Текст книги "True"

Автор книги: Laurann Dohner

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His irritation faded. “Why?”

“I don’t know. I’ve always done it.”

He took another step closer, being clearer with his question. “Why stay in my bed if you’re unsure of whether you wish to be touched?”

“I want you.” She chewed on her lower lip again.

The gesture was something he noticed she had done more than a few times and mentally made note of. It was a way to read her emotions when she felt uncertain of a situation.

“I’m not convinced.” He hated admitting that. At this point he was willing to overlook almost anything to ease the pain in his groin. His dick was engorged and trapped in an awkward position inside his pants. Before this moment, he would have just taken the female in front of him at her word, but Jeanie was different. She didn’t know that once he started, nothing would stop him from owning her in every way possible. He was strong willed but not when it came to her.

His desire for her overwhelmed him, causing a dose of fear to course through him. His instincts would take over at the first taste. He fought the haze of lust, reminding himself what would happen if he couldn’t stop if she asked. Surprisingly, the core demand to protect her from anything, even himself, helped dull the pounding need to pounce.

“I’ve never done this before. That’s why I’m nervous but I do want you, True. I swear.”

“You’ve never shared sex?” He stumbled back in horror, nearly tripping over his own feet. That would explain how she’d been certain her body hadn’t been used in actual breeding experiments. She’d said she hadn’t dated for a long time before being given the drug. Humans weren’t as straightforward about sexuality as Species. He’d been told it caused a female pain the first time a male mounted her. Jeanie would bleed and probably shed lots of tears. His dick softened. He couldn’t do that to her. He wouldn’t.

“I have.” Her gaze dropped.

“You’re lying.”

She looked back at him. “I’m not a virgin. I meant I haven’t ever been in this situation before.” She reached out to him again. “But I want to be because I’m with you.”

True knew he should turn around and leave the bedroom. The two of them sharing sex was a bad idea. He just couldn’t resist her. His feet didn’t move away from her but instead he drew closer. “It’s because I’m Species,” he guessed.

“No. That doesn’t matter to me. I’ve never had sex with a guy unless we had a long-term relationship first. You know, gone on a lot of dates and spent a few months of getting to know everything about each other first.”

Unanswered questions bombarded him. Why would she make an exception for him if she needed to spend that kind of time with a male before sharing sex? Was it a human requirement? He decided to wait on figuring out that mystery. Jeanie was willing and in his bed. That was the bottom line.

He stopped by the edge of the bed and gently took her offered hand. She was soft and delicate. Her scent filled his nose, making him hard all over again. He didn’t want to talk anymore but they needed to exchange a few more words. He forced himself to speak as he stared deeply into her eyes.

“I make noises humans don’t but I’ll be gentle and go slow.” He already knew it was going to be the toughest thing he’d ever done. It was difficult to use the head on his shoulders when the lower one demanded freedom from his pants but it was important Jeanie didn’t become frightened by the unexpected. “I’ll even mount you facing me. I know humans enjoy eye contact. I’ve seen a few videos with humans sharing sex and I’ll try to do what they would.”

Jeanie reached up with her free hand and gripped his shoulder. She used it to pull herself to her feet and stand on his bed. True lifted his chin to continue looking into her eyes. She jerked slightly on their clasped hands and he released hers.

The feel of her fingers caressing both sides of his jawline was heaven when she did it. Her touch was featherlight and hesitant but felt amazing. She leaned in closer, her focus on his lips. “Now you’re the nervous one babbling. I’m not afraid and I know exactly what you are, True. Forget whatever you’ve seen humans do in videos. I hate those things and they rarely show anything I’d want done to me. I won’t mind you being more gentle than normal though. You’re really strong and I already have enough bruises.”

The reminder that she’d been shot broke the last of his restraint. She could have died and he’d never have been able to touch her the way he’d always wanted. He growled, wrapped his arms around her back with care, and tugged her closer. Her breasts crushed against his chest wasn’t nearly enough with the cotton shirt blocking him from skin-to-skin contact. He lifted her, stepped away from the bed until she no longer stood on it, and slowly crouched until her feet touched the floor.

She’d given him permission to ignore all he’d learned about human sex. He had planned to kiss her mouth but those weren’t the lips he wanted to taste the most. He decided that would come later. He leaned forward, careful of the injury to her lower stomach when he pushed against her rib cage instead. The gentle nudge was enough to send her off balance when her thighs came into contact with the edge of the mattress. She lay back. The soft bed cushioned her.

