Naura Read online

  “If one of these things washed up on the beach, surely there must be more of them out there,” she continued, flipping through her notepad. “Did the alien have reproductive organs?”

  Newman nearly swallowed his tongue. He hadn’t expected such a bold line of questioning. “Pardon?”

  “It is a reasonable question, Mr. Newman. Perhaps I should rephrase it for you. Did the creature possess a penis?”

  Harold’s face grew hot and not only from embarrassment. He had at least thirty minutes longer to spend under Miss. Cahill’s scrutiny. How on earth was he expected to remain aloof while she interrogated him with the efficiency of a general?

  “Yes. He had reproductive organs.”

  Her eyes lit up with his response. She suddenly closed her notepad and stood. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Newman. If I have any further questions, I’ll be in touch.”

  His mouth fell open. She’d just shut him down as if he were as insignificant as a bug. He could only watch in stunned silence as she breezed from the room, leaving the door open behind her.

  Chapter Six

  Tony finished loading ammunition into his weapons and switched off the television. His stomach had been growling for the past hour without ceasing. In fact, he couldn’t recall the last time he’d eaten.

  He holstered the gun he held and wandered into the kitchen for a bite to eat.

  The half-eaten bag of chips that Naura had abandoned lay open on the table where she’d left them earlier.

  She hadn’t eaten anything else, he noticed, rolling up the bag and moving it to the counter. She needed to eat if she hoped to make the swim back to Aukrabah in the morning.

  Opening the refrigerator, Tony pulled out the makings of a sandwich, wondering if she preferred ham or turkey. He settled on the latter.

  Five minutes later, he wrapped up the sandwich and grabbed the bag of chips and a bottled water before making his way down the hall to her room.

  He tapped lightly on her door. “Naura?”

  When no answer came, he tried again. “I’m coming in.”

  Tony gently twisted the knob and eased the door open. He nearly swallowed his tongue when Naura’s nude frame came into view.

  She lay across the bed on her stomach with one knee slightly bent and her long dark hair covering half of her face.

  Tony knew he should turn and go, but he couldn’t seem to make his feet work.

  His gaze traveled over her shoulders and down her back. Her amazing ass possessed two tiny dimples at the top near the small of her back, and her legs were long and muscular. He’d never seen a creature more perfect in all his life.

  Inching forward, he set the food on the dresser, forcing his gaze elsewhere—anywhere but in the direction of that damn bed.

  He turned to go.

  “Tony?” Naura’s voice was a kick to his already tightened gut.

  He stilled, afraid to move, yet afraid not to. “I brought you some food. You need to eat as much as you can. You never know what could happen, and if we have to run in the middle of the night, there’s no telling how long it will be before we eat again.”

  Realizing he was rambling, he shut his mouth and reached for the doorknob.

  “Wait,” Naura whispered, stopping him in his tracks.

  She was suddenly there between him and the door. “Do not go.”

  Tony forced himself to stare into her eyes, preventing his gaze from dropping to her full breasts. “Don’t do this,” he growled, reaching around her for the door.

  “Why do you insist on running from me?”

  He took a deep breath, which only made matters worse as her unique scent mixed with strawberries traveled up his nose and straight to his rapidly growing erection.

  “I am not running from you,” he bit out. “I’m just not interested in what you are offering.”

  Hurt flashed in her eyes before she glanced down at the obvious bulge in his pants. “Your body says otherwise.”

  “Look, little girl. I don’t know how things are done in your world, but you’re now in mine, and I’m sure as hell not a Bracadyte. I’m not capable of what you want. I don’t do flowers and pretty words. Now move aside, or I’ll move you myself.”

  He stepped around her and gripped the doorknob, leaving her no choice but to do as he demanded.

  “Tony? I—”

  “And stay out of my damn head. I have enough going on in there without you sifting through my thoughts.” He quickly escaped into the hall.

