Page 48 of Catnapped

I jog around the car and find Mousey hissing and clawing at him, fresh blood on his stupid face as she swipes at him, artfully dodging his hands as he tries to fend her off.

“Mousey!” May cries.

She hisses one more time, then darts into my car.

“The fuck!” Lennie curls into a ball, trying to protect himself. “The fuck!”

For the first time in a long time, I think about taking a life. I haven’t committed that particular sin in a long, long time. Not since I found my best friend Trent’s body when I was first investigating all the missing kids from my area. I was still young then. Impulsive. I killed the man who abused and killed the person I considered a brother to me. Right now, I don’t feel impulsive. If anything, I feel calm. Could I take another life? Looking down at him and thinking of the danger he just put May in, I realize the answer is yes. I could end him right here, right now.

“Carson?” May’s sweet voice cuts through the murderous fog of my mind. She moves to my front, Mousey cradled against her chest.

“Keep it away from me!” Lennie screams and flips over, crawling through the snow.

“You did wonderful.” May kisses Mousey on the top of her head. “You and Carson are my best defenders. The very best.” She looks up at me. “Thank you.”

I wrap both of them in my arms. “Don’t thank me. It’s my fault–”

“No, it’s not. All that matters is that we’re safe now. You’re here. And I knew–” She catches my gaze again, snowflakes swirling into her hair. “I knew you’d come for me. I knew I’d be just fine. All I had to do was wait for you. So I did.”

“That’s my good girl.” Fuck, it feels so good to have her in my arms. It feels right. Like it was always meant to be this way. “I love you, May. I love you so fucking much.” It just slips out, the words my heart has been beating for days now.

She’s quiet for a moment, then laughs a little.

My heart sinks.

“You can’t say ‘I told you so’ when it comes to love.” … “No, you can’t.” … “No–ugh, Mousey.”

I realize she’s arguing with the cat at the same moment she looks up at me again and says, “I love you, too.”

Have I ever soared this high? I don’t think so. I didn’t think it was possible until this very moment. I kiss her fully, taking all of her and giving her all of me. Mousey wriggles between us and jumps down. Lennie screams again, but I ignore him and bend May back, forcing her to rely on me and nothing else to hold her up.

She sighs against my lips and wraps her arms around my neck, surrendering to this kiss, to this impossible love. I kiss her until I feel like every part of me might burst from sheer happiness. Then something creaks, and the ground lights up.

I whirl, shoving May behind me as I face the newly opened front doors of the chateau.

“I was wondering if you’d arrive before the storm,” a woman calls and strides down the steps. Her wide hat catches the snow, and she looks past me.

“All this, Sorcha? You did all this?” Mrs. Farrol walks past me, her back ramrod straight and her chin in the air. “What game are you playing, and where’s my sweet prince?”

A white blur races past us.

“Mousey!” May calls, but I don’t let her go. I have one hand squeezing her hip and keeping her behind me, out of harm’s way. Then she gasps, “Carson! She found him! He’s just inside.”

“He’s safe and warm inside.” Sorcha walks closer, now almost nose to nose with Mrs. Farrol, her large hat shielding them both from the snow. “And this isn’t a game. Not anymore. Please come in.”

“No.” Mrs. Farrol puts her hands on her hips. “What were you thinking? Sending a goon to attack us?”

“I admit he’s a goon, but he had no orders to attack you.” Sorcha’s tone turns displeased. “He was only meant to throw you off the scent so I had more time to–”

“To what?” Mrs. Farrol cries. “Hurt my darling prince? Send me cavorting across the globe? What, Sorcha?”

“More time to prepare. I had so many grand plans. I wanted you to know exactly how I–”

“Enough!” Mrs. Farrol yells. “You tell me right here and right now why you’ve–”

Her voice is cut off as Sorcha grabs her and plants a kiss squarely on her mouth.

Mrs. Farrol makes a surprised squeak as Sorcha embraces her, holding her close and never letting up on her kiss.

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