Wild Cat

CHAPTER EIGHT

They took Xavier’s truck back up the mountain, because he had four-wheel drive and Diego didn’t want to abuse the T-Bird any more than he had to. He remembered the way-he was good at memorizing terrain-but let Eric point it out anyway.

The three of them went over the area for several hours but returned to Shiftertown without much to report.

Cassidy was in the backyard when they returned. Diego took one look at her bending over in her form-hugging jeans, her cropped top hanging a bit loose at her stomach, and started sweating. The woman was gorgeous. Her light hair swung over her shoulders as she played with the small wildcat at her feet.

Cassidy wasn’t skinny-Diego had noted that most Shifter women were larger than human females-but she was well proportioned to her height. That meant the long, strong legs he’d seen nice and bare, full breasts, and curved hips. Luscious.

When she heard them come out, Cassidy scooped up the cub and greeted them. The cub looked like a white tiger, and it had the sweetest blue eyes Diego had ever seen.

“This is Torey,” Cassidy said, holding up the cub, its oversized paws batting the air. “He just lost his dad.”

“Poor thing,” Xavier said. He put a hand out to pet it, then jumped back when Torey growled and swatted at him. “OK, looking at the cute kitty from over here.”

Cassidy grinned. The squirming cub had pulled Cassidy’s shirt up a little, baring her navel with the little gold stud. Diego would have to ask her what happened to the stud when she shifted.

Jace walked out behind them and started handing out bottles of beer. He seemed to be the beverage dispenser of the family. “Torey doesn’t trust full-grown males yet, for good reason.”

“Why’s that?” Diego asked. He politely took the beer but didn’t open it.

Eric answered while Cassidy stroked the tiger’s head and cooed at him. “Because he’s an orphan, no father, mother, or pride leader to look after him now. The other males in the clan instinctively want to kill him.”

“Shit,” Diego said. “Why?” And just this morning he’d sneered at Lieutenant Reid for claiming Shifters were too violent.

Eric shrugged. “It’s instinct. A male wants his own genetics passed on. When a male dies, other males move in to try to take the female, kill her cubs, and start their own prides or packs. That way they don’t have to worry about those cubs-especially the male ones-growing up and pushing them out.”

Xavier listened, openmouthed. He closed it again. “I was going to say that was barbaric, but you know, after our dad got killed, other men tried to put the moves on our mother. And they didn’t much like me and Diego. She didn’t have any money or anything, but she was good-looking. And alone.”

Cassidy’s compassion showed in her eyes as she looked at Diego. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d lost your father.”

“Shot by a robber in his own store,” Diego said flatly.

“And then Mamita lost the store,” Xavier said, never shy about giving anyone who asked his life history. “Too many bills, taxes, and besides, the store wasn’t doing good at all. She had to go scrub toilets to put food on the table. Bless her. Now we take care of her.”

Jace listened, sipping his beer. “So did any of those men who put the moves on her succeed?”

Xavier laughed. “With Mamita? No way.”

Diego thought about his mother and the fierce way she’d protected him and Xavier-at the time they hadn’t always appreciated it. But she’d kept them safe and together, and for that he’d love her forever.

“So what did you find out there?” Cassidy asked. She put Torey down. The cub scampered off but didn’t go far, as though an invisible tether tied him to Cassidy.

“Nothing,” Eric said in disgust.

“Shell casings,” Diego said. “From a rifle that shoots thirty-aught-six rounds, pretty common for a hunting weapon. I’ll run licenses and see who owns one, but there are tons of unlicensed weapons out there.”

“Then we don’t know anything more?” Cassidy looked from Diego to Eric, seeming to ask Eric a silent question. Eric shook his head, and Cassidy turned away to walk after Torey.

Eric, Jace, and Xavier watched the cub awhile, then drifted back into the house. Diego handed his unopened beer to Xavier but stayed put, lingering to be alone with Cassidy.