True wrapped his fingers around her knees, spreading them apart at the same time that he lifted her legs high enough to be in the position he wanted. The shirt had ridden up to her belly, baring her completely from the waist down, giving him a clear view of her sex, which he had been fantasizing about.

The small, closely cropped strip of hair running along the top of her mons and down the sides of her labia, forming a pattern, was intriguing. She’d removed most of the other hair, not that he cared to ask how it had been done at the moment. He’d read that some humans used razors, while some had their bodies waxed to remove unwanted body hair.

He pushed her thighs wider apart despite seeing her tense but she didn’t struggle or protest. He glanced up to find her staring at him with wide eyes, her lips parted. He grinned, knowing he’d surprised her. He returned his focus to her pussy.

She looked little in that area. Part of him had hoped she’d be bigger somehow but the slit of her sex didn’t seem as though it would accommodate the thickness of his dick. He studied her anatomy, knowing females were designed to stretch around males but it seemed doubtful she could.

“True?”

She sounded a little frightened. He could relate since he had broken out in a cold sweat of anxiety from the fear he’d either hurt her or he just wouldn’t fit inside when it came time to mount Jeanie. He bent forward to distract her. She was a little wet, the proof of her arousal not only teasing his nose but taunting his dick as well.

Humans like words. He bit back a snarl, frustrated he’d almost forgotten that part. He salivated to get his mouth buried between her thighs to coat his tongue with the taste of Jeanie but her emotional needs had to be met. He forced his gaze up to find hers.

“You’re so beautiful to me. So delicate and such a sexy pink,” he rasped, surprised at how much he meant the words once they were said. “Your scent makes me so hard.”

He inwardly winced at his crude tone but it couldn’t be helped. It was a miracle he could even think at all or keep a shred of humanity when his instincts urged him to lick her until she cried out his name after he forced her to come as fast as possible. The result would leave her pussy soaked and prepared for him to flip her over, bent across the mattress, and mount her. Just imagining what it would feel like to rub the crown of his dick against her hot, wet pussy was enough to make him want to tear open the front of his pants instead of bothering to unfasten the snaps.

“Are you okay?” Her voice trembled and he saw uncertainty flash in her eyes.

He didn’t want to alarm her by sharing how close he felt to losing his mind. He’d never wanted a female that much in his life. He might have when he’d been given breeding drugs but that wasn’t the cause of what was happening to him now. Jeanie seemed to naturally affect him in a similar manner.

“I want you so much it hurts,” he confessed as he fought to speak in a calmer voice. “Just relax and I’ll make you feel good.”

“I trust you.”

Those three words, said with pure conviction, humbled him. Her beautiful eyes stared back at him with sincerity. He took a moment, found the inner strength to battle his urges, and focused on her pussy again. She was so attractive he couldn’t look at her enough. He slowly bent over her, using his hold on her legs to push her away from the edge toward the center of the mattress. Her body easily slid across his sheets until his hips pressed against the side of the bed.

He opened his mouth and licked his lips. His tongue swiped across her clit and her sweet, addictive taste weakened all his resolve. He sealed his lips around the bundle of nerves, pressed his face against her tightly, and sucked.

Jeanie’s moan and the way her hips bucked assured him he’d found the right spot. He flattened his tongue right where it needed to be, applied pressure and released her knees. He wrapped his fingers around her inner thighs, held her in place so she couldn’t wiggle enough to break the connection. She was his to pleasure and he’d make sure she wanted him as much as he did her.

Chapter Eight

Jeanie clawed at the sheets, her head thrashing as she squeezed her eyes closed. True had pinned her thighs flat to the bed with them spread wide apart as his mouth played pure hell with her clit. It felt so good it nearly hurt.

He sucked, tugging at the fleshy bud with strong pulls of his mouth. Every time she was close to coming, he’d ease off, driving her insane. The tip of his tongue flicked her clit in an upward motion, reminding her of how she liked to eat ice cream. He changed to a new pattern, wiggling it from side to side.

He was either doing it to torment her with pleasure or figuring out what she enjoyed best by trying everything he could think of to see how she’d react. She moaned, bucked her hips, but couldn’t move much. He’d made sure of that. His hands were tender but firm, not letting go. Something about being so completely at his mercy just made the high all the more potent.