  The woman was exasperating, he thought as he made his way back to the kitchen to make himself a sandwich. She was completely guileless, naive, and obviously possessed no shame.

  Not that he didn’t appreciate some of those qualities in a person. He did. Only not when it came to Naura.

  For the life of him, he couldn’t understand why she affected him so. She was a Bracadyte. An alien creature with gills, pointed ears, fangs, and poisonous barbs on her wrists and ankles. But her eyes…

  Tony forced his thoughts away from Vaulcron’s sister and took a bite of the sandwich he’d just finished making. He would shower and try to sleep…as much as the nightmares would allow.

  The dreams seemed to be worsening lately, becoming more intense, more clear. The blood flowed a brighter red, the screams grew louder and longer.

  He shuddered and stared at the half-eaten sandwich in his hand. Nausea rolled through him as it always did in unguarded moments when his memories invaded.

  “You’re losing it,” he muttered aloud, tossing his uneaten sandwich in the trash before stripping out of his T-shirt and trailing off to the bathroom for a much needed shower.

  Tomorrow, he and Vaulcron would scope out the situation at the lab and somehow find a way to notify Henry of their presence while keeping their heads intact in the process.

  * * * *

  Vaulcron stared up at the ceiling, listening as Tony shut the bathroom door and switched on the shower. He rolled out of bed and padded across to his sister’s room before cracking the door open about an inch. “Cover yourself. I am coming inside.”

  Waiting a beat to give her time to dress, he pushed the door wide and strolled in without further ado.

  Naura sat in bed, propped up against the headboard, wearing a human nightgown. He stopped at the foot of the bed and raised an eyebrow. “What are you attempting to prove with Abbie’s uncle?”

  “Prove?” she shot back. “I am unsure of your meaning.”

  “You know very well what I am referring to. You practically threw yourself at him earlier.”

  She eased her legs over the side of the bed and stood. “I did not throw myself at him. I merely wanted him to admit his feelings for me. I know he has them, brother. I have sensed them before.”

  Vaulcron’s softened his tone. His sister’s innocence astounded him at times. “He is a land walker, Naura. You cannot approach them as you would a Bracadyte. They do not respond well to straightforwardness.”

  “Then what do they respond to?”

  “What I have observed from my time with Miquel is that human men prefer to hunt and chase their prey, not have it handed to them. Do you understand?”

  She nodded. “I think so. But that will never work with Tony. He is trapped inside his own mind. I am not certain if he fears reality or merely chooses not to face it.”

  Vaulcron marched around to the side of the bed and touched his sister’s sweet face. “I am asking you to leave him be, Naura. He is not for you. Father would never approve.”

  “But Abbie and Hauke—”

  “Live in Aukrabah,” he finished for her. “Do you believe for one minute that Tony would agree to such terms?”

  Tears sparkled in her eyes and tugged at Vaulcron’s heart. “Do not cry, my sister. There are many Bracadyte males vying for your attention. Surely there is one that interests you?”

  She shook her head, her chin lifting slightly. “I do not want to be forced to choose from a group of males, brother. I want Tony.”

&nbs
p; “I am afraid that Tony has no romantic interest in you, Naura. I do not think him capable of such emotions.”

  Vaulcron leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Think no more on it tonight. We must rise in a few hours,” he implored her before turning away and heading off to bed.

  Chapter Seven

  Naura awoke to voices coming from inside the house. She jumped from the bed and rushed through her morning ritual before slipping on the clothes she’d acquired the previous night and hurrying into the living room.

  Tony and Vaulcron were busy strapping weapons onto the military-style clothing they both wore.

  “You located shoes to fit you?” Naura glanced at her brother’s feet.

  Vaulcron grinned. “Melvin delivered them before we arrived.”

  She turned her attention to Tony. “Melvin is the same man who helped us before?”

  Tony gave a quick nod and tucked a knife into his boot. “We are leaving in a few minutes to take you back to the beach. If you need anything, I suggest you speak up now.”

