Chapter 6
Chapter Six
LANDON
I t’s pouring rain again by the time we get ready to leave the vet's office. I tell my driver to pick us up at the front, but we still have to dash through the storm to get in the back seat.
“Good thing you got the carrier,” Piper says as she peeks in on the kitten.
“So since you were right, I think you should be the one to name him.” The vet confirmed our ball of fur was indeed a boy, and seeing the way Piper lights up, I know I’ve said the right thing.
“That’s too much pressure. I’ll need to think about it.”
“Why don’t we go back to my place and—” I can’t even finish the sentence before Piper’s body language completely changes. She leans away from me, and the happy expression that was there moments ago is long gone. “Or not. I can drop you both off at your place if you feel more comfortable with that.”
“I can’t keep him there,” she says softly, still trying to make herself smaller.
“What? Why not?”
“My apartment won’t allow it.”
“That’s okay, I can keep him at my place.”
“You promised you wouldn’t keep him from me.”
“I did, and I intend to keep that promise. Along with every other promise I make to you.” Slowly, I reach out and place my hand on top of hers.
“I promise I won’t hurt you, Piper. And I certainly wouldn’t keep my child’s mother from seeing him.
” A smile tugs at the corner of her lips, and I look to my driver. “Why don’t we take Miss Gray home.”
“But I want to make sure he’s settled in first.” She looks torn at the decision, but I don’t want her to feel forced.
“My driver can take you wherever you want to go. So how about we go back to my place, you make sure our little guy is settled in, and then he can take you home. I’ll introduce you to the doorman in my building so you can come by whenever you want to spend time with the kitten.”
“This is all really generous of you.” To my horror, she somehow looks sadder as tears form in her eyes and then fall down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m crying.”
“Shhh, come here.” I wrap my arms around her, and she leans into me as I pull her onto my lap.
When she’s settled against my chest, I kiss her forehead and wipe away the tears.
“It’s been a big day.” She nods against me, and I rest my cheek on the top of her head.
“I’ve got you, baby girl. I’ll take care of everything and make it all better. ”
Reaching into the carrier, I pick up our sleeping baby and place him in her lap.
She cradles him gently and then sighs deeply like she’s releasing the weight of the world from her shoulders.
The sound of the rain drowns out the city traffic while I rub my hand up and down her back.
A moment later I feel her even breathing against me, and I peek down to see she’s fallen asleep.
The thought of her worrying herself into this state because of Bob Wilson makes me so fucking angry at him.
She’s suffered endless amounts of stress while not being able to afford something as small as a can of cat food.
I bet if I dug deeper I would find out she can’t afford to feed herself either.
I’m going to have to do something about that.
While Piper sleeps against me, I take out my phone and send a few texts.
The first ones are to Judith telling her to draft up a contract for our kitten and to make a deposit into Piper’s bank account.
It should be on file from Bob’s accounting firm when they paid her for dog walking.
Once I get confirmation from Judith, I text my Uncle Dino.
Me: Piper Emily Gray.
Uncle Dino: The usual?
Me: This one is special.
Uncle Dino: Wait a second… has my boy found himself a lady?
Me: Calm down.
Uncle Dino: This calls for a celebration.
Me: You’ll scare her off. Get me what I need first.
Uncle Dino: Consider it done.
I’m about to put my phone back in my pocket when it vibrates again.
Uncle Dino: I’m happy for you, kid. It’s about damn time.
I’m grinning to myself as I hold Piper a little closer and hope that my uncle is right.
I may have grown up around criminals, but I think that makes me the best judge of character.
I could tell from the moment I looked at Piper that her soul was pure.
Now I can only hope that there’s enough light in her to drown out my darkness.