The Lucky Cat

by L. M. Somerton

  “Sure. I want to show you off and let all the local Doms know you’re taken.”

  “I love it when you get all Dommy and possessive,” Landry said. “I suppose these have to come off.” He fiddled with the buckle on one wrist cuff.

  “I think your clientele might be a bit shocked if all you wear to the store are cuffs.”

  Landry rolled around laughing. “I suspect some of my old ladies might enjoy it more than they should. I’ve had my ass slapped a few times. They have no shame.”

  “I’m not against arresting senior citizens,” Gage growled. “Your butt is mine. I should put up a notice.”

  “Yeah, that would work.”

  “Go shower. I’ll slip out for some breakfast then take my turn when I get back.”

  “Don’t forget the coffee.”

  “What if I bring you some nice herbal tea instead?”

  “Because you want to live to see your next birthday?” Landry scampered for the bathroom.

  Within the hour, he and Gage had been through their bathroom routines and munched their way through a bag of cherry and apricot Danish. Landry had downed his coffee then gone downstairs to sort out the float for the till and check over the store. He sent Gage for a second round of coffees the instant he spotted the patrol car parking outside. Gage had them taking their breaks nearby, and he always bought them coffee too.

  Gage unlocked the security shutters on his way back, coming into Treasure Trove through the front door. He deposited Landry’s coffee on the cash desk. “You must keep that place next door in business. They know me now. I don’t even have to tell the barista my order.”

  “Coffee is ambrosia. It is the meaning of life and I have to take advantage of you being here. When I’m on my own, I suffer greatly.”

  “I know how to punish you then, don’t I. Ban you from drinking coffee for a couple of days.”

  “You wouldn’t?” Landry’s horror wasn’t faked. “That kind of cruelty is against the Geneva Convention.”

  “And you’re not allowed to use your safe word over a cup of coffee.”

  “You’re evil.”

  “If I chained you to a wall then drank the coffee in front of you—that would be evil.” Gage smirked.

  Landry huffed and grabbed his duster. “You can watch the desk while I take my frustration out on cleaning.”

  “Sounds good. I have a few calls to make, but I’ll look forward to the day when I have you cleaning my place in nothing but a collar.”

  It was difficult to walk with an erection. Landry needed to find a quiet spot where he could calm down and think deflating thoughts.

  It proved to be an uneventful day in the store. The weather, which showed early promise, turned around midday. The skies darkened and rumbles of thunder preceded driving rain. The customers stayed away and Landry took the opportunity to do some updates to the store’s website, which he’d created himself. There were even a few online orders to dispatch, which he wrapped and labeled ready for a courier to collect.

  Apart from a brief run out to get sandwiches for lunch, Gage spent most of the day attached to his phone while keeping a watchful eye on the door and casting suspicious glances at the few customers who had come in before the weather broke.

  Landry parked his butt behind the cash desk. “How about we go out for something to eat this evening? I’m getting a bit stir crazy.”

  “Sounds good. Do you have anywhere in mind?”

  “Don’t cops know all the best places to eat?”

  “There’s a small mom-and-pop Italian place I like. It’s near my neighborhood so I go there quite a lot.”

  “I love Italian food.” Landry thought he might drool. “And they always make amazing coffee.”

  “In that case, I’ll lock up while you go change.”

  Landry skipped up all four flights of stairs. Tired though he was, the thought of a date with Gage gave him renewed energy. Their relationship so far had hardly been normal and though Landry wasn’t enamored of normal at the best of times, after the last few days he’d be very content with being boring for a while. After a quick shower, he changed into a pair of soft jeans with a strategic rip across one thigh and his only, precious cashmere jumper, which was a shade of royal blue. As it was still raining, he opted for boots rather than his usual sneakers and he dug a raincoat out of the closet, more to protect his sweater than anything. He waited in the living room while Gage took his turn in the bathroom, emerging clad in thigh-hugging black jeans and a cream cable sweater. Landry wanted to jump him right there and then.

  “You look edible and your pullover is made to be snuggled.” He jumped into Gage’s arms, wrapping his legs around Gage’s hips.

