Shane climbed into the driver’s seat and adjusted it to fit his long legs. The engine roared to life. Smiley relaxed a little now that some of the fear had eased. He had to believe she was just exhausted or the drug had knocked her out. It beat the alternative that she was gravely ill.

Smiley’s dick hardened painfully and a sharp stab of pain hit his gut. He groaned.

“Smiley?” Brass leaned into the SUV again. “What’s wrong?”

“Pain,” he rasped, holding his stomach, his breathing erratic.

“Sorry. I don’t want you to suffer,” Brass stated.

Brass gripped his shoulder and Smiley glanced at him when the male forced him to turn. Smiley saw the fist a second before it landed on his jaw.

Chapter Four

“I would hate to be in the other SUV,” a man stated.

“Me too. Smiley is going to be pissed that Brass decked him when he comes around. They don’t fuck around, do they?” The second voice belonged to a guy too.

Vanni lay on her side in some kind of vehicle. It was dark when she opened her eyes and it took a few seconds for memory to return, fear coming with it. She was alone in the backseat of one of the SUVs—probably the same one she and Smiley had been in. Someone had put seat belts on her. One was around her thighs, the other around her rib cage. Her skirt was draped over her like a blanket but she was naked underneath. The feel of leather against her skin assured her of that.

“No shit,” the first one stated. He was in the driver’s seat.

“Sometimes I wonder if we’re crazy to work with New Species. What about you, Shane? Do you ever think you should be doing something else?”

“Nope. I love the NSO. It’s just been a bad night, Ned. Nobody expected an attack like that to go down at the hotel.”

Ned was silent for long seconds. “I was right there just twenty feet away. You expect this shit in third-world countries, not at home.”

“What shit?”

“Terrorists being women. I saw her sit next to Smiley and didn’t give it a second thought. She looked innocent enough.”

“I heard her say she didn’t drug their drinks.”

“You buy that?” Ned snorted. “How are you so naïve? I forgot. You’re like a full-grown Boy Scout and think all chicks are as sweet as your sisters. Wake the fuck up and live in the real world. We’re lucky she wasn’t an assassin. I’d have felt like a real asshole if she’d killed him in that bar. I’m guessing she’s some hooker they hired.”

“She doesn’t look like one.”

Ned laughed. “How would you know? Have you ever paid some chick to fuck you?”

“No.”

“Exactly. I have and not all of them are dolled up all the time. I did one who reminded me of my third-grade teacher. It was kind of hot since I had a crush on her.”

“You’re sick.” Shane cursed softly. “The engine light just came on. Radio it in.”

“Just pull over at the next gas station. Why bother them? It’s probably a loose battery cable. That happened to one I drove last week.”

“The oil light is blinking now.”

“So we’ll buy some oil and I’ll put it in. It will take a few minutes. Otherwise we’re going to have to wait for the other SUV to catch up and they’ll transfer her to it while we’re stuck waiting for roadside service. I just want to turn her over to Medical and go home.”

“She needs to be taken to Homeland as fast as possible. They are only about thirty miles behind us.”

“She’s out cold. It won’t matter and hell, we’ll probably be on the road before they reach us. Just pull over at the gas station.”

“Fine. I’m radioing it in though when we stop.”

“Boy Scout.” Ned chuckled. “You’re probably terrified Smiley will tear you a new asshole if he thinks you might have had a few minutes to examine her. Did you see the way he damn near bit off my face?”

“They are protective of women.”

“He should want her strung up for drugging him. I wouldn’t give a damn what happened to a chick who laced my drink so I had to fuck her.”

“Shut up, Ned. We don’t know if she’s guilty or not.”

“I think she is. He sat at the corner of the bar. She was the only one to take that empty seat next to him and was close enough to dope his drink.”

Vanni wanted to protest but kept quiet. They thought she was still unconscious and she wasn’t sure how they’d react if she let them know she was awake. Did the NSO really think she’d do something so awful?

“I just hope both of them are going to be okay.”

“She’ll probably end up arrested and he’s going to have a hell of a headache from that sucker punch. Take the next exit.”

“I see it.” Shane sighed. “I hope you’re wrong. Smiley seemed to really like her.”

“I’d say so. I don’t even have the super nose they do and I want to roll down the windows. It smells like a brothel in here.”

“Keep the windows up. I don’t want her to get cold.”

Ned laughed. “No comment about the brothel remark, huh? Do you even know what sex smells like? Don’t tell me Boy Scout is still a virgin.”

“I’m not. Why are you being such a dick tonight?”

“I’m tired and just want to go to bed. Pull into that truck stop. They’ll have oil. I’ll run in while you make the call to the other SUV. Pop the hood for me.”

The SUV slowed and they made a few turns. Vanni closed her eyes when they drove under the bright lights in case one of them turned around to check on her. She didn’t know what else to do but she didn’t want to talk to either of them. The SUV stopped and the engine shut off.

“You go in,” Shane ordered. “I’ll stay here with her.”

“She’s dead to the world. Just pop the damn hood and I’ll buy the oil.”

“Fine. I guess that’s okay.”

The doors opened and closed. Vanni hesitated and the vehicle jerked a little. She lifted up to peer between the seats. The hood was up and she could see through the small space between it and the engine. One man stood there. She turned her head and watched the other one walk inside a gas station. They were parked away from the other cars that were getting gas. One glance around the area showed a few food places and a lot of cars.

She fumbled to get free of the seatbelts then frantically put on her skirt. Her bra was on the floor with her shirt. She didn’t take the time to put it on but instead shoved it into the pocket of her skirt after she pulled the white top over her head and yanked it down to her waist.

A search of the floor failed to locate her shoes. Her ring caught her attention though. She stared at it with dread before picking it up. She put it in her pocket and hunched down to stare through the gap between the open hood and the engine compartment. The man remained there. The other was still inside, in line, holding something against his chest.

A big semi pulled into the lot and parked about ten feet away. The loud engine stayed on while a man opened the passenger door, slid out of the cab and headed toward the gas station.

Vanni took a deep breath. She wasn’t in pain anymore. Most of the drug must have left her system. She had two options. Stay in the SUV and be taken to Homeland with everyone around her thinking she’d drugged a New Species, or try to escape.

No interior lights had come on when they’d opened the doors and there’d been no dinging sound. She remembered they hadn’t come on when Smiley and she had entered the SUV. She tested the door on the driver’s side and found it unlocked. The noise of the semi’s engine drowned out any sound when the door opened. Her heart pounded with fear of being caught but she slid out into the windy night and pushed the door just enough for it to catch but not close all the way.

The pavement was cold on her bare feet as she crouched and tiptoed to the back of the vehicle. Several cars were parked about thirty feet away near a restaurant. She hesitated, checking to make sure the guard was still in line behind a few customers who were ahead of him. He wasn’t looking her way.