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CHAPTER ONE
G ravity is a state of mind …
Lindsay repeated this as she clung with cat claws to the overhead beam, her muscles straining to prevent herself from plunging thirty feet to the hard arena floor.
Xavier Escobar was down there, in a pool of electric lantern light, talking to some very bad guys. He was alone for now, counting on his powers of persuasion to keep the men he negotiated with from shooting him dead.
Xav had no idea that Lindsay, in her lynx form, lurked above, ready to assist. That is, if the fall didn’t kill her.
Shifter Felines are badass. She drummed the words through her head. Indestructible. Besides, gravity was only a theory.
Or was it a law? Or were there laws of gravity, and gravity itself was a theory? She should have paid more attention in science class.
“Look, asshole, I just want the money,” Xavier said below her.
Xav was playing a minor tough. His mission: Infiltrate an impenetrable gang who’d in the past murdered two undercover cops.
Because the gang leaders had detailed information on all Las Vegas police detectives, the LVMPD had hired Xav and his brother Diego to help them out. While Diego and Xav had been with the police department in the past, the gang had become active in the area only after Xav and Diego had quit the force to open their own private security agency.
Xav still had many friends in the LVMPD, and he hadn’t been able to turn away their call for assistance.
“Watch your mouth,” the leader of the group said to Xav. “You’ll get paid. But I need to know who your contact is before I decide if I can trust you.”
Xav heaved an exaggerated sigh. “I don’t like to give up my friends.”
“You’re not giving them up. I’m trying to make sure you’re not a cop, a spy, or someone horning in on my territory.”
Xav nodded. “I get it. You don’t know me, so why should you hand me a bag of money? Even though I brought you good pieces.”
He nudged the wooden box at his feet, which contained several long-barreled guns. Lindsay wasn’t certain what kind they were, because she had no interest in weapons. That was a human thing.
“Exactly,” the leader said. “If you stole these from another gang, I don’t want them coming after us. They wouldn’t last long, but it would be a hassle. Then the police might decide to investigate, and that’s even more hassle. Save me a lot of time if you just told me where you got them.”
Xav lifted his hands in a conceding gesture. “Okay, okay.”
Xav had dressed the part in old jeans, black T-shirt, and a hoodie that covered his nearly black hair. He hadn’t shaved, and a beard shadow darkened his face. Xav liked to be neat and clean, so this was a different look for him.
Lindsay longed to tell him how sexy he was, but she couldn’t while she crouched precariously thirty feet up, her paws starting to ache.
“So, come on,” the tough said. “Who is he?”
Xav flashed the man a grin. “Not he. She. Emma Shields.”
Lindsay couldn’t see the expression on the man’s face from this height, but the change in his scent said he was impressed.
“Shields? She trusts you?”
“Obviously.” Xav shrugged. “She knows what she’s doing, so they’ll be good.”
Lindsay fought a sudden dart of jealousy. He’d gone to see Emma, had he?
Emma Shields was a former member of the underworld who now worked off and on for Xav and Diego. She had a reputation for being fair and straightforward, as long as you didn’t piss her off. Most of the criminal gangs hadn’t realized she’d started working against them, and they more or less still trusted her.
Xav considered Emma personable and smart, and he talked about her a lot. Emma was also human, so no problems with Xav taking her out to places Shifters weren’t welcome, or with her becoming a snarling cat whenever she had PMS.
Lindsay tamped down her anger with effort. Xav and Lindsay didn’t have a relationship in the strictest sense, or a thing , or sometimes even friendship. They hung out when they got along and avoided each other when one of them was in a snit, which was mostly Lindsay. Xav rarely got mad about anything.
Even now, Xav remained calm and collected. He might pretend to be agitated about dealing with such a prominent and dangerous gang member, but Lindsay knew that on the inside, Xav was as cool as the winter wind.
Which, by the way, was blowing like mad outside the deserted arena. The roof rattled in an alarming manner.
It grew so loud Lindsay almost missed what happened next on the floor. A large guy stepped to the man speaking to Xav and whispered something into his ear.
Lindsay sensed an immediate change in the leader’s body language, stance, and scent. “Deal’s changed, dude,” he snapped at Xav.
“What?” Xav asked in bewilderment. “Why? You don’t like Emma?”
“We like her fine. But we don’t like you . You hang out with Shifters, don’t you?”
“What are you talking about?” Xav continued in genuine surprise. But he didn’t slip from his persona, and Lindsay sensed him decide not to lie. He went with it. “Anyway, so what? They’re cool. I might have a beer with one, once in a while.”
“Who says you didn’t bring some with you tonight?” the leader persisted. “Who says that when we walk out of here, a pack of them won’t jump us and take these pieces back for you?”
Xav managed a scornful laugh. “Because Shifters don’t like firearms, man. They don’t use them. They don’t need them.”
Damn right. Claws, teeth, and lightning-swift reflexes outdid human weapons any day. Shifters were good at surviving gunshots as well.
Humans weren’t, though. The black pistol the leader pulled on Xav made Lindsay’s heartbeat hammer off the scale.
She stared at the guy’s head, calculating the twist and angle she’d have to make to land on him without smashing herself to the ground. Now was the time to test the legend that cats always landed on their feet.
Xav continued talking. He had a smooth voice and could persuade anyone to do anything he wanted. He could convince Lindsay to do whatever as well, she thought with a dark shiver, but she never let on.
