Caging the Bengal Tiger (22 page)

Isaac turned his back on them and knelt beside her. "I'm sorry Lacey. I shouldn't have brought them here. I wasn't thinking, I was so hurt that my family and friends would do this to me, but I guess you are in the same boat with Maya and Dee." He rested his head on her back and ran his fingers through her fur.

Anthony and Dan stood behind them, watching. "Isaac, I did not order her to be roughed up. I would never allow that. Stand up Jericho." Talhrn picked the man up and shook him, before sinking his fangs into him.

She shivered watching the brutal attack before leaving them and moving to the closet, shifting. She reached for a pair of jeans and slid them on, hearing steps behind her. "You know Akaos, at first I doubted your intensions, but then I saw how much you loved my friend. So who was I to stop it? But now you want to stop your brother from having the same thing? Why do you hate me so much? Am I such a threat to you and your so-called King?" Lacey buttoned her shirt and turned to see him leaning against the wall with Isaac behind him.

"No, and I wish Isaac well, I do all of you, but it's time for there to be a split. Maya and Dee can't keep coming back and forth. It's too much for them. They love you all, but they now have a life and responsibilities on our world. It's time for you to take over. I knew long ago you would be taking over here. You were meant to be here." He pushed away from the wall and turned to Isaac. "I really had no clue father would do what he did. I believe it's time for mom to take him away for a while. The four of them need to go away."

"So you would allow our father to get away with what he did?" Isaac shook his head. "No, Akaos, I'll never forgive him for this. Even you and Talhrn have gone too far. If you didn't want your women here, you should have stopped it. Instead you brought tension into their family. No, you both were wrong, but we'll pick up the pieces and put them right. Just don't expect us to welcome you into our lives. Please take your father home and keep him away, because next time he comes near my woman, I won't hesitate in ending his life. Come Lacey, we'll go have our coffee now in the main kitchen. Anthony, can make us breakfast and we'll discuss our new home."

She placed her hand in his and allowed him to tuck her under his shoulder, walking her out of the room away from, Talhrn, Akaos and his family.

"So what would everyone like for breakfast?" Anthony asked next to her as they made their way into the kitchen where they stopped and stared at all the food.

"You four have been through enough. Sit and eat," Dan's mother said. His sister Marty stepped up in front of her and wrapped her arms around her, hugging her. "I know what it's like to be disappointed in a friend, I'm sorry. Maybe we can start anew?" she asked stepping back and Lacey smiled.

"I'd love that. How did you know?" she looked to see her sister smiling and checking her nails.

"I was a fool the other day, big sis, and I'm sorry. Now we'll have the real family we never had, because of him. Maybe in time you and I can even regain the bond we had before?" She kicked away from the wall and held out her arms.

In that minute, Lacey knew her life would be okay as she ran to her sister and hugged her. "Okay you two get over here and eat, so we can hear the plans," Dan's father grumbled, wrapping his arms around the both of them and walking them to the table.

"Now do we have a date for the marriage?" he asked, looking to Dan who groaned.

"Do you know how busy we've been?” Dan handed her a plate and winked at her.

"Well, there is the first day of spring coming." She piled the bacon, sausages and eggs on her plate along with a few waffles. "There is a cute little gazebo in Harper we could use, but I don't want anything big, please." She sat in the corner and stuffed a sausage in her mouth.

"What our queen isn't telling you..." Abby started to say before Lacey growled.

"Abby, now is not the time," she said frowning at her sister.

"Like you've had the time, and I can see the itch already starting, so don't give me that," Abby stuck her tongue out at her and she laughed. Her friend had come a long way since the death of her sister.

"What is Abby talking about, Lady Cat?" Isaac asked, lifting her chin to stare down at her. His hand slid down to her neck where he held it there. "Aww, I see what you need. Thank you, Abby, it seems we've been remiss."

