Broken Pieces

Chapter Nineteen

By Roofles

The night sweats were the worse. The nightmares a close second. Thrashing in bed as the haunting images came for him. Begging and pleading as their cries turned into animal sounds of equal note and worth. Growing louder and louder, shrilling in his ears until he couldn’t hear anything other than them. Their pleas and begs turned into mad laughter akin to a hyenas cackle. Clawing at his arms now instead of grabbing them as they laughed and heckled the tiger, strapping him upside down as they began to pluck and pull clumps of his fur off of his body as if he were a freshly boiled chicken.

He was hot. Scolding hot. Boiling alive from the inside out as his clawed hands tried to grab at the ropes tightening around him. Tighter and tighter like a vice being turned until he’d pop.

A scream tore from Troy’s throat as he snapped awake, drenched with sweat.

It was several hours later when Troy woke up from the night terrors plaguing him. He was strapped to one of the metal tables in the room and tried to fight against his bindings. The metal table rattled, and a strong clawed hand grasped his wrist, holding him down. The tiger groggily looked up into the face of a very unhappy looking wolf.

“You.” Domino growled low. “Keep it down,” he flicked his muzzle and Troy looked over at the human sleeping in a chair nearby. “Wake him up? And you and I are going to have a long talk in the back.” He bared his fangs before roughly letting Troy go and walking back over to where he’d been standing watch.

Troy stared at him, breathing heavily before looking over towards the human. He was still fast asleep and Troy slowly, uneasily laid back down on the uncomfortably stiff table. His tail was killing him and every muscle in his body ached as he closed his eyes trying to fight against the pain pushing against them from behind. It felt as if his eyes would pop out of his skull, and he let out a low groan.

It felt like someone was trying to take a wine opener to his head. From the inside trying to get out. That building pressure was still there but it wasn’t as bad as when he’d been asleep. His mouth tasted like cotton, and he cracked an eye open, looking at the wolf.

“Can I get some water..?” Troy voice rasped out.

“No.” Domino said in a flat tone, not even looking at him as he texted on his phone. The wolf was unhappy to be here, and it showed. Domino kept grinding his teeth back and forth as if trying to file them down.

“Can I talk to the, uh, doctor at least?” Troy kept his voice to a whisper as he looked around the room. It was sparsely furnished with only several medical tables laid out like the one he’d been lying on. A silver tray of utensils was nearby, and his fur stood on end seeing some of the sharper things on it and just hoped they hadn’t planned to play operation with his body.

“No,” Domino didn’t even look at him.

“He can,” a monotone voice said coming from around the corner. The rough collie had with them a medical bag and for the life of Troy, he couldn’t figure out if they were a male or female. Their voice was as androgynous as their appearance was making it impossible to know without directly checking. “And I’m not a doctor.” Shadow corrected as they walked over.

“Uh, doc.” Troy tried to start up.

“Not a doctor.” Shadow said once more with a flick of their ear. “Legal reasons,” they explained without explaining. “You’ve survived the month. That’s good news.”

“A month!” Troy said loudly and he got another growl from the wolf.

“That was a joke.” Shadow said in a flat, monotone voice. Neither of the two laughed. “This is why I told mother I was going into medicine instead of comedy.”

“I thought you said you weren’t a doctor…” Troy was utterly confused what was happening as he struggled with his bindings. They held fast and he was just too tired to do much else as he slumped back down against the table. The back of his head hit the metal and he cursed under his breath, keeping the snarl from escaping his throat.

“I didn’t say I didn’t go to medical school. Just that I don’t have a license to practice medicine,” a fleeting smile passed over the collie’s face as if finding it amusing.

“Uh… why?” Troy blinked several times, trying to stop the spots from floating in his gaze. They danced in front of his eyes like unfocused fireflies.  

“Medical malpractice,” Shadow shrugged as they pulled out another cigarette.

“How… reassuring. Should you be smoking around a patient?” Troy coughed as the collie purposefully blew smoke in his face for asking the stupid question.

“True. If I was a doctor and you were a patient, that would be an issue. Domino, do you see a doctor or patient here?” Shadow asked the wolf who shook his head.

