Best Friends (New Species Book 15) Read online

  Mary took a step closer, glancing at the big man next to Mel before backing up. It was clear she was too afraid to come any closer.

  Mel didn’t feel pain. It should hurt, right? Her arm just kind of throbbed as if it suddenly had its own heartbeat.

  Mr. Blue Eyes put his hands on her waist. They were large, and she could feel the warmth of them through her thin work T-shirt. He turned her toward him more, and it made her stumble since she seemed suddenly unable to control her legs.

  Mr. Blue Eyes looked at something over her shoulder. “Don’t. Stay back.” He looked down at Mel again and his grip tightened. “It’s going to be okay.”

  I’m shot. I shot people. Real people. Not pesky vermin.

  Mel was afraid to turn her head to see if either of the men still lived. She just stared deeply into Mr. Blue Eyes’ gaze. He held onto her. It was probably the only thing that kept her upright because she felt as if she might collapse as reality slowly sank in.

  I shot people. Real people.

  “How is she, Snow?” They were growled words from the other side of the room.

  Mr. Blue Eyes didn’t look away from her. “She needs a doctor.”

  Snow. That’s his name. She’d wondered for a long time but it had seemed rude to flat-out ask since it was a rule around town to treat visiting New Species as if they were royalty. Sheriff Cooper was known for being a crusty old bastard who was fond of the New Species, and he let everyone know not to mess with them in any way. That included asking questions. He said they got enough of that from the reporters that sometimes showed up in town.

  Plus, she didn’t want Snow to guess that she had a massive crush on him.

  “I’m in communication with Reservation. Medical is being put on alert.” That deep voice came from one of the New Species across the room.

  “How is Wind?”

  Mel really did love Snow’s voice, and she once again experienced that tingling sensation from her nipples. He still had that effect on her despite being struck by a bullet.

  “The shot must have missed Wind’s heart but he’s in a lot of pain. Jinx has pressure on the wound to slow the bleeding. The helicopter isn’t at Reservation. We’re doing a scoop and run. I’m taking Wind with Jinx now. The rest of you will remain here until the backup teams arrive,” one of the New Species ordered. “The two gunmen are alive, but I don’t think one of them will ma—”

  “Enough,” Snow snapped. “She doesn’t need to hear that.” He leaned in closer. “Melinda, you’re very pale. I’m going to lift you, and we’re going with them.”

  Mel was being taken to Reservation. That stunned her.

  But I love the way he says my name. I’ll go anywhere with him.

  “You’re not taking her!” Mary’s voice sounded panicked and near hysterical.

  “We have an excellent medical facility. Your human hospital is too far away. She is coming with me,” Snow firmly stated.

  Snow released her waist and she swayed, but he bent and locked one of his arms behind her knees, while wrapping the other around her back. He hoisted her up against his chest. The fast motion made her dizzy, And Mel closed her eyes.

  “Hang on, Melinda,” he rasped. “You did a brave deed. Those males would have shot more of us. We couldn’t reach our ankle holsters with them watching our every move.”

  She hadn’t known they had guns. That surprised her.

  He jogged outside with her, and the motion made her feel sick to her stomach. It would be just her luck if she puked on the guy she imagined naked all the time.

  She sealed her lips and tried to breathe through her nose. It did distract her from the increased throbbing in her arm, and the fact that blood still dripped from the wound.

  Chapter Two

  Mel heard sirens in the distance. The sheriff or one of his deputies must be on their way. Maybe even all of them. It wasn’t like shootings happened in their small town every day.

  “Throw your good arm around my neck,” Snow ordered, slowing down.

  It took her a second to comply, since that arm had gotten smashed between his big chest and her body. Her fingers brushed his silky hair, and she felt his firm back along her forearm. She dug her fingers into muscle on his shoulder.

  He adjusted his arm under her waist as she turned her head, watching him yank open a door on the black NSO SUV. He slid into the front passenger seat and lifted her body until she had to release his shoulder to sit on his lap. He turned her a little, pressing her spine against his chest, then slammed the door closed.

