Chapter 3

Sure enough, the second Yolanda was out the door, Ethan's whole face changed.

He shoved open the bedroom door and started tearing through everything like a burglar — yanking open drawers, rifling through cabinets.

"Hurry up and find it! Where did that old woman hide the property deed?"

Ava was rummaging through the closet alongside him, complaining as she searched. "Ethan, you lost another eight hundred thousand at the casino last night. With the interest from before, that's a two-million-dollar hole you're in! The loan sharks said if you don't pay up in three days, they're cutting off your hands!"

I crouched on top of the wardrobe, every hair on my body standing on end.

Two million in gambling debts?!

Ethan was sweating buckets. He finally dug out a little red booklet from an old cookie tin under the bed.

"Found it!" His eyes lit up.

"So what?" Ava rolled her eyes. "This dump is worth maybe a million and a half, tops. That's still five hundred thousand short. And besides, you need the old woman to sign off on the transfer. You really think she's going to agree to sell the only thing she has left?"

Ethan let out a cold laugh, a vicious gleam flashing in his eyes.

"I already had someone forge a power of attorney. We'll use it as collateral directly. As for the rest of the gap..."

He paused, lowering his voice. "Winston's been looking for a woman to take care of him, hasn't he?"

Ava sucked in a sharp breath. "That Winston who owns the logistics company? He's a psycho. He put his last two wives in the hospital."

"So?" Ethan spat without a care. "He's willing to pay a million for a diamond ring. My mom's healthy enough. She can survive a few years of his abuse. By the time he beats her to death, our debt's cleared and we'll have cash left over to go win it back in Las Vegas!"

My mind went completely blank.

Was he even human?!

Yolanda had worked three jobs a day when she was young just to put him through college. She'd ruined her health doing it.

And now he wanted to sell his own mother to a violent, twisted old man just to pay off his gambling debts.

I couldn't hold back anymore. I launched myself off the top of the wardrobe like a bolt of lightning.

"MRROOWW—!"

I raked my claws hard across Ethan's face, leaving three deep gashes in an instant.

"AHHH! What the hell?! Where did this crazy cat come from?!"

Ethan screamed and drove his foot into my stomach.

I went flying and slammed into the wall. It felt like every organ in my body had been knocked loose.

Ava grabbed a clothes rack nearby and swung it at me with pure hatred. "I'll kill this little beast!"

Just at that critical moment, the front door clicked open.

Yolanda walked in carrying heavy grocery bags.

Ethan moved fast, shoving the property deed into his inner pocket. Ava quickly tossed the clothes rack behind her back.

"What's going on in here? Ethan, why is your face bleeding?"

Yolanda dropped her groceries in a panic and rushed over.

"Mom! This crazy cat you picked up just went berserk and attacked me!" Ethan covered his face, playing the victim before anyone else could speak. "A thing like this is nothing but trouble. Get rid of it now!"

Yolanda turned to look at me.

I was slumped in the corner. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth, and the splint on my broken leg had come apart. I was shaking all over from the pain.

Her eyes filled with tears. She rushed over and pulled me tightly into her arms.

"Cole would never bite someone for no reason. Did you two hit him?"

The moment Ethan heard that, he exploded.

"Oh, that's great! You'd rather believe a stray cat than your own son?! Fine! You can spend the rest of your life with your precious cat!"

He stormed out in a rage, yanking Ava along with him and slamming the door behind them.

I bit down on Yolanda's pant leg as hard as I could, trying to drag her toward the ransacked area under the bed.

I needed her to know. Your property deed is gone. Your son is going to sell you off.

But no matter how hard I tried, all that came out were weak little meows.

Yolanda thought I was frightened. She stroked my back gently.

"It's okay, little Cole. Grandma's got you."

I buried my face in her palm, a wave of helplessness washing over me.

I was a cat. I couldn't even open my mouth to warn the person who had saved me.

But I swore to myself — I was not going to let those two get away with it.