“Nope. All I see are two friends chatting.” The wolf smirked and Troy didn’t get the underlining meaning the two were going for. Or the threat behind it.  

“They mean that if you tell anyone about this? They’ll deny it,” Logan yawned awake as he stood to join the others with a full body stretch, rubbing sleep from his eyes after. “Oh, and also break your legs.” He added. He looked far more tired than Troy felt.

“And trust me, I know how to break bones.” Shadow added in with a devilish smile before blowing more smoke up into the air. They didn’t bother to explain the smoke would help hide their combined scents in the room if someone came sniffing around. It wasn’t tabaco Shadow was smoking.  

“You got coffee in this joint?” Logan asked with another loud yawning stretch. His back popped and he winced at that. “That can’t be good.” He groaned.  

“Do you think I’m some kind of barbarian? In the back kitchen… make me a cup as well.” Shadow ordered at the end and Logan chuckled, heading off to do so.

No one talked until Logan returned. Shadow was checking over the machines Troy only now realized he’d been connected to. His upper arm was shaved, and a needle had been jammed into his skin for the IV. Domino just watched from the side, not in the mood to answer anything else asked.

There was a mustiness in the air as if the room wasn’t often used. All the windows were boarded up and the floor had a layer of dust over it. It was not a healthy environment to be sick in.

The tiger jumped as Logan touched his shoulder the next second.

“I brought you a cup of water,” the human said with a wink. “You guys were pretty damn loud about it in the morning.”

“It’s almost ten.” Domino snorted to the side.

“Close enough,” Logan yawned again before looking over at Shadow. “Can he sit up enough to drink this?”

“He can do whatever the fuck he wants.” Shadow could give two shits what happened. “I’m not going to try and stop a tiger from getting a drink. Hell, I need one.” Logan just offered him a steaming cup of coffee instead. “It’ll have to do.” Shadow was already pulling a flask from within their coat and poured a hefty dose of whatever was in it in the coffee. “Much better.”

“Good. Just because I’m Irish doesn’t mean…” Logan laughed, and the sound made the tiger’s ears perk up. “Anyways, Dom. Want to untie our striped friend here…?”

“No friend of mine.” Dom grumbled as he walked over to untie one arm. He refused to do the other and gave Logan a look that could’ve curdled milk when the human tried to finish the task.

“Fine, fine. Don’t curl your tail. Only one arm… here.” Logan helped Troy hold the cup and even assisted him to bring it to his lips. “And down the hatch, there we go.” Logan smiled and Troy’s ears splayed out as he looked away from him. “As long as you can keep that down, the doc,” Logan thumbed over to Shadow.

“Not a doctor.” Shadow growled back.

“Says you are good to go. Good thing we caught you in the early stages.” Logan said and Domino had caught on what the human was doing. “That stuff is dangerous, kid.”

“Kid?” Troy shook his head then regretted it.

“I’ll get you something for the headache if you keep the water down for another couple minutes, okay?” Logan was being his sweet, innocent self. Smiling at the tiger, touching his shoulder, reassuring the hungover tiger as if he were his friend or, more like, his caregiver.

Someone Troy could trust and open up to. Just like Logan had done and been like when he had first Domino. The wolf’s tail flicked in annoyance, not happy to see Logan pull the same act he did with the wolf as he was doing now with the tiger.  

“Uh, right. Sure.” Troy bowed his muzzle. “I… what happened?”

“Well,” Logan glanced at Domino who took a step back to give them some space. “We were hoping to ask you that. I’m a police officer. A detective. Troy, was it? I think that’s what you said earlier…?”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah.” The tiger nodded before wincing. “I was tied up in the cellar of that place…”

“Why were you there?” Logan asked, rubbing his shoulder with a hand. “Friends, right?” Logan led him and the tiger followed as if the human was leaving another trail for the feline to chase after.

Logan was damn good at this and, seeing it from a third person view, Domino wasn’t sure how he’d fallen for it. Maybe it was because he was a human? Something the wolf had innately looked down on. Not someone to worry about or be threatened by. Logan could be so warm and caring it made the wolf turn away, not wanting to see any more.

Domino could see how fake it was these days knowing the truth.

