Cat's Cradle: String of Fate, Book 1

by Bianca D’Arc

  “What the hell did that?”

  “Nothing you want to meet on a dark night,” Cade said with grim humor. “Come on, I’ll help you. Tell me what to do.”

  They spent the next half-hour bathing the gouges and dabbing on disinfectant, during which time, Mitch remained mercifully unconscious. Elaine located a huge bump on the man’s head, but what worried her more was the fresh needle mark she found near his left kidney. He’d been drugged, which was probably why he was still out. The head injury alone wasn’t serious enough to keep him unconscious this long.

  “Bastards!” Cade cursed when she found the needle mark.

  “Why would they hurt him like this, only to drug him unconscious? It doesn’t make much sense.”

  “They wanted him to suffer. To know he’d failed to defend the ones we were sworn to protect. They fought him to get close enough with the needle. That’s what caused this damage. But their real objective was to incapacitate him. It’s the highest form of insult among our people.”

  “What are you? Some kind of black ops guys or something? I mean, I knew Shihan Harris was ex-military, but I never heard he was into that clandestine stuff.”

  “Black ops? Now that’s an interesting idea. But even if I were, you know I couldn’t tell you anything. The less you know—-”

  “Yeah, yeah. I heard that before.” She sighed and got to her feet. “I think all we can do now is wait until he comes out from under whatever they gave him. His vitals are strong—surprisingly so, considering how much blood he must’ve lost. His wounds are deep, but nothing deadly, and his pupils are reacting normally, so I don’t think the bump on the head is too serious. Still…” she thought hard about whether or not to offer her next suggestion.

  “What?” Cade had a way of seeing way too much.

  “I have a friend in the building who’s a doctor. If he doesn’t come around soon, I think we might want to ask her to have a look. I’m a nurse, Cade. I don’t feel comfortable making these kinds of judgments if his life hangs in the balance.”

  “Do you trust this woman?”

  “With my life. Gina and I grew up together. She’s the one who convinced me to go into nursing and even helped me get this apartment. She’s on the next floor.”

  Cade seemed to weigh the options. “Let’s watch him for an hour or two. If you still think it’s necessary, we can ask your friend to take a look at him, but the fewer people who see us here, the better.”

  “Okay.” She yawned, the adrenaline rush wearing off. “You might as well stay here tonight. Your friend won’t be much good until whatever they gave him wears off and even then, his wounds are pretty extensive.”

  Cade cursed inwardly even as his frozen heart thawed, looking at their petite rescuer. She was dead on her feet.

  “You should get some rest. I’m going to make some calls on my cell so they can’t trace them back to you.”

  “I thought you said you didn’t have a cell phone?” Anger showed in her eyes.

  “To be accurate, I never said I didn’t. I only said I was sorry.”

  She shook her head. “Semantics. You lied by omission. You could’ve saved me a lot of trouble if you’d just let me use your damned phone.”

  “At the time, I needed you out of there as quickly as possible. If you’d called a cab, I would’ve had to wait with you.”

  “But you followed me all the way here. It would’ve been quicker to call a cab.”

  “Yes, but then you might’ve been there when the attack went down.” He saw understanding dawn in her eyes. He expected fear to follow soon after, but was surprised by the steadfast light that shone instead. She looked like she might’ve wanted a piece of the fight. Cade had never known a human woman to look forward to battle¾not like a shifter female¾but this small woman came damned close.

  He looked down at his friend, still unconscious on the bed. “But it’s all beside the point now. I’ll stay here and watch over Mitch. If we’re gone when you wake, don’t worry.”

  “I seriously doubt your friend will be able to move for a few days at least.” She yawned as she headed for the door, pausing with her hand on the knob. “I don’t know why, but I trust you. Don’t make me regret it.”

  She left before he could answer, but what could he say, really? She’d gone farther than he could have expected any human to go in helping them. She’d shown either a remarkable amount of trust or a foolhardy level of disrespect for her own safety. The latter worried him while the idea that she trusted him warmed something in his soul he hadn’t known existed.

