Silles, Mynxe L. - CatNip [CatTales] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

by CatNip (lit)

  He might be distracted as hell, but he’d be damned if he was going to let Lynx ignore him and steal the show. It wasn’t like he didn’t know how to dance. He fucking knew how. With ease, he grabbed his dance partner around and let the music guide him. His partner looked at him, obviously caught off guard momentarily. But then deciding to really enjoy herself, the redhead followed his lead with her own naughty interpretation of the dance number. Not bad, he thought. Red could move! So what if she wasn’t Lynx, his dancing version of a wet dream?

  Evidently, Red was good enough to catch Lynx’s eye too, Craig noted, not without some satisfaction. Good, he sure as hell wanted Lynx to remember he was more than just friend material, even if Lynx was with Leo, Craig thought somewhat grimly.

  Suddenly, a picture of him, Kelly, and Leo flashed through his mind. Their dance had been naked. Just that quickly, Craig could not erase the erotic fantasy of Lynx dancing naked between him and Leo.

  He was relieved when the number finally ended and the red-haired waitress had to get back to work. The fiery cutie had slipped her number in his shirt pocket before she took off, but Craig knew he wouldn’t be calling Red. The only woman on his mind, the real center of his attention, was headed back for the table with Leo on her arm.

  Instead of sitting down, Lynx grabbed Felice before the other woman had a chance to sit either. “Hey,” Lynx asked, sounding breathless, “Are you ready to go to the ladies’ room again?” Felice nodded assent, grabbed her purse, and trailed after her.

  “They really do travel in packs to the bathrooms, don’t they?” Roberto noted. His eyes followed the women’s forms as they weaved in and out of the crowd, heading for the women’s restroom. Craig watched as Lynx and Felice disappeared into the “unknown” dimension.

  Companionably, Craig just nodded, agreeing with Roberto’s assessment. Daniel took a swig of beer before nodding his. Women, they all agreed, did indeed have mysterious bathroom rituals.

  ~ CatNapping ~

  “At least the ladies’ room here is clean and has enough stalls,” Lynx said as she found a stall and went in.

  “Yes, this place is much better than some bar restrooms I’ve seen,” Felice agreed. Felice took out her lipstick and began to reapply it. At the moment, Lynx noted as she went into a stall, they had the restroom entirely to themselves. But if the band were on break, she’d bet it would’ve been a different story.

  Lynx went to wash her hands by where Felice stood, still checking her lipstick. Without warning, the lights ominously flickered out, and the music also cut out. For a second, silence descended out in the bar.

  “What the hell!” Felice grabbed her by the arm. Lynx was glad of the contact. She could see in the dark fine usually, but it wasn’t just dark. It was dead-of-night, pitch black. Only worse, at least the night had stars. They had to stay together.

  Suddenly, Felice stumbled, jerking Lynx’s arm. Lynx felt Felice’s arm go limp. She opened her mouth to scream, but nearly gagged as a sickeningly pungent cloth was shoved over her nose and mouth. A solid force of pure muscle immobilized her every move. The man was built like a brick wall of muscle, bone, and sinew. Were there two? For a split-second, Lynx fought both her attackers and to retain conscious awareness.

  The screams died in her throat. The chloroform choked her breath away. Darkness blurred her vision, and Lynx lost her battle for consciousness.

  ~ CatEyes ~

  Leo caught just a fraction of their exit. His eyes had adjusted quickly to the utter darkness of the club. He raced towards the restrooms as he spotted the large form half-carrying something or someone out. Craig, Roberto, and Daniel followed his lead as he parted the throng of panicking and punch-drunk partiers on his mad dash. Frantic, Leo burst through the rear exit just as a van sped away.

  Leo caught the faint taint of tiger at the rear of the club on the way out the exit.

  “Damn it to hell!” Enraged, he cursed as the four of them raced for the Hummer and piled in.

  Leo took the wheel and whipped the large vehicle out of the parking lot and onto the highway, still cursing. At the speed they were going, it would probably take every bit of driving skill he possessed to catch up. He prayed it would suffice because the thought of losing Lynx just was not acceptable.