“Uh, yeah. Our friend Claude really likes those Red Rooms. He, well, he was with me…? I think? Things are a bit blurry. Jumbled up. I think… I think they might’ve put something in our drinks? I only had one glass before I was out. I’m a four-hundred-pound guy!” The tiger boastfully said, puffing out his chest. “One drink isn’t going to do jack shit to me.” 

“Several herbivores gangs are known to use date rape drugs to knock predators out. It’s why you’re always told never to drink from unreputable establishments or sources.” Logan explained but his voice was comforting like a father who was just trying to help their child out after they made a mistake. “It happens far more than you’d think. You guys couldn’t have known… It’s not your fault what happened, Troy.”

“The others?” Troy looked up and winced once more. He didn’t even notice the wolf step closer at the sudden movement. Domino retreated as quickly as he had moved once he saw that Logan had things under control.

“That’s where I’m hoping you can come in and help with. Fill in some of these questions about what happened…” Logan let go and pulled up a seat. He didn’t sit in it, just resting his hands on the back of the old chair. “You and your friends went there to have some fun, correct? Party and play kind of fun…?” Logan eyes narrowed on the tiger and Domino felt a chill run down his spine.

Logan was acting friendly with this guy but the second Troy said or did something that crossed the line, Logan would put him down. He knew that because Domino would be the one to help bury the body.  

“Uh…” Troy’s tail would’ve swayed nervously if he wasn’t sitting on it.

“Relax, Troy. I promise, I’m a friend.” Logan smiled then and the look from before vanished off his face. If Domino hadn’t seen it, he’d never suspected the human from harboring such dark thoughts. “Just trying to figure things out. I know I’m a cop but, I promise, not all of us are bad,” Logan tried to say but Domino snorted. “See this big idiot over there?” Logan figured if Domino couldn’t keep quiet, he could use him.

The wolf’s ears perked up before folding back as he growled at the human as the tiger glanced at him.

“That guy is no cop.” Logan laughed with a shake of his head. “I help people, Troy. It’s what I do. Gang members? Wolves? Just people trying to get by? That’s my job. I’m just part of the police in order to use them to help me help more people. People like you…” And he placed a hand on the tiger’s arm comfortingly.

“W-what do you mean…?” Troy nervously asked. 

“He means predators, dumbass.” Domino rolled his eyes.

“A cop that helps… preds…?” Troy almost laughed as he gave the human a look. “A human?”

“I know,” Logan just lifted his arms as if in apology. “I can’t help how I was born. Nor can you…” Logan noted and the tiger’s ears folded back. He was far more expressive than someone in one of Logan’s usual circles would be.

Troy, this tiger, really was just a dumb kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pity. Logan would’ve loved to have Domino work out the answers for him. Makes things a lot easier if they could just tie his arms up as Domino did a set of on his stomach. Would’ve been far faster than the good cop, bad cop routine.

“I’m going to ask you a series of questions in a moment,” Logan looked over at Shadow. The collie just lifted an eyebrow as if daring him to ask them to do more than they already had. “Let’s get you down from there. Sound good, Troy? Want some coffee with those meds…?”

“Uh, sure. Just get me off this table. I think there’s a kink in my tail.” The feline winced as Logan began undoing his straps. Domino stepped closer but waited for Troy to make the first move. Only then would the wolf be allowed to put the tiger in his place.

Within the half hour the four of them were in the back of Shadow’s “not a clinic,” sitting at a table eating delivery food.

“You need to get yourself someone, Shadow.” Logan pointed out as he grabbed a couple of drumsticks and loaded a plate up with gravy, potatoes, and the works before sliding the large portion towards the tiger. “Can’t keep ordering food.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you!” Domino growled, glaring at the human. “You are coming to our place and having some homemade meals this week. Or so help me god, Logan…”

Logan laughed at that. “What? Clem going to put on a frilly apron and make us dinner?”

“If I tell him to, he will.” Domino grinned wickedly and the two chuckled at the thought of the boxer wearing nothing but a maid uniform serving them.

They made it look so easy. Talking like that. A human and a wolf… Troy was at a loss as the tiger watched the friendly banter the two made before digging into their food.

“So…?” Troy began and the other two looked over at him as if only now noticing the tiger was sitting there at the table.  