  Naura’s stomach clenched. “As I said before, I am not going back.”

  Tony plucked a small band from his shirt pocket and pulled his hair back into a ponytail. “I don’t have time for this.” He turned to Vaulcron. “Either you do something, or I will.”

  Vaulcron blew out a breath and briefly shut his eyes. When he opened them again, Naura could see the defeat lurking in their depths. He took a step forward. “Naura? I am asking you as your brother to go home and wait for us there. We will return as quickly as possible.”

  She stood her ground. “I know that you both think me a child. I assure you, I am not. I may lack knowledge where the land walkers are concerned, but I am a quick learner, and I am a healer. I feel certain that I can be of help.”

  Vaulcron dragged a hand down his face and shifted his attention to Tony. “She will only follow us. I know my sister well.”

  At her brother’s words, hope soared through Naura. She held her breath as Tony seemed to consider his options. She didn’t have long to wait.

  “First things first. You do as I say. One wrong move on your part and I’m sending you packing. Secondly? You stay here while we retrieve Henry. You are not to leave this house under any circumstances. Are we clear?”

  “But—”

  “No buts,” Tony snapped, effectively cutting off her rebuttal. “You wait here at the house, or you go home. Those are your options.”

  “Fine,” Naura reluctantly conceded. “I’ll wait here, but if either of you become injured, I will not be able to help.”

  Tony snatched up his hat. “We’ll be all right. It’s an in-and-out job.” He moved around her toward the back door. “You can watch television, just keep the volume low, and if we aren’t back by dark, do not use the lights for any reason.”

  Inching the back door open, Tony checked his surroundings before preceding Vaulcron outside.

  “Lock this behind me,” Tony ordered, giving Naura one last glance before disappearing into the early morning fog.

  * * * *

  Henry Sutherland donned his glasses and peered at the test results he held in his hand.

  He’d suspected that the CDC had been behind the mutation of the Incola virus ever since overhearing a conversation between Martin Raducha and Doctor Phillips several months back.

  Raducha had been the Director of the Center for Disease Control for more than twelve years and was known for pushing the boundaries of what was considered ethical.

  Henry had a feeling that Raducha had gone against protocol and risked everything on a theory that had proven to be a deadly mistake.

  Viruses were not uncommon in an overcrowded world with over seven billion souls residing therein. Scientists worked nonstop on cures and vaccines, barely staying ahead of deadly epidemics that could potentially destroy thousands of lives in a matter of days. But they’d never encountered anything resembling the bacteria brought to ground by the aliens living in the Gulf of Mexico.

  From what Henry had gathered after catching the tail end of Raducha’s conversation with Phillips, the CDC had attempted to destroy the Incola virus by splicing it with the deadly Marburg bacteria.

  The results had been devastating. Instead of destroying the Incola virus or at the very least, weakening it, the spliced organism had mutated into something more lethal than anything the world had ever known.

  Hundreds of people were hospitalized daily, experiencing dementia, bleeding from all orifices, and displaying rabid behavior. The medical teams were forced to use restraints to keep the patients from attacking others with their teeth and nails, further spreading the virus.

  Henry read over the test results once again, making sure he hadn’t missed anything. The answer had to be there, he thought, taking a seat behind his desk. What was he missing?

  The lab door opened, and Bruce Ortega marched inside, wearing scrubs and a frown.

  “It’s insane out there,” he barked, approaching Henry’s desk. “You wouldn’t believe what I had to go through to get in here.”

  Henry stood and extended his hand. “Unfortunately, it’s a necessary precaution. Please, have a seat.”

  Bruce accepted Henry’s outstretched palm and sat in the chair he indicated. “It’s a three-ring circus at the hospital too. And there are roadblocks on every major highway between here and there.”

  Returning to his chair, Henry propped his chin on his folded hands. “I know. I’m afraid it will only get worse until this virus is contained.”

  “Any progress on a vaccine?”

