Project Trouble X Three

A/N: Thank you for reading my book and all the comments. Oddball, N.Y.O.B., PenumbraMINE, and Jo Jo Sprout you mean the world to me. Thank you for joining on this journey.

Recap

“I’m going to go fix you a plate of chicken and dumplings, then you are going to eat some fruit,” Martim kind of ordered. I nodded my head and listened to all the conversation around me. I could tell my mom wanted to talk to me, but she held off, but my dad came over and carefully hugged me.

“Glad to see you back, kiddo.” He kissed my hair. “I was afraid I was going to lose you.”

I hugged him back. “You can’t get rid of me that easily. Don’t you know I’m a tough bitch,” I said as he snorted at me words.

“I know,” he said. He kissed my head again and walked back over to my mom. I could see the tears in my moms eyes and I knew I would have to talk to her eventually. I nodded at her and she practically jumped over the table.

“I’m sorry. I really am. I was trained to be tough, but I never thought it might actually kill you. I won’t do it again. Please forgive me,” my mom cried.

Cats POV

I could tell she was being sincere and I sighed. “I forgive you, Mom, but I will be making sure you never push us too far again. You need to listen to Doc when he tells you something, okay?” My mom nodded and hugged me as she cried into my shoulder. I patted her back a few times but I wasn’t sure what to do with a crying woman. I was all kinds of uncomfortable. I was raised differently than Sophia and I didn't do emotions well.

“Can you let go of my mate long enough for her to eat?” Martim asked, saving me from the awkwardness.

Martim sat a bowl of food in front of me and I inhaled deeply, my stomach letting out a growl worthy of a hundred jaguars. My mom let go of me and walked back over to my dad. I picked up my spoon and started shoveling the food in my mouth. I was starving and I couldn’t get enough.

I ate two bowls of chicken and dumplings, eating the fruit in between my bowls. Hey, I had to eat something while Martim refilled my bowls. My stomach was happy and so was I. I knew I would need to get back into training as quickly as I could, but I wasn’t going to overdue it. I didn’t want a repeat of what happened to me. Pain was not my friend.

As soon as my stomach settled I asked Martim to take me into the training room with the weights. He wasn’t happy but he understood. I let him carry me to the room and as soon as Sophia saw me she squealed and ran over and hugged me. I tried to get out of her hug, as if she knew I was uncomfortable she let go and smiled at me brightly.

“I would like you to meet my mate, Cat,” Sophia excitedly said, waving a guy over.

“Flrt?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No, I’m Flirt’s son. I’ve been on a mission with another team but we were called in to help on this one. My handle is Trigger, but my real name is Firash. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Nice to meet you. I remember you now. We used to play together all the time until it got too dangerous for you to be around us,” I told him, a small smile on my face. “Well, time for me to hit the weights. We will talk later.” He waved and Martim took me over to the weights.

I sat down at the machine and worked my arms and legs, Martim watching me the whole time. I wasn’t going to lie and say it didn’t hurt to work out but I wasn’t going to give up. I was a hard bitch to put out of commission for long. We were dangerous, my jaguar and I. We worked perfectly as a team and have been since before I could shift. She was my only friend and knew my struggles.

“I’m here for you, Cat, just like I know you are here for me. We are strong, stronger than anyone knows. And, we don’t back down,” my jaguar told me. I knew she was right. I had never shown anyone how strong I really was. I didn’t want them to think I was a freak, but they would see soon. No one on my team was going to die, I would make sure of it. None of my family was dying. These pricks would never know what hit them.

“Hey, hey, Cat, slow down,” Martim ordered, finally getting through to me. I didn't know how long he had called my name, but I could tell he was worried. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I was thinking about taking the twins down and didn’t realize I broke the machine. Dad’s going to kill me.” Martim laughed and shook his head as he picked me up and moved me to the bike.

I leaned over and set the speed and terrain, Martim giving me a disapproving look. I slid my feet into the straps and started my trip up the mountain. After a while my legs were screaming at me to stop. I didn’t want to overdo it, so I stopped the bike and tried to slip off. My knees locked up on me and I fell forward, stumbling into Martim. Martim caught me and carried me out of the training area.

“I think you did a great workout. I can't believe you lasted two hours on the bike. We can do more tomorrow, okay?” I nodded. “Good, let’s get your grumbling stomach some food.”

“But I’m not that hungry,” I said, my stomach picking to let out a loud growl.

Traitorous stomach

“Really?” Everyone asked. I blushed red and hid my face in Martim’s chest.

“”I’m hungry, but I want a shower first, Martim,” I whispered as I looked up at him, giving my best puppy dog face.

“My princess wants a shower before she eats and what my princess wants she gets,” Martim said, looking me in my eyes. A flashed him my goofy grin, the one the guys say means I am up to something and they can’t figure it out.