  The driver’s-side door was thrown open and the blond canine in charge got behind the wheel. He looked furious and seriously scary with his mouth open, showing fangs. He didn’t glare at her, though. He fixed his full attention on Snow.

  “You shouldn’t bring her. Their medical facilities can tend to her better.”

  “No,” Snow growled. “She goes with us, Timber.”

  After a moment, Timber nodded.

  Doors opened in the back and the SUV rocked a bit. A few of the New Species gently placed the bleeding one across the bench seat, and a black-haired feline climbed in, too. Mel glanced back, watching. She saw flashing lights as the sirens grew louder. That made the situation more real. She faced forward, still feeling like she could puke.

  “Careful,” someone warned from the backseat. “Easy. Don’t jostle Wind too much. Jinx, do you got him?”

  “Yes. Stay with me, Wind. You’re too damn annoying to die. Remember that.”

  “I have females to impress,” Wind groaned.

  “That’s right,” Jinx agreed. “Every female is going to want to coddle you and kiss your boo-boo.”

  The back doors slammed closed and the vehicle engine roared to life. Snow tensed and adjusted his hold on Mel again. He wrapped one of his arms around her, right under her breasts, and braced his feet against the floorboards. His other hand gripped the center divider.

  “Go, Timber,” Jinx demanded from the back. “I’ve got Wind pinned against the seat and I’m keeping pressure on his wound.”

  Mel wondered for the need to pin him down even as Timber gripped the steering wheel tight with one hand and punched the gas after throwing the SUV into drive.

  The tires squealed in protest, and it made Mel grateful that Snow held her tight, since the motion threw her backward into him. Pain lanced down her arm and she almost blacked out.

  She wished she had lost consciousness when she looked out the windshield. Timber did a great impression of being a race car driver. He must have shoved his foot all the way down on the gas and didn’t seem inclined to ease off any.

  He swerved around a slower-moving car, and then took a turn so fast, she closed her eyes. The motion of being thrown against the door despite Snow holding her jarred her enough to hurt like hell. The vehicle straightened and she opened her eyes.

  It was a mistake.

  Timber leaned forward on the straightaway and messed with the dash. She hoped he wasn’t going to turn on music.

  Her mouth opened in horror as the SUV gained ground on a truck ahead of them. The urge to scream choked her; it seemed as if the canine driver planned to ram right into the back of the vehicle.

  But he swerved, barely missing the blue truck at the last second. It was lucky there wasn’t any oncoming traffic on the two-lane highway. He went back to the right side of the road after they’d cleared the truck.

  A soft ringing started, and she though it must be in her ears. But a voice came on next.

  “Talk to me. Situation?”

  That helped clue her in that they were using a Bluetooth-synced phone.

  Snow twisted his body a little in the seat and turned his head. “Wind is conscious but bleeding heavily. Jinx is applying pressure to slow the bleeding. We also have a human female who’s been shot in the upper arm. She’s losing some blood but it’s not bad.”

  She dared to glance at her arm. It was really bloody. She wondered what his definition of “bad” was. It looked pret
ty bad to her.

  “We’re coming in hot,” Timber warned. “Make sure those gates are wide open and nothing gets in our way to Medical. Are they prepared?”

  “Yes,” the person on the phone answered. “We’re ready for you. Old Doc Harris and Ted are on standby. Doc Alli is on her way in.”

  Mel opened her mouth to scream but terror kept her silent when Timber took a turn and crossed into the oncoming traffic lane. It was a good thing he did, since they seemed to skid a bit from how fast they were traveling. She regretted not being buckled into a seat belt.

  They made it to another long straightaway, and she saw a line of dark NSO SUVs coming toward them from the other lane. She counted six vehicles. They were moving fast and didn’t slow as they passed.

  She turned her head, peering into the side mirror. Five kept going, but one hit the brakes. White smoke rose from the tires of the SUV as it skidded to a halt. The vehicle turned around on the road and came after them.

  “We’re almost there,” Snow stated.

