Cat Style (Stray Cats) Read Online Free PDF Page A

haven’t seen anyone other than your brother and Hayden, but I can’t shake it.”
    “Joel,” Ascher bellowed. He didn’t shift his attention from her. “I need you.”
    The door opened and both Hayden and Joel appeared behind him. “What?” Joel asked. “Are you going to pop the question to her?”
    “No, not yet.” Ascher shrugged and grinned, but the smile faded as fast as it showed up. “Did you see anyone outside?”
    “I had a funny feeling, but I’m always on guard. Why?” Joel grabbed Hayden’s hand. “Asch?”
    Ascher squeezed her fingers. “Stay here with Hayden while Joel and I make sure the house is safe. Keep the windows locked and don’t answer the door until you hear the both of us.”
    “Got it.”
    When Ascher stood, so did Penelope. She wrapped her arms around her body. A piece of her heart left the room with Ascher. She shared a glance with Hayden. “We’ll be okay.”
    “We will.” Hayden nodded. “Joel doesn’t rest until everything is fine. I’m sure Ascher is the same way.”
    “Yeah. He was my early warning system. If he freaked out -- when he was in his cat form -- I knew something was up. I’m scared.” She hated to admit the truth.
    “I understand.” Hayden sat on the unmade bed. “When Branker attacked, Joel knew he was there before I realized something was up. He shifted to keep the man from hurting us. When Branker jabbed that needle into Joel, my heart stopped. My best friend…” She closed her eyes. “I thought he was dead.”
    Penelope sat beside her friend. “I thought I’d lost Fang -- er, Ascher once, when he ran into the street. This huge red car came out of nowhere. I could’ve sworn the car intended to hit him. From then on, I never let him go outside.”
    “Isn’t it funny how something so simple, like a litter of cats, can bring people together?” Hayden bumped shoulders with Penelope. “I’m glad. You seem like a levelheaded person. The type Ascher needs.”
    “I hope I’m what he needs.” Behind Penelope, something thumped. Her blood ran cold. She gripped Hayden’s hand. “Something isn’t right.” When she glanced at the window beside her bed, she screamed.
    A man -- someone she’d never seen before -- reared his hand back and smashed the glass. The pane shattered. The sound echoed in the room. Shards cascaded onto the carpet.
    “Should’ve had a security system installed,” the man growled. She couldn’t see his face for the dark glasses and baseball cap covering his head. He smiled, baring his crooked teeth. “This was too easy.”
    “Ascher.” Penelope forced herself to remain calm. She stood and shoved Hayden behind her and inched to the door. “Joel. Somebody.” They’d told her not to leave the room, but she doubted they’d imagined the danger would come through the window!
    The man muscled his way into the room, tossing more broken glass all over the floor. “Don’t bother shouting for your pussy. He’s not coming to help you.” The man flexed his gloved hands. “Better yet, shout for him. He can’t save you, but he will be very important to me.”
    * * *
    Ascher sniffed the air. Something smelled different. The moment he heard the glass shatter, he doubled back to the bedroom.
    “We need a plan,” Joel said. He crouched beside the door. “I feel Hay’s fear. Penelope’s holding herself together the best she can.” He drew a long breath. “Whoever he is, I smell Branker all over him.” He whipped out a cell phone. “I’m calling the police.”
    “Good thinking.” He didn’t have any weapons -- except her golf clubs. Not very macho, hitting someone with a nine iron, but who the hell cared? He eased the closet door open and retrieved the heaviest club. “This will work.”
    “So will this.” Joel waved a handgun. “You haven’t been in your human form long enough to figure this out. You’ll learn.” He nodded. “Let’s stop this shit.”
    With Joel behind him, Ascher hid the club at his