“Oh.” Nenek’s expression cleared with understanding. “If I go, you’re coming with me!”
Technically, Nadirah could leave. Let Phoenix handle the intruder, after which he’d most likely disappear, leaving her toresume her life. A life with no job since someone murdered all her kitties. A life without a handsome tiger man. A life of boredom instead of excitement and mystery.
Her jaw went taut, but before she could formulate a reply, she heard a car stop out front. Nenek glanced at the open door. “Looks like we might be having more visitors.”
As in, more than one. Nadirah grabbed Nenek’s hand. “Out the back.” Said in English so Phoenix understood.
The tiger’s ears pricked, and he gave one last warning growl before moving from the intruder, herding them to the back door with a hint of urgency they didn’t need, as Nadirah wanted nothing more than to escape. She and Nenek scurried into their garden. Once there, they ran for the back fence, which led to a narrow dirt road, more of an alley between the homes. The tiger emerged from the gate first and immediately snarled—with reason.
Two disreputable-looking males skulked. At the sight of them, one shouted, “That’s the tiger keeper. Get her. She’ll know where the foreigner is.”
At least they didn’t realize the tiger was who they sought. A tiger who saw a threat and roared.
“Shoot it!” screamed the fellow with the pockmarked face, who only held a knife.
His friend fumbled to pull the weapon tucked in his waistband but didn’t manage to get it out before Phoenix knocked into him. The man screamed despite Phoenix doing nothing more than growl, but it proved enough to send his partner in crime running.
It also drew attention.
Shouts from inside Nadirah’s house led to her exclaiming, “Run.”
They trotted up the rutted track that wound sinuously, hiding them from sight from those chasing. Unfortunately, they didn’tgo far before Nenek huffed and puffed, pausing to bend over as she sought to recover from the exertion. “Leave me. I’m slowing you down.”
“No.” Nadirah would rather be shot than abandon the woman she adored more than anything in the world.
“I’ll be fine. This is Aini’s house.” Aini, who had an ex-police officer as a husband and likely had a weapon to defend.
“Go.” Nadirah shooed Nenek into the yard.
“What about you? Aren’t you coming?” Her grandmother looked wide-eyed with worry.
“I can’t. I’ll contact you once I find somewhere safe for our furry friend.” Although she’d yet to think of a place that might be secure.
“I love you. Be careful.”
“I will.” Nadirah watched for a moment as her grandmother crossed the yard, but a nudge by a nose had her glancing at the tiger, who eyed her then over his shoulder in a not-so-subtle hint.
A gang approached, five of them strung across the laneway.
“You can’t fight them all,” she murmured when Phoenix growled and dropped his haunches in an attack position.
Grr.
“They have guns.”
One of them shouted something and pointed his weapon just as she mentioned it, but it turned out he wasn’t the only one armed.
Aini’s husband came barreling out of his yard in a white tank top that strained over his belly, pointing a weapon of his own.
The distraction had Nadirah spinning and sprinting. To her surprise, Phoenix kept pace alongside rather than join the fight. Before they weaved around a bend, she glanced over her shoulder to see Aini’s husband joined by some of the neighborswho took umbrage at the bully gang threatening one of their own.
Nenek would be safe, and it appeared Nadirah would be, as well.
They reached an intersection, and she glanced left and right before sighing. “I don’t know where to go.” She’d run out without her phone and only had her wallet in her pocket.
A big furry head butted against her leg, and her fingers dropped to stroke the thick hair. “We can’t go back to my house, as that gang might just wait for another opportunity.” Not to mention, others might show up, looking to collect the prize. She couldn’t bring trouble to anyone she knew. In the end, she could only think of one place to go that no one might think to look.
She had enough cash in her wallet to take a taxi. However, she doubted a driver would ignore the giant striped feline. Instead, they walked, the trip more direct since they could take shortcuts, but it still took them more than an hour. How strange they must look to anyone who happened to notice, a woman with a tiger pacing docilely by her side. A cat who offered an incredulous look when they arrived at their destination.
