“So bro, where are we going?”
Rio grinned. “Fishing.”
Fifteen minutes later, the three of them were peacefully gliding in a boat to the middle of the lake. Cat reclined against Rio, more comfortable with Rio than himself. He couldn’t fault her for that. Rio had several days head start with her, but he planned to change that.
“It’s beautiful. The sunshine makes the water look as like it’s covered in diamonds,” she said.
He refrained from replying with something corny like ‘not as beautiful as you’ even if it were true. Once they were in the middle of the lake, he pulled the oars in and opened the coffee can.
Cat watched him like a hawk. She scrunched her face when he threaded the worm on the hook. She sat up, and he handed the cane pole to her. “What do I do?”
“Swing the hook out and let it plop in the water like this.” Rio helped her. “Now, just watch the cork. When it goes under, that means you’ve got a bite.”
Cat seemed fascinated with the orange bobbing cork. And when it dipped, she snatched the pole up just like he knew she would do. Rio grinned behind her, and Creed did the best he could not to laugh. Creed and Rio had learned the same lesson many moons ago.
“No fish. What happened?”
Creed grinned. “You, my little Cat, had a nibble.”
“A nibble?”
“The fish swam by, took a small bite, but not the whole thing. Now throw it back out there and wait until you feel him grab hold and try to run.”
The cork landed on the water with a plop. She watched it intensely and commented when a dragonfly lit on the end of her pole. Creed’s wolf eyes saw the big bass circle the worm. Rio did too, so he eased his hand down on hers. The strike was subtle. Cat jerked anyway, but Rio held her steady. “Wait,” he whispered against her hair.
“I’m trying,” she said. “Patience wasn’t something I was born with.”
Creed wished Cat could see the strike like he and Rio would see. Maybe one day, if she wanted to be converted. The fish circled back and in a flash, swallowed the hook. Her pole bent over as the bass dove deep. Creed was pretty sure that if Rio hadn’t had his hand on the pole, it would have went swimming.
“Ooh. Ooh. I got one.”
Rio grinned at the excitement in her voice. Even humans were fascinated with the lazy art of fishing. The wolf in Rio would have played with it before hauling it in, but he didn’t think she’d wait that long to see her prize. He helped her lift the good-sized bass into the boat. She quickly scooted away as it flailed in the bottom.
“Ew, it stinks,” she said.
Her comment pleased Rio. She was a girly girl, a female whose softness was through and through. He didn’t want a kick-ass woman. Just someone who he and Creed could cherish and protect. Yeah, he was a chauvinistic bastard, but fuck anyone who dared give him shit about it.
“You want to keep it or throw it back?” Creed asked.
“I don’t know. Is it big enough to eat?”
“Yes, but the way Rio and I eat, we’d need four or five more this size. I can tell you’re getting tired, so I don’t think we’ll have time.”
Cat’s eyes rested on the fish. “Okay. Throw him back before he suffocates.”
Rio’s grin matched Creed’s. Creed removed the hook and released him. “You want to try again, or nap?” asked Rio.
“How about a nap right here?”
Creed washed the fish smell off his hands and grabbed the oars. “I think you’ll be more comfortable in bed or on the couch,” he said.
Cat reclined against him and let her hand trail in the water. Her love for the peacefulness of the lake swelled him with pride. Movement caught his eye on the back porch at the same time that Cat cried out in pain, a sound that raked nails down his soul.
She bolted upright and grabbed her belly. “I think it’s time.”
Cold fear swept through him, and Creed rowed like the lake was on fire. Rio’s stomach cramped as the boat landed on the shore. A slew of terrible things raced through his mind. What if there were complications?
Water splashed as Creed jumped out to steady the boat. After Rio helped her stand, Creed swooped her up and headed for the house. Ila held the door and quietly issued efficient orders like a lieutenant in the armed forces. His grandmother ordered them to Rio’s room because she’d changed the linens.
“What can we do?” Rio asked as he shoved his hands through his hair.
“Absolutely nothing except get out of here and close the door behind you.”