  Chapter 15

  The van ahead had a good head start on them. Leo kept trying to close the gap. He was passing car after car at an alarming rate. Craig was tempted to buckle up, but decided against it. A seat belt could impede his movements. Up ahead, the van seemed to be losing a little ground. It was near midnight, so the roads were not teeming with traffic, but there were still enough vehicles on the road to make for hazardous driving, especially at the speeds they were now traveling.

  Leo, Craig couldn’t help but notice, wasn’t accommodating to conditions though and didn’t seem to care. The hummer’s speed increased incrementally with every mile. Amazingly, they were now only three car-lengths behind the van and gaining with every minute. If Leo could just clear the car ahead of him, they might gain enough ground to force the van ahead off the highway.

  Craig anticipated Leo’s plan. He glanced back. Roberto and Daniel leaned forward tensely in the seats behind them. They were ready. Still, the old car in front of them blocked their getting closer to the van. In the left lane, a newer Dodge Durango blocked them effectively, maneuvering into position beside the van. Leo swerved into the left lane, tailgating the Durango aside the van, obviously trying to egg them into speeding ahead.

  The sound of shattering glass was the next sound they heard. A bullet pinged the front windshield. It cracked as glass spider-webs spread across it. For a split second, the air seemed to hum, buzz, and pop. Leo swerved again, barely avoiding going off the road himself.

  “There’s more of the pack in the Durango. Hey, is everybody okay?” Leo gritted out as he sped back into line behind the three vehicles. Daniel and Roberto quickly assured Leo they were.

  “Try to hold the Hummer as steady as you can,” Craig said as levelly as he could, withdrawing his Glock from his waistband. Craig noted that Daniel and Roberto were already in position and rolling down their windows. “So, the bastards brought company along. I think it’s time we withdrew the welcome wagon.” Craig tried to line up a shot as Leo swerved again.

  From the back of the truck ahead, they could see the outline of the shooter. But Leo weaved back and forth between the left and right lane. He was at least making it damn difficult for the shooter to get off a shot with any sort of accuracy. Even Craig’s first shot went wide. Another ping to the left of Leo rang out. This time, it was Leo’s driver’s side mirror that was winged.

  “That was a little too close,” Leo muttered darkly. He continued to weave as he asked, “When are you three gonna take this guy out? I’ve got my hands full driving here!”

  “Just give me a second to get my shot lined up, Leo, and I’ll have him,” Daniel groused back. “It’s not like you’re making it any easier on us with your driving, either.”

  Craig coughed back an echoing remark. He took careful aim through the partially decimated front windshield and began firing.

  For a split second, nothing seemed to happen, and then all hell broke loose ahead of them. The Durango’s driver slumped over the wheel. Before Leo could swerve again, their vehicle slammed into the back of it as it slowed, losing its acceleration. The Durango began skidding across the road erratically. It took real driving skill, but somehow Leo managed to only cuff it with the front end of the Hummer before the Hummer went off the road onto the grassy stretch of median.

  “Damn it!” Leo bellowed as they came to a skidding stop. Behind them, the Durango had gone off the road, too, but much more erratically. They all turned to watch as it went into a long roll down the graduating slope.

  “We don’t have time to go take out the other guy, if he even made it,” Daniel said quietly. “We have to get back after the van before we lose them completely.” Nobody was arguing that, but when Leo turned the
key in the ignition, nothing happened.

  “Damn it to hell,” Leo began.

  Craig flipped open his phone. “Demar, we’ve got an emergency here. Lynx and Felice were abducted from the club by some thugs. We took off after them and ran into some car trouble during the chase.”

  “Not just thugs,” Leo interjected, “Adonis and company.”

  Craig listened as Demar exploded with a few choice epithets of his own. He’d definitely heard Leo’s comment.

  “Fucking bastards, I’ll kill the rogue sons-a-bitches.”

  Craig heard Demar’s quick intake of breath. He sounded calmer when he said, “Colby and Drake got here just in time then. I’ll fill them in. What’s your coordinates? It won’t take them long to get there.”

  Craig quickly told Demar their location. “Drake said to tell you that they’re on their way. I’ll come, too. Just say the word,” Demar finished hopefully.

  Leo, overhearing, shook his head. Craig nodded, understanding.