  “We have an eye on you.” The man on the phone paused. “Slow for that last turn. There’s a civilian car in front of you heading in this direction.”

  “Understood.” Timber didn’t slow, though.

  The trees were thick on both sides of the road, and she wondered how anyone could see their vehicle from Reservation unless they had people in the woods as lookouts, or possibly cameras.

  A big turn came up. Timber finally hit the brakes by punching down on them for a split second. It threw Mel forward but Snow didn’t let her slam into the dash. It hurt a lot, though, since the fast motion wrenched her left arm. She closed her eyes and, for once, did what her mama always told her to do. She prayed.

  Please don’t let us wreck. I’ll be good. I’ll call my folks more often. I’ll stop taunting my mama no matter how much she annoys or pisses me off.

  She was pressed against the door again when they took the turn too fast. Don’t look. Just don’t! She breathed instead, and focused on Snow’s arm around her ribs.

  What does that name mean to him?

  Really? I’m going to wonder about that now? I’m shot!

  Shit. Mama and Papa are going to order me to come back home. They’ll probably drive their pickup all the way here to hog tie me and force me back if I don’t wanna go.

  No. No. No.

  “We’re at the gates,” Snow announced.

  Mel opened her eyes. She’d never seen Reservation before. Nobody in town ventured there out of respect for the New Species and fear of Sheriff Cooper. Big walls were all she could see on the right and left of the road, disappearing into the tall trees.

  Two massive gates were wide open, and at least a few dozen armed men wearing riot gear stood on top of the walls and beside the road next to the gates. It was a small army. They drove right past them, and then through a second set of open gates.

  The land next to the road had been cleared of trees for a ways. A building stood to the right, but they breezed by that and kept going. Another building appeared after a turn in the road. That one Timber slowed for. Five people waited outside by the front doors, and they had two wheeled gurneys. She didn’t see any hospital signs. There wasn’t even a name on the building.

  Timber applied the brakes and bile rose in Mel’s throat as Snow’s arm dug into her chest to keep her from slamming into the windshield like a bug. She managed to choke it down, not wanting to puke on him. That would be humiliating.

  Timber stopped the SUV and shut off the engine. He threw open the driver’s door. “Wind’s in the backseat,” he yelled.

  “Hang on,” Snow rasped next to her ear. “Let them get the male first. He’s worse.”

  Mel managed to nod. She couldn’t remember if she’d spoken at all since they’d left the diner. Her mind was still blank.

  I was shot. I think I’m in shock…

  Snow worried about the female. Melinda remained still in his arms but her rigid body on his lap assured him that she hadn’t lost consciousness.

  A male nurse jerked open the passenger door, prepared to take the female from him.

  He growled low in warning, and the male stepped back. Snow adjusted his hold on Melinda and slid out with her in his arms. He ignored the gurney and carried her inside the building.

  Chimes hurried toward him from the left. “Bring her this way.”

  He followed the Species female into one of the exam rooms and lay the human on the medical bed. He looked at Chimes. “Where is Doc Harris or Ted?”

  “With Wind. He’s more critical.”

  It made sense, but he hated how pale Melinda looked. Snow took her hand on the side that wasn’t injured and gripped it. Chimes moved to the other side of the bed and gently tugged at Melinda’s T-shirt to inspect the wound. “Go. I have this.”

  A panicked look crossed Melinda’s features, and she clung to his hand. Her eyes widened, and he scented her fear.

  He made a simple decision. “I’ll stay with her.”

  “Fine.” Chimes began to clean the skin around the injury.

  Melinda cried out when Chimes probed at the wound. Her entire body jerked, and Snow bit back a snarl. He leaned forward to partially press his chest over hers to keep her in place, resting his free hand on the top of her head. Melinda had been tagged on the exterior meaty part of her arm, just under the shoulder. The wound bled a lot but it didn’t look as if it were something life threatening.

  He stared at her face. She glanced around wildly, seeming panicked.

  “Look at me,” he ordered.