He followed her around some tall mesquite trees to the middle of the common. “So are you babysitting that tiger or does he live here?”

Cassidy sat down on a plain stone bench that stood near one of the trees. The trees had just started to leaf out, a brush of misty green contrasting their dark trunks. Torey took the opportunity to run in wider circles but never far enough for Cassidy to be out of sight.

“Babysitting,” she said, watching Torey. “He has a foster mother, but sometimes she needs a break. She has four cubs of her own.”

“I can see that. What happened to Torey’s mother?”

Cassidy looked sad. “She died bringing Torey in. That was three years ago. Torey’s dad kind of went to pieces after that. He and his mate had the mate bond, and some Shifters don’t recover from that. Torey’s dad… He killed himself.”

“Damn,” Diego said. “Poor kid.” He watched Torey scampering in circles, chasing a butterfly. “I never heard about a Shifter committing suicide.” Something like that would make the newspapers, or at least the files in Shifter Division.

“Eric kept it quiet, told the humans he died of natural causes,” Cassidy said. “Our Guardian sent his body to dust right away, so there was no chance for human doctors to check.”

“If it’s a secret, why tell me?”

Cassidy looked up at him, her green eyes full of sorrow but also conviction. “Because you know how to keep things to yourself. Because you know when to bend rules. I’ve seen you do it for me. And you didn’t do it for personal gain. None that I can tell anyway.” She watched Torey again. “We don’t need Torey getting taken away. This is the best place for him, where he knows everyone, not arbitrarily transported to another Shiftertown.”

Diego nodded. “I get that.” Their secret was safe with him.

“So, Torey’s alone,” Cassidy said. “His foster mother is unmated right now, so it was safest to put Torey with her.” She smiled a little. “But he’s a handful.”

“Are you serious that Shifter males would try to kill him?”

Cassidy shook her head, her blond hair brushing her shoulders. Diego liked how close he had to sit to her on the bench, her warmth spilling onto him. “They won’t. Not with Eric as Shiftertown leader-that means he has authority over all prides and clans here, regardless of species. Everyone obeys Eric, and besides, males only killed cubs like that long ago in the wild. But even though we’re civilized now, the instinct is still there. If a male Shifter is drunk, or angry, or whatever, and loses control, he might hurt him, even without meaning to. So Torey needs to be in a safe household for a while, until he grows up enough to defend himself.”

Diego watched the way her face creased in worry as she followed Torey’s movements. He liked her concern. Hot, sexy, compassionate Cassidy.

“Why can’t the little guy live with you?” Diego asked. “You don’t have four other cubs to take care of. Do you?”

Cassidy laughed. “Listen to the worry in that question. No, we’re cubless here, now that Jace has gone through the Transition. But even Eric has the instinct to kill another male’s cubs, although I know he never would act on it. Besides, he’s Shiftertown leader and our clan leader, and he has to be careful about who it looks like he’s favoring. Torey’s dad was pretty far down in the dominance chain, which means Torey will be too for a while, and if Eric privileged Torey by raising him in his house, alongside Jace-let’s just say there would be issues rippling up and down Shiftertown.”

“That’s way too complicated for me,” Diego said.

“From what Eric tells me, our jealousies and rivalries aren’t too much different from humans’. We just acknowledge them with rules. We follow the rules; no one gets hurt.”

“That explains why Shifters don’t get arrested often. You’re used to following rules. Even stupid ones.”

“Easier than fighting every day of your life. Most of us live a long time, and we learned the hard way that keeping the peace is so much better than bloodshed.” Cassidy looked down the strip of land to other cubs playing in the distance. “Humans shoving us into Shiftertowns sucks, but at the same time, it’s helped us survive. Shifters were dying out. That’s why most of us didn’t fight coming out of the Shifter closet, or even taking the Collar.”