“How’s the food?” Logan cut in and Troy’s ears folded back.

“Uh, good. Good. Yeah…” He didn’t have an appetite but didn’t want to offend. It was hard to both enjoy the food while also trying not to… eat it. For more than one reasons.

“Relax.” Logan said and Troy glanced up at the human across the table. Logan thumbed over at Domino. The wolf was… wolfing down the food and making a mess while doing so. “I’m used to it. Eat as much as you can. You’ll want something to help the meds settle,” Logan toyed with the small plastic cup with several brightly colored pills inside that he’d placed on the table earlier.

Even after eating and drinking, Troy hadn’t been given the meds yet as the human toyed with the plastic with one finger.

“I just need to ask you a few questions…” Logan started, and the tiger frowned at him.

“You are a cop.” The tiger grumbled but the look he got from the wolf kept him behaved.

“To save lives? Ya’. I can be.” Logan countered with, giving him a cold look before shaking his head. “Troy? You were there to play. I get it. I do. What happened after that isn’t your fault. But a lot of people got hurt.” Logan said to make sure the tiger understood. Troy’s head lowered down without a word. “I just need to know if you heard or saw anything while you were there? I need to know as much as I can to help. To help you, others and even your friends. They got themselves into some serious shit.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t get to see or hear shit while I was there. I was there with friends and then knocked out the next second, waking up in some basement tied to the chair. That was it.” Troy claws gripped the table, getting worked up.

“I believe you,” Logan said but his eyes said otherwise.

“See. I told you he would be useless.” Domino huffed, turning away. “We should’ve just left him to rot. What good is he now to us?”

“Fuck you.” Troy snapped back at the wolf who was glad to take the bait and growl right back. The two large predators glaring daggers at each other.

“Dom.” Logan said, and the wolf backed down. “It’s fine, Troy. Thank you for your assistance. If you remember anything, please call me.” Logan said pulling a card from the inside pocket of his jacket. It was his private number. Away from the prying eyes or ears of the police force. “You should stay here until you recover,” Logan pushed himself up. “I got a couple of other places I want to check out anyways before-,”

“Whoa, whoa. Wait.” Troy lifted a hand. He was holding his head with the other, trying to keep the hammering headache at bay. “I don’t know shit. My friend set the whole damn thing up. It was his birthday. I was just along for the ride. One hell of a ride…”

“Doesn’t help.” Domino snorted, turning away in disgust.

“Fuck off you shit eater!” Troy snarled at the canine, using a derogatory insult for a canine. Domino jumped to his feet, wanting the challenge. Troy jumped up to meet him, before wincing. He wasn’t expecting the hand from the human on his arm.

“Easy, you’re still recovering, Troy. You’ve been through a lot in the past twenty-four hours. Hell. You’re doing a lot better than I thought you would be.” Logan said, meeting Troy’s eyes. He looked over at Shadow and gave them a nod in thanks for all the effort they had done for the them.

Shadow continued to enjoy their meal not involving themselves in this. The less their paw prints were over this mess, the harder it would be to include them if or when they got caught in the future.

“Right,” Troy took a slow breath before letting it out. He could still taste blood in the back of his throat and hated that. Hated how much enjoyed it. To savor it. It quenched a dark thirst he didn’t know he had until his friend had tricked him into drinking from a blood pack. Ever since he got a taste for the stuff, it was hard to resist the urges that came along with it. “Look. My friend set the whole damn fucking thing up after some dude showed up with the information about the place. How else do college kids find out about Red Rooms?”

“What info?” Domino ears perked up.

“What dude?” Logan asked.

“I didn’t meet the guy, okay? But my friend said he was some stick up the ass feline. Real stiff, right?” Troy said and Logan gave a polite nod, waiting for him to continue. “So, like… this asshole shows up out the blue. No heads up, no warning. Just shows up at his door one day and tells him about this place… then, after my dumbass friend took the bait gets shown this place. Guy tells him to invite all his friends for a party. And even gives him a sample of uh…” He trailed off.

The tiger’s tail fidgeted as his bright eyes looked anywhere but at the two watching him. Troy felt as if he were underneath an interrogation light in a police office, again. Being questioned and hounded for something he hadn’t done. Just pulled into the mess because he was the only predator on the scene.

