Best Friends (New Species #15)(109)

“I need a drink.”

Mel shook her head. “Not if you’re pregnant. That would be bad.”

The door to the suite opened, and Snow walked back in. His cell hung in his hand. He looked at Mel first—before staring intently at Mary.

She didn’t like his expression. He looked pained.

“Do you have to cover a shift for someone? It’s okay. I’m here with Mary, and if Lash comes back, maybe I’ll go hang out downstairs to play twenty questions with your friends.” Mel smiled at Snow. “I don’t mind the things they ask me about women.”

Snow opened his mouth, closed it, but then opened it again. “That was Brass. I don’t even know how to say this.”

Fear hit Mary hard. “Is it Lash?” She stood from the couch. “Did he get into a fight or something? He likes to piss people off. Is he hurt? Is he okay?” Panic filled her. She’d given up her job, might be carrying his cub, and she was falling in love with him. Life couldn’t be that cruel to take him from her.

Snow met her gaze. “Lash is fine. He’s on his way back here now. He and Jaded were informed of the…problem.”

Mel walked to him. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

He opened his mouth but still said nothing.

Another New Species came to the open doorway. This one wore dark slacks and a black button-down short-sleeve shirt, revealing muscled arms. His hair was in a ponytail that fell over his shoulder and hung long, almost to his waist. Snow turned to face him.

“Brass, I haven’t told them yet. I didn’t know how.”

“Tell us what?” Mel waved at the new guy. “Hi, Brass.”

“Mel.” But his gaze was on Mary.

She backed up, hit the couch, and ended up sitting. He was New Species, big and unknown. Lash wasn’t with her. What if this guy wanted her gone? Maybe Lash was wrong and the NSO had decided she shouldn’t be there.

The big New Species cleared his throat. “All the details are still unclear, but this is what we’ve managed to piece together with Sherriff Cooper.” He turned his head to the side to show off a wireless earphone-looking device. “The male who visited the diner, the reporter, isn’t one.” He faced them, still looking at Mary for some reason. “He’s actually claiming to be the father of two males that he believes the NSO and Sheriff Cooper have in custody. He’s demanding we free them.”

Mary was confused. She’d spotted the old guy with the cane in the diner the day he’d come in. Mel had told her he was a nosey reporter. He’d somehow gotten a tip that there’d been a shooting and had come to snoop around. Mel outright lied to him and kept him from speaking to her. Mary had appreciated that. She hated when reporters approached them. She had no patience for that bullshit. It usually got her into trouble from Joel, since she tended to use words they wouldn’t dare quote in their papers.

“So, he lied to me in the diner?” Mel frowned. “Who are his sons?”

“According to him, Darren Barrow and Bradly Hadly,” Brass stated.

“Oh crap,” Mel muttered, paling.

Mary wanted to go to her but remained on the couch. Her friend was too close to the unfamiliar New Species. “What’s the problem? I don’t know those names. I’d remember Bradly Hadly, too. Rhyming names tend to stick in my brain.”

Mel turned to her. “Darren is the jerk who broke into our places, the one I made myself bait to catch. Bradly is the name of one of the men I shot.” She peered up at Brass. “Is that him?”

Brass gave a nod.

Mary still didn’t see the problem. “His sons are assholes. One tried to kill our customers and the other one is a criminal who broke into our apartments and attacked Mel. Tell him too bad, so sad, and to fuck off. Let him demand until his face turns blue.”

Brass took a step closer to Mary. “He has two hostages, Mary. He’s threatening to kill them if we don’t release both males and prove they have been freed.”

“The guy with the cane, right? Are you sure it’s the same man?” Mel sounded as stunned at Mary felt.

“Sheriff Cooper is attempting to talk to him by phone into releasing his hostages. We sent a team to help at the scene. He admitted to the sheriff he’d used the reporter ruse in an attempt to learn information about what happened to Bradly.” Brass turned his attention to Mel. “He also admitted to driving the vehicle when Darren went after you a second time. He saw our team capture his son and drive him toward Reservation. That’s why he’s certain we have Darren. He believes Sherriff Cooper has Bradly.”

“It’s the opposite. We have Bradly, but Sheriff Cooper took Darren.” Snow pulled Mel into his arms. “What is the plan?”

“Sheriff Cooper is hoping he can talk the male into releasing his captives. Our team is on standby to go in if that doesn’t work.” Brass hesitated, his gaze returning to Mary. “Our priority is to safely get the couple out unharmed, but the male has a gun on the couple, threatening to kill them if anyone gets too close to the house. He could shoot them if we breach to capture him. We’re skilled, but so far our team can’t see a way to get inside without making noise or being spotting. The yard around the house has no trees or outbuildings that we could use as cover to get close.”

Mary fidgeted where she sat on the couch. “Why do you keep looking at me like that? I’m with Lash.” She tucked her head a little. “Is my voice annoying to you or something? I’ll stop talking.”