Free New Species 10 Moon by Laurann Dohner Page B

had the best outcome for him. I figured he’d be angry at the very worst but it would all be directed at me. He’d be safe.”
    Harley stepped closer and paused, studying her. “Shit.” He spun away, sighing. “I believe her.”
    “Joy?”
    She hated the way her gut twisted as she held Justice North’s gaze. “Yes?” He could ask her to leave. It was the worst thing he could do. He was silent for so long her stomach threatened to heave up her breakfast. It would tear her apart if she were sent away. She had no claim to even be updated on Moon’s condition. She’d have to wonder if he recovered or if he’d worsened. There would be nothing she could do about it. “Please let me try to help him.”
    He blinked, saying nothing.
    “Do you want me to beg?” Her pride would take a big hit but it was Moon. “I’ll do it. I got him to talk. He calms down around me. He said my name. Let me try to reach him.”
    Justice glanced around at the men. “Leave us alone for a few minutes.”
    “No.” Harley faced them. “Let her try.”
    The NSO leader rose. He didn’t look angry but he did seem surprised. “You’re giving me orders?”
    “Moon had strong feelings for her.” Harley didn’t back down. “He’s like a brother to me. We all care but I know him best.” He paused, glancing at Joy, then back at Justice. “We’re going to have to keep him heavily sedated at all times if he doesn’t come back from what was done to him. He’s too lethal in his current condition to even be set free in the Wild Zone. Hell, I’m sure we can also agree that every male would prefer to be kept in a near coma than put the rest of our people in danger. She did get him to talk and he released her the second they were alone. He didn’t want to kill her.”
    Tiger cursed. “What if he tries to hold her hostage to gain his release?”
    Harley softly growled. “We’ll have to walk out and leave her there with him.” He held Joy’s gaze. “Are you willing to agree to that? It means you’re on your own if he tries to use your life to make us unlock his cell door. We can’t allow him to get free. We’d track him down fast but he could kill someone first. It’s too risky.”
    The implications were clear. They wouldn’t negotiate for her life if it came down to a standoff.
    “I can’t agree to that,” Justice growled. “No Species would.”
    Joy swallowed down the sick feeling as she looked at Justice. “I’m not Species and I’ll do it. I’m willing to put my life on the line for Moon’s. I want to do it.”
    “Moon could kill you.” His expression shuttered, hiding all emotion.
    “I understand.”
    “He could molest you or worse if he gets his hands on you again.” His jaw clenched. “Just because bars are between you doesn’t mean he couldn’t do a lot of things if you’re within reach.”
    “I understand that too. He’s lethal even behind bars.” The memory was still very fresh in her mind of Moon’s hand squeezing her breast but so was the one where he’d grabbed her throat. “I treated your people, Justice. They told me some of the ways they killed Mercile employees.” She’d had nightmares but they weren’t invoked by sympathy for the ones who’d died. It had been the haunting knowledge that New Species would have to live with what they’d had to do to survive. “A few of them tried to horrify me with very specific details of those deaths. They thought I’d judge them for what they were forced to do to stay alive.”
    “What did you tell them when they shared those stories?” Justice cocked his head, obviously curious.
    “I said they should put it behind them. It wasn’t their fault. Anyone would do whatever it takes to survive in extreme circumstances and to be proud they’d made it out of that hell alive.” She paused. “Off the record, after what I heard was done to them inside those cells, those abusive Mercile assholes deserved to die after torturing Species. Too bad more of