Page 51 of Stray Cat

“Can you walk out of here? If not, Tiger can carry you. He’s super strong.”

Tiger said nothing, only watched with his golden eyes. The man flinched in alarm then reassessed Lindsay.

“Y’all are Shifters,” he announced.

“No kidding.” Lindsay gave Jeff more of the water, as his weak hands couldn’t hold the canteen. “How long have you been in here?”

“Don’t know. We were flying around Wednesday night. I think. So, however long that’s been.”

Almost a week, without food, water, and blankets. Lindsay was impressed he’d survived as well as he had.

“Let’s get you out of here.” She put a hand under his shoulder and tried to help him to stand.

Jeff cried out and immediately collapsed. “Think I broke things.”

Lindsay put her hands under his arms again, this time more gently, and half-carried, half-dragged him the short way to the opening.

She set him down again, and he grunted in pain. “You’ll have to crawl through,” Lindsay told him. “Sorry.”

Jeff nodded once and rolled onto his belly. He had just enough stamina to inch himself forward, with Lindsay’s assistance, until Tiger caught him and pulled him out.

Lindsay dove through once he was clear, somersaulting to rise to her feet. Jeff was staring up at the huge Tiger in sheer terror. He uttered a small scream when Tiger lifted him and cradled him across his shoulders.

Xav and the others were waiting when Lindsay and Tiger, with Jeff, emerged from the crevice. Xav immediately went to Lindsay’s side, his eyes holding worry.

“Easy mission,” she assured him. “Poor guy needs a hospital.”

Tiger, without stopping, carried Jeff toward the waiting SUVs.

Xav slid his arm around Lindsay. “Nice work.”

The warmth in Lindsay’s heart became incandescent. She shrugged modestly. “Tiger pinpointed him.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. If Tiger hadn’t needed your help, he would have barreled in and out before any of us knew what he was doing.”

Lindsay grinned. “You’re right. I was awesome.” She pumped one hand into the air.

Xav surprised her by pulling her close and kissing her on the mouth. A brief kiss, but one that fanned the fires.

“Don’t get cocky,” he rumbled, his breath hot on her cheek. “There might be more people out here to find.”

“He didn’t say anything about others,” Lindsay said, not wanting to end this unexpected intimacy. “He might not have anything to do with Dean, or the helicopter.”

“Don’t bet on it. Did he look like a lost hiker to you?”

“Not really.” Lindsay shook her head. “I wonder if the gang ditched him, and why.”

“One way to find out.”

Xav released her, the cold sharpening as he turned away. Lindsay swallowed her need and trotted after him.

Swift walking soon put them back at the SUVs. Tiger had Jeff sitting on the tailgate of one, wrapped in a thermal blanket, while a DX medic was alternately giving him oxygen and helping him drink more water.

Jeff stiffened when Xav approached then relaxed when he saw Lindsay with him. “Thanks,” he told her.

“Sure.” Lindsay shrugged. “What happened? Why were you in that cave by yourself? Where are your friends? And the helicopter?”

Both Xav and Diego shot her annoyed glances, which Lindsay ignored. They needed to know, didn’t they? Lindsay’s direct questions would save a lot of time.

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