  The woman was dangerous. In more than just the obvious ways.

  Cade flipped open his small phone and started making discreet calls. He had to know who’d made it out of the dojo and where they’d gone. If not for Mitch, he would be tearing up the town already, searching, but he owed Mitch his life and had to be certain the tiger would recover before he went hunting.

  He heard the shower go on in the other room. Images of their hostess wet and naked flashed through his mind, killing his concentration and heating his blood. The little human was getting to him and if he wasn’t careful, she could provoke him into acting on the desire that flared every time she was near.

  But she wasn’t Other. She couldn’t handle what might be unleashed. For her protection, he had to keep a lid on the reaction that shook him every time he caught her scent. It didn’t make any sense. No human woman had ever had this kind of effect on him before. In fact, no female of any species had ever provoked his cat in such a way.

  Cade took a deep breath and tried to ignore the scent of the woman that permeated her home. It wasn’t as bad in the guest room, so he made his calls from there, keeping a close eye on Mitch. There was no way to know what the bastards had injected him with, and Cade didn’t like the fact the tiger had been out so long. His body chemistry and natural healing ability should have counteracted whatever they’d given him by now.

  Unless they knew what he was and had come armed for bear…or cat shifter, as the case may be.

  The odds were that whoever had fought and managed to subdue Mitch had known just how to take him down. The claw marks meant there was a blood traitor working with them. Only another shifter with superior fighting skills, or a major amount of luck on his side could have hoped to distract Mitch enough for a shot to be delivered. Cade could almost see it. They’d probably sicced the shifter on him first and when he was in prime position, another had come up behind—or maybe several others—and jabbed him in the back with the needle. Mitch wouldn’t have gone down quietly.

  Cade made his first call to Maggie, the coordinator of tonight’s activities. If anyone would know the outcome of the fire, it would be her.

  “Where are you?” Her worried voice came over the line immediately.

  “Safe for now. Mitch was drugged and hurt. I’m sticking with him ’til he comes out of it. What have you got for me?”

  “Harris got out with the others. They’re in transit. Molly and Steve were injured pretty badly, but they got to the healer in time, and he says they should be okay.”

  “So everybody got out on our side?”

  “Yes, thank heavens. It was close though, from what little I’ve heard. We’re keeping everybody at the gamma safe house for now.”

  “You got enough crew to man the perimeter?”

  “It’ll be tough with you and Mitch down, but we’ll manage. We need to find a way to get them to safety. Harris was our best hope, but tonight proves he’s been made.”

  “Undoubtedly. We can’t use him again.”

  “He knows that, but he still wants to help. Remember his wife…”

  “How could I forget?” Cade sighed, remembering the young cub named Willa who’d married the human, Harris. She’d been headstrong and full of life. She’d loved the human, though her parents and pack had disapproved loudly. Harris had proven himself over the years though. He was skilled and could hold his own, even among Others. It had been pure bad luck when his wife w
as caught out alone, hunted and killed.

  Harris had his revenge, stalking and taking out the men who’d killed his wife¾with Clan approval and assistance. He’d been a steadfast ally ever since, and a good friend to the shifter community.

  Cade finished the call and dialed the next number. He had to talk to Harris. Someone had died in that building and if it wasn’t one of theirs, Harris probably had something to do with it.

  “How is everyone?” Cade asked as soon as Harris picked up on the other end.

  “We’re good. Molly and Steve got knocked around some, but they’ll be okay.”

  “So I heard from Maggie. Damn, Harris, I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

  Condemning silence greeted his statement. After a long pause, Harris spoke again. “I figured you were taken down.”

  “Mitch was. An Other distracted him while someone jabbed him with a needle. He’s still out.”

  “Where were you?”

  “Off following your student home. Her car was stolen from the lot, and she walked.”

  A muffled curse on the other end of the line followed Cade’s words. “Didn’t she have a phone?”

