Page 13 of Stray Cat

Lindsay released the breath she’d drawn for the argument in a long, slow exhale. “Fine. I’ll stay behind the window. There’s no room in there, anyway.”

True, the chamber was crowded with the large AC behind a table, plus Graham, Brody, two human guards, and Diego.

Diego knew how to design an interrogation room. It was small enough to be claustrophobic, with no windows except the mirrored one that the captive would know others watched him through. Its electronically locked door was solid, though Xav had a keycard in case he and more guards needed to rush in.

AC’s wrists were zip-tied in front of him but Diego let him rest his hands on the table, no extra restraints. Brody and Graham were deterrent enough.

“Tell me something,” Lindsay said to Xav. “Why did you get so mad at me when I helped out at your bust, but it was okay for Diego to bring a bunch of Shifters along to fight only four guys?”

“Because the one at the arena was an official police sting,” Xav answered without having to consider. “This is personal, and Diego didn’t know exactly what he’d be dealing with. Besides, Diego would never let a Shifter touch a human captive.”

Lindsay sent him a steady stare, not indicating whether she was satisfied with the answer. She silently turned to watch as Diego took the seat across from AC, sitting in his upright but relaxed way.

“All right, talk to me,” Diego said. “Why did you want Lindsay, in particular, to help you find your brother?”

“Like I said, I need someone small and quick.” AC cast a glance at the hulking Brody, whose Shifter was a massive grizzly, and Graham, a wolf who was nearly as massive. “Someone no one will see coming.”

Brody sent him a toothy grin. “They’d see me, all right.”

“You believe someone has taken your brother hostage?” Diego asked, ignoring Brody. “Do you have evidence of this? Did they ask for a ransom?”

“No, no ransom. No one would be that stupid.” AC made an impatient noise. “When I was inside, my brother, Dean, who doesn’t have a lot of sense, started running with some very bad people. He’s in deep with them now, and they won’t let him go. He doesn’t understand that they’re using him, and that in any risky situation, it’s going to be him who gets killed. I want someone who can pinpoint his location so I can bring in my own extraction team and haul him out.”

“Sounds like you know exactly where he is,” Diego said. “If you think you’re sending Lindsay in like a canary down a mine shaft, think again.”

“I’m not going down a mine shaft,” Lindsay said softly, wrinkling her nose. “Too dirty.”

“It’s a metaphor,” Xav said.

They’d drifted closer together to listen to the questioning, though Xav didn’t know if Lindsay realized it. She didn’t move away at his correction, only rolled her eyes.

“I know it’s a metaphor,” she said. “I was joking.”

“Sorry.” Sometimes it was hard to fathom what Lindsay was thinking. “With AC, he might literally want you to go down an old mine shaft.” Nevada’s and nearby California’s mountains were littered with them.

“Well, too bad for him.” Lindsay remained close to Xav, which was as distracting as it was gratifying.

“I know where hewas,” AC was explaining to Diego. “These guys stay on the move. If I can get the Shifter to their last known location, maybe she can get a bead on them for me. And maybe sneak into their new hideout, when we find it, and make sure Dean is okay.”

“Then you retrieve him,” Diego finished. “Got it. What happens to Lindsay?”

AC shrugged. “I figure she can take care of herself. I once watched her … discourage … a couple of human guys who were bothering her in a club. Those dudes will leave her alone from now on. You know, when they can walk straight again.”

Lindsay chuckled. “That was fun.”

“You almost got arrested that night,” Xav reminded her. “We barely got away before the cops arrived. We’re lucky no one reported you to Shifter Bureau.”

Lindsay lost her smile. “Don’t take all the joy out of it.”

Xav decided not to answer. She was right—it had been exhilarating to watch Lindsay swift-punch two men who had been all over her, cornering her the second Xav had stepped to the bar for more drinks. He’d returned to find Lindsay standing over two groaning assholes, and he’d had to drag her away when she wanted to stay and gloat.

Why couldn’t they ever have a conversation without squabbling?

Because Xav had to let himself be fascinated by an unpredictable Feline Shifter. Who was even now at the door and zipping out into the hallway.

“Lindsay, what the hell?”

Xav realized, as he stormed after her, that she’d lifted the keycard to the interrogation room from his pocket. Damn it, he’d never felt a thing.

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