Feral Attraction: Cascade Cougars, #7

By Tia Didmon

Cat shifter meet Cat burglar... One stolen moment can be the difference between victory and death.

 

Anastatia Petrov has a mission. One final heist and she will be free of the monster that pulls her strings. All she has to do is steal a tiny device from a lair of cougar shifters. She has trained her entire life for this, so it should be easy. But when a cougar shifter meets a cat burglar, one stolen moment can be the difference between victory and death.

 

Do you run back to the lion's den and lose everything you fought for when the sexy man who caught you says you're his mate, or do you believe in a man who brings fire from the shadows and light to the darkness?

 

Their forbidden love may be a series of stolen moments, but it will take one last score to save the ones she loves.

 

If you like steamy, paranormal romance filled with sexy shifters and monstrous villains, with worlds similar to those of Gena Showalter, Larissa Ione, Lara Adrian, Nalini Singh, Sherrilyn Kenyon, & Christine Feehan, then you'll enjoy the Cascade Cougar series.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Bold Butterfly Publishing Inc.
• Release date: Dec 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201974770

Tia Didmon

Tia Didmon is a USA Today bestselling author of provocative paranormal romance and paranormal women’s fiction. When Tia isn't busy writing about sexy shifters and dreamy demons, she spends her time binge-watching The Order and reruns of The Vampire Diaries, cooking with her daughter, and serving her cat. Her love of writing stems from a self-diagnosed book addiction.  Subscribe to Tia's newsletter at tiadidmon.com for a free book and start your journey through Tia's supernatural world today! 

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The beautiful room was in contrast to the snake smiling at her. White walls with golden accents and cream velvet couches did nothing to calm her nerves. While pristine, the pale tones gave the impression of a plush penitentiary.

Kevin pointed at the seat across from his mahogany desk. Sit down, Anna. I have a job for you.

Anna sat stiffly in the seat. Do you have news on Katerina?

Kevin’s lip twitched. Camilla and I have had a... falling out. I have no information on Katerina’s whereabouts. That does not change the fact that I paid for your services.

Anna looked around at the pale decor that furnished Kevin’s private office. The Kallan facilities were always elegant, but Anna was raised with monsters. She understood better than most what pretty wrapping paper could hide. The jobs I have done for you, have more than compensated for your acquisition fee.

Kevin looked her over. No emotion showed on his face. It rarely did. That is true.

His response surprised her. She thought him just as likely to kill her on the spot as acknowledge she had never failed to complete an assignment. What do you want, Kevin, and what’s in it for me?

Kevin smiled, though it held no warmth. I have a new assignment for you. If you complete it, I will consider your... obligation to me, and the Kallan Corporation complete.

Anna’s heart thumped as she leaned forward. You will let me go?

Kevin folded his fingers over one another. If you complete the mission, yes.

Anna squinted, trying to discern if he was lying. He never went back on his word, but there was always a catch. Why?

Kevin shrugged. The item I need is in a very difficult location. You are the only person with a chance of retrieving it.

Anna sat back. It’s at Camilla and Jordan’s facility. That’s why you gave me the information on the compound.

He cleared his throat. The device is not on a Cortez owned facility, but she will send her own agents to retrieve it. None of them have your skills, however.

Trust was an illusion she had never believed in. Katerina had been the only exception. How do I know you won’t go back on your word?

Kevin’s stoic demeanor slipped. I never go back on my word!

Anna nodded slowly. So, you could rile a viper. I apologize. You have always kept your promises to your clients. You understand, since I was never a client, I needed to be sure.

Kevin held out his hand. I understand. This is a business deal. Retrieve what I need and you are free to go.

Anna took his hand. Sweat slicked his fingers as she shook it. The smile on his face was barely perceptible, but she felt her stomach knot. She had dealt with monsters her entire life. This one could set her free. Why did her soul feel like she had betrayed it? What is the job?

Kevin sat back. Retrieve an item from the Cascade stronghold. It is well protected and it must be quick. It is only a matter of time before Camilla realizes the information we need is in danger of being lost.

Anna frowned. I thought Selina was blocking the information flow between Jordan and the Cascades.

Kevin looked away. Selina is an excellent hacker, but she is not my son. Jordan is exceptional. He will figure out what Selina did soon enough.

Anna wondered at the pride in Kevin’s voice. He’d had no time for his bastard son when Gerald was alive. She didn’t have time for the Kallans family dynamics. Stealing was what she excelled at. Lived for. There was a moment of regret when she was forced to steal from good people. Her usual jobs were drug dealers and other criminals Kevin wanted something from. Sometimes art and rare jewels if the payday was high enough. Whatever she was stealing was priceless if Kevin was willing to give up a top asset.

I have never pulled a job on the shifters before. It will take some planning and access to the labs.

You will have whatever you need, but you only have two days to prepare. Time has run out. I need the device retrieved.

A device? Camilla and Kevin were in a war over the shifters. The winner had the right to use them, exploit them, and kill them. Despite her repugnance for the fate bestowed on the shifters, she felt the familiar feeling of excitement surge through her blood. The thrill of a new job, the planning, and the execution. This was what she lived for.

Liam approached the building they had once called the freezer, but had relegated into the lab. He heard the laughter before he opened the door and was run over.

He caught Carla before she could fall to the ground, but her momentum made him stagger back. Honey, you have to be more careful. He kissed her forehead as she smiled up at him.

