He studied Cat a beat. For all Lachlan thought he knew about dragon-shifters, it seemed he learned more every day.
Maybe someone would be angry about the secrets, but he knew better than anyone how trust came in increments. And simply the fact Cat was sharing them now, even if maybe she wasn't supposed to, told him how much she wanted to help.
He focused back on his sister. "You can say no and walk away, but then I can't help you, Sarah. But please consider it, aye? You fought so hard to help me when I needed it. Trust me to do the same now."
His sister searched his gaze, and he willed for her to see this was the only way. Even if he canceled the event, she'd still have the problem of her husband's gambling addiction. At least if her husband was on Lochguard, Lachlan could maybe talk him into recognizing he had a problem and gently persuade him to seek help. Maybe even attend a meeting with him at some point in the future, since not all of them were strictly for alcohol but rather for addiction recovery in general.
Sarah finally replied in a soft voice, "I want to say yes, but there's no way Rob will live here. None." She glanced nervously at Cat and then back at him. "He hates dragon-shifters. Once when he was drunk and falling asleep, he mentioned something about capturing one to wipe away his debts. I-I wouldn't trust him here."
Lachlan resisted curling his fingers into fists. His brother-in-law was more than a mere arsehole. He was a fucking selfish bastard who had harmed his sister in his own way.
And yet again, he cursed himself for ignoring the world for too long.
However, that was the past. All he could do was try to be there for his sister now.
Which really only left one option. Taking a deep breath, he asked softly, "If you hadn't found out about his problem and felt guilty, would you have left him?"
Sarah looked at the ground and plucked at the material of her jeans. "I don't know. Maybe." She looked up again. "But I can't just leave him now. You saw the note—they'll kill him. And no matter what I think, he's still the father of my boys."
An idea hit him. One that maybe was severe, but a hell of a lot better than dying. He turned to Cat. "You have jail cells here, don't you?"
"Aye, but—"
"Then we'll bring Rob here and keep him locked up whilst we sort out the fucking mess he created. He can't kill anyone or run away, and the sod will still be alive." He turned toward his sister. "You'll stay here, Sarah. I'll have Finn send someone to retrieve your boys, and someone else to get Rob. It's only temporary. And before you say the debt collectors will start killing people, we'll figure out what to do before that happens." Silence fell, and he looked between the two women. "Unless you have any other ideas?"
They both shook their heads. He grunted and said, "Aye, then let's get to work. The sooner everyone's safe, the sooner we can think of how to solve everything." He moved to the door. "Cat, stay here with Sarah. I'll be back soon."
Before either woman could protest, Lachlan walked out and headed back to Finn's place. It seemed he was going to have to beg for favors, but there was no other way to help his family.
And for once, Lachlan was going to be the rock his sister needed. It wouldn't make up for all the hell he'd put her through over the years, but it was at least a start.
As Lachlan left the room, Cat frowned. She admired him for wanting to help his sister, but holding his brother-in-law hostage on Lochguard? Really?
Her dragon murmured, I agree with him. It's the only way.
Sarah gasped, and Cat mentally kicked herself. Her pupils flashed when her dragon spoke, which scared most humans in the beginning.
She expected to see fear in the human's face, but there was merely surprise.
Wanting to distract Sarah from the upheaval of her life, even if temporarily, Cat asked, "Have you ever met a dragon-shifter before today?"
Sarah hesitated before answering, "Only once, and it was by accident."
Well, at least an accidental meeting was better than never. Still, Cat added, "We're not all bad, despite what certain people say. But if you're going to stay here a wee while, you should probably just ask some of your questions now. About dragons, I mean. We'll have to wait for Lachlan to come back before we can even begin to sort out the bigger picture."
Sarah hesitated again, and Cat resisted the urge to try to comfort the human for the hundredth time. She was definitely going to try and befriend Lachlan's sister as much as possible while she stayed on Lochguard. Maybe the lass merely needed a friend.
Sarah finally asked, "The thing with your eyes—is that normal?"
She smiled. "Aye, it means I'm talking to my inner dragon. I have two personalities inside my head, and we like to talk with each other."
"I can't imagine that, having another voice in your head all the time."
She shrugged. "When you're born a certain way, you get used to it."
For a second, Sarah said nothing but then asked, "Can I see it again?"
Her dragon huffed. I'm not a trained circus animal.
Hush. This female's life is coming down around her. Humor her a little, aye? Besides, you talking showed her anyway.
Her dragon grunted and kept silent.
Sarah took a step closer. "I wish we'd met under better circumstances. Granted, I haven't seen my brother in a while, but he seems better. Happier. Less angry. I suspect it has a lot to do with you."
Cat smiled at the human. "Some is probably because of me since I'm not exactly shy about asking questions. And I think Lachlan needed that—someone more outgoing to help bring him out of his shell. But it's more him being accepted, I think, that's made the difference. My brothers have already initiated him into the family in their own way. And my sister fills him in on clan gossip. Truth be told, we're a bit like a whirlwind, except instead of destruction, we try to make people laugh or roll their eyes in our wake, with perhaps a wee bit of irritation thrown in." She risked taking Sarah's hand and mentally sighed in relief when the female didn't snatch it back. "You'll be welcome too. Whether you like it or not, so I'm just warning you."
The human smiled slightly, and Cat counted that as a win.
And as she went about answering Sarah's questions, the human relaxed bit by bit. Aye, there was always a touch of worry in her gaze, and the human showed her nervousness when she plucked at her clothing, but it was still something.
It would take time to win over Lachlan's sister, but it was a start. She only hoped Sarah would be as pleasant once she was forced to live on Lochguard for a while. Even if it meant her family was protected, Sarah would be a sort of prisoner.
Cat still didn't like the idea of Lachlan locking up this Rob person. But once the human was on Lochguard, Cat would try to find out more about the male. Her dragon would be a better judge of character anyway.
However, she couldn't do any of that until everyone was safe and sound in her clan. So Cat tried to focus on Sarah's questions and keeping her stomach in line, doing what small part she could to help Lachlan with his sister.
Chapter Eighteen
Sylvia MacAllister flipped off the kitchen lights for her restaurant and headed to the main dining area to finish locking up, like she did almost every night. However, as soon as she set foot inside the room, she noticed Cat sitting at a table near the window, looking out at the dark garden beyond.