He started to protest, but thought better of it. What could he and Creed possibly do? Besides pace.
The door closed with a snick as another soft moan ground from Cat’s lips. Creed turned almost white. Rio leaned against the wall, and Creed paced. Cat’s grunts and groans were ripping a hole in them. Her pain permeated the air like a thick, heavy blanket.
“I know Ila said to stay out here, but shouldn’t we be in there for—I don’t know—moral support maybe?” asked Creed.
“Going against Ila has never worked out for us. If Cat wanted us in there, she would have asked for us.”
A muffled scream from Cat sent the brothers to the kitchen where they grabbed the entire case of beer before moving to the back porch. “Do you think we should override Ila and take Cat to the hospital?” Rio asked.
“That thought has merit, but I remember Ila delivering many pups for the pack.”
“But Cat’s not a werewolf. She’s physiologically different from us. Humans are fragile. She’s fragile.”
Creed took a swallow of his beer before answering. “If things go to shit, we’ll just convert her, the baby too if needed.”
Rio had never heard of an attempt to convert a newborn. But if things went south, what choice did they have? Doing nothing was out of the question. Rio chucked his bottle onto the grass, something he would never do, but he didn’t feel like being nice right now. He wanted to channel his fear into violence, take the easy way out. If Alvarez were here, he’d take the motherfucking bastard apart piece by piece. And if she died because of that piece of shit, if somehow he and Creed couldn’t save her, Alvarez would learn how long it actually took a body to die.
Wolf ears were a bitch. Cat’s grunting and panting was more frequent now. Rio didn’t remember any pack members delivery taking so long, but then again, he and Creed hadn’t stuck around to find out.
After several hours and a whole case of beer, Rio was about to rip the boards off the porch. He fought his wolf. Staying away wasn’t the pack way. Then his expert hearing picked up the soft cry—of a baby.
Creed almost trampled him to get inside. Taking the steps three at the time, they both slid to a stop at the closed bedroom door. “Fuck. Should we go in?” asked Rio.
“No,” replied his brother. “She’ll summon us when the coast is clear.”
His brother was right. They didn’t need to embarrass their mate. Hearing Ila bustling around in the room didn’t calm his nerves. Was something wrong? How was Cat doing? His wolf ears and nose couldn’t tell.
Rio held his breath as the door opened. Ila stepped out with a little bundle in her arms. Her smile was bright, brighter than he’d ever seen it.
Ila pulled the blanket back to reveal the cutest little nose he’d ever seen. “I introduce you to your son.”
“Wow,” said Rio. “She had a boy.”
“No, this is your son.” Ila pushed the child toward him, and he had to take him.
Had Ila fallen and conked her head? “What are you talking about?”
“Sniff.”
Rio looked at his brother and then dipped his head. This baby smelled like him. This was his son. “How can this be? I didn’t mate her.”
His brother went still, ice cold, and he would have done the same thing. “I didn’t lie to you, Creed. I didn’t mate her.”
To Creed’s credit, his nostrils flared. “I believe you, bro.”
“How can this be?”
Ila
shrugged. “Maybe the human mated her instead of the wolf.”
“That’s never happened before—has it?”
“Not that I know of, but it doesn’t change anything. Eventually, you’re going to have to tell her how this baby is yours, the sooner the better. She thinks this precious thing belongs to a maniac. Can you imagine the joy she’ll feel after she finds out the truth?”
Did Cat hate the baby because it was Alvarez’s? She’d never acted like she didn’t want the child, just the opposite.
And yes, she’d be elated, and when she found out he was the man in the brothel, she’d probably cut him a new hole.
“I’m going to make some coffee because you two need it. Go see your mate and I’ll be back in five minutes. While I’m taking a break, I’ll make a list of baby things that we need.”
Rio looked at his brother. How dumb could they be? Of course, they needed baby stuff.
“How is she?” asked Creed.
“She’s fine. Just exhausted. She’s sleeping, which is why I only have five minutes before she wakes.”