***

Her eyes flashed as he put a little pressure on her neck. Yes, their Lady Cat need some TLC and soon. He leaned down and nipped her ear. "We will make up for lost time soon. Now tell us about this place, Harper Woods. Dan, do you know of this place?" He sat down next to her, looking at Dan.

"A developer put his life savings into the place. There are over 40 homes all of which at one time would have been worth over a 100 grand apiece, but then the market crashed and he lost everything. They have been sitting there empty for over 20 years. I don't think we will have a hard time acquiring the land. What do you think, Dad? You know more about it than me." He bit into the egg sandwich he’d made and laughed as Lacey leaned over him, her mouth open.

"That looks good. Can I have a bite?" she asked, batting her eyes.

Dan rolled his eyes and held out his sandwich for her. "If you weren't carrying our babies, I'd make you get your own sandwich."

Grabbing her hand, Isaac stopped her from slapping Dan. "Don't even, Lady Cat. We spank, plus they would have found out eventually."

"Babies? How many babies?" Dan's mom jumped up and started to make a sandwich for Lacey, rushing it over to her. "How many?"

"From what Isaac's brother said, we're expecting three eggs," she frowned taking the sandwich from her. Isaac leaned over, taking a bite of her sandwich and looking up into her face. "Breathe, it's over.”

"I'll contact the city when they open up here at 8:00, but that place will need a lot of work. People have been stripping it for years, but it would be easy to defend. Eric, you'll need to get your team on it if we're going to make this work. Are you going to allow this place to go?" Thomas asked pulling out his phone.

"No. I think it's time Anthony brought in his house and this would be perfect for them. We give them a choice, work with us or back to the old world. I won't have loose ends around."

"Dan, where is the local club around here?" he asked hearing Lacey's little gasp next to him.

Eric laughed and his father grinned. "Aww, now I understand. Dan, take Isaac to your cousin’s. You'll find what you'll need there. Dorothy, why don't you and the women go into town shopping?" His father held up his hand as he started to object. "They can take a couple of guards with them, but if what you want is to collar this beauty, then allow them to have fun shopping for the perfect outfit for you. They can't live without some fun, Isaac."

He looked at Lacey, but she said nothing, lowering her head waiting for his decision. "I'll go with Dan, but I have to insist Anthony goes with the women with the other guards." He squeezed her knee. "I won't chance her life again. I'm sorry. Anthony can stand back as they shop, but this is important."

"Lacey, you go, you’ll do everything Anthony tells you." She jumped up, wrapping his arms around his neck.

"I promise. Now I have to do something with my hair. I'll be right back." She raced out of the room.

"You'd think she was going to something special," he laughed and stood when Isaac noticed Abby and Sally staring at him.

"What?" he asked looking down at the clothes he had on.

"Don't disappoint her, Isaac. You three would kill her if you did." Abby, grabbed the car keys and threw a set to Anthony. "I take it, Lark. Cavan, Lan and the stooges will be with us?"

"Yes, but first, Anthony, Dan and I need to know how many men stayed with us. There were bound to be some that left going back to our world. Plus, there might be a few that resent Lacey and I want them gone..."

What had his blood running cold was her scream.

His heart seemed to stop as he flashed into their room. Lacey sat in the middle of the floor on top of a guard, growling. "He tore my pictures..." her lip trembled.

"Come here, baby," Isaac picked her up and held her tight, but glared down at the man. "Go, and never come back here again. If I ever spot you near us, I'll kill you." The man jumped up, looked at her, then at him.

"I won't be back." He flashed out of the room.

"Maybe I should stay here," she said, and he shook his head.

"Nope, you are going. Lark, Lan, Anthony, coordinate with the others. We'll meet back here at noon for lunch. Then we'll take a ride out to where these houses are. Now go," Isaac lowered her to the ground and swatted her ass. "Be good."

Anthony wrapped his arm around her, leading her from the room. "Dan, let’s check the guards before we leave. I don't want to come back to find anyone else in her belongings."

