Best Friends (New Species #15)(50)

Part of her wondered how mad Joel was for her skipping out on work that day. Mary had to cover her shift, but again, Sheriff Cooper had promised to have deputies there to eat in shifts while Mary was there. Her parents had driven her there and back to make sure she’d never be alone.

Mel got up and closed the curtains, then walked down the hallway. “I’m closing up,” she whispered.

“Okay.”

She entered her bedroom and again made a show of being cold, closing the window and pulling the curtains closed. She picked up her dirty clothes off the bed and tossed them into a corner before returning to the hallway.

“Curtains are closed,” she whispered. “You can come out. I’ve got to pee.”

Snow opened the door…and she grinned.

Brass stood from where he’d been sitting on the closed lid of her toilet, while Timber and Torrent stepped out of her shower.

“What’s funny?” Snow moved closer and kissed the top of her head.

“Nothing.” They cleared out of Mel’s bathroom and she entered, closing the door and twisted on the faucet in the sink to cover any sounds. New Species had great hearing. She quickly peed, washed her hands, and then opened the door. “I thought he’d come.”

“He might be waiting for your neighbors to sleep.” Brass leaned against the wall in the hallway. “We knew it was a possibility that we’d be here for a few days. We brought meals.”

“I saw bags of groceries in the fridge and figured. Make yourselves at home. The curtains are thick, and I closed them tight. As long as you don’t get close to them, no shadows should show.” Mel bit her lip. “I’m sorry he didn’t take the bait fast.”

“We’re here for as long as need be.” Brass turned, walking into her living room.

Timber and Torrent followed him. Mel stared up at Snow. “What if I’m wrong?”

“Part of me hopes you are and the male doesn’t come after you again.”

“But Mary—”

“I know.” He pulled her in for a hug. “For her, I hope he shows. We’ll get him if he does.”

She nodded against his padded chest. She wore a bulletproof vest, as well. It wasn’t near as bulky, though. One of the female New Species had lent it to her, telling her to avoid wearing a bra to make it more comfortable. She’d listened.

“Go eat, Snow. You’ve got to be hungry.”

“You stay at my side.”

“Okay.”

She found the Species sitting on her newly vacuumed floor eating sandwiches and drinking from cans and bottled water they’d brought with them. No one spoke. Snow offered her something to eat. She shook her head. “I’m still full from when we ate before we left.” She took a seat on the couch and kept her voice low. “What now?”

“You pretend to go to bed.” Brass met her gaze. “Snow will lie down with you in the bedroom, and we’ll take positions in the living room and hallway to be close.”

“Are any of you going to sleep?” She worried about them. What if the jerk didn’t show up for days, or worse, not at all?

“We’ll sleep in shifts. Don’t worry about us.” Torrent flashed her a smile. “Species are tough. We don’t need as much sleep as humans do.”

“Thank you for doing this.” She made eye contact with each one of them.

“You’re welcome,” Brass responded after sipping his water. “Once we are finished eating, turn off the lights in here. Do you normally keep any lights on?”

“No.”

“Good.”

They finished eating, a few of them using the bathroom, and Snow pulled her to her feet. She turned off the lights and led him to her bedroom. Her bed was small compared to him. “I don’t know how both of us are going to fit.”

“I’m sleeping on the floor.”

She turned to him, scowling.

“Mel, I’m guarding you. I’ll sleep sitting up next to the window. It’s for the best. Climb into bed and I’ll turn off the light. Rest. You’re safe.”

“I know that. Can I take off the vest?”

“No. Just your shoes.”

She couldn’t complain, really. The New Species were all wearing black uniforms with vests on. She pulled the sheets back and took a seat on her twin bed, kicking off the slip-ons before lying down. Snow smiled at her and flipped off the light. Total darkness filled the room.

“I’m right here.” Snow moved toward the window as he spoke. “Sleep.”

“I’ll try.” She got as comfortable as possible. “Do you want a pillow?”

“I’m fine.”

She was tired, and Mel knew it was the stress. She’d talked Snow and his friends into this crazy bait idea, and maybe all for nothing.

Why hadn’t the bad guy shown up?

She chewed on her bottom lip, worrying. What if the jerk had fled town after she’d fought him off? Worse, what if he left for a week or two, but then came back? She’d be safe with Snow…but Mary would be an easy target living alone.



Snow heard Mel’s breathing slow about an hour later. Torrent entered the bedroom from the hallway, pausing there. “The neighbor next door turned off his television and we believe he went to bed,” he whispered.