  “No, Demar. Leo says to stay there, guard the ranch, and we’ll call if we need you.” Craig knew it wasn’t what Demar wanted to hear, but for now it was best. Craig hung up. Now, all they could do was wait.

  Leo shot a menacing look down the stretch of highway where they’d last seen the van. Craig knew just how he felt. Lynx and Felice were now in the unholy clutches of Adonis Cervantes and his savages.

  Leo got out of the car and paced.

  “Damn it, we need to get going before we lose the trail!” Leo’s thoughts raged loud and clear.

  “I’m with you, Leo. We can’t afford to lose them. Lynx and Felice’s lives are at stake.”

  Leo’s confused expression cleared as it narrowed onto Craig’s. Craig was as surprised as Leo looked.

  “We will find them. We’re going to eliminate Adonis and his pack of scum and bring Lynx and Felice home, where they belong,” Leo promised him.

  “I think the Calvary’s here,” Craig blurted aloud, relieved, already moving toward it, as the outline of a familiar vehicle appeared.

  Seconds later, Colby pulled up alongside in the ranch’s other Hummer. Colby grimaced as he got out, and they all got in. “Had to get one of the ranch’s other vehicles to come pick you guys up. However, Drake’s bringing the ‘Vette along any second now. He just needed to pick up a few things from the ranch’s supply room.”

  Colby uttered the last statement with a meaningful waggle of his eyebrows. Leo quickly pulled out onto the road. Almost immediately, Drake roared up in the black Corvette.

  The consensus was clear. Get the show on the road, rescue their women, and clean some scum out. As they sped back onto the highway, everyone checked and then rechecked their weapons. Good to go, Craig tried to consciously relax so he could function unimpaired when the time came.

  Now, if they could just find Lynx again.

  However did the little minx do it? he wondered.

  Was there ever a time she wasn’t in trouble, unless of course, she was busy finding it?

  Sighing, Craig prayed they’d manage to rescue the women quickly. Otherwise, he was going to wind up having a coronary at this rate. His heart just couldn’t take losing Lynx again.

  ~ CatCrossing ~

  Adonis and his right-hand man, Chambers, pulled off on their usual exit. It was an exit that few people ever bothered to use, with the exception of the patrons of the small roadside rest stop. Adonis and Chambers had seen the Durango crash. They had to assume that Cyrus and J. Kelly were history, but at least their crash had slowed down his pursuers. Adonis considered it a worthy trade. After a few hooks and turns, he drove past Leroy’s place. They honked a familiar greeting going by.

  ~ CityCat ~

  Leroy glanced up as they drove past. He waved, but they were already too far down the dusty road. Now some people, of course, stopped for gas and a snack at the rundown gas station right off the exit. A few others, the unlucky ones having car troubles, might stop in at the small garage to the left of it. But few stayed. There were no burger joints or strip malls nearby. Only the most avid fishermen and hunters rented on for Leroy’s tour. This was not a high-traffic exit. Leroy didn’t really mind.

  Leroy had met Adonis a few years back when Adonis had come through for one of his tours. Adonis hadn’t been uppity, even if he had been a mite overdressed for a hunter or fisherman. But Adonis hadn’t put on airs. Leroy had liked that about him. Adonis and his friends always showed a respectful, interested attitude, too. Adonis had asked plenty of questions and had seemed very interested when they’d passed the old, ramshackle house at the back quarter of his property.

  At first, when the city slicker inquired about buying the old place, Leroy had been dubious. But Adonis had soothed his fears, saying he just needed the place for his hunting and fishing expeditions. Adonis and the men often brought a fishing boat, too. The old cottage had access leading right to the lake. It was perfect, Adonis assured Leroy, for what he needed.

  But the most persuasive argument Adonis had used, Leroy thought grinning, was the unbelievable amount on that pretty check he’d offered. Leroy wouldn’t have believed his eyes if not for the new-fangled glasses he’d finally gotten. Well, hell, he’d put some of that money back for his boy, Jenson. Couldn’t hurt, Leroy had thought. That boy of his sure wasn’t headed for a high-dollar career. Jenson would be lucky to get a J-O-B. Leroy shook his head.

  So, once Leroy got over the shock and thought about it, he couldn’t very well turn down that kind of money for that old rundown shack and a few acres of measly scrub. Hell, most of the property was overtaken with no-good weeds, anyway.

