Laurann Dohner - Slade

You will have round-the-clock New Species officers to protect you until I am assured of your safety and that won’t be until whoever is responsible is found.” He took a deep breath. “I have to go but food will arrive shortly. Eat and rest.”

She was stunned that someone working at Homeland had betrayed the New Species but she believed Justice and his grim expression. “You don’t have to send me food. I can fix a sandwich.”

“No. You need a nice hot, home-cooked meal. I’ll call it in right now. I’ll have them send you a few dishes. I’ll see you in the morning. Just call me when you are up and about.”

“Thank you. Please don’t forget to contact me about Slade.”

“I swear I won’t. As soon as I know, you will.” He left the front door wide open and Trisha heard him softly talking to the men outside.

Trisha slowly walked into her bedroom and grabbed oversized comfortable sweats and a baggy T-shirt. She walked into her bathroom. She got a load of herself in the mirror and wanted to burst into tears. She looked like something a cat had dragged around a backyard before it threw it away to find something else to tear up.

She had bruising from ear to lower jaw that extended inches along her face. Her lower lip was swollen badly on one side where the skin had split. It was red and puffy.

Her long blonde hair had matted and tangled hopelessly. On top of it all, dirt covered her in a fine layer.

The clothes she wore were just as bad. She stripped and flinched more over the painful bruises on her wrists where she’d been tied to the tree. She had more of them on her back, hip and shoulder blade from the SUV roll over and then spotted another large bruise on her thigh from the accident. She knew she must appear hellish.

Trisha moved under the water spray and just stood there for a long time then she washed her injured skin very carefully. It hurt despite the pain pills. The tears began to flow hard until she sat down on the floor of her shower and covered her face with her hands. She knew her life had changed forever. Two men were dead and she’d taken their lives. How could she ever go back to being the person she once was? She didn’t see one single way.

A light tapping on her door finally made Trisha stop crying. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Do you need help?” She recognized Brass’ voice. “I’m safe, Dr. Norbit.” He paused. “I’m coming in.”

Crap . She tried to get to her feet but her body refused to respond. She had the shower doors to hide her body but they were frosted glass. She could make out Brass’

shape inside her bathroom when he moved toward her.

“Dr. Norbit?”

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“I sat down and now I’m kind of stuck,” she admitted. She hated being this weak and in so much pain. “I’ll eventually get up when I’m feeling better. Could you just toss me a towel?” She shut off the water faucets next to her to kill the shower. “Please?”

A large bath towel dropped over the top of the shower doors. Trisha caught it and used it to cover up as much as she could. Two seconds later Brass stunned her when he opened her shower door.

“I won’t look at you as though you are a woman. Allow me help you, Dr. Norbit. I would never harm you in any way.” He bent, reaching for her. His hands carefully gripped her ribs and lifted her gently to her feet. “Let’s get you into bed. The food arrived and I’ll also get you some more pain medication.”

It humiliated her slightly knowing she needed the help. She didn’t struggle as the large man guided her to step out of the tub. His arm kept her on her feet and she needed it. She clutched the towel around the front of her but there was no helping her back being totally bare. Trisha knew her face must be flaming pink. Brass suddenly gripped her towel and pulled it from her grasp.

Trisha’s mouth hung open. Her focus flew to the man holding her towel. He kept his gaze locked with hers. He released her arm and then opened the towel to wrap it around her body securely before he reached for her again. He just scooped her up into his strong arms and gently placed her on the counter. Brass turned, grabbed another towel, and without a word went to work on her dripping hair.

“Thank you.”

Brass nodded. “You’ve been very strong. For someone so little, you have my full respect, Dr. Norbit. You have been very tough but now it is time for you to allow someone to take care of you.”

“Please call me Trisha.”

He flashed a smile. “I’m going to pick you up again now that your hair won’t soak your bed and put you on it. I see you have pajamas but I’ve suffered enough injures to warn you from past experiences that you are better off without anything on while you heal. Up you go.”

He dropped the towel from her hair into the sink and lifted her up into his arms.

Brass gently carried her out of the bathroom and to her bed where someone had already lowered the blankets. Brass eased her down onto the mattress and removed his arms from around her. He held out his hand and closed his eyes.

“I’ll take the wet towel into the bathroom to hang while you cover up.”

Trisha handed the towel over and pulled up the blankets to her chest. She watched Brass return to her bathroom where he stayed for a few minutes cleaning it. Then he walked out, flipped off the light behind him, and gave her a nod before he disappeared out of her room. He immediately returned, pushing a food cart that had three shelves with multiple covered dishes. Trisha gawked at the sight.

“That can’t all be for me.”

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He shrugged. “Justice didn’t know what you wanted to eat so he ordered six dishes to be prepared. The Council has its own personal chef. Justice placed a phone call for food to be prepared when he knew you would be arriving. There are also desserts.

Again, Justice didn’t know what you would eat so he had them send a little of a lot.”

Brass removed a large tray. He placed it over Trisha’s lap and smiled. “I’ll open up the dishes to show you what you have to choose from.”

“You will help me eat all this, right?”

Brass chuckled. “I was hoping you would ask. I’m starving.”

Trisha’s stomach rumbled loudly. Her face blushed warmly when Brass chuckled again. He’d obviously heard it. He started removing the covers while he listed the food that had been prepared. He didn’t touch the desserts.

“I’ll take the prime rib and the tri-tip dinners. Is that all right?”

He grinned. “That’s fine. I’m grateful you didn’t want the ribs. I saw those and my mouth began to water. You are hungry, aren’t you?”

“I’m starving.”

Brass set both dishes on the tray. He left the room and returned minutes later with a few sodas. Trisha took a cherry-flavored one. She kept three kinds in her fridge. Brass hesitated.

“I’ll go into the living room and eat. Call out if you need anything.” He lifted the pork-rib dish.

“You can sit there.” She pointed to the chair next to her bed. The nightstand was cleared on that side so he’d have a table to eat on. “I was going to turn on the TV. I’m sorry there isn’t one in the living room. I planned to buy a few things for the house but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. You could stay in here to watch TV and I’ll even give you the remote if you promise no history stuff or sports.”

He laughed. “You pick the channel.” Brass sat down and put his plate on the table.

He opened up one of the sodas. “Thanks. What are you planning on changing? It’s a nice house.”

“I hate this bed and I want to turn the spare bedroom into an office.” She motioned toward the corner where she had a desk set up. “I don’t want my office in my bedroom.