“Don’t jerk us around, cat!” Domino snarled and Troy’s fur lifted up as the tiger and wolf glared at each other once more. They were like oil and water. The two just couldn’t get along. Logan could practically see sparks flying between the two as they clashed.

“Watch it, mutt!” Troy tried to get up, but Logan placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping him seated.

 “Easy,” Logan said but didn’t ask for Domino to leave. He needed the wolf nearby in case there was any lingering effects of the drug in Troy’s system. “I just need you to tell me what you know. Please. We might be able to help your friends if you do… the clock is ticking. We don’t have time to be fighting each other.”

Troy turned to look back at him and his ears folded back as his shoulder’s slouched. Troy sunk back into his seat, staring at the table.

“He gave my friend a gift. A sample of Primal. I never used the stuff. I swear! P is shit.” Troy growled. “Fucks you up. Inside. In your brain… Tried it once and hated it,” he gulped loudly as he admitted to using the illegal substance. “And well, again, I guess. After what happened this morning…”

It was miracle Troy was moving as he was and not bed ridden. Maybe Barnes had been right about their kind being far more resilient than other species were. Predators were just made to be like this. Large, strong and in charge. It was why all the other groups worked so hard to keep them at the bottom of the food chain they deserved to be on top of.

“This feline you mentioned gave your friend Primal?” Logan frowned at that. It was bad enough that someone like Barnes was drugging people. If there was another third party involved in all this… it would actually explain a lot of things. And complicated them even more.

The real problem was? Logan didn’t have a clue who it could be and would need to hit up his other contacts to hear if they heard anything now that he couldn’t ask The Burrows and their ever-watchful eyes and ears about the going on in the city.

Barnes network would make it difficult for them to move as well. Being used against them, rather than for Logan.   

“Yeah. He said it was an early birthday present,” Troy snarled. “Bastard must’ve tipped those rabbits off that we were coming. Make sure no one else was around before spiking our drinks and…” He couldn’t continue and Logan didn’t blame him.

It must’ve been horrible. To be drugged out of your mind to the point you would attack and murder people, thinking of them as nothing more than food. As prey.

“Do you have anyone you can stay with?” Logan asked and Troy looked up at him. “Your mother or sister? You mentioned them earlier.”

“They don’t live here. I’m just here for school.” Troy grumbled as he sulked. “I feel like shit,” he ran his tongue over his fangs. “I can still taste it. The blood… I recall everything I did while under the influence of P.”

“Everything?” Logan hated hearing that. To witness every horrific act, you had done while unable to control your body was a terrifying experience Logan hoped to never go through.

“Primal is primarily used as a sex drug. Or performance enhancer.” Domino reminded him. “No point getting all worked up like that if you aren’t going to remember and enjoy the show.” He gave a crass shrug as if it wasn’t that big of a deal.

“How many… how many did I…?” Troy covered his mouth and before Logan could stop him, Troy got up and bolted for the kitchen. Shadow stepped aside as the tiger jumped into the kitchen and hurled his guts out in the sink.

Coughing and gasping for breath, the tiger cursed several times as he held onto the sink. Sticking his clawed finger down his throat until he threw up everything he had eaten today. Whoever he had eaten…

“I’m not cleaning that up.” Shadow just said, continuing to eat as if it wasn’t a problem.

“I’ll clean it up,” Logan rolled his eyes. “I’ve done worse.”

“So have I but doesn’t mean I’ll just do it.” Shadow commented and Logan wanted to flip them off. So, he did. The canine smirked at that. “Also, he can’t stay here.” Shadow smirked.

“What?” Logan didn’t expect that.

“I patch people up here. Doctor patient confidentiality.” Shadow smirk grew.

“You aren’t even a doctor!” Logan spat back.

“I am when it’s convenient for me.” Shadow shrugged. “Look… my other patients would freak if they woke up and some tiger was prowling around. I don’t want that,” they jabbed a finger towards the kitchen. “Me either. I don’t want to wake up with some drugged-up tiger walking around. He doesn’t have to go home; he just can’t stay here.”  

“We can’t just kick the guy out on the street. They might still be after him! You can’t just hide a tiger,” Logan frowned knowing how real that was. He’d been looking for Milo for the past year and hadn’t found a trace of him.