“Now, come on,” Xav was saying. “These pieces are legit. I mean, they’ll never be traced. Not to you, not to me. Emma’s good. You know that.”
“She is, yeah. You, I’m not so sure about. Tell you what. Leave the box. I’ll check it out with Emma and give her the money. Then she can pay you.”
“What?” Xav took a step back, glaring in outrage. “I thought we were doing a deal. I’m not standing out here in this freezing arena for my health. I need the money, man. Come on.”
He was stalling, Lindsay realized. Diego and whatever police would be listening in, no doubt through the wireless tech that DX Security specialized in. Xav must be waiting for them to catch up, or maybe he was trying to indicate exactly where inside the arena he stood.
Xav needed to make the gang leader believe he was nothing more than what he appeared to be—a small-time dealer who’d seen an opportunity to make a few bucks. His air of desperation hinted that he owed even badder people money and couldn’t afford to walk away from this transaction.
“Not a negotiation, my friend,” the leader said. “Leave it. Get out.”
“Shit.” Xav made every show of frustration mixed with resignation. “Emma told me you were cool. Well, you get to answer to her now. All because I know a few Shifters?”
“More than know them. You’re screwing one, I heard.”
“Huh?” Xav’s puzzlement was unfeigned, but Lindsay’s danger signals went off all over the place.
Had the guy seen her and Xav together? But then, Xav wouldn’t have been in his current disguise when he was with Lindsay. He’d have worn his usual tight-fitting button-downs, or Henleys and jeans, or maybe a subdued, dark suit. He looked so good in those …
How did these guys know Xav had Shifter friends and a Shifter sort-of girlfriend? Xav went to Shiftertown all the time, because Diego, mated to Lindsay’s best friend, lived there now.
If someone knew Xav was Diego’s brother and had reported it to the leader, that meant Xav’s cover was blown.
Shit, shit, shit.
Where was Diego? Or a barrage of cops ready to kick through the doors and throw the gang members to the ground?
“Turn around.” The lead man’s tone said he was done with the discussion. “Walk away. Or I shoot you. I don’t miss. Either way, I’m leaving with the box. You can decide whether you leave with your life.”
“Okay.” Xav drew out the word in shaky irritation. “Damn, I just needed some cash.”
Xav turned around slowly. He let his shoulders droop in perfect imitation of a guy who knew he’d lost and could only curse and kick at the dust on his way out.
The leader brought up his pistol and aimed it directly between Xav’s shoulders.
Lindsay screamed. Because she was in wildcat form, it came out a growling screech as she launched herself downward at the man with the gun.
She landed right on him. At her yowl, the leader and his friends scanned the dark arena in startled confusion but never pinpointed Lindsay until she was on the man’s head, claws sinking deep into his flesh.
His gun went off, again and again, but the man’s aim was wild, bullets pinging against steel rafters. His guys and Xav hit the dirt.
Lindsay lunged down the man’s arm and wrapped her mouth around his wrist. One chomp, and the pistol clattered to the floor, blood streaming after it.
The leader screamed and cursed, spinning in place as he tried to pry Lindsay off him, but Lindsay had dug in and wasn’t letting go.
Xav, on his feet again, busily relieved the other three gang members of weapons they’d drawn to shoot at Lindsay. Lindsay couldn’t see exactly what Xav did, but there were many kicks and punches, swearing and shouts.
Diego and several other guys in black fatigues and police uniforms joined the fray. The arms dealers were on the ground, cuffs clicking into place.
The leader continued to struggle against Lindsay, pleading for someone to get this fucking cat off him.
Hands landed on Lindsay’s back. Her fur was thick, but she instantly recognized Xav’s touch.
“Let him go, Linds.”
Xav’s rumbling voice, even tinged with anger, sparked rippling heat deep inside Lindsay. Maybe she’d let Xav pry her off the scumbag. He’d cuddle her against him, trying to calm her down. Though Shifter lynxes were twice the size of wild ones, Lindsay was still small enough to lie against Xav while he stroked her …
“Now,” Xav commanded.
Damn it. Lindsay opened her mouth, releasing the guy’s wrist. She’d barely broken the skin—the supposedly dangerous gang leader was such a baby.
She peeled her large claws from the man’s arm and shoulder, one talon at a time. Lynxes had lots of fur on their paws to cushion them against snow, ice, and thorny brush, so the man’s hard arms hadn’t hurt her one bit.
Plus, her aim had been spectacular. Had Xav noticed that?
Lindsay unhooked the last of her claws and bounded to the ground. She sat down on her haunches next to Xav and calmly started washing her face.
Diego cuffed the leader’s wrists behind him, a look of satisfaction on his face.
“This is why I hate Shifters,” the leader declared. He spat at Lindsay.
Lindsay easily evaded him and returned to Xav’s side, watching complacently as Diego and the other DX Security men led the bad guys away. She made sure her ear tufts stood straight up, indicating she was focused on the leader, watching him. Also, they were cute.
Xav threw back the hood of his jacket, revealing rumpled dark hair Lindsay loved to run her hands through when they danced. Even more whenever they kissed.
His eyes were dark like a moonless night, liquid and warm, but right now, they were filled with incandescent fury.
“Want to tell me what the hell you’re doing here?” Xav demanded. “And why you thought it was a great idea to interrupt a multi-month sting? There are a dozen cops outside who will arrest you in a heartbeat if that loser complains about you. What the fuck were you thinking?”