“Excuse me, but I need to find the bathroom.” I slip away and head toward the bathroom off the kitchen, but when I get there, it’s occupied. The kitchen’s even more crowded than the living room and it feels like the walls are closing in on me.
Hissssss.
When I spin around, I catch a glimpse of a shadow outside the window. Trick-or-treaters, older teens, are heading to the next house and no one’s acting as if anything is amiss.
That damn hissing sound is in my head.
Nelson reappears by my side. He runs his hand through his hair. “Sorry about that. I thought… Never mind. Doesn’t matter now. Your boyfriend’s here.”
“Kobrik? Are you sure?”
“Tall, blue, tatts, horns, scowls a lot?”
Kobrik doesn’t scowl atme. “Thanks!”
As I push my way into the living room, Nelson follows me. I can’t wait to get away from him, escape into Kobrik’s arms where I’ll be safe.
Except I don’t see Kobrik anywhere in the throng of people. I swear Josh must have opened his doors to the entire neighborhood.
I glance back at Nelson. “Where did you see him?”
“Hanging out front. I went out for a smoke,” Nelson says as he diverts to the food table.
I race outside, happy to be getting out of the overly-warm house and away from Nelson. The door clicks shut behind me and the street is empty. I don’t see Kobrik anywhere. Blistering cold wind strikes me like a slap to the face. Nelson is such a fucking liar, playing games with me because I rebuffed him.
When I turn the handle, the damn door is locked. I’m going to give that asshole a piece of my mind when I get inside.
As I slam the doorknocker against the door, a hand lands on my shoulder. Kobrik!
I spin around and look into the yellow eyes of a grud.
CHAPTER EIGHT
KOBRIK
“You want me to pull security from all local military, government, and other high-risk targets?” Major Collins says over my comm, his voice heavy with disbelief.
“This city is huge. The search area requires numbers you can’t provide for a proper search and we do not have time to continue searching in such an inefficient manner. It’s possible this isn’t a grud scout we’re hunting, but an agent with a mission to sabotage.”
“Which is why I can’t authorize pulling security from any of our installations. If anything, I should double security.”
“We need to bait him. Minimal security outside your facilities will entice him to move up his plan, whatever it is.”
Major Collins narrows his eyes. “You want him to get past my people, sabotage something, then leave Earth?”
“I want to force him to make a move before he’s truly ready.” My horns tip forward, betraying my aggravation with this male’s constant questions and doubt. “Look, Major, what I’m asking isrisky, but necessary. Increase security inside, if you wish. If we catch Amos, all is well. If he slips past us and flees Earth, I will catch him off planet, fairly easily. Grud ships are not as fast as zyanthan ships.”
Major Collins turns his head to the right and speaks in hushed tones to someone out of view. “I need to think about this, Warrior. I will get back to you. Collins out.” He ends the transmission.
I’m at a standstill until I hear back from him. As long as I don’t venture too far from my ship, I can lift off within minutes of receiving an alert from the military when the grud ship lifts.
I’d be leaving Kenzie behind. That thought disturbs me. I could get embroiled in a chase, interrogation, and follow-up missions that keep me from returning for months. My horns point forward, my body tenses, and I find it difficult to focus on luring the grud.
Then I think of touching Kenzie, holding her again, seeing that cautious yet sweet smile. Envisioning her allows me to push all my frustration of working with Collins and his protocols aside.
I glance at the time. Drekk, I’m late. I was to meet her twenty minutes ago.
Waiting for a bus will take too long, so I break into a run. The workout will give me time to clear my head. I don’t want my thoughts of Amos or Collins to sour my mood when I see Kenzie.