  “Dead battery.”

  “Sounds convenient.” Speculative silence stretched for a moment. “If it was anyone other than Elaine, I’d be suspicious, but she’s as straight as an arrow. And though she doesn’t know it, her best friend is one of you. That’s how she came to me. Her friend, Gina, asked me to let her in, and I’ve never regretted my decision. Until now.”

  “Is this Gina a doctor by any chance?”

  “As a matter of fact, she is. My Willa used to go to her.”

  Cade hated the note of devastation in the man’s voice. It was a brutal world they lived in and Harris was one of many Cade had known through the years, whose life had been ripped apart by prejudice and hate.

  “Someone was in the building. Your doing?”

  “I got one, Molly and Steve got one apiece, but they didn’t go quietly.”

  “Ever see them before?”

  Harris sighed. “Cleaning crew and the night watchman. They were armed for bear.”

  “So that’s how they found out?”

  “Must’ve been watching me for weeks. I recall we had some staff turnover in the building a few weeks back. That’s when they must’ve come in.”

  “Look, Harris, I’m sorry—”

  “Save it. Given the circumstances, I probably would’ve done the same, but I am suspicious that her car was stolen at just the right time. Could’ve been to lure you away¾or more likely¾to keep you occupied with her, distracted, so that when they made their move, you’d be taken by surprise.”

  “And have an innocent civilian to protect,” Cade added, not liking the way the scenario unfolded. “Damn, you’re right.”

  “But she’s an independent type and decided to hoof it. Saved some trouble. It got her and you out of the way before they made their move.”

  “Disgustingly neat.” Cade recalled the dark park. “There was an Other in the park on her way. I showed myself to him, and he backed off. He had a knife.”

  “Also a little too convenient. Maybe, seeing you leave, they wanted to make sure you went all the way home with her.”

  Cade shook his head. “These bastards are getting way too crafty.”

  “Such is the challenge we face,” Harris said wisely. “Learning from our mistakes means we won’t repeat them. Tonight we got lucky. Everyone’s okay, and we took out three of them.”

  “Good point. But we have three hurt and a civilian who’s seen way more than she should have. We’re at her place.”

  “You’re kidding.” A bare hint of incredulous laughter found its way into the Shihan’s tone.

  “’Fraid not. When she saw the fire on the news, she called a cab and headed back over there. I saw her coming down the street and pulled her aside to help Mitch. She gave us a place to hole up and treated Mitch’s wounds.”

  “Good girl.” Harris said in approval. “I’ve been working on her to trust her instincts. Sounds like tonight was the ultimate test.”

  Cade heard the shower shut off and moved to stand in the open doorway. A moment later, Elaine emerged from a doorway on the other side of the room, with a towel wrapped like a turban around her head and a long, terrycloth bathrobe swathing her body. She jumped when she saw him standing across from her, in the doorway to the guest room, her eyes going wary.

  “You want to talk to her? It might help put her at ease.” Cade spoke into the small phone, but knew she heard every last syllable.

  Harris agreed and Cade moved into the room, handing her the phone. She looked uncertain, but took the slim device and said hello. Harris spent a few minutes on the line with his student, and Cade could sense the easing of her fears and the elevation of her curiosity. It was written all over her pretty face, but Cade wouldn’t satisfy any of that curiosity. He couldn’t. She was already in enough danger just for taking them in.

  He approached the windows in the darkened apartment from the side, tugging the shades closed and pulling the curtains. No sense offering a target for anyone who might be watching. Cade didn’t sense any danger in the immediate area, but he knew damn well that could change awfully fast.

  He paused a moment to greet the cat, receiving a deferential tail curl and rub of the tabby’s soft fur against his hand. Like most housecats, this one liked him.

  The soft scent of woman drew nearer and his phone was held out in a feminine hand. “He wants to talk to you again.” Damn, she smelled good.

  Cade took the phone, careful to avoid touching her soft skin any longer than absolutely necessary. This woman was temptation itself, even in a somewhat frumpy bathrobe. Her delicate scent simply stole his breath.

