?”

“Make yourself at home. There’s a second bathroom down this hall. Follow me.”

Tammy hurried. She put on one of Valiant’s discarded sweaters from the floor. It smelled clean enough. She wanted to carry his scent and hopefully the women would accept her a little easier. She put on a pair of black cotton pants. Once she used the bathroom, brushed her teeth and her hair, she met Breeze in the living room.

Breeze inhaled and grinned. “You are smart.”

“The sweater? It came to me the second I saw it draped on the back of a chair. I think Valiant wore it two days ago. I take it you can still smell him on it?”

“It’s faint but enough. You smell of Valiant. They will know you are human of course, your features show what you are, but they will see you as less of a threat.”

“Good. So where are we going?” Tammy put on her slip-on flats and grabbed the key to the room. She shoved it down the front of her bra since she didn’t have pockets and wasn’t taking a purse.

“We are meeting them at the helicopter pad. We have a van ready to drive them here.”

“Have the clothes we ordered been put in their rooms yet?”

Breeze chuckled. “Yes. It was done immediately. Clothes and food will be waiting for them. I had each room fully stocked and they have cleaning products for their bodies.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

A bunch of New Species males Tammy had never seen before were milling around inside the old hotel lobby. Breeze and Tammy stepped out of the elevator and all conversation stopped. Tammy took a few steps and then paused when Breeze did.

Tammy glanced at the taller woman. “What’s wrong?”

Breeze suddenly growled and turned. Tammy saw a man quickly approach. Two more men followed him. All three New Species appeared angry. Breeze stepped between the oncoming men and Tammy.

“What do you want?” Breeze sounded pissed.

The man growled back. “Move.”