  She gazed at him as if he were a lifeline. He liked her eyes. They were a soft shade of brown with a lot of gold flecks inside the irises. He hadn’t seen too many humans who had that trait. They seemed suspiciously wet but she didn’t cry. He wouldn’t have blamed her if she had.

  “Are you allergic to any medications?” Chimes poured water over the wound to clear the blood.

  Melinda’s tongue darted out as she licked her lips. She didn’t say anything but shook her head.

  “No, she’s not,” he answered for her.

  “I’m not blind.” Chimes smiled. “You’re being brave, female. I heard you shot bad humans intent on killing our males. We’ll take good care of you. You are also lucky. It looks as if you’re only missing some flesh, but Doc Alli will probably order an X-ray to make sure more damage wasn’t done. You will need stitches.”

  “Where is Doc Alli?” It pissed Snow off that she wasn’t already there. Melinda had put her life at risk to save Species and she deserved excellent medical care, as if she were one of them.

  “She was at home when we got the call but she’s on her way. She should be here at any second. It takes time even with her speeding.”

  The answer from Chimes settled Snow a bit, until Melinda flinched. “Give her something for the pain.” It bothered him, knowing she suffered.

  “I can’t. I’m not trained for that yet. Destiny could, but he was sent to Homeland when Doc Alli came. Obsidian still won’t allow her to work with that male. I only have Species dosages down. I wouldn’t want to accidently give her too much. I like being a nurse.”

  Melinda gasped. He wasn’t sure if it was from something Chimes had said or done. He pressed tighter against her body. “It’s going to be okay. Just breathe in and out.”

  “I am.”

  He could feel every time she inhaled and exhaled, since he was almost on top of her in case she tried to wiggle away from Chimes tending to her bleeding arm. “You’re being very brave,” he rushed to assure her.

  Tears flooded her eyes. “I was scared. I didn’t know you had guns or I would have shouted to you about those men. I saw them before they came in. I thought they were going to rob us. I didn’t know they wanted you.”

  He nodded. “You shot those males, and that was good. Why did you have a weapon?”

  “Joel keeps his shotgun locked up near the register. I have a key for it, since I know how to shoot. He made me shoot cans to prove
I wasn’t bullshitting. I hit every one without missing after the first two shots. And that thing is old; I’d never fired one like it before.”

  “Were you in the human military?” She didn’t look like it to him. Melinda had a soft, rounded body. Not one that was overly fit, like the bodies of most of the female military he’d seen.

  “No.” She stiffened, gasping out. “Ouch.”

  “Sorry, I have to dig around a bit to make sure the bullet didn’t splinter. It seems it just nicked you,” Chimes muttered. “I’m trying to see if it hit bone.”

  “I nick my legs while shaving. I’ve never bled this much.” Melinda arched her back, pressing her breasts against his chest.

  Snow hated noticing how good those soft mounds felt against him. The female was in pain. Her breathing rapidly increased, and he needed to attempt to calm her. “She means the bullet didn’t pierce a lot of flesh.” Snow hoped, anyway. “For Species, that’s just a small wound.”

  “You all seem to have a really messed-up understanding of not much and not too bad.”

  He grinned. “I like the way you talk.”

  “I haven’t rid myself of my accent completely yet. It comes out when I’m stressed.” She eased her grip on his hand but then clenched her fingers tight. “Dang it. That hurts!”

  “You’re doing really well. I’m impressed.” He meant it. Some humans would scream and cry.

  “I’ve got a good tolerance for pain. Farm girl here. I got hurt a lot growing up.”

  He stroked her light brown hair with his fingers, hoping it would help. He liked it when someone played with his. “Where are you from? I haven’t heard someone talk the way you do before.”

  “A tiny town in Indiana. Home of cows, chickens, and pigs, mostly.” She arched her back again and her legs moved restlessly.

  He broke eye contact with her to glance over his shoulder. She’d bent her knee upward and kicked a little at the bed with that foot. He looked back at her. “Is that helping?”

  “I’m not shouting cuss words, am I?”