  He finished up with Harris in short order and closed the phone. The cat rubbed up against him affectionately. Too bad his owner was watching Cade with such a puzzled expression. He couldn’t afford to satisfy any of the questions he could almost see buzzing around her, but felt the alien desire to do just that. It was a strange sensation. Never before had he been tempted to reveal anything about the nature of his challenges to a human who didn’t already know about the Others.

  This girl was as naive about the real world as most of the rest of humanity. Cade wouldn’t be the one to enlighten her, but damn, he was tempted. He wanted to let his cat out to play with the alluring female. Worse, his inner beast wanted to rub up against this female much the way the tabby cat was rubbing all over him. It was a base level instinct that he had to fight to control.

  That was new. A human female had never attracted him this strongly. It was new… and dangerous.

  “That call went a long way toward easing my remaining fears, but—”

  A crash from the other room interrupted, setting them both into motion.

  Cade leapt through the guest room doorway first, to find Mitch in the grip of convulsions. His body seized on the bed and Cade held him down, reaching inside his mouth to be certain his friend wouldn’t choke on his own tongue.

  “I’m calling Gina.” Elaine moved swiftly to the phone and called her upstairs neighbor, the doctor¾who, according to Harris, was also a shifter. The Lady was truly smiling on him this night.

  Mitch’s body eased and a moment later there was a discrete knock on the apartment door. Elaine let her friend in and Cade immediately recognized the scent of shifter¾another tiger, if he wasn’t much mistaken. What were the odds? He stood from Mitch’s side to greet the doctor, who eyed him warily.

  “We’re friends of Harris,” Cade said softly.

  Mitch made a growling sound deep in his throat, and the pretty doctor immediately went to him. Elaine moved to the other side of the bed, ready to assist her friend if necessary.

  “What happened to him?”

  “The scratches are nothing,” Cade said. “The real problem is whatever they injected him with.”

  Gina’s gaze rose to meet his. “How long ago?”

  “Abou
t three hours.”

  “And he hasn’t awakened once?”

  “No. He’s been out since I found him.”

  “Not good.” The doctor turned to look at her human friend, regret clear on her face. “There’s only one thing I can think to do without access to a laboratory. Besides, it would take too long to figure out what they gave him.”

  “What are you going to do?” Elaine asked, clearly ready to help in whatever way she could.

  “Ellie, we need to draw blood.” Elaine immediately rooted through the doctor’s small bag and took out the necessary supplies, but when she would’ve used the big needle on Mitch, the doctor stopped her. “Not his. Mine.”

  “You’re a Universal then?” Cade asked, satisfied when the doctor nodded.

  “What the hell are you two talking about?”

  Gina turned to her friend with a look of resignation. “How long have we known each other?”

  “Forever.” Elaine answered immediately.

  “And you trust me, right?”

  “With my life.”

  Cade liked how immediate and unequivocal her answer was.

  “Then trust me now, Ellie. It’s the only chance he’s got.”

  Mitch began thrashing on the bed, slow at first, but Cade feared the tiger was building up to another seizure. Cade moved in and held him while the women worked out what would be done. He watched with satisfaction as Elaine—or Ellie, as her friend called her—drew blood from Gina.

  Gina took the needle and quick as a rabbit, stuck it into Mitch’s vein. She was fast and accurate. Both good traits in a doctor. But then, this doctor was no ordinary woman.

  “I don’t get it,” Elaine muttered, her gaze both puzzled and fascinated as she watched the procedure.

  Gina sighed deeply as she finished and turned back to her friend. “Ellie, I went into medicine because of my blood. Remember that time in sixth grade when half the class was quarantined because we’d been exposed to meningitis?” Elaine nodded. “Ellie, I actually got the disease. I almost died, but then something inside me killed the bug. My mother recognized what happened, and she quietly inoculated the rest of the kids. A few of them would have died if she hadn’t.”