Thank you for hanging in there for my story posts! I hope that you enjoy the rest of the story. I appreciate the fact that you take the time to read the stories and comment on them! Thank you so very very much~ Ripley

Chapter 27

Hope and Jericho answered at the same time, "Nothing!"

May struggled to keep from rolling her eyes, "I'm not asking to storm the barricade," she said, "or whatever it is military types do. But I do have hospital identification, and I know where he works."

Tiger looked at Justice, "We need to get the Task Force on this. See if he's been in. He would have anticipated May telling us who he was."

"Why does he keep experimenting on New Species?" May asked, "It makes no sense. You'd think he'd just cut and run, be glad he wasn't swept up when the rest of Mercile went down."

"That's the million dollar question, May," Justice replied, "The humans who worked at Mercile were the worst type of human, and they were full of their own self-worth and importance. They're narcissistic. Worse than that, they're psychopaths. For a short time, they had the ultimate venue to indulge in their sick fantasies. Most likely they want to recreate that time, to regain the power they lost when Mercile was shut down."

May was speechless. What Justice was describing was horrifying, but what he was implying was that these people would never stop, until whatever it was that was their goal was accomplished.

She hadn't realized she was doing it, but she'd crossed her arms tightly across her chest. She felt one being slowly drawn away from her body before Jericho was lacing his fingers with hers.

"I'm surprised your walls aren't taller and your guns aren't bigger," she choked out.

"Our guns are big enough," Tiger said, smiling and leaning forward, "biggest guns there are."

Two simultaneous growls echoed through the room, and both Hope and Jericho bared their fangs at him.

May looked confused toward Jericho, "I think I missed something," she whispered.

"No," Jericho said, still staring at Tiger, "you didn't."

Justice cleared his throat, "Enough," he said quietly, "May, if we, or the Task Force, need any help from you, we will be sure to contact you."

Jericho growled again, and Hope snarled, hissing and leaning forward, her fingers curled into claws.

"But," he continued, "we do not want to use mates as bait, or put them in dangerous situations. We have learned harsh lessons from such choices."

Justice's face looked sad, and May had to wonder what situation he was talking about. She hoped no one had been hurt or killed.

"Okay," she answered, "Let me know."

Jericho stood up, helping May to her feet and nodding at Hope before walking them out of the room. May could sense his tension; his entire body radiated stress. He led her to a jeep, and helped her in silently.

"Jericho?" she asked, when he sat next to her, putting her hand on his arm.

Jericho jumped, like she'd burned him, his lip lifting to show his fangs. May pulled her hand back in surprise, like she'd touched a hot stove. His face immediately morphed from anger to regret.

"May…" he choked, reaching for her, cupping his hand around her neck and drawing her face towards his chest, "God. Forgive me."

May rested her cheek on his chest, "I don't understand," she whispered, "Did I do something?"

She could feel a tremor through him and his chest expanded with a deep breath, "No," he said, breathing her in, "No, of course not."

He drew back, throwing the jeep in gear and driving. For some reason, May didn't believe him.