  Henry shook his head. “From what I hear, they take one step forward and two steps back. It seems to be mutating faster than they can keep up with.”

  “Damn it,” Bruce growled. “We are losing patients by the day as it is. We can’t keep going like this. The hospital is understaffed and overworked.”

  “I’m sorry, Bruce. The CDC is working around the clock to get a handle on it. As am I. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

  Bruce leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Any news of Abbie?”

  Henry’s heart constricted at the mention of his daughter’s name. “Nothing.”

  “So, you don’t know if she’s even alive?”

  “She disappeared over a year ago, Bruce. The chances of her being found alive are ten to one. But I haven’t lost hope yet.”

  “Any sightings of the alien she was last seen with?”

  “You mean Hauke? No one has seen him either.”

  Bruce’s expression hardened. He got to his feet and turned to go. “You will call me if you hear anything?”

  “Of course,” Henry lied. He had no intention of repeating any news of his daughter. If she were still alive…

  The phone rang only seconds after Ortega’s departure. Henry snatched it up on the third ring. “Yes?”

  “Doctor Sutherland? It’s Doug Jefferies.”

  Henry’s jaw tensed at the sound of Jefferies’s voice. The secretary of Homeland Security was President Rueben Howell’s right-hand man and was partly responsible for Abbie and Hauke’s capture the year before.

  Hiding his dislike of the guy, Henry cleared his throat. “What can I do for you, Jefferies?”

  “Go home and pack a bag. Be at your house by at five o’clock this evening. There will be a team waiting for you there.”

  Henry’s heart began to race. “A team? Where are they taking me?”

  “To a holding facility at Eglin Air Force Base. Your assistance is required by Martin Raducha.”

  “Martin Raducha? You mean, the Director of the CDC? Why would he need my help?”

  “They have apprehended two of those aliens. Your assistance is needed.”

  “Is either of them the one that took my Abbie?”

  “I don’t think so, and as I recall, your daughter went willingly.” The call ended.

  Henry dropped heavily into his chair and stared at the phone’s receiver in his hand. One of those th
ings might have news of his Abbie.

  Chapter Eight

  Tony emerged from the tree line and stopped next to the house that Melvin had given him directions to.

  “Are you certain this is the place?” Vaulcron asked, coming up behind him.

  “It’s the address Melvin gave me. Stay close.”

  Keeping low, Tony ran along the side, looking in windows as he went.

  Satisfied that the house was unoccupied, he slipped inside with Naura’s brother tight on his heels.

  Tony turned to peer at Vaulcron. “There is a military-issued vehicle in the garage that we’re going to take to the lab. You will have to hide in the back, out of sight, while I drive.”

  Vaulcron raised an eyebrow. “Will you not be recognized?”

  Tony pulled a photo ID from his pocket and clipped it to his shirt. “As of today, I am Master Sergeant Mike Farlow.”

  “The hair color is the same, but that is where the similarities end.”

  “I’ll handle that,” Tony assured him. “Do a perimeter check while I take care of my appearance.”

  With a nod, Vaulcron strode off toward the back of the house.

  Tony entered the master bathroom and opened the top drawer next to the sink. He pulled out clippers, razors, and a pair of scissors before going to work on his overgrown hair.

  He couldn’t recall the last time he’d had a haircut, not to mention a shave. His beard had been with him since the day he’d lost his family.

  Running a finger lightly over the scar that ran the length of his cheek, he noticed his hand shook slightly. Screams echoed through his mind in a nightmare of pain he was suddenly powerless to stop.

  His stomach heaved with the memory of his wife’s pleading voice, his son’s tormented cry only moments before a blade sliced through Tony’s face.

  He held his hands up and stared at the scars embedded into his wrists. It had taken him two days to free himself of the wire bonds he’d been restrained with.

  A wail threatened to emerge, so great was his grief. After all the years since his wife’s and son’s deaths, the pain had never subsided. He relived it every time he closed his eyes.