The next morning Justice and Jaded had breakfast with Simon. While Justice was being his usual business self and kept answering phone calls, Jaded didn't eat much. In fact, he wasn't hungry at all. Simon was talking at him but his words didn't reach him. His thoughts traveled to the human female he met yesterday. He remembered everything about her: her dark blue eyes, her sensuous lips, her small waist and long legs... The way she moved her hips while dancing with him... She surely caused the males at the party wet dreams last night. At least he'd had one. He took a deep breath and sighed. Her scent seemed to linger in his nose. Suddenly he realized the room was silent. He looked up and saw Justice and Simon staring at him. His brows furrowed. »What?« he snapped.

»I've seen that look on your face about a dozen times now,« Simon grinned and turned to Justice who firmly pressed his lips together to hide his own smile. »You looked the same way when you fell for Jessie.« He gestured to Jaded.

»I know,« Justice nodded and chuckled. »I made a complete fool of myself.«

Jaded's anger rose. »What do you want from me? I was just being polite,« he insisted.

»Don't flirt with her,« Justice snarled and arched a brow. »Does this sound familiar?«

Jaded shot him a dirty look that made Justice burst out in laughter. »You really should see your face now! Priceless!«

Jaded rolled his eyes. »I danced with Ms. Hamilton; did some small talk and had a drink with her. End of the story! And just in case it escaped you: I didn't share sex with her.«

»So?« Justice leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his broad chest. »I didn't need to share sex with Jessie to know she rocked my entire world and I'd never be the same.«

Justice expressed exactly how Jaded felt. But still...

»I know what's going on in your head, young man,« Simon interfered. »When I met my wife, it was love at first sight. I knew she was the one for me. It happens to humans also.«

»You guys aren't helping,« Jaded growled, jumped up and stomped out of the room. The remaining two men winced as the door slammed behind him.

»Poor boy,« Simon said and shook his head. »He has it hard.«

Justice pursed his lips. Jaded had obviously fallen for Ashley. And by what he could tell so far she wasn't disaffected. Actually, they made a wonderful pair. He needed to set them up somehow and already had an idea. Justice grinned. He still hadn't forgiven Jaded completely for mocking him at the party with the other council members a few years ago. It made him claim Jessie all right but it had hurt his alpha pride. He arched a brow. Payday, Jaded!

Ashley got herself a cup of coffee as she found Bob lurking around.

His eyes narrowed. »I didn't know you're an animal lover, Ashley.«

And you're an absolute stinker! »Mind your own business,« she hissed and rushed to her office. After she slammed the door behind her, she leaned against it and closed her eyes. Working with Robert Savage - nomen est omen! - was horrific. He already told her she must be missing something since she's been a widow for years. Ugh! She wouldn't let him touch her even if he was the last man on earth! And by calling Jaded and Justice animals, he didn't win her favor at all. Jaded had been a perfect gentleman... besides the strange sounds of purring and snarling he made. She didn't blame him. He didn't ask to have his DNA altered, it just had been done to him. She'd be happy to meet him somewhere again but the chances were slim to none. He lived in the NSO territories – Homeland or Reservation... she didn't ask. He wouldn't just drive by and invite her to have lunch with him. Her phone rang. She quickly walked to her desk, leaned over and took the call.

»Ashley Hamilton here.«

»Office of Mr. Justice North. Good day to you, Ms. Hamilton,« a friendly female voice said. »Mr. North authorized me to make an appointment with you. How about tomorrow?«

She quickly checked her datebook. »Is it very urgent? I'm at court the whole day until late afternoon.«

»Hold the line please...«

Ashley heard the woman cup the phone and talk to someone with a deep male voice but she couldn't catch the conversation.

»Ms. Hamilton?«

»Yes?«

»Thanks for your patience. The issue Mr. North wishes to discuss is indeed very urgent. It's the case of the new discovered Gift female. What about tomorrow around 6 pm? He'll send you a car that takes you to Reservation and he invites you to dinner with his mate afterwards.«

Ashley smiled. Tomorrow was Friday. So why not? Life could be over in a heartbeat. She experienced it firsthand. »Please tell him I'm honored and looking forward to meet his wife.«

»Certainly! The NSO will pick you up at court. We'll send one of our human employees. Have a nice day.«

»Thanks! You too.« The line disconnected.

The Gift female! Hell! Her antecessor left the thick file for her. Now she had to read it at home tonight. Wonderful! Thanks Justice! You made my day!

»Thanks Breeze,« Justice grinned. »You owed me this.«

»I hope she's worth it.« The Species female eyed him suspiciously.

»She is. You have my word. I wouldn't let Jaded run off a cliff.«

Jessie walked up to him and wrapped her arm around his waist. »She has a child you said? A female?«

»Yes! I had Simon check her. She lost her family in an air crash.«

»You mean she lost her mate,« Breeze corrected.

»No!« he insisted. »Her whole family! Father, mother, brother, sister... everyone!«

Silence fell. Breeze and Jessie stared at him utterly shocked.

»They were on their way to the wedding of her mate's brother in Vegas when the pilot lost control and crashed the plane. No one survived,« he explained.

Jessie swallowed. »Oh my God... Poor thing... I don't envy her.«

»Why wasn't she on that plane as well?« Breeze asked.

»She was in the latter part of her pregnancy and the doctor didn't allow her to fly. When she'd gotten the message she went into preterm delivery.«

»But her cub is healthy, isn't she? Oh please, Justice... Tell me she is,« Breeze pleaded.

»Yeah, don't worry. She was only 14 days early.«

»What a horrible fate,« Jessie murmured and slightly shook her head. »Do you know her daughter's name?«

He nodded. »Her name's Hope.«

Jessie smiled, leaned into Justice and he hugged her close. »I'm sure she chose this name on purpose,« she said. »I like that name by the way.«

Breeze grinned. »So do I! That name is all Species!«

It was six thirty as a NSO officer escorted Ashley to the meeting room.

