Best Friends (New Species #15)(111)

“No!” Lash snarled.

Brass denied her request at the same time. “It’s too dangerous.”

Mary peered up at Lash with teary eyes. “I have to go. I want to be close. I need to be. I can’t take this waiting around. That way, I’m at least there and can see for myself what’s happening. What if they do get shot? I need to be there, Lash! Please.”

Lash looked at Brass. The male shook his head. He did the same to her, letting her know that wasn’t an option.

Mary’s delicate features twisted into something not so cute. “Goddamn it!” She hit Lash on the chest with her fist as she yelled.

She wiggled, struggling to get off his lap. He worried about her hurting herself and let her go. She got off his lap and stood, facing Brass. When she pointed at him, her entire arm shook.

“Those are my parents, and I’m not a fucking prisoner here! You seem to be in charge. I demand to be taken there so I can see what the hell is going on, and to make sure everything is being done to save them. Bite me if you’re going to, but move your large, scary ass out of my way! I’ll walk there if I have to.”

Lash was on his feet in a heartbeat and tried to wrap his arms around his mate. She was losing her temper now. He grunted when she threw an elbow back and got him in the lower ribs. She was a bit boney, and it hurt. He growled at her.

She twisted around, glaring up at him. “Don’t. Just…don’t. I’m so mad.”

He felt his own anger rise. “I didn’t go after your parents.”

“I know that. I just want to go to my parents’ house, or as close as I can get. I want to talk to Sherriff Cooper. You’re stopping me from doing that.”

“We can let you talk to him by phone,” Brass offered.

She twisted again, glaring at the other male. “No. I want to talk to Sheriff Cooper in person.” Then she looked at Mel. “How good of a shot are you? I doubt this town has a sniper, but can you hit that old bastard? There’re plenty of windows in my parents’ house.”

Mel gaped at her, mouth falling open.

Snow growled. “Mel is not shooting more humans.”

“Because it’s okay if she does it to save New Species, but not my parents?”

“Sherriff Cooper has jurisdiction,” Brass explained. “He’s not allowing our teams very close, either. He believes he can talk the male into giving up without violence.”

“Fuck Sheriff Cooper!” Mary raged. “Those are my parents!”

“Mary.” Lash kept his tone low and tried to soothe her. “Let me get you something to eat.”

She spun. “If you suggest a brownie, I will shove it up your ass right now, Lash. Food? Really? As if I could eat right now!”

“Mary,” Mel whispered. “You need to settle down a bit. None of this is helping. Your face is turning all red and you’re acting like the crazy hillbilly you accuse me of being all the time.”

Mary started to cry again. Lash grabbed her and pulled her against his body.

“I just want to be there so they know I’m close. Why are they even home? They were supposed to be in Vegas!”

Lash felt helpless again, and he hated it. He looked over her head at Brass. “Take us to where it’s safe but close to her parents.”

Brass’ mouth compressed into a grim line. He shook his head.

Jaded stood up from where he’d been sitting on the floor near the door. “The area is secured by the deputies and our teams. The only danger is inside the house.” He held up his phone, showing something to Brass that Lash couldn’t see. “This is a satellite image of the area and the house her parents live in. They have no close human neighbors. We could at least take them to the team we have there. She’d be safe but could see the house.”

“It’s not a good idea.” Brass met Lash’s gaze.

Jaded walked to Brass and lowered his voice. Lash could hear the words, though. “It might make her feel better. Our team is set up near an old barn that her family uses for storage. Our males have a good view of the house and where the sheriff is staying behind his vehicle, talking to the male inside the house. She’ll be able to see that everything is being done. We can get her out of there quickly if violence breaks out.”

Brass lowered his voice, too. “You want us to take an upset female, one who is possibly pregnant, near all that? What if she were to run at the house to get to her parents? She’s unstable.”

Lash understood Brass’ concerns but they weren’t necessary. “I won’t let her run into danger.”

Both Jaded and Brass faced him.

“She’s my mate. I want to take her there.”

“Shit.” Brass reached for the radio attached to his belt. “I’ll put an escort together.” His gaze locked with Lash’s. “You watch her close and keep her with our people when we get there.”

Lash nodded and rubbed Mary’s back. He ducked his head. “We’re going, Mary.”

Her sniffles ceased and she lifted her chin. “Thank you.”

“I’d do anything for you.”

“I’ll go too,” Mel announced.

“Fuck,” Snow growled. “Fine. We’ll all go.”

Brass walked out of the open doorway into the hall. Lash cocked his head, listening to the male arrange for a few more teams to assemble outside the hotel to drive them to wherever Mary’s parents lived. He also contacted the teams on scene to let them know more Species were coming with his mate.