Martim turned around and took me to my room. He sat me on the bench in the shower and put all my shower supplies next to me. “Do you think anything else? Do you need help with your clothes?”

“You. I want you,” I said as I pulled his body close to mine and took over his lips.We kissed ourselves breathless and had to pull back from the kiss or lose what little air we did have. We put our foreheads together and caught our breaths.

“Are you sure, Cat? I don’t want to-”

“-I’m positive. And, you would never harm me. I know there will be little pain, but pain is not something I dwell on.”

“I’m going to go lock the door. I promise I will be right back,” Martim told me as he ran out of the bathroom. He was back before I even noticed him missing. I wanted to laugh about how fast he was, but I was in a hurry myself. This man had aroused me from the time our eyes met. When he undressed me earlier and touched me I was ready for him then, but I held off. I was scared he would turn me down. I wasn’t scared now.

I pulled my shirt off and pants and waited on Martim. He walked into the bathroom and growled, throwing his shirts and pants over his shoulder. I wasn’t sure what all happened but I was now mated and I could be happier.

Martim had a huge grin on his. We needed to calm down and act innocent when we walked into the main cavern. I didn't know what my dad would say, but I didn't care either. I was old enough to have a mate and he couldn't expect me to stay a virgin forever, or so I thought.

We walked in and my dad growled while my mom smiled at me. “Stop! You need to be happy for me, not trying to ruining my happiness,” I hissed at him. My eyes found Flirt’s son. I hissed at him, angry at him for opening his mouth about my business. “Why?”

“Madrid ordered me to tell him what was going on. Your mom kept your dad from barging into your room. I didn’t want to tell but I’m under his command,” Flirt’s son said, glaring at the ground.

“You’re safe.” I whipped around and glared at Madrid. “You, sir, are not.”

“There’s nothing you can do about it, Cat,” Madrid goaded.

“Want to bet?” I stalked over to him, my dad trying to stop me. ’How about we take this to the training room?”

“Not until you eat, Cat.” Martim stopped me by grabbing my arm and pulling me to the table. I nodded and sat down. I was picking my battles and I only had one I wanted to do today. I knew Martim was worried about me. I had just awakened and I wasn’t at full strength, or so he thought.

I finished my food and went to change into my suit, Martim following me. “You don’t have to do this, Cat. I’m worried about you.”

I looked at him and knew he was scared for me. I stroked his face. “Do you not trust me? I’m fine, I promise. I’m a lot stronger than I look, I just haven’t shown anyone before.” Martim tilted his head in question. “I was afraid they would think I’m a freak." Martim shook his head. I put my fingers up to his lips, stopping him from saying anything more. "Anyway, Madrid shouldn’t have ordered Trigger to be his spy. Yes, his spy. He has been watching me this whole time and I don’t know why.”

“Wow, my mate is amazing. I didn’t know he had been following you or me when I was with you. Give Madrid hell, Cat,” Martim bragged, pulling me into his arms.

We walked to the training center, Doc pulling us into the Med room. “Do you need something for your pain before you show Madrid the floor?”

“Nah, I’m good. I might afterwards though,” I told him, hugging him. I let go and we walked into the training circle.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Cat? I don’t want to embarrass you and you are not at full strength yet,” Madrid goaded me. I ignored him, causing him to huff. I wasn’t going to answer him or his petty attempts to goad me into getting mad and messing up.

I had one question I needed to ask him. "Can you explain what Firash was doing following me around for the last three months?" Madrid didn't say anything but I could tell he was surprised I had figured out what he sat up. I needed to know why he did it. Did he think I was going to sell the technology I had built to the cartel?

And, now I was pissed.

I stretched out my limbs, making sure my arms were loose, too. I made sure to calm myself down, not wanting to lose my shit and mess up. I cracked my neck and back, making sure to crack my knuckles to annoy Madrid. I was as ready as I could be. It was time to teach Madrid who the new kid was. He said I was in the military, but I didn’t prove myself, well, unless you count the weapons I made.

My dad walked to the center of the training circle and nodded to each of us to take our place. “This is a fight, but there will be no maiming. This needs to be clean. The first one to make the other submit or unconscious wins, got it?” My dad asked. I nodded my head, Madrid following my example. My dad walked out of the circle as Madrid and I backed up. We needed room to maneuver. “Fight!”

“You ready for this, Rowdy?” I asked my jaguar.

“I was born ready, bitch. Let’s show him how it’s done. I take it you want to go all out?” Rowdy asked me. I nodded my head. “Let’s show them then. I heard we couldn’t maim him, oh well, but we can knock him out, so good.” I shook my head at her, keeping my eyes on Madrid.

A/N: So, who do think is going to win this fight. Remember, Madrid is a tiger and a General. But, Cat is ticked.