  “You clean up pretty well yourself.” Gage kissed him, his lips hot and sweet.

  “You taste of toothpaste.”

  “Then we’re both minty fresh, aren’t we?”

  Reluctantly, Landry stood on his own two feet. “I’m ready. Shall we go?”

  “Let me grab my coat,” Gage said. He slipped his holster on before putting his jacket over the top.

  “That’s kinda scary.”

  “Just forget it’s there and enjoy the evening. I have something for you.”

  He drew a length of coiled leather from his pocket. It was pale blue, like the cuff set Landry had worn.

  “Is that…?” Landry trembled with excitement.

  “It’s a collar.” Gage slipped the narrow band around Landry’s neck, clipping it shut at the back. “Not too tight?” He tested the fit by running a finger underneath it.

  Landry shook his head, for once unable to find the right words.

  “Hey, it’s okay… You’ve earned it, you know. This one can’t be permanent because you’ll have to take it off to shower. Doesn’t make it any less meaningful.”

  “I never thought… I mean… I’m a little overwhelmed right now.” Landry touched the supple material. “They won’t mind at the restaurant?”

  “Not at all. You may even recognize the owner from Scorch. Be warned, he doesn’t have a sub at the moment and he has the softest heart of any Dom I’ve ever met. He’ll probably want to adopt you.”

  “I think I like him already,” Landry said, relaxing. “You’re smiling.”

  “I tend to do that when I’m happy. I’ve been saving that collar for a long time. I was beginning to think I’d never find a man worthy of it.”

  Landry’s face heated and he cast his eyes down. “I’ll be the best sub I can be for you.”

  “You should be you. Nothing more. Nothing less. Now, I’m starving. How about we make a move?”

  Determined not to cry, Landry rubbed the back of his hand across his eyes. Not trusting himself to speak, he nodded, then followed Gage from the apartment, letting him do lock-up duty at each door they passed.

  Gage’s Jeep was parked on the opposite side of the street and Landry ambled across the road while Gage was still dealing with the padlock on the yard gate. It was darker than it should have been, even in the rain, and Landry realized that the streetlight nearest to Gage’s parking spot was out. There were shards of glass in the gutter. Landry shook his head, wondering why even the most bored teenager would bother aiming rocks at the light. The passenger door of the Jeep was curb-side so he waited next to it for Gage to join him.

  There was a screech of brakes and the smell of burning rubber as a car skidded to a halt in the middle of the road. Wild-eyed, Landry froze as two men brandishing guns leapt out and made straight for him. He yelled. Gage was already halfway across the road. For an instant, Landry’s brain stopped working. He didn’t want to do anything that would put Gage in danger, but he couldn’t stand there like a dummy while he was attacked. He dropped to the floor, then rolled off the curb to the only available hiding place, under Gage’s jeep. Water soaked through Landry’s jeans and gravel grazed his hands as he crab-scrambled sideways toward the road where he could see Gage.

  “Stay there!” Gage shouted, throwing himself behind
another vehicle.

  “Fuck.” One of the gunmen fired two shots toward Gage’s hiding place. “I’ll cover you. Drag the kid out!”

  Landry scuttled back and forth, keeping away from where he could see boots by the side of the Jeep, avoiding the occasional curse-accompanied grab. There was a shot, then another… Landry hunkered down, put his arms over his head and prayed. He heard scuffling, swearing and the sound of running feet.

  “Seattle PD. Stop or I’ll shoot.” A woman’s voice issued the command. After more gunfire, two car doors slammed and a vehicle screeched away.

  His heart pounding, Landry didn’t dare move. Please let him be fine. Please, please, please.

  “They’ve gone. You can come out now, Landry.” Gage sounded tense and angry. Landry rolled back toward the pavement then scrambled clear of the Jeep. His clothes were filthy and sopping wet. Gage rounded the car then pulled him into a tight hug. “Are you hurt?”

  “No.” Landry pressed his face against Gage’s jacket. He was shaking uncontrollably. “What about you? They didn’t get you, did they? There was shooting. I hate guns!”

