Lost & Found (Possessed 3)

“These particular cats, they aren’t mean. At least, that I’ve seen or anyone for that matter. Plenty of folks have run into them on the trails, and they’ve just kept to themselves. Darnedest thing, I tell you. Anyway, I don’t suppose you’ve had any sightings, have you?”

It made perfect sense. “As a matter of fact, my dog and I saw a group of them together just an hour ago. Sitting in a field.”

His sigh of relief was palpable. “That’s great news, Sheriff. Now I have a favor to ask?”

“What’s that, Ranger?”

“Don’t let some busy body shoot them. They’re being studied for their movements and interaction, and well, it’d be a damn shame for animals to be hurt when they haven’t done nothing wrong.”

“I couldn’t agree more, Ranger. So long as they keep to themselves and residents don’t get too scared, I’ll spread the word.”

“Appreciate it. Have a good day now.”

“Thanks, you, too.”

A ten-ton weight had just been lifted from his shoulder. Nick was incredibly glad to know he wasn’t losing his damn mind where those cougars were concerned. To have confirmation that they could cohabitate was a relief.

Going back to his office, he watched as Pepper sat on Ace’s lap, giggling while reading articles about her brother. She looked happy, less stressed. Which in turn made him happy, and he was sure his cousin was thrilled if his own twitching was a clue.

Deciding to leave them alone, he made a quick call to his dad, inviting the older man to dinner the following night. Pepper seemed to really enjoy his company, and Nick thought she could use the entertainment.

While Nick made his call, Ace used the quiet moment to study Pepper’s features as she went through all the information available on her brother. For the most part, she remained happy that someone whom she loved wasn’t drowning in sorrow. When she came upon the inevitable article about him searching for his missing sister, she stiffened, and he knew her wonder was over.

“He’s looking for me.” Her hushed words were full of awe and remorse.

“Did you think he wouldn’t?” Ace couldn’t imagine having that kind of doubt in his own family.

“Well, I didn’t know. I never wanted this to happen. I was so lonely and just wanted to feel loved. James had been so busy, and he met this new girl, and all of the sudden nothing was the same again.”

Excitement at her remembrance nearly doubled him over, but he needed her to continue, to remember what happened. “Why would you think that?”

Pepper was lost as she answered him. “She was always cancelling our outings. James and I had a standing lunch every Sunday. No matter what was happening, we always had lunch. Then she comes along and just like that, he was too busy, or she had plans for them already. I could never reach him. When I called the house, he was never home. When I called his cell, he was always on the other phone or in the shower, and he never got my messages. I know she didn’t give them to him.” A lone tear slid down her face as she remembered, and he wanted to gut the callous female whoever she was. “I started feeling like a burden, so I stopped calling, stopped being stood up in that stupid restaurant I always hated. I just wanted our connection back, you know?”

Ace soothed her. “Yeah, baby, I know.” He spotted Nick entering the room. The thunderous look on his face one of knowing.

“Do you want to ca

ll him?” Nick asked Pepper.

Startled by his question, she gave him a horrifying look. “I couldn’t possibly. I don’t want to be a bother to him. Or her.” The last part was said with so much hurt, he felt it to his soul.

“A bother?” he and Nick both asked at once.

“Well...” She looked between them, not understanding their outrage. “Yeah.”

“I can’t imagine it would be a bother to him. Men are dumb, Pepper, far dumber than we let on, and I can tell you that it’s unlikely your brother even realized what he was doing let alone noticed this viper was manipulating him. We’re stupid like that.” Ace tried to reason with her. Men weren’t the smartest when it came to women, especially their feelings, but he knew without a shadow of a doubt, they would love their family.

“What he said.” Nick thumbed at him.

“I don’t know…” Her voice trailed off as if she wanted to but was afraid.

“How about I call him first?” Ace offered, hoping to ease some of her fears.

Turning on his lap, she looked at him hopefully. “You would do that?”

Her doubt in them kept him baffled, but he supposed after what happened to her, it was more with humanity than them. “We’d do anything for you, baby.” She could ask him to jump off a building and the likelihood of him doing it were high. Higher still if she had a good reason.

Leaning forward, she placed her lips on his, murmuring a quiet thank you as she nodded for him to call her brother.