Any sighting of a tiger had led Logan looking into it. All of them had turned out to be dead ends. He had learned one thing though… people kept track of predators. You couldn’t hide what you were in the eyes of the public and there was always someone out there happy to make their life a living hell. Taking pictures of them, posting it online and warning others about the predator in their midst. Or just flat out reporting them for being in their neighborhood as if it were illegal to be there.

If any rabbits or hares spotted Troy? That news would eventually end up getting back to Barnes who would send in his goons to kidnap the tiger once more. When you have a family as large as one of the Noble Hares, it made things… complicated.

“Fuck.” Logan cursed. “Barnes would be happy to get his grubby little mitts on Troy again… he has a personal vendetta against tigers.”

“Kid doesn’t know shit.” Domino said as if in Troy’s defense.

“Doesn’t matter.” Logan groaned, rubbing his forehead. “Nobles don’t give a shit about that kind of stuff. If there was a slightest chance that he could be a risk to them… well, you saw what Barnes was willing to do just to make an example.”

“Nobles?” Shadow frowned at that. “You don’t mean the Noble Hares, do you?”

“Yeah.” Logan frowned and Shadow cursed. “Barnes is one of the family heads.”

“I’m not following.” Domino was the one left out and so Logan explained.

“Noble Hares is a long, LONG lineage of hares that can be traced back to ancient kings and queens in Scottland. They came over with the first settlers and, well, kept up their noble heritage.” Logan frowned. “They breed like, well, rabbits and hares. There are no end to them. No matter how hard other groups have tried to wipe them out. They are very… resilient.”

“Like cockroaches.” Shadow agreed. “Their numbers never decrease but the Noble heads stand above all of them. Something to do with blood and lineage or some nonsense.”

“You mean inbreeding.” Domino growled low at that. “Disgusting.” He spat the word out. It was a huge offense in the wolf pack to inbreed. It was one reason why Mauler, Reese’s father, had been so strict on who they could and couldn’t be with. Wanting to control their breeding. No matter how desperate they were to grow their numbers, that wasn’t something they’d ever stoop to do. “Revolting.” The wolf hated these hares even more than he already did.

It was an insult to everything Domino and those of the Elysium pack believed in. What’s the point of winning this war if it meant you left with inbred freaks in the end?

“Yeah… They call themselves Nobles because, well, vanity?” Logan shrugged. “Anyways. They have ears everywhere. Always keeping one up and one to the ground,” Logan just shrugged again at the look he got. “Don’t look at me like that! They even have it embroidered on their stupid flag. A rabbit with an ear up and one down on the ground. I know, it’s dumb.”

“Fucking dumb.” Domino grumbled. The wolf’s ears perked up and his eyes soon turned towards the kitchen as the tiger walked back in.

“In other words,” Troy gagged as he spat to the side trying to get the foul taste of bile out of his mouth. “I’m royally screwed.”

“Something like that.” Logan gave him a wink. “Come on,” he motioned, and Domino stepped forward. “Troy, you coming?” He added and both the tiger and the wolf gave him a look. “We aren’t leaving him Dom.” Logan was already getting into it with the wolf once he realized what Logan had in mind.

“We’re not taking him with us!” Domino practically shouted. “He tried to eat us!”

“Uh, sorry about that.” Troy meekly offered in his defense.

“He’s not staying here. I will kick him out.” Shadow even opened their white doctor’s coat to show off the side arm they had ready. “I took no oath about not harming anyone.” Shadow grinned as if looking forward to having the idea of hurting someone.

“Not helping,” Logan motioned at Shadow before looking at Domino. “If we leave Troy here? Shadow will kick him out. And if Troy ends up on the street? All our work will have been for naught. Please, Dom?”

“Don’t care.” Domino growled. “My orders were to keep an eye on you. Not some… some stray kitten you took in!”

“Kitten?” Troy growled at that.

“Look.” Logan clapped his hands together. The loud sound drew all three sets of ears towards it. It was a handy trick Logan had picked up working around so many predators. “We’re not kicking Troy out. He might also recall something that’ll help us. Like whom this mysterious feline person is. We find them? We find the source of the Primal being distributed on the street and, hopefully, Barnes. And maybe then? The missing predators. Don’t forget that’s why we’re here, Dom. For Gristle…” He added, giving the wolf a look.