For the next two hours, Dan and he called each security team in and questioned them. He'd sent three back to his world, but still it wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be.

"We have two hours, so who is this cousin of yours that your dad believes we should see." He got into Dan's car almost hitting the top of his head.

Grinning like a fool, Dan started the car and pulled out. "Our cousin is the local jeweler and he owns the private club called Master’s Pet. It's an exclusive club here in Detroit. He found an old building and worked on it for a year." Dan looked at him. "It's perfect and I know for a fact Lacey has never been there since it’s by invitation only."

"How many belong to this club? Can we trust them and do they know about our kind?" Isaac asked scanning their surroundings.

"Yes, they know about us since it's mostly all law enforcement that belong to it, but there are a few from Anthony's house that belong there too." Dan pulled into the parking lot of the store and turned to him. "You're really going to collar her?" Dan asked.

"Yes. In her mind it's what she sees as important. Our Lady Cat may believe she needs to be full into this Master and Slave aspect, but in many ways she's only looking for love, for someone to show her how to trust. Of course a little play is never a bad thing. As with any family, there will always be some form of domination. It's just our way. We will always try and give our
meru
everything she requires, but her health will always be important to us. When my father took the whip to our woman, it was like ripping out our hearts. He is no man. Any man who would do what he did should be put away as far as I'm concerned and if he ever comes here, do not hesitate to take him down, do you understand me, Dan? There are sometimes a warrior has gone too long without anyone to love and when that happens, he can crack. My father has lived over 2000 years before he met my dad. Some say it was too long. Who knows, maybe it was."

"How old are you, Isaac?" Dan asked and he smiled.

"Not to worry. I had my family to help me where my father didn't, but I'm 700 years old." He got out of the car and looked around. "For an
Orak,
losing any part of their family is not acceptable. When they brought you into the ring, beaten and unconscious...They would have all been dead." He put his hand on Dan's neck and squeezed. "You and Anthony will always be part of me, Dan. Now let's get our woman a special collar."

They had shopped for hours till Lacey had found the perfect outfit for tonight. She was nervous. She found the peach-colored corset and thong at the last shop. What surprised her was it actually fit her round body. Covering herself in the trench coat, she'd bought, Lacey smiled looking down at the soft, white leather boots she wore.

Yes, even Lacey thought she looked good tonight for her men. Tonight, Lacey would give them her gift. The one they had been holding back till this day.

"You ready, Lady Cat? It's time to go," Isaac peeked into the bathroom and she laughed when he grumbled seeing her in the coat. "Damn, I was too late."

"You'll see soon. They say waiting only enhances one’s appetite." She walked in between Anthony and Isaac, Dan was in front of them.

"Oh Lady Cat, we have an appetite and we will have our fill of a certain Lady Cat tonight." Isaac said and stopped her right before she was to get in, waving a blindfold in front of her. "Turn around Lacey, only the masters know where this place is, plus it will heighten your experience." Isaac placed the blindfold over her and kissed her cheek. "You are beautiful my pet. Now in you go. Anthony, help her in please."

With both of them guiding her, Lacey sat down next to Anthony. Isaac sat in the front with Dan. "There is something I have to tell you three. Tonight the three of you will also be getting a gift, but it's from my mother, her father," she knew that all three of them watched her waiting.

"I found out about my heritage about 20 years ago. My mother knew there was something wrong with my father, but he was her true mate. But her father allowed my father to take over. That would fall to the one who claimed me, the one that was strong enough to tame the cat. He would be the one to rule and bring our people together. Tonight not only will I be testing you, but so will she."

She heard Isaac turn in his seat. "Don't you think we should have been told about this before tonight?" Isaac asked and she shook her head.

"No, it isn't my choice. You've met my cat, she's been waiting and watching. When the tests are done, and you have been given the mantel my cat will once more become part of me, but until this night is over, there is nothing I can do. Maybe your king knew this, who knows." The car came to a stop and the engine shut off.