She’d heard enough. The three men were nuts and no amount of reasoning would make them sane. Her gaze darted around the room before she addressed the one in front of her. Hate mail had come in from enough religious fanatics that she could guess these were a few of them.

“Are you with the Woods Church? Your leader has sent in a lot of mail to the NSO. I read it.” She darted her gaze around the room, hunting for an escape route. “We could discuss the grievances he has with New Species.”

“That hack?” Brother Adam snorted. “He doesn’t speak for God. We do.”

She lunged toward the kitchen to reach the back door. A scream tore from her throat in hope that one of her neighbors would hear it and call 9-1-1. Her quick movement surprised the men but there weren’t just three of them. She slammed into a fourth one when he jumped around the corner into her path.

“Got you!”

She collided with him hard enough to bounce off his body and her ass hit the floor hard. Zandy screamed again and rolled away. Pain shot up her arm when her palm came down on broken glass from the lamp. A hand fisted in her hair and dragged her to her feet. Agony made her gasp.

The one holding her hair used it to control her as she was flung forward and crashed into the wall. Her cheek hurt from the force of hitting the plaster. Hands grabbed her from behind to yank her arms behind her back. The hand in her hair pulled and she screamed again as her attacker rammed her face into the wall.

“Let’s get out of here. Someone could have heard her.”

“Get the van,” Brother Adam demanded. He was the one gripping her hair.

A hand wrapped around her throat and squeezed. Zandy fought but a body leaned in and pinned her painfully between it and the wall. He had her hair in one fist and her neck in the other. She couldn’t breathe, her face got really hot and pure panic surged when it dawned that she was suffocating.

She tried to claw at the hand on her throat but more hands grabbed her and pinned her arms to the wall. She kicked and struggled but couldn’t get away. Spots appeared before her eyes before blackness swept reality away.

* * * * *

Tiger awoke to stare at a white ceiling with thousands of tiny holes high above where he lay. The smells hit him next. Humans, antiseptic and air-conditioning. He wrinkled his nose at the hospital smell he recognized as he struggled to remember how he’d gotten there.

Memory returned quickly of the terror he’d experienced when the helicopter had been struck by ground fire and gone down. The crash had been painful but he’d obviously survived. He turned his head to stare at the male seated in the corner.

“How are you feeling now?” Bestial growled. “Feel like less of a bastard?”

Tiger was shocked by his friend’s words. “It wasn’t my fault the helicopter crashed. Did everyone make it?”

Bestial nodded grimly. “One of the human pilots was touch and go but they said he’ll live. He is in the burn unit. You were given the Mercile drugs. You suffered broken bones and a head injury. You will be in some pain for another day but you should be fine by tomorrow night at the rate you’re healing.”

Tiger relaxed. “I need a phone please. I have a call to make.”

Bestial growled. “No.”

Tiger felt stunned. “No?”

“No. I wouldn’t do anything for you at this moment. I wouldn’t even be here anymore if Justice hadn’t unfortunately ordered Jaded and me to protect you.”

Tiger looked confused. “Why are you so angry with me? What is your problem?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t understand my issue. I meant what I said. I’m going to pursue the female and mate her myself. You’re a fool, Tiger. A dumb fool.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Her who?”

Bestial snorted. “She sat at your bedside and tended to you. She slept curled in a chair at your bedside just to hold your hand while you were unconscious.”

“Who? How long was I out?” Tiger felt shock. “How injured am I?”

“Were. I told you the drugs are working. Your bones were broken but they are mending fast. Your arm and leg are fine but they haven’t had time to remove the casts yet. Your head suffered a severe enough injury that the doctors suspected you might not wake. They say you are fine now but I disagree. I think you have major brain damage. You lost your common sense.”

“What is your problem? Why are you so angry with me?”

“She pushed her chair next to you to keep touching you while you slept. I watched her bathe and tend to you. She almost lost her voice whispering to you to get better and wake for her. She wouldn’t go to another room to sleep on a bed. Hell no. Instead she sat there worried about you.”

“Who did?”

Bestial frowned. “You know who.”

Tiger shook his head, puzzled. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Bestial softly cursed. “You don’t remember Zandy being here?”

Tiger tried to sit up but gasped in pain from his ribs. His gaze darted around the room frantically. “Where is Zandy?” He inhaled but the hospital odors messed with his sense of smell. Her scent didn’t linger. He stared at his friend.

The big male slowly stood and approached his bed. “You made her leave. You said harsh words until she cried and fled.”

Tiger’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?” Rage hit him hard. “I wouldn’t do that. Where is Zandy?”