Domino’s ears folded back as he flashed his fangs at Logan before turning away with a huff.

“And you,” Logan turned to look at the tiger.

“Me?” Troy was a bit confused what all was happening still. He felt tired and wanted to curl up and take a six-hour cat nap.

“You will follow my orders. No if ands or butts. If you can’t do that? I’ll put a god damn fucking bullet in your skull myself.” Logan made sure his voice was as harsh as he could make it. He needed Troy to take this seriously. All their lives were on the line.

“R-right.” Troy nodded several times, wishing he could stay here. He would feel a lot safer with the androgynous canine than the scary wolf dude and the, somehow, scarier human. “I understand.”

“Good. Dom, let the Alpha know what’s going on, on our end.” Domino nodded, already pulling his phone out to text Reese what they had found. Logan pulled out his phone. “Going to make a quick call,” he stepped aside. Making sure no one followed, he dialed the number. The person on the other line picked up after the first ring. “It’s Alice…”

“Anything?” A deep growl of a voice asked from the other end.

“Found a few things. Nearly caught the white rabbit. He pulled a fast one. Sic a tiger at me,” Logan almost laughed as he rolled his eyes. “Literally.”

“Tiger?” The other voice asked questioningly. The underlining tone implied who they thought it might be.

“No, no. Different tiger.” Logan explained.

“Pity you had to put him down.” They said and Logan paused at that.

“Right,” Logan said keeping his voice even. “I lost my lead and bloodied my hands for nothing.” Logan wasn’t sure why he was lying about killing Troy. It was strange his contact had instantly jumped to that conclusion.

As if suspecting Logan was some kind of tiger hater. There was only one tiger out there that he wanted to put down…

“Pity. The white rabbit has always been a slippery one. I had hoped you would be the one to catch them, Alice.” The voice grumbled, mulling it over. Logan had always hated that codename. “Was there anyone else?” They asked and Logan knew what they meant. If there were any other witnesses he had to put down or they had to track and keep silent. One way or another.

Glancing over at Troy, Logan Lied again. “No. No, there was no one else there. Just me and the white rabbit and his deck of cards.”

“Pity.” They said but sounded relieved. “What are you going to do?”

“Reconnect with the King and keep tabs as usual until another lead comes up.” Logan rested against the side wall, closing his eyes as he thought it all over. Trying to put the pieces together until they fit.

“Smart. Keep your head down. We still need you… keep in touch. If anything comes up,” they started up before trailing off. Unable to continue what they’d been saying. Maybe someone else was listening in. It was why Logan kept using the code names for everything.

“Understood. Alice out.” Logan finished the call before walking back into the room. “Hey,” he said, and the tiger looked over at him. “This feline you mentioned. Do you know anything else about them?”

“Uh…” Troy tried to think if his friend had mentioned anything else. The gears in his head slowly turned and Logan could see how painful it was for him to try and think. Primal must’ve really fucked with your cognitive functions, especially your memory. “I think he mentioned he had black fur…? Is that helpful?”

“Extremely.” Logan nodded in thanks before going quiet. He wasn’t looking at anyone else as he thought that over. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on it.

In his mind he could see the conspiracy board he had created. Pulling the pins out he began reorganizing it, focusing on the task at hand. Missing predators, Primal, Barnes… how they all fit together and who would benefit from it all.

Then this mysterious feline with possible black fur…?

“Anything come to mind?” Domino asked walking back over. Logan opened his eyes, looking at him. “Alpha says to keep our heads low until he’s done sorting out his end. Then we’ll regroup.”

“Why don’t we regroup now?” Logan asked and the wolf quirked an eyebrow about to question how Logan knew what Reese was doing. “Please. Like I don’t know what your Alpha is up to.” And Logan headed for the door. “Send the bill.” He waved over one shoulder without looking back.

“You damn right I will!” Shadow was glad to see them go. The door slammed shut before the canine realized something. “Shit! He didn’t clean up the sink!” And the canine cursed as they headed into the kitchen to fix the mess.