Sorry, Judd said he would race me. Garrett promised to officiate. I am looking forward to beating him.

Liam laughed. Judd is the future leader of his den. Are you sure you want to humiliate him? He doesn’t realize how fast you are.

Carla smiled. The bears know I can’t shift yet. They think they are racing a human. I can’t wait for...

Garrett exited the lab. What happened to the sweet girl who hugs and kisses all the bears when they come to visit?

Carla put her hands on her hips. She is still here, but she is getting her memory back and remembers all the trouble she used to get into. I missed a lot during the last ten years. I’m working on my mojo.

Liam covered his mouth with a stunted cough. Lord, help us.

Carla squinted at him. What does that mean?

Garrett put his arm around Carla, shooting Liam a dirty look. Nothing honey, we should...

Carla grabbed her phone from her pocket when it chimed. Hello Stud. She put her hand over her phone. It’s Ari.

Liam and Garrett exchanged an uncomfortable glance as Carla listened to the international assassin. Carla’s cavalier attitude and camaraderie with Kevin’s top assassin was proof her mind had not recovered from her injuries.

Carla frowned. How is my cat? If anything happens to her, I will kick your ass. Her face went serious. Are you sure? Why would you call me?... What promise? She ended the call before rubbing her forehead.

Liam touched her shoulder. Carla, honey. What did Ari want?

He said that Kevin is sending someone to infiltrate the lair.

Liam sucked in a breath. When?

In the next day or two.

Does Ari know how?

Carla shook her head. He says the thief is exceptional. That she has never failed an acquisition. Kevin has a device on our property, and she is being sent to retrieve it. If we don’t stop her the information on that device could get me... us killed.

Garrett growled. What information. Where is it?

Carla shrugged. Ari doesn’t know the specifics. Camilla tipped him off. She would never do that if she could get the information first.

Garrett nodded. What was the promise he made you?

Carla’s brow furrowed. "I don’t know. I can’t remember.

Garrett hugged her. It’s okay. You will in time.

She glanced toward the forest. I guess this means we postpone the race.

Liam took out his phone. I want Judd and his brothers to help with perimeter security. How fast can you get to the den? I don’t want to discuss this over the phone.

Carla took off running without another word.

Garrett pulled off his shirt. Dammit, Liam. You know better than to challenge her like that. I can barely keep up to her as it is. He shifted out of his jeans and bounded after Carla.

Liam hit Talen’s contact number.

His brother picked up on the first ring. What’s up?

We need to talk. Where are you?

At the house. The babies are kicking the crap out of my mate. I’m running her a bath.

Liam let the fur race over his arm. His cat growled in his ear, warning him what would happen to the thief if anything happened to Lucy and her unborn children. We have a problem. I will be right over.

Anna crouched on the floor of the plane. The dull hum echoed in her ears and vibrated through her fingers. While she could scale the tallest building or zip-line from an adjacent one. Para-sailing or parachuting to her destination was always a favorite.

She slid her fingers over her black neoprene suit, checking that the straps on her pack were tight before adjusting her goggles. She glanced at her watch, counting down in her head as her exit point approached.

Excitement burst through her chest as she jumped from the plane. Wind pummeled her skin into a macabre mask as she hurtled toward the ground. Her decent was quiet and efficient. Her night vision goggles allowed her to pinpoint the spot she would release her chute, so she angled her body, diving toward the cluster of trees. She was a half mile from her destination, but her chute would do the rest. She jerked upward as the black sail above her head bloomed like a mushroom cloud in the sky.

At midnight, even the nocturnal animals wouldn’t look up. She glided above the trees, guiding her chute to the flat roof in the forest. Her destination. Her last assignment. Excitement wouldn’t serve to her advantage, so she pushed the emotion away and focused on the job at hand.

She touched down silently, pulling her chute in and packing it away. She stuffed it into one of the silver vents that protruded from the roof. Anna hated it when she had to leave her equipment behind, but this time, she couldn’t help it. The bulky chute would hinder her exit strategy.

Anna flipped open the face of her watch and pulled up the digital schematic of the building below before making her way to the access vent she had targeted. Her electric screwdriver was silent, and she had the vent cover removed in seconds. She squirmed into the small ventilation shaft to the sound of crickets and a hooting owl. Midnight was her mistress, and she had learned to worship the darkness.

She had accepted a long time ago that she would never live in the light. They reserved that for girls who grew up with pink beds and frilly dresses. Deception was her master. Lies her armor. Skill her lifeblood. She navigated the small vent with precision and grace, sliding along the thin aluminum with ease.

Kevin had said she possessed the agility of a cat. That even her eyes had a feline quality. She used her small lithe frame to navigate the ninety-degree angles that were part of the building’s construction. The slide of her body over the aluminum made a whisper of sound, though she kept her thin body weight even as she traversed the vent.

She pulled up the vent cover that led to the lab below, flipping her body like a trapeze artist, before dropping to the floor. Her night vision goggles spied the Faraday cage instantly. She pulled off her glasses as the light from the cold storage fridge distorted her view. She was careful to stay to the shadows as she made her way to a corner office, and knelt in front of the door.

Anna had heard rumors about Garrett and how intelligent he was, but he had made a mistake. He had assumed someone needed inside the cage. She touched the door, but didn’t try the knob. Her fingers skimmed over the metal plate that looked like a reinforcement. She pulled the specialized chisel from her bag. The handle was short, but