Cassidy’s Collar hugged her throat and looked damn good on her. Diego reminded himself that if it shocked her, it would hurt her badly. But still, the way the Celtic knot rested in the hollow of her throat, the way the silver links glistened under her hair, made Diego want to lean down and press his lips to it.

He closed his hands around the edge of the cool stone bench and changed the subject. “You said Jace went through the Transition. What’s that?”

“It’s like human puberty on steroids. I went through it, and I thought I’d die, but it’s worse for males. It’s your body deciding you’re ready to fight, mate, and find your place in the hierarchy. Your metabolism goes insane, telling you to mate, mate, mate, fight, fight, fight. Right now.”

Diego thought about his own rushed transition from boy to man and gave her a look of sympathy. “Looks like you made it. So did Jace.”

“I made it because I had Eric. Our parents were dead by then, but Eric was good at knocking me down or even chaining me up when I needed to be. Trust me, it was self-defense on his part. I thought my body was going to spontaneously combust a couple of times. For Jace, both Eric and me were around to help him, but, Goddess.” Cassidy took on a look of pure exasperation. “Jace’s Collar went off ten times a day, and even that didn’t calm him down. Poor guy. At least I got to Transition before the Collar.”

Jace certainly looked amiable now. But all the Shifters did, even Shane, until they were pissed off.

“It was hell,” Cassidy said. “But that’s over.” She blew out her breath. “Jace is ready to mate, but…” She opened her hands. “Not that many female Shifters to go around. It’s a real blow when we lose one. Not as many females die bringing in cubs as they used to, but it still happens.” She looked at Torey, her expression sad. “But you understand what Torey’s going through, don’t you? You lost your dad.”

Diego remembered the utter shock of it, the jolt of the violence that had taken his father’s life. Diego had been eight, Xavier six. They’d been stunned and grieving, but Diego hadn’t understood until he was older what his mother must have gone through. Mamita was a strong woman-she didn’t take shit from anyone-but she must have been devastated. How she’d held it together, held them together, Diego still didn’t know.

“You lost your mate,” he said to Cassidy. “Eric’s died too, right?”

“Kirsten. Yes, bringing in Jace.” She let out her breath. “That was tough.”

“But Eric’s still here. And you are. And so is my mom. You didn’t take the way out that Torey’s dad did.”

“I had Eric,” Cassidy said, as though it were that simple. “Eric had me, and he had to take care of Jace. And I bet your mom made it because she had you and your brother.”

“That’s true. I think I stayed alive when those meth-heads shot me and Jobe because I want to get them. And I will.”

“Exactly.” Cassidy drew another breath, as though she’d say something more along that line, then she let the breath out again. “I suppose we make choices for our own reasons. I feel bad about Torey’s dad though. I should have been paying more attention.”

“You can’t see every sign,” Diego said. Law enforcement had its share of suicides, and it wasn’t always obvious until later that the person had been in that much despair.

“I’m Eric’s second. It’s my job to see them.”

Diego’s brows rose. “Your job?”

“It’s what a second does. Noses into other people’s lives to make sure everything’s all right. So Eric doesn’t have to take time away from liaising with humans and keeping three different species of Shifters from killing each other. I take care of the secondary problems. Like making sure Torey’s new mom has time to cope.”

Diego glanced at the house next to the Wardens’. “You seem to get along with your neighbors, the grizzlies.”

“That’s because Nell keeps Shane and Brody in line. All the bears, actually.”

Diego remembered what Shane had said about Nell conceding leadership to Eric and Cassidy. “Why would she step out of the way for you and Eric? Bears are bigger than wildcats.”

Cassidy shot him a sly look that seared his blood. “Because wildcats are fast. Nell won’t try to take over. None of us would survive a fight like that, and we all know it. So we do what we do, and we don’t worry about it.”

They both watched Torey romp while Diego strove to calm down his body. “What else does a second do? You and Eric working together last night-that was amazing.”