Creed glanced at him giving that how-does-she-do-it look. Then Creed stepped up and peered at the baby. “He’s beautiful, bro.”
“He’s yours too, you know.” It sounded even lamer when he heard his own voice with his own ears.
“We’ll worry about all that later. Right now, let’s check on our mate.”
Creed pushed the door open, and Rio followed his brother inside. Her physical pain still permeated the air.
His brother sat on the bed and brushed the hair out of her face. Her eyes fluttered open. “Hi,” she said.
“How are you feeling?” Rio asked.
“Like I’ve been beaten.”
Rio moved to the other side and eased down. Her eyes went soft when she saw the bundle. “Isn’t he the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?” she asked.
Relief washed through him. “He’s as beautiful as his mother.”
“He doesn’t look like me,” she said.
That was true. He looked like Rio and Creed’s baby pictures. The same skin tone, the same dark hair. And the dimpled chin was a dead giveaway.
She scooted up and held out her arms. Rio handed her the child. “Does he have a name?” Rio asked hoping it wasn’t something wimpy like Rufus or Harry or Henry, Timmy, Julius.
Cat looked into the dark eyes of her child. He was so tiny, so perfect. Her father’s name came to mind. Harrington. Her dad would be so proud, but she wanted a name that reminded her of Rio and Creed. A strong masculine name. But she wondered if she should even tell them. When and if Alvarez figured out he had a son, he’d be hell bent to find him. She couldn’t risk their lives. But could Rio find her just by her son’s name? Probably not.
“How about Brody?”
She smiled when grins split Creed and Rio’s face.
“That’s an appropriate name. Very…manly,” said Creed.
Would they sort of be uncles to her baby boy? It would be a dream come true for Brody to call them Uncle Rio and Uncle Creed. That would mean she’d have to be here which was so unsafe for all concerned. Brody lazily opened his eyes and stretched.
“Hey, pretty boy.”
He blinked several times, his eyes as dark as—his uncles. Her heart ached because her son would grow up without a father figure. Her dad could step in, but it wasn’t fair to be a substitute dad and a grandfather. A boy needed a man to take him—fishing.
At that moment, Ila swept in and herded her grandsons out. It was astonishing to see how she ordered, and they obeyed when they each outweighed her by 150 pounds.
“Okay,” said Ila. “Let’s see if my—your baby is hungry.”
Cat unlaced her nursing gown, a gift from Ila. It was an elaborate, silky thing that looked like the same clothes Rio had bought her. Ila had also brought diapers, wipes, two baby blankets, and sleepers in her backpack. The woman was amazing.
Pulling her breast free, she placed her nipple against his mouth. For some reason, he didn’t take it. Ila tapped his lips, and he opened them. Then Ila pressed him against her nipple. Brody latched on. The sensation was surprising.
“You’ll need to alternate between each breast and feed him when he’s hungry. If he’s not hungry, he won’t latch on.”
“Thank you for delivering him.” Home birthing was a perfect solution to her problem. No hospital meant no names in a database.
Ila patted her leg. “You did great. He’s healthy. That’s what’s important.” She rubbed her hand over his black hair. “And he is beautiful.”
Cat stifled a yawn and Ila smiled.
“Make sure you sleep when he does,” she said.
Yeah, that probably was excellent advice.
“Why don’t you take a nap, and I’ll get to spoiling him? I hear a rocking chair calling my name.”
Cat started to protest. She looked down at her little angel’s face. She should be the one providing for Brody. But she was tired, probably tired enough to fall asleep and drop him. “If you’re sure it’s not too much trouble.”
“Taking care of babies is never trouble.”
“Okay. Wake me when he gets hungry.” Cat handed the sleeping boy to Ila.
After snuggling down in the covers, she finally drifted off to sleep wishing she were sandwiched between Rio and Creed.
Chapter Fourteen
Rio and Creed were at the end of their ropes, hanging by a thread with no room to tie a knot. Two months. His boy was two months old today, and for two months, they had left their mate alone to heal. Oh, they had all slept together, snuggled, spooned, and took turns getting up to bring Brody to Cat, but all three of them were suffering sexually.
