Page 35 of Butcher

“But her name is Murder...” Toxic clarified.

“I’m an assassin,” she reminded him.

“I have a ton of nicknames for my dogs, too,” Seek told her with a smile. “Sorry about them. I’ll go put them away.” As if dogs chasing a bobcat through the clubhouse was a normal occurrence.

“It’s okay,” Isla told her with a grin. “We can’t really expect dogs and cats to get along.”

Lockout moved forward, glaring at us. “Why do we have a feral wild animal in our clubhouse?”

“You talkin’ about the bobcat, or her owner?” Hush asked with a grim smile. Then he looked at me and Toxic. “Or these things. I’m willing to bet the bobcat has all its shots, this one needs penicillin on a weekly basis.” He said the last part to Toxic.

“I like her.”

We all looked down at where Taylor was reaching up and petting the bobcat.

“Where the hell did you come from?” Ricochet asked with a laugh.

“You’re supposed to be in bed,” Priest added.

I looked around but none of the other hellions were down here.

“I woke up,” Taylor said with a shrug.

We stared in amazement as the cat allowed the girl to pet her without one hiss or growl.

“I was going to talk to you about her tomorrow,” Isla admitted, giving Lock a winning smile.

It took all my self-control to keep from swinging on my president. I wanted Isla’s smiles to only be aimed in my direction. While I admittedly didn’t have much control over my urges, I did have self-preservation and respect, so I kept my fists balled up at my sides.

“Okay, time for you to go back to bed,” Jenny announced, putting her arm around Taylor’s shoulders and leading the girl back upstairs.

“I can’t stay if she can’t stay,” Isla said. “I can’t leave her in a kennel, and I don’t have anyone to watch her.”

Lockout let out a heavy sigh. “I swear to Christ you’re all going to be the death of me.” He pointed at Isla. “Keep her in your room. Make sure she behaves.”

“Which ‘she’ are you referring to?” Toxic asked. Lock’s scowl was the only answer.

“Promise,” she replied. “Uh… Where is my room?”

“Your room is my room,” I told her, wrapping my fingers around the back of her neck. Murder—cause fuck if I was going to call her Ms. Mittens—growled at me, but didn’t take a swipe this time. Shewas content being held in Isla’s arms. “Let’s go get her settled,” I suggested. Glancing over at Toxic, I arched a brow.

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered. “I’ll get everything else.”

“Upstairs, Terror.”

Isla looked up at me, but she didn’t argue. I was pretty sure having her pet back with us had made her temporarily docile. I wasn’t about to question my luck, so I just led her back upstairs.

CHAPTER 13

Isla

Hugging Miss Murder Mittens to my chest, I watched as the guys brought in all the stuff I’d kept at the hotel room, including my go bag filled with cash and other things. They’d grabbed everything I’d need for my beloved pet, too, and I was grateful for that. Ms. Mittens was the only thing in this world who loved me, and who I loved in return.

Butcher shut the door and turned to face me, making me wonder if that had somehow changed. Was there now someone else who loved me? Because he was looking at me in a way I didn’t recognize. A way that made my stomach all fluttery. I felt there was only one way to respond to this.

“Ow! What was that for?” Butcher asked, rubbing his knee where I had kicked him.

“You know why,” I said.

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