Page 14 of Blade

CHAPTER 3

The cats moved between his legs, purring as Blade spoke with Savage. He bent down to rub Macaroni between his ears. Damn things had shown up during a storm one night, several years ago, and never left. He’d taken them into Grand Ridge, to Mad Dog’s girl’s vet clinic. After they were up to date on their vaccines and microchipped, he’d spoiled them rotten. They were allowed in his house whenever they wanted, and they’d come in and out of the cat door he’d installed at will. He never thought he’d be a cat owner. Kayla, Mad Dog’s fiancé, laughed and told him that was how the Cat Distribution System worked. These two orange knuckleheads had wormed their way into his heart. Mac and Cheese. That’s what he’d named them. Macaroni was the thicker one, and he swore they didn’t share a single brain cell between the two of them.

As he listened to the update with Savage, he was glad for the fur missiles rubbing on his legs. Their purring had a weird effect on him, almost working as an anxiety medication. Blade ended the call with Savage, his grip tightening on the phone until his knuckles turned white. Just when he thought things couldn't get more fucked up. Zeb and most of his crew had made bail. Theywere out, free until trial. If they showed up. He knew they’d try to clean up their messes here and then leave the country.

"Son of a bitch," he muttered, shoving the phone into his pocket.

He took a deep breath, trying to get his rage under control before going back inside. Lily didn't need to see him like this, seething, murderous, ready to tear someone apart with his bare hands. She was already skittish enough. Already afraid. The last thing he needed was to give her another reason to fear him.

Through the window, he could see her on the couch where he'd left her, a blanket pulled up to her chin, watching him with those big, wary eyes. Their gazes connected, and he gave her a reassuring nod before turning away.

Get your shit together, man.

The new information from Savage was troubling, to say the least. Tim, the bartender at Razor's Edge and brother to the leader of Pedro's Rejects, had gone missing. His apartment had been ransacked; blood spattered on the walls. No body yet, but it didn't look good.

And the last person Tim was seen talking to? Lily Hart.

Blade didn't believe for a second that she had anything to do with Tim's disappearance. But the timing was suspicious enough that he knew he needed to get her side of the story.

He just hoped to hell she'd be honest with him.

Taking another deep breath, he schooled his features into something less murderous and went back inside.

Lily was exactly where he'd left her, but she'd sat up straighter, tension radiating from her small frame.

"Bad news?" she asked, her voice small.

He nodded, dropping into the armchair across from her. "You could say that."

"They found me," she guessed, her face paling. Just then, Macaroni and Cheese decided to jump up on the couch and introduce themselves.

“You have… cats?” She asked him.

“More like the fuckers have me,” he said with a small smile.

“I love cats!” Thank God. He’d hate to hear she was allergic or some shit.

“They aren’t exactly the pick them up and cuddle them type,” he warned her. “They’ll come to you when they want attention. Otherwise, they do their own thing.”

She looked at him like he had three heads as both Macaroni and Cheese curled up against her. “Are you sure about that?”

“Definitely. Glad they like you, baby.” He watched as the cats loved on her. “To answer your question, no. They haven’t found you. You're safe here."

Some of the tension left her shoulders, but her eyes remained wary. Smart girl. She knew there was more.

"Lily," he began, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. "I need to ask you about Tim."

The change was immediate. Her entire body went rigid, her eyes widening with genuine fear.

"Tim?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The bartender at The Citadel," Blade clarified, watching her reaction carefully. "Brother to the leader of Pedro's Rejects."

She swallowed hard. "I know who he is."

"When's the last time you saw him?"

She looked down at her hands, which were twisting nervously in her lap. "The night I ran. Two weeks ago."

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