“Your brother?” Kaden asks.
“Yeah.” Is all I offer in response.
“Do I even want to know?”
“You mean you don’t already? Oh, you’re gonna love this Kojak.” I tease, moving to settle against the edge of the small table, feeling slightly more at ease in his presence.
“Did you just call me Kojak?” He asks with a surprised grimace.
“What?” I ask innocently, “Prefer Starsky? Do you fancy yourself more of a Hutch? Sheriff Coletrane?” watching the crease between his brows deepen with annoyance is entirely too entertaining. I’m going to have so much fun with this.
“You done yet, smart ass?” He asks, trying to hide the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“I got more, but I’ll save ‘em for a special occasion.” I concede, sliding more fully onto the table so I’m sitting on it, my legs crossed demurely at the ankles as they swing back and forth.
“So magnanimous of you.” He deadpans. “So, your brother. Spill it. Or has the cat got your tongue?” he teases, his dark brown eyes sparkling.
“Really? Jumping to cat jokes already?” I ask, honestly surprised he is okay with the whole cat thing, not that he knows that’s a thing yet. Just one of many things we still need to discuss before we leave this treehouse tonight.
“Yeah… wanted to give it a shot but not there yet.” He answers with a grimace.
“Didn’t think so.” I say with a laugh, wanting to keep the mood light, not ready to get into it yet.
“Ava, if you want me to trust you on this and listen to what you have to say about Burns, I need you to give me something here.” Kaden explains, resting back against the counter again.
“Okay, okay. My brother is Slash, VP of the Dark Leopards MC.” I state, deciding I might as well just lay it all out for him since this is as good a place to start as any. Big Badass Biker Brother seems like an easier sell than actual cat-lady.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. The fucking outlaw bikers in town are behind all this shit, for real?” he asks in shocked surprise. I’ll be honest, that’s not exactly the response I was expecting, but I can roll with it.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, those assholes get up to all kinds of trouble on their own but I’m pretty sure it’s not the shit you’re thinking of. Believe it or not, but the DLMC are the good guys around here, regardless of what you may have heard.” They may drive me insane, and get up to plenty of shit, but the Club is home, always has been. They are family, and I will defend them to my last breath.
“Yeah, I’m gonna need a lot more than that.” He volleys back, raising a skeptical eyebrow my way.
“Well, you will have to live with that for now, Sheriff Andy.” I deflect.
“Hey, leave Andy Griffith outta this.” Kaden admonishes, trying his best to sound serious.
“Aye aye, Captain Miller.” I say, giving him a salute.
“Dear Christ, this isn’t gonna stop is it?”
“Nope” I say, popping the “p” and giving him a bright smile.
“Fine.” Kaden caves. “Can we at least change the subject?”
“Be my guest, Columbo.” I say with a smirk.
“So… the uh… I don’t even know what it was…. The lynx?” he asks, once again tugging on the back of his neck in a nervous gesture I’m finding endearing. I don’t care how sweet he looks, all shy and unsure, I still can’t resist messing with him a little more. Shit is about to get real, and I want to get one more laugh out of him before he goes running for the hills.
“Hold your tongue, Lieutenant Dangle!” I gasp, clutching my chest in mock offense.
Kaden stares me down, giving me an icy glare and a judgmental eyebrow raise, as if I have said the single dumbest thing he has ever heard. But at least that dimple of his makes another appearance. “Of all the cops on Reno 911, you had to go with Dangle? Really?”
“When you piss me off and say stupid, insulting shit then, yes! You get Lieutenant Dangle!” I respond haughtily.
“Okay, okay, not a lynx. God. Sorry.” He concedes, holding his hands up in a placating gesture for a moment before settling back against the counter once again. “So, inform me then. What… I saw… that was… you?”
I take a moment to study him, looking over every inch of him before meeting his eyes. For the first time tonight, I really stop and investigate their chocolate depths, trying to find some indication of how he will take this next piece of news.
Hmm, there are flecks of gold in there I hadn’t noticed before.
He’s still standing here so that means something, doesn’t it? After a long moment I let out a lengthy sigh, resolving that it’s now or never. If he runs there isn’t anything I can do about it now, is there. Folding my arms across my chest, I close my eyes and take one last deep breath.
When I look back up at him, I hope he can see the challenge in my eyes, I need him to understand. “Snow Leopard. And yes, that was me.” I say simply.
260
Kaden
“But… I don’t… how??” Is the most intelligent thing I can ask as my brain attempts to process what Ava just said.
“Ever heard of werewolves? Yeah, humans only got the story partially right.” She explains with an awkward laugh. “I’m a shifter.” She says finally in a more serious tone.
“A shifter… like… howl at the full moon, only thing Dracula is afraid of, type shifter?” I ask, wincing as soon as the words are out of my mouth.
“Cats don’t howl.” she says in a bored tone, like she’s had to explain this before.
“Right yeah… snow leopard. Right.” Of course. The crisp white coat, the spots, and the little tuft of black on the tip of the tail. It all