  “Morons couldn’t hit a barn door at three paces. Their shots went wide. I think I got one of them in the leg. Fuck, they took one hell of a risk trying to grab you off the street.”

  “They were after me?” Landry went cold. Gage held him tighter.

  “Put him down, Gage.” Landry recognized Sancha’s voice. Reluctantly, he stepped away from the security of Gage’s arms.

  “Hi, Sancha. What’s up?”

  “One of these days, Landry, we’re going to meet under better circumstances.” Sancha gave him a hard squeeze. “You okay, big guy? I was a bit slow getting to you.”

  “You were here when it mattered,” Gage said. “I’m not sure they would have been scared off if I’d been the only one with a gun.”

  “Pulling your ass out of the fire again, huh?”

  “Yeah, yeah, if it makes you feel better, you can think that.”

  “I called it in, so the cavalry will be here soon.”

  “Wonderful,” Landry said. “The way things are going I’m gonna get run out of the neighborhood for causing so much disturbance.” There weren’t that many residences in the area but one or two people were standing on the street rubbernecking. “I suppose I’m not going to get my nice Italian dinner now, either?”

  “Not tonight, sweetheart.” Gage squeezed his shoulder. “How about once we’re done with the uniforms, Sancha and I take you to our favorite diner instead?”

  “Okay.” Landry sat on the curb, picking bits of gravel out of his palms while Gage and Sancha conferred. He sniffed, wrinkling his nose, wishing he had a tissue.

  “You told me you weren’t hurt,” Gage accused, standing over him.

  “I’m not,” Landry protested. “It’s just some scrapes.” He held his palms up for Gage to see.

  “You’re bleeding.”

  “Honestly, Gage… It’s nothing. They just need cleaning up and some antiseptic ointment or something. I am wet and cold, though. Would it be okay if I go in and change? My pants aren’t fit to be seen in public.”

  “Sure.” Gage walked him across the road, undid the gate then the door into the building. “You have your keys?” Landry nodded. “Then I’ll lock up behind you and deal with things down here. They’re gonna need a statement from you too.”

  “I won’t be long.”

  “The collar stays on, Landry.” Gage’s tone brooked no dissent and it gave Landry a much-needed warm feeling as he ascended the stairs to his apartment. His pants went straight in the laundry hamper. He hung his coat on the back of the bathroom door because it would have to go to a dry cleaner. His sweater had survived its adventure unscathed, so Landry settled for clean jeans and a fleece hoodie because he didn’t own another coat. He gave his hands a thorough wash, checking them as best he could for embedded dirt before smearing on a layer of antiseptic gel. The grazes were sore but not deep—he’d had much worse in the schoolyard or when playing with his brothers as a kid. He’d left his wallet and phone on the bed so he went to retrieve them. Inside the bedroom door, he stilled, staring. With a shuddering breath, he gave himself a smack on the forehead.

  “You stupid fucking idiot.” He reached for the most recent acquisition in his lucky cat collection. Running his fingers over its body, he discovered a seam around its middle, well disguised by the intricate pattern. “Gage is gonna kill me, spank me then kill me again. I can’t believe I forgot about this.” Clutching the cat, he raced down the stairs, across the yard then out into the street after a brief fight with the lock.

  “Gage!” Landry yelled.

  “What? What’s wrong?” Gage hurried across the road from where he’d been leaning into the open window of a cop car.

  “I’m so dumb.” Landry thrust the cat toward Gage.

  “Why are you giving me a china cat?”

  “It’s not china, its porcelain, but that’s not the point!” Landry could hardly get the words out. “This was in the crate.”

  “Slow down. What crate? What are you talking about?”

  “The crate that came from the grandson via the nephew to the hall. The one you put in the corner.”

  “You’re not making a whole lotta sense. Wait…you mean the crate with all the oriental stuff?”

  “Yes! How many other crates have you lugged around recently?” Landry snapped, his frustration getting the better of him.