She panted, feeling the sweat slicking her skin, and arched her back. It became too intense but she couldn’t close her legs. He was too strong. She’d had two sex partners in her life but they hadn’t made her feel anything close to the all-consuming ache to find release that True inspired.

“Please.” She frantically reached down, needing to touch him. Her fingers brushed the hair at the back of his head and she almost jerked her hand away. It was a real fear that she might dig her fingernails into his scalp since she’d already done that to his bedding. Instead she fisted some of the silky strands and pleaded again, “Please, True.”

He growled and the vibrations nudged her over the edge where she’d been hovering near release. Her entire body shook from the force of ecstasy blasting through her from his mouth, spreading rapidly, straight to her brain. She cried out, not even sure what she said or if it even made sense. She didn’t care. Her entire world centered on the tip of True’s tongue as it performed tight circles over the most sensitive spot on her body. She cried out again as another blast of pleasure struck.

Her vaginal muscles trembled as she survived a second climax, shocked he could make her come twice in rapid succession. “Stop,” she begged, unable to take any more. Her clit throbbed from oversensitivity.

He avoided playing with it again but his tongue explored lower, tracing over the seam of her sex. She eased her death grip on his hair once her body began to relax, her muscles turning lax after all the writhing she’d done.

“You are so sweet,” he groaned. “I want more.”

That was the only warning before his tongue penetrated her pussy. She moaned at the pleasing sensation. He withdrew almost completely and released her thighs. She thought he might rise and adjust his body over hers to find his own release. It was exciting and she longed to know how it would feel to be joined with True. All the fantasizing she’d done about having him inside her would finally become reality. She opened her eyes, peering down at him when he lifted his head. She had to let go of his hair.

The expression on his face made her start. She would have sworn he was enraged. “What’s wrong? Did I pull your hair? I didn’t mean to.”

“You’re tight.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Most guys like that, right? It had been a while since she’d had sex though. Things could have changed.

“It is right now. I’m so hard I could volunteer to be a jackhammer to break up concrete.” He tucked his head, looking away, and she noticed his knuckles had whitened from how tightly he clutched the edge of the mattress. “I also might need to cut off my pants. My dick is trapped between the material and my thigh. I need to buy a larger size to accommodate it if you stay here for long.”

His sense of humor was unexpected and she grinned, feeling extremely cheerful after he’d just given her the best orgasms of her life. It took effort to move when she really just wanted to melt into his bed but she sat up. His lips were parted, revealing the tips of his sharp canines. It was amazing he hadn’t accidentally nipped her with them, something she hadn’t thought of until that second.

“I’ll help you get out of them.”

His head snapped up. “Don’t touch me.”

Her humor vanished, replaced by concern. “Are you okay?”

“No.”

She’d thought he’d been teasing but she’d been wrong. It was pain, not anger, harshening his features. “Oh wow, True.” She couldn’t get a look at his lap since he was on his knees beside the bed. She scrambled to the other side, slid off and approached him from the side.

“Stay back.”

She paused, studying his body. He was on his knees with his hips pressed against the side of the bed. He still kept a death grip on the edge of the mattress. “Just unzip your pants and we’ll tug them down until you’re free.”

“Just go into the bathroom and close the door.”

What is it with him wanting me to go into that room? She didn’t ask. “I’m not leaving you to deal with this alone.”

He closed his eyes. “I need you to get away from me for at least ten minutes.”

Jeanie’s feelings would have been hurt if she’d thought he was saying it to be mean. He wasn’t. “Why?”

“My body will relax without you here and I’ll be able to get my pants off then.”

“You’re seriously, um, stuck?” She tried to figure out how. It should be as simple as what she’d suggested.

“Please,” he rasped. “Go take a shower.”

“No.” She eased forward a little. “I’m going to scoot down there with you. Can you turn a little? Let me see the problem and I’m sure I can think of something.” She hoped it just felt as if his penis was stuck because the material had tightened around whatever side he tucked on. “Or you can tell me where some scissors are. I can cut down the side of the seam.”

“No. Just go into the other room.”

The doorbell rang. Jeanie started at the sudden noise but True’s reaction was much worse. He snarled as his head jerked up, eyes snapping open to glare in the direction of the living room. “Fuck!”

