“Everything.”
“Everything is with the girl?” She raises a brow.
“She’s the reason the vase is gone. I saw her getting kidnapped.”
“And you stepped in?”
“Yes.” I shrug. “I wasn’t going to. I was going to leave. Just put the vase in the car and go.”
“But you didn’t.” She downs her whiskey.
“But I didn’t,” I agree. I couldn’t. Not when I heard her voice, saw her face, felt her fear. I couldn’t leave her. I’ve done tons of underhanded shit, morally gray shit, hell, morally black shit. But she was the one line I couldn’t cross. I had to help her. Even now, I’m thinking about her, about going upstairs and climbing into bed with her. Inhaling her scent and touching her soft hair while she sleeps and is none the wiser.
“So now what?”
I down the rest of my whiskey. “Now I have to–”
A bloodcurdling scream cuts through the air, and I’m on my feet and running full speed toward the sound. Toward Milly.
6
Milly
Giant yellow eyes stare at me as I continue to scream, unable to move. I’d been jolted awake by something landing hard on my chest. My eyes had flown open to see the bright yellow ones staring back at me.
Light floods the room. It takes me a minute to get my bearings, but I immediately stop screaming when I realize I have a fur baby sitting on top of me.
“Kitty!” I gasp. I can’t believe I didn’t scare the thing by screaming in its face. “I’m so sorry.” I grab it, hugging it tightly to my chest. It wiggles around in my arms as I kiss the top of its fluffy head. The sound of its loud purrs are comforting.
“Scarab,” Mateo half growls from the doorway. He closes his eyes, taking a deep breath as if he’s trying to calm himself down.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, I thought…” He trails off. I can’t help but smile. He was worried something had happened to me. Those butterflies I always read about girls having in my books explode inside my stomach. I never thought they were real, but they clearly are. “I told you to not bother her,” he says pointedly to the innocent little fur angel in my arms. “I’m sorry if he scared you.”
“He can bother me whenever he wants.” I place a few more kisses on the top of the cat's head. “I can’t believe you have a cat.” It meows, wiggling around more, wanting me to let him go. I reluctantly do. I expect him to take off to get away from me, but he doesn’t. Instead, he drops down right next to me in the bed and makes himself comfortable.
“Are you actually going to sleep with her?” Mateo comes to stand on the side of the bed, staring down at the both of us. Scarab nudges my hand to pet him some more.
“Is he a cuddle bug?” I ask as I pet him.
“No.” Mateo glares at his cat.
“He can sleep with me. I’ll turn him into a cuddle bug in no time.”
“I’m sure you will,” he mumbles. He says it so low that I barely catch it.
“Do you not want me to?” I pull my hand back from petting Scarab.
“You’re fine. I’m just surprised at his behavior.”
“I always wanted a cat, but my brother and father are both allergic. I’d gotten one for my birthday one year, but my brother Henry broke out in hives, and we had to rush him to the hospital. I was so scared. I thought—” I stop speaking, not wanting my mind to drift back to that night when I thought I was going to lose my brother. He’s a jerk sometimes, but I still love him. “My brother! Mateo, I have to call him. He could be in danger!” I scramble to get up from the bed.
“Hold up.” Mateo catches me when I start to trip over my legs that got tangled in the bedding.
“What if they tried to kidnap him after they couldn’t get me? He has bodyguards, but I have to check on him,” I plead. My fingers dig into the front of his shirt.
“All right, we can call him.” Relief fills me immediately. I’m sure my brother is fine with all the protection he has, but hearing his voice will make me feel better. Mateo lifts me from the bed, placing me on my feet. “Your legs okay?” He slowly releases his hold on me to make sure I have my balance.
“I think so. You patched me up pretty good. Thanks again for that.”
“I’ll carry you if you need.” I’m in his arms before I can form a response. I could get used to this.
“You going to carry me around like I’m a princess all the time?” I tease. When we pass Mrs. Verne in the hallway, I give her one of those royal waves Queen Elizabeth is always doing.