Cassidy shrugged. “Experience. I help Eric fight when necessary, but mostly I listen to people. I help the older ones, especially those who got stuck in this Shiftertown alone, apart from their clans. I take them shopping or do it for them, or just take them out to be a friend.”

Diego felt a twinge of remorse. “And now that I’ve confined you to Shiftertown?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll work around it. Once I got over my hangover this morning, I realized that I need to cool it and not risk getting arrested again. It wouldn’t just be me going to jail-the human police would come down on Eric, and there’s too many Shifters dependent on us to risk us being thrown out of here.”

“And the ritual you needed to do outside Shiftertown got done.”

Cassidy smiled. “That too.” She glanced past him. “Looks like your brother is ready to go.”

Diego saw Xavier looking through the stand of mesquite trees at them. Xavier waved when he saw Diego spot him, and Diego lifted his hand in answer. Xavier, his perceptive little brother, nodded once and went back into the house to wait for him.

Diego stood up, and Cassidy got up with him. Torey snarled and bounced as he attacked and shredded a weed.

Diego had promised himself that he’d hold himself back from Cassidy, but he’d forgotten how Shifters said good-bye.

Cassidy came against him, her arms going around his neck. Diego leaned down to her, unable to resist, as she held him tight and pressed her cheek against his. “Blessings of the Goddess go with you,” she said in his ear. “Are you coming back to check on me tomorrow?”

Diego pulled away enough to look at her, but he kept his arms around her supple waist. His hands rested on her bare back, her skin oh, so soft.

“My captain made me promise I’d come and see you every day.”

Cassidy’s smile widened. “That’s good. I’ll make sure Jace has a fresh pot of coffee ready for whenever you arrive.”

“Mighty hospitable of you, ma’am.”

Cassidy pulled him close again, let her lips linger on his cheek. “See you, Diego.”

It was all Diego could do to let her go, turn away, and walk across the yard. It was hard to walk with his pants having grown way too tight in the front.

He glanced behind him once and saw Cassidy lean down and Torey run and leap into her arms. She caught up the baby tiger, cuddling him and talking to him. Diego’s heart squeezed, and he found it hard to breathe. He turned away again and pulled his coat closed over his pants so Xavier wouldn’t make fun of him.

“You want to cut her probation short?” Captain Max asked Diego incredulously the next day. “Why?”

“She shops for shut-ins,” Diego said.

Captain Max dropped into his chair, giving Diego his famous stop-the-bullshit look. “She can have a friend do that for her. It’s only another week and a half.”

“I didn’t realize how many people Cassidy Warden actually took care of,” Diego said. “I called her nephew this morning and asked him point-blank. She looks after all the elderly in Shiftertown. All the widows and orphans too.”

“Widows and orphans. Dear God. Stop twanging the heartstrings, Escobar.”

Diego grinned. “She really does. She’s trying to get a kid settled with a foster mother, plus she helps three elderly Shifter females and one elderly Shifter male get groceries or fill out paperwork for the government or whatever else they need.” Diego held up a folder. “It’s in the file. Even Lieutenant Reid couldn’t disagree.”

“Yeah, I hear Reid can be a real asshole. He’s pissed as hell at me for letting you have the Warden case at all.”

“Well, then prepare to be surprised, sir. Reid agreed with me to ask that Cassidy’s probation be shortened.”

Captain Max stared. “He did?”

“Probably not out of compassion. I think he just wants his files back. Or me out of his sight. Both, probably.”

“And you want me to sign off on this?”

“Cassidy Warden didn’t intentionally break the law in the first place. She was scared and trying to hide.”

Captain Max gave Diego a half-disgusted look. “You mean you like her, you think she’s hot, and now you feel sorry for her.”

“I can’t lie, sir. She is hot. But Cassidy isn’t dangerous. I don’t think all the widows and orphans should suffer because humans decided that trespassing was a crime for Shifters.”