“You can’t go get that. Should I? I’ll tell them you’re busy or taking a shower.” She highly doubted he’d want anyone to know what had him incapacitated. “Unless you think I should tell them the truth and they can help you.”

“Don’t go out there. Ignore it.”

“What if it’s important?”

“Go shower.”

“Damn, you’re stubborn. Would you leave me if I were in a bind?” She regretted saying that last word. “Sorry. Bad, unintended pun. This is ridiculous. You just were face-planted in my private parts. We’ve passed the point of modesty. Let me see the problem and we can find a solution.”

“No.”

The doorbell rang again, followed by a fist pounding on the wood.

Jeanie blew out a frustrated breath. “True—”

A loud boom came from the other room. She spun, realizing what she’d heard as the front door hit the wall from the force of being kicked open. A few quick steps and she was in the other room. Two New Species stormed into the apartment but the first one through the door motioned the second one to halt with a hand gesture.

It was the second one hovering just inside that kept her attention though. His hair was long, to his shoulders, but she’d never mistake those brilliant-blue catty eyes. He wore black jeans with a tank top, showing off a lot of muscles.

“712?”

“Shiver,” he confirmed they knew each other, his mouth curving into a smile.

“Where is True?” The other man glanced around with a stern look on his face until he fixed his full attention on Jeanie. “What have you done to him?”

“Nothing!” She glanced between him and 712. “He’s—”

“Did you harm him?” the feline snarled, revealing sharp canines.

“She wouldn’t do that, Tiger.” 712 tried to get around the guy.

Tiger shoved him back. “Stay out of this. I told you to wait outside.” He stormed forward. “What did you do to True?”

A thump came from behind her and she turned to stare at True leaning heavily against the open bedroom doorframe with only his head and part of his naked upper body showing. It looked as if he were using the wall to hide the rest of him. The furious look and his stiff expression were clear.

“Get out of my home!”

Tiger stopped advancing. “Why didn’t you answer the door? Why are you obscuring the rest of your body?”

“Get out of my home.”

The New Species in the uniform frowned. “She hurt you, didn’t she? What are you hiding? Did she stab you?” He sniffed the air before his eyebrows shot up. “Shit. You’re naked. I interrupted you sharing sex.”

“What?” 712 shoved Tiger to get him out of the way. “You touched her?” His nostrils flared and his usually handsome face twisted into an expression very similar to True’s enraged one. “You said you wouldn’t.”

“Leave my home.” True glanced at her. “Come here, Jeanie.”

She wasn’t sure what to do. Part of her wanted to talk to 712 but True was obviously in an embarrassing situation he didn’t want the other men to discover. Tiger and 712 might be there to take her to prison. She backed up into the bedroom and True slammed the door closed the second she was clear. He cursed as he tilted her head upward with his palm gently cradling her face. Strong fingers wrapped around her upper arm to turn her slightly until they faced each other.

“Get in the bathroom. I’ll handle this.”

“Do you think they’ve come to take me to that horrible place?”

“I won’t allow that to happen.”

“Thank you.” She tried to look down but his hold only tightened.

“I’m going to let you go and you will run into the bathroom. Lock the door and stay there until I tell you it’s safe. Do it now.”

“Okay.”

He turned her around before dropping his hands away. “Run.”

She dashed toward the bathroom but didn’t make it before the bedroom door crashed open. A scream caught in Jeanie’s throat as she spun to see who had done it. 712’s gaze darted around the room until he found her and stared at the shirt she wore, which fell to mid-thigh, exposing her lower legs.

“How could you?” He stormed into the room.

At Drackwood she’d done her best to keep him alive by giving him something to keep fighting through all the pain he’d suffered. He enjoyed her stories, whether they’d been fairytales or just recounting something she’d seen in a movie. It helped him pass the time while some of his injuries healed.

“Get out!” True snarled, stepping between her and 712. “Don’t speak to her that way.”

“I’m talking to you!” 712 reached both hands out and pushed True hard in the chest, nearly knocking him over.

True shoved him back. “She’s not yours.”

The male stumbled but stayed upright. “I disagree.”

“Enough,” Tiger ordered from the door. “Flirt, return to the hallway now. I’ll handle this.”

“She saved my life.” Flirt didn’t move. “I’ll only leave if she goes with me.”

It sank in that they were arguing about her. Jeanie opened her mouth to tell them to stop but they resumed their exchange before she got a word out. It became clear that 712 had taken the name Flirt.