Cat’s coy glances at them set a fire racing through their blood. If she were a wolf, she would have already healed.
Rio finished putting the dinner dishes away when Creed came through the door with a basket full of laundry. Their gazes locked, and they couldn’t contain their laughter. A merc and a sniper, two lethal men, had become househusbands.
“Your turn for laundry tomorrow, bro.”
“Beats dish-pan hands.”
Ila walked in carrying her backpack. Could Rio possibly hope?
“Cat and Brody are on the front porch grabbing the last rays of the sun. That boy loves to be outdoors. You two are gonna have a hard time keeping up with him when he gets older.”
Rio knew that about his son. The little guy’s eyes sparkled the second he was outside, and he occasionally fussed when they brought him inside. About the time Brody turned three or four, he would shift into a wolf and want to run the hills. Rio and Creed had roamed the woods like wild wolves they were, and he had no doubt their children would do the same.
“It’s time for me to leave.”
Rio couldn’t contain the relief that flooded him. Oh, they would have fucked Cat with their grandmother in the house. That wasn’t the problem. But if Ila was leaving, that meant Cat was healed.
“I suggest you two mate her tonight and get it out of the way. She’s healed, but don’t be too rough with her.”
“God,” said Creed. “You think we’re…”
She cut him off with that don’t-talk-to-me-like-that look. “I know you’ll be careful, but sometimes things get out of hand. I’ll be back every week to see my grandson and my grand-daughter-in-law. I expect them to be healthy and happy.”
“Yes, ma’am,” they both replied in unison.
“Before you go, Ila. Tell us what you see?” demanded Rio. He and his brother had discussed doing whatever they needed to do to protect Cat and Brody, and that included changing the laws of the future.
“You know you can’t fiddle with fate. It only makes things worse in the end.”
Creed dropped his laundry basket and grabbed both of her arms. “Ila. We’re begging you. Give us information to protect her.”
“Okay. I’ll tell you because you won’t be able to stop it. Cat will run away from you—again—right back into the hands
of that sadistic bastard.”
“Why? Why would—will she run away from us?”
Ila was quiet, her eyes solemn. “Your betrayal.” With those two uttered words, she turned and walked out the door.
“That’s insane,” muttered Creed. “We would never betray our mate.”
Rio’s wolf bristled in agreement. They’d kill themselves before letting that happen. “Well, I reckon we don’t have a problem then.”
Rio shoved betrayal out of his mind and concentrated on what his wolf had waited nine months to do—mate. He and Creed had agreed to let Creed be the one in front, so the next child would be his. Then after that, it would be left to fate.
Of course, explaining to Cat that he’d betrayed her by lying all this time—wait a sec. Maybe that was the betrayal that Ila spoke of. If that were the case, they should kill Alvarez first before explaining everything to her. Push the timetable up.
That could wait until later. Rio headed to the porch knowing his brother wouldn’t be far behind. He found his beloved mate rocking his sleepy boy. God she was beautiful, more so now than before. She was curvier, somehow more feminine. Rio kneeled before her. “Why don’t you go take a bath and I’ll finish spoiling him.”
Cat smiled. “Your grandmother’s the worst.”
He wanted to say ‘that’s what grandmothers are for,’ but that confession would have to wait.
She stood and handed him his son. Amazingly, he was growing every day, sleeping a little less. He just hoped Brody would sleep for the next hour or two, because they had plans for his mother.
Cat remained in the tub until her skin was so wrinkled that it forced her from her slice of paradise. And she was in paradise. The two brothers and Ila were a godsend. They’d bought tons of baby necessities, helped change, and bathe her son, and anything else that needed doing. Cat felt like a queen, which made it difficult to do what she needed to do—run. Alvarez must be desperate by now, desperate enough to kill people just for the hell of it. Her plan was to go home, tell her parents about her failure, let her parent meet their grandson, and then flee again.
Claiming Their Cat Page 16