  “Inside. Now.” Gage waved his partner over. “Sancha, ask the guys to hold on, will you?”

  “Sure.” Sancha chatted to the cops in the car then trotted over to join them. She didn’t ask questions, just followed Gage and Landry inside. “The guys will keep an eye out.”

  Gage opened the connecting door to the shop and they all gathered around the cash desk.

  “There’s a break in it,” Landry said, putting the cat on the desk. “It’s been repaired, I think. It already had a broken ear, that’s why I added it to my lucky cat collection but when I went upstairs I realized it’s Japanese, not Chinese like the rest of the stuff that was in the crate. It didn’t belong with the other stuff. I doubt it came from the same place.”

  “Holy moly,” Sancha muttered. “Break it open, Gage.”

  “There’s a small hammer in the drawer,” Landry said. “I use it for knocking odd nails back into place.”

  Gage got the hammer out, examined the cat then laid it on its side. He gave it a gentle tap with the hammer and it fell into two parts. “There’s nothing inside,” he said, sounding disappointed. “No key.”

  “Damn it!” Sancha added.

  Landry picked up the bottom half. “But look at this!” He turned the base so that Gage could see the inside. “I don’t think Japanese artisans scrawled numbers in Sharpie inside their creations.”

  “Six digits. Well, fuck. The ‘key’ is a code or combination, not a physical key. You found it!” He pulled Landry and Sancha into a three-way hug.

  “I did, didn’t I? But what does that mean?” Landry was elated but more confused than ever.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It didn’t take Gage long to come to the conclusion that he and Sancha would have to go into work. “I’m sorry, Landry. We can’t do the research we need to on phones. We need PD resources and secure computers. Our dinner will have to wait. I can get you some take-out before we leave.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I won’t starve. There’s a frozen pizza in the freezer and I’ve got some salad and stuff. It’s much more important that the two of you get to work and find whatever that key code opens. Those idiots won’t come back now… Will they?”

  “I doubt it very much,” Sancha said. “One of them was injured and they will have realized that we were waiting for them. They won’t risk it again, not tonight anyway.”

  “I agree,” Gage said. “I still don’t like leaving you here on your own. The patrol car will be here a while and I’ll ask them to cruise past every now and again
through the night.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Landry insisted. “I don’t want to be the reason this case drags on. I want it over just as much as the two of you do.”

  “If you’re sure…” Gage leaned in for a kiss.

  Sancha fanned herself. “Did it get hot in here?”

  “I should make you turn your back,” Gage said.

  “Get lost, the two of you,” Landry admonished. “I have a date with my onesie and a bucket of hot chocolate.” He ushered them out of the store then headed up the stairs while Gage locked doors behind him. Landry’s steps were dragging by the time he reached his door. He’d kept a cheerful face on for Gage, but he was sad and a little anxious to be left alone. He decided to get as cozy as possible, then find some hunky sportsmen to watch on the TV.

  Half an hour later he was cuddled in the corner of the couch with a plate of pizza, a mug of steaming hot chocolate and a bowl of chips. He’d found European soccer on the TV, which was enough to keep him amused for a while. His panda onesie was warm and he’d pulled the hood up for additional coziness. A fleecy throw across his lap meant that he was as contented as he could be under the circumstances. Gage had texted to let him know that he and Sancha had arrived at the station and that they were getting to work. He’d promised to text again if they found anything interesting.

  Landry finished his food and chocolate, the milky drink making him drowsy. He lay out on the sofa and drifted into a doze, imagining what it might be like when he and Gage finally made it to Scorch for an evening. The snug fit of the collar around his neck made him feel loved. It crossed his mind that he did love Gage and that jerked him into wakefulness.

  “Holy crap! This is what being in love feels like.” He closed his eyes again, a smile on his face.

  He wasn’t sure how long he snoozed but he woke suddenly, thinking that he’d heard a loud noise. He wasn’t sure and whatever it was didn’t happen again, so he told himself it had been a dream. His bladder told him it was time to visit the bathroom, so he made a quick trip, dumping his dirty plate and mug in the kitchen sink on the way past.