“Never,” True snarled.

Flirt’s upper lip curled enough to show sharp canines. “She should be mine.”

“Enough!” Tiger repeated, pushing them apart when he centered his body between them. “No fighting. Return to the hallway, Flirt. True, you weren’t supposed to touch her.”

“He did.” Flirt backed away. “No female puts off that strong of a sex smell unless a male helped. Look at the front of his pants. He doesn’t deserve a female if he’s unable to hold his seed until he mounts her.”

Tiger glanced down True’s body then looked at 712. “Damn, Flirt, that’s cold. We’ve all gotten a bit too excited at times but you don’t point it out. Males have pride.”

Jeanie crept along the wall to get a better look at True to confirm her suspicions of what they talked about. A large wet spot stained the front of his pants on one side, near his groin. No wonder he wouldn’t let me see what was wrong with him. He wasn’t caught in his pants. He lied. Shit! She glanced at his face, the splotches of bright color on his cheeks a sign of mortification.

“Leave him alone,” she demanded. She stared at 712. “Flirt? Is that what you’re called now?”

“Don’t talk to him,” True ordered.

Part of her knew she should keep quiet just because it’s what he wanted. The other part was enraged that anyone would attempt to humiliate someone who’d saved her from going to prison. True was a good man.

“I’m Flirt now, Shiver.” His tone softened when his bright-blue gaze met hers. “Come here. I’ll take you to my home. You don’t need to stay with that male when you deserve a much better one.”

“No!” True bellowed.

Jeanie gasped when True grabbed Tiger and threw him out of the way. The big New Species’ body missed her by a few feet, landing sprawled on the carpet facedown. Her gaze lifted from him just in time to witness True tackling Flirt. They both slammed into the wall near the door with enough force from their combined weight to punch a big hole in the plaster.

“Fuck,” the guy on the carpet groaned. “Security. Get to True’s place now.”

She wasn’t sure if he used a radio or a cell phone to call for help. She couldn’t look away as the two New Species exchanged punches. The sound was horrific as their fists made contact with flesh. True had Flirt pinned in the damaged wall. His ass and part of his back was actually inside the hole they’d created but his arms were free enough to hit back.

“Stop it!” She realized she’d been the one to yell.

They ignored her. Flirt managed to brace his body and shoved True away. He stumbled but regained his balance. Flirt jerked out of the wall, chunks of white crumbling to the carpet as he straightened. They snarled at each other and lunged forward at the same time. Their bodies slammed together hard, clawed hands tearing into flesh. Bright-red blood appeared on their skin.

Jeanie had to break up the fight, not caring that it would be dangerous. Flirt grabbed True’s throat in a move to choke him. True responded by bending his arm, throwing it forward with all his strength behind it and ramming his forearm into his opponent’s face. The feline’s head snapped back, blood exploding from his nose.

“STOP!” She rushed forward but a hand snagged her ankle. The air was knocked from her lungs when she hit the carpet on her belly. It took a few seconds to gasp in a breath. She used her arms to push her chest from the floor and look over her shoulder, ignoring the dull ache of her injury that throbbed from the impact with the floor. Tiger had tripped her.

“Don’t,” he warned. “Stay away from them.”

She tried to kick free of his hold, desperate. “Let go.”

“You’ll get hurt.”

She didn’t care. True and Flirt had separated enough to exchange punches again. Blood marred both their arms where they’d been clawed and it ran down Flirt’s face. His nose looked broken. True’s mouth had taken a hit if the bright red smeared over his lips and chin was any indication. The sounds of blows hitting flesh made her wince.

“Stop them,” she pleaded, looking away from the fight, unable to watch anymore. Her gaze locked on Tiger. “Do something.”

“I am. I’m keeping you safe until help…” he paused, cocking his head as if he heard something, “arrives.”

Four New Species burst into the bedroom. Two of them wore uniforms but two didn’t. A big blond male in a pair of black boxers grabbed Flirt when he stumbled back after True’s fist slammed into his chest. The new guy wrapped his arms around Flirt from behind and yanked him off his feet. One of the uniformed security officers grabbed his flailing legs, suspending him midair between them. He struggled but couldn’t get away.

The New Species sporting a pair of sweats and a tank top prevented True from attacking Flirt again by grabbing his arm, spinning him around and shoving him against a wall. The second uniformed New Species helped keep True pinned there as they whispered words at him she couldn’t hear.