Captain Max heaved an exasperated sigh. “Listen, Escobar. Personally, I agree with you. It’s a dumb law, she didn’t cause any damage, and no one cares about that rusty hunk of metal in the desert. But damn it, I hate Shifter Division down on my ass. They’re the most anal, annoying shits on the planet. It’s only probation, for God’s sake.”

“But Reid agrees with me,” Diego said. “And his captain likes him.”

Captain Max rubbed his hand over his balding head, climbed to his feet, and snatched the file out of Diego’s hands. “All right. All right. We’ll end your girlfriend’s sentence early for good behavior. I’m sick of Shifter Division looking over my shoulder anyway. But she steps out of line even once-ever-it’s on you.”

“Yes, sir.” Diego wanted to laugh in glee, but he confined himself to a quiet smile. He was looking forward to telling Cassidy that she was free to do as she liked.

Captain Max signed the forms, closed the file, and slid it back to Diego. “Diego,” he said as Diego picked up the folder and started to leave. “Seriously, be careful. If you want to see this woman personally, it could backlash on you and your career. She’s Shifter. Plus, you arrested her.”

“I know that, sir. I’ll be careful.”

“See that you do. I almost lost you once. I don’t want to lose you again.”

“Yes, sir.”

Too late for careful. Diego walked out of his captain’s office with his file, reflecting that he’d just thrown away the excuse he had to visit Cassidy every day. He didn’t like the thought that she might not want him to keep visiting now that she wasn’t under restriction. Or Eric might not want Diego there. Eric had tolerated Diego because he didn’t want to cause trouble for Cassidy. Diego was under no illusion that he and Eric were now friends.

He got a taste of dashed hopes when he called the Warden house to give Cassidy the good news. Cassidy wasn’t there. Jace, who answered the phone, told Diego that Cassidy was over helping Torey and his new mom. But Jace would pass on the message. Jace also thanked Diego warmly for helping Cassidy out, then he hung up.

That was that. Diego stared at his cell phone a long moment in disappointment before he flipped it closed. Yep, he’d moved a long way past careful.

Diego’s hopes rose again when his cell phone rang as he entered his apartment. He dropped the plastic bags of groceries on the counter and flipped open the phone. “Yeah?”

“Diego?”

Everything in the apartment seemed to brighten, but he kept his voice casual. “Hey, Cassidy, what’s up?”

“Thank you.”

Diego wanted to stand there and drink in her voice, the way she sounded truly grateful. He made himself start putting away the food, which mostly meant beer, along with some eggs and tortillas for breakfast.

“No problem. Just keep your nose clean, all right? The shitheads in Shifter Division are still jonesing to arrest you.”

“I’ll be careful.” She kind of blew through the phrase, which wasn’t reassuring, but for now he didn’t care what Cassidy said. He only liked listening to her voice. “We’re going to Coolers tonight to celebrate me getting sprung. Want to join us?”

Hell, yes.

Coolers was a Shifter club-that is, a human-owned club Shifters frequented. Thinking about Cassidy there, dancing in that tight blue dress, made his heart beat double-time. This is why I’m glad I’m a man.

“Diego?”

“What?” Diego shoved the fantasies aside. “Sure, I can meet you.”

“Excellent. Ask Xavier to come too-Lindsay will be there.” Cassidy laughed. “She only reminded me about ten times today to ask you that.”

“Xavier. Right.” Not as good as Cassidy begging him to meet her somewhere alone, somewhere dark, somewhere romantic, but he’d take what he could.

“I can’t wait. We’ll be there around ten. See you, Diego.”

She hung up.

Diego stood staring at the phone, his heart beating off the scale, the plastic bottle of milk he held warming in his hand. When condensation rolled down his fingers, he jumped, shoved the milk into the fridge, closed the door, and hit his speed dial.

“Xav. We’re going to Coolers tonight. Don’t argue, just be there at ten.” Diego clicked off in the middle of Xav’s startled, “Sure thing.”