»Mr. North and the others will see you in a few minutes,« he told her and left.

She threw the file and her briefcase on the table and started to pace the room slowly. What she read last night was pure terror. The bastard who held the Gift captive was a pervert and rotten to the core. She glanced at the big mirror and resisted to check her makeup. She was pretty sure, it was two-way and she was being observed.

»I'm glad I met you before she did, Justice. She's just freaking gorgeous,« Jessie admitted and studied the woman through the two-way glass with a frown. Justice told her Ashley was a beauty but that didn't even come close. On a scale from one to ten, she was a twelve! The woman she saw wore a dark blue well-tailored business suit and a white blouse, which made her even more feminine than she already was. Silky looking dark blonde hair fell to her shoulders in soft waves and those legs should at least be a crime of some kind. Mother Nature wasn't fair at all! She glanced around and saw four males gawking. Fury, Slade, Brawn and Tiger - all of them speechless! Rare! She bit back a grin. Justice was smart enough to bring no unmated males in here.

He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. »You know I love you and I'm all yours,« he whispered with a charming smile and she returned it. Yeah! She knew! He simply worshiped the ground she walked on.

»You sure you want to listen?« he asked.

Jessie nodded. »The gifts are still a concern of mine.«

»I'm aware of that, baby, but you won't like what you'll hear.«

»I won't come apart, so stop being your overprotective alpha self,« she hissed and punched his abs.

He chuckled. »When you stop being stubborn.«

»Dream on, Mr. North,« she smirked.

Justice straightened and grinned at the other males. »All right... Showtime! Let's go talk to her.«

The door flew open and Justice North strolled in, followed by four big Species males.

»My apology for the delay, Ashley. Thanks for coming,« he smiled and gestured to the others. »I'd like you to meet Fury, my second in command; Slade, the one in charge of Reservation; Brawn as representative of our council and Tiger, the head of security. Since we all chose the last name North, it's easier we go by our first names.«

She shook hands with all of them. »So pleased to meet you, gentlemen,« she said with a winning smile and meant it. Every male wore a wedding band she noticed. Interesting...

»The pleasure is ours,« Fury answered. Pulling back a chair, he motioned for her to sit. »Have a seat please, Ms. Hamilton.«

»Ashley,« she corrected. »Thank you.« She sat and all males seated themselves opposite of her. Five utterly handsome Species watched her with a mixture of curiosity and interest. Most people would get nervous being surveyed like that, but not her. Since she'd been a teenager, men did nothing else than eye her up. Leaning forward she placed her elbows on the table and folded her hands. »Well? How can I help you?«

Brawn straightened his shoulders. »Did you read the report of the Gift?« he asked.

She nodded. »Oh yes, sir, I did.« She cleared her throat. »To be honest I had hard time falling asleep last night. Did you read the whole report?« All males shook their heads. That's what she figured!

Slade shifted in his chair. »We assume you're aware that your office wants her as witness for the prosecution. Our PR team thinks it's a good idea because it would be well received amongst public.«

»And I take it you want my point of view since I'm one of those prosecutors she might has to deal with?« They nodded in response and she met their intense gazes. »May I speak openly?«

»Please do,« Fury answered. »We depend on your sincerity.«

»As a district attorney I'd have to admit your PR team is right. It would show the world what you all endured.« She paused. »And I will prepare her thoroughly of course.«

Brawn narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. »But?«

»As a woman... or female if you wish... I appeal to you not to force her to relive what's been done to her.«

Tiger scowled. »Why do I suddenly feel the urge to rip that fucker's head off?«

She opened her briefcase and handed each of them a piece of paper. »Read this and you'll understand.«

Vicious snarls and growls filled the room. They read how the bastard tortured the Gift with cigarettes and used knives on her. Five pairs of eyes peered at her in shock.

»It's not even the worst part, believe me,« Ashley stated. »If you desire my blunt assessment: Handle it yourself. Out of my experience, he'll only get a few years. However, the worst-case scenario is that he'll go free which would be a slap in the face of all New Species. Parole or a suspended sentence isn't any better. So please don't put her through this trial. Either way I'm sure you'll break her finally.«

»I assure you we won't. Thanks for your candor, Ashley,« Justice said deeply moved. »I knew we could count on you.« The other males nodded in agreement and stood. Ashley followed their example.

»Tiger will take you to the cafeteria and I'll pick you up there soon. You might understand we have something to debate.«

»Of course, Justice. I'm looking forward to meet your wife,« she smiled and gave the others a quick nod. »Gentlemen?«

Tiger opened the door and led her out. She left with mixed emotions. Actually, she hoped for Jaded to show up. But she forced herself to scale down her expectations. Maybe he had come to the conclusion that he didn't want to deal with a single mother and decided to avoid her. She couldn't blame him.

Justice, Brawn, Slade and Fury remained in the meeting room. Silence grew heavy.

»If the NSO will ever set up a legal department we should hire her to run it,« Slade finally said.

»That's a good idea because we still discover Gifts,« Brawn agreed. »It's easier for a female counselor to reach them.«

»And,« Justice stretched the word and drew their attention. »Simon said she's good which actually means she's a fuckin' genius.«

Fury took a deep breath. »I'll tell the PR tomorrow morning that we won't do anything to upset the Gift.«

Justice sighed. »They won't like it.«

Fury shot him a glance. »Do I look as if I give a shit?«

A second later Jessie stood in the doorframe. »Do I want to know what you just read?« she asked.

Justice shook his head. »No, you don't.«