Hidden Passions (Hidden, #7)(46)

"It's a housecat," he said.

"Apparently," Johnny said. "We found her in the cave where Rick and his new girl were hiding the you-know-whats. We assume she's Cass's. I don't know why they took a pet on the run, but she doesn't seem to like me."

"You stuck her in a bucket," Tony said.

"Believe me, kid, her mood was worse before I put her in there."

The cat yowled as if agreeing.

"We'll take her!" Evina's cubs chimed in unison. "We're cats too. She'll like us!"

Tony considered the unhappy cat. Her gray ears were flattened against her bony head, her fur puffed up in threat or fear. Abby and Rafi might be fellow felines, but they were also six-year-olds.

"Uh," he said. "I don't think this cat is up for being played with. Chris and I will look after her. Maybe coax her to take a nap."

Braced for more angry noises, Tony took the bucket handle from Johnny. The cat stayed mum. In fact, she sat down in the container.

"Well," Tony said, surprised and pleased. Domestic cats didn't always get along with werewolves.

"Okay then," Johnny said. "I guess I'll go back to Adam."

"You're not staying?" Maria objected.

"I can't, sweetie. I'm the weapons expert, and they brought an arsenal."

Johnny was Special Tactics, but Maria knew her husband's penchant for being where the action was. She frowned at him skeptically. "An arsenal for one faerie."

"Faeries are the Big Bad, honey--at least some of them. We want to squash this one good while we have the chance." He kissed her forehead to mollify her. "You don't need me here. You've got Tony."


Tony was relatively certain that fact impressed no one.

Maria didn't seem happy, but she let her husband hug her goodbye. Ethan got a squeeze as well, plus a giggle-inducing growl. Then Johnny slipped out the back way again.

His exit left a brief lull.

Syd, the dreadlocked weretiger, ended it.

"Pants," he said, holding up a pair in one hand. Tony gaped at him blankly. "For Chris. He'll have ripped his when he shifted."

"Right," Tony said. "I'll, um, give them to him if you want."

Syd tossed the garment, which Tony caught. Abruptly awkward but not sure what else to do, he carried it and the cat bucket up the stairs. There was a pause, and then he heard Chris's tiger padding up behind him. His fur brushed the peeling wall, his substantial weight causing the steps to creak. Tony didn't think it was his imagination that Chris's strides sounded self-conscious. Everyone knew Tony was attracted to naked men. The idea that he might watch Chris pulling on the sweats was unavoidable.

When Liam muttered a snarky comment beneath his breath, Tony deliberately blocked it from his hearing.

~

Under other circumstances, Tony turning his back while Chris pulled on a pair of sweatpants would have been humorous. Deciding not to attempt a joke, he tied the drawstring without comment.

"Sorry I attacked your brother-in-law," he said.

To prevent the cat from fleeing, Tony shut the door to the poker room before prying up the bucket lid. "You didn't know Johnny was a friendly."

"I should have listened when you told me to wait."

The cat wasn't hopping out of her enclosure. Tony reached in and pulled her out. She hung in his hands and stared at him. She was a skinny thing, her gray fur crooked from having been puffed up.

"She doesn't seem to hate me," Tony said.

"You might have my scent on you. Try holding her on your shoulder."

Tony shifted her onto it and petted her cautiously. The cat closed her eyes and relaxed, as if her bones had magically melted.

"She's purring," Tony said, surprised by it.

Chris smiled. He could hear that from where he stood.

Tony turned to him. "Adam is probably right about this being over soon. Our alpha has good instincts."

Was he sorry about that? Chris couldn't read his guarded expression. "You must have good instincts too. You knew it was safe to drag my tiger off your brother-in-law."

"Why would you hurt me?" Tony asked reasonably.

That was the million-dollar question, wasn't it?

"We should go back on lookout," Chris said. "Just in case."

Tony carried the cat to the chair, petting her ruffled fur smooth with long slow strokes. Chris sat too, soothed by him soothing her. The neighborhood outside slowly came awake with businesspeople and vehicles. Nothing alarming happened. Chris and Tony didn't repeat their kiss. In truth, they barely spoke.

Despite the uneventfulness of their watch, Chris knew he'd always remember being here with the man he loved.





CHAPTER EIGHT


ADAM called Ari, keeper of all the cell phones, with the news that the danger was over. She sprinted upstairs to tell Tony as soon as she hung up. The bad faeries were dead, the dragons were safe, and Adam wanted the squad and its family members to gather at the estate of Cass Maycee's close girlfriends. Apparently, this was the top-secret hideout Johnny had mentioned.

It was afternoon. Johnny hadn't left them more than a few hours ago.

"That's great news," Chris said, squeezing Tony's shoulder.