  Leroy shook his head again. He barely recognized the old cottage now.

  ~ CatNaps ~

  Chambers looked back at the receding figure and asked, “Adonis, what are we going to do if that old cracker or his son decides to show up and start asking questions?”

  “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, Chambers,” Adonis replied, “but I doubt that boy of his will be asking any questions of consequence.”

  “You’re right, boss. The old guy’s kid must be twenty, but he’s still a few bricks short of a load, if you know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, true,” Adonis answered, his mouth curling slightly. “Just don’t make the mistake of underestimating his old man too much. Leroy may not be Harvard educated, but he’s still sharp as a whip. He’s quicker than many half his age by my estimation. So, don’t you be getting careless and letting something slip.”

  “All right, you’re the boss. Don’t worry yerself. I’ll be careful. I’ll see to it that others know the drill, too.”

  “Good,” Adonis said as he again twisted his neck. “Damn crick in my neck,” he muttered. He braked to a bumpy stop. “Now, let’s take these women inside. We should get them settled before they wake up hissing and spitting. See that they’re comfortable and secure before laying the booby traps.”

  “Ha, booby traps, I like it boss, you’re definitely a funny man,” Chambers said with a faint smirk.

  “Let’s just see to these two. Then I’ll show you how funny I can be,” Adonis growled. The implied threat was clear in his tone as Adonis lifted the still limp Lynx from the back of the van. Chambers said nothing as he hefted Felice’s body up.

  “Careful!” Adonis’s warning was irritably sharp. Chambers straightened and managed to shift Felice’s weight to get a better grip on her as they proceeded to the house ahead. Even though she was pert near light as a feather, she was still limp as a rag doll. As they neared the door, it swung open and three younger men swarmed out to help. Without much ceremony, Adonis led them to the back of the house. The bedroom had been prepared in advance for their guests. Chambers deposited Felice on the large bed. A second later, Adonis had laid out Lynx like a sack of flour beside her.

  “Don’t they look pretty, boss?” Chambers asked, nodding at the still sleeping pair. Somewhere between a growl and a purr, Adonis concurred. Chambers nearly smiled at the sound. He hadn’t hea
rd Adonis do anything but growl for quite some time.

  While Chambers doubted Adonis would ever develop feelings, much less love for anyone again, it was nice to hear. When Adonis lost his beloved mate, Drea, Chambers had feared Adonis would never recover. He had watched Adonis grieve and plot his revenge. That day had finally come.

  ~ CatConscious ~

  Beneath lidded eyes that looked to be closed, but weren’t entirely, Felice struggled to gain awareness. She needed to read the situation she found herself in. It was a struggle. Just staying conscious was proving difficult. She still felt dreadfully woozy. Even understanding what her captors said was difficult. Her effort to read them with her cat senses, well, that wasn’t happening. At least not until the drugs wore off.

  Instinctively, though, Felice still knew better than to indicate her growing awareness or wakefulness. No, it would be better to find out what she could. She needed to keep the advantage of surprise. If she ever even got to use it, she thought dismally.

  The blackness blurring her vision began closing in again. Damn, there goes surprising them. It was Felice’s last conscious thought. The cloaking wave of darkness enveloped her.

  ~ CatNip ~

  Adonis and Chambers quickly and efficiently bound the two women’s arms to the king-sized bed. The knots would hold, and the bed was sturdy. Lynx and Felice were both still out. On the ride over, he had injected a little drug called CatNip into their systems.

  The little cocktail in their system now was potent. It should also keep them under control for a few more hours. That would be long enough for Adonis to make all the preparations he needed to. The interesting drug Crawley had cooked up would ensure their cooperation. Oh, yes, much more. CatNip would ensure their compliance at very least. He didn’t need the getaway, everything he’d worked towards, fucked up by two energetic, pissed off female shifters.

  He wasn’t a fool. He fully expected sooner or later some surprise company could, and would, show up in hopes of rescuing the two females. Adonis had plans of his own to put into play before that happened. Nothing that difficult, but he still needed time. Two amped up hellcats, ready to scratch his eyes out, or worse, was not what he had in mind for the interim. Nope, he needed docile pussies for just a little while longer.