“Never get between aggressive males.” Tiger released her ankle. “Especially if you’re what they are fighting over.” He sat up. “You’re a troublemaker, Jeanie Shiver.”

“This isn’t my fault.” She looked away from him to check on True. The two New Species prevented her from seeing much but he didn’t appear to be struggling to break free any longer. She should stand but hesitated when a deep rumble reached her ears. It was something she couldn’t identify and had never heard before.

A tall black-haired male stomped into the room, the source of the sound. A chill crept up her spine as she studied him. The New Species stopped making the disturbing noise but it didn’t make him any less fearsome. He was good-looking but there was something sinister about him. She could just sense it deep down as if he threw off vibes screaming “predator” and “danger”.

The room grew eerily silent and the hairs along her arms rose. The dark-haired News Species slowly assessed the room with his icy gaze until it lingered on her. He frowned, not something she took as a good sign, before he turned away to stride closer to Flirt. He stopped a few feet away.

“It’s about time you got here, Darkness. You took responsibility for this. Handle it.” Tiger got to his feet and paused next to Jeanie, offering her a hand. “Allow me to help you up.”

Jeanie put her hand in his, using her other one to keep the shirt from exposing the fact that she wore nothing under it as he pulled her to her feet. Her healing wound pulled a little internally but she doubted any real damage had been done. Her legs felt a little shaky but they held her weight. Tiger released her.

Darkness ignored Tiger, addressing the New Species holding Flirt off the floor instead. “Put him down.”

Both males deposited their burden on the carpet and backed away. Jeanie noticed no one made eye contact with Darkness and in fact, didn’t seem comfortable being near him. Flirt climbed to his feet and put a hand over his bleeding nose to pinch the bridge of it to stop the blood.

“Go to Medical,” Darkness ordered.

Flirt didn’t move. “I’ll leave if I can take her with me.”

“She stays here.” True sounded pissed.

“She’s not yours,” Flirt snapped. He began to circle around Darkness to reach True.

Darkness made that disturbing, low rumble.

Flirt stopped, retreated to where he’d originally stood and released his nose to wipe the blood covering his hand on the side of his pants. “He has no claim to her. She saved my life, too, Darkness.”

“She’s mine to protect.” True’s rage seemed to be growing worse, judging by his harsh snarl. “He can’t have her. I’ll kill him if he tries to take her.”

Darkness slowly turned, his scary gaze finding Jeanie. A sense of dread pitted inside her stomach and she took a step back. The guy was seriously unsettling.

“Let me go,” True demanded. “Jeanie? Come to me.”

She would have done it if her feet didn’t feel glued to the floor as Darkness stared at her without blinking. Her heart pounded and her mouth turned dry. There was nothing she wanted more than to run to True and hide behind him if it meant feeling safe, something she lacked at that moment.

“Species shouldn’t kill each other.” Darkness paused. “Decide now before one of them dies. You may stay with True, go with Flirt, or I’ll return you to Medical where guards will be assigned to watch over you. Answer me now. We’ve lost enough of our people because of humans and I refuse to allow it to happen again.”

“True,” she managed to get out.

The second he turned away, she could breathe normally again.

“You heard the female,” Darkness calmly stated. “She chose True. Flirt, get your ass to Medical and you’re banned from this floor while she’s here. There will be no more fighting or it will be against me. I’d hate to ever kill another one of our males but I’ll do it. Am I clear? No female who picks another male is worth the loss of your life.”

Flirt refused to look at her as he gave a sharp nod, spun on his heel and marched out of the room. Jeanie watched him go, filled with sadness. They’d once been close but she felt as if she’d somehow let him down. It didn’t make any sense that he’d attack True. Did he think she was in danger? She could understand his desire to protect her after she’d done the same thing for him at Drackwood.

Darkness crossed the room and both New Species released True and stepped out of the way. “Do papers need to be sent here?”

True didn’t answer.

Darkness remained quiet for at least half a minute. “Figure it out and don’t forget we need answers from that female. You should know all the facts before you make a decision. I would hate to see you hurt.”

“I understand,” True acknowledged.

“Good.” He turned his head, studying the damaged wall. “Please ask first before you remodel your home. I’ll notify someone that you need a few panels of drywall to repair that unless you just kick out the other side to open up the space. You might want to get someone to look at it first. The damage might be structural.”