Chapter Fourteen
It’s been a week since Giovanni’s men came for me and brought me here. A week since I last saw my father or the woman who raised me. You’d think I’d be devastated that I haven’t seen the only two people who have been in my life since I was born. If I’m honest, the only thoughts I've had of them are just how serious Giovanni was about killing my dad. What does that say about me?
My mornings are much the same as that first day here, I start out in the gym and then am practically force fed by Jade. Who am I kidding, I love it. She’s given me more love and affection in the last week than I’ve had from anyone in my life up to this point. I’ve been trying new foods daily, though I’ve learned my limits and don’t overeat. My afternoons are spent in the garden, much like today.
The sun is hiding behind the clouds which has the sky a shade of grey. I pull on the hoodie that was on my bed this morning when I woke up with a note from Giovanni.
My lips twitch at the corner as I wrap my arms around myself. The shirt smells like him, a warm sweet spice. I recognize the cinnamon from the revolving oven door of cinnamon rolls that Jade makes every day, but there’s something else, a hint of fruit. I melt into the scent a little more and I cop a squat under my favorite tree. The cool breeze feels wonderful on my face as I lean my head back and close my eyes. This is my favorite part of the day.
A vibration on my legs startles me and my eyes flutter open as I glance down to see a long hair, tortoise tabby cat purring away in my lap. My lips part with a gasp as the sweet ball of fluff opens its eyes and stares up at me.
“Well, hello you. Where on earth did you come from?” I ask as I cautiously drag my fingers through its silky fur. It's a cat, obviously it doesn't answer me, but the animal is staring at me as if it knows exactly what I'm saying.
When I raise my gaze, I find Danny and Abel are speaking with their backs toward me. The cat stands on my legs and climbs up my chest to pat my cheek with its paw to drag my attention back down to it. I can't help but smile at the needy animal.
“Aren't you the sweetest thing; do you have a name?” I ask the question out loud as I feel around its neck for a collar. The poor animal has no form of identification, when it flops over onto its back, I get an eye full, confirming its gender is male. Wow this cat has got a set on him.
A snap from a few feet away pulls my attention back up to find Giovanni walking toward me with a frown pulling at his lips. He stops at my feet, looming over me.
“You’ve been out here so long you’ve been adopted by a cat?” He cocks a brow at me as he takes in the fur ball in my lap.
I giggle, a sound I've only made once before. His face relaxes into a wide grin at my reaction to his comment. He looks so free when he smiles like this.
“I don’t know what that means,” I admit as I pull the cat to my chest for a squeeze before laying him on the soft lawn. I take Giovanni’s outstretched hand. He pulls me to my feet with a wide smile on his face as he loops his arm around my waist and holds me tight against his chest. My stomach twists with a fluttery feeling inside at the connection between us. This reaction seems to be happening more with each passing day. “How was your day?” I ask, trying to ignore my body’s response to him.
We take a few steps to find the cat following us. He keeps pace with us and refuses to lose his sight of me. Giovanni chuckles and shakes his head as he releases me to pull out his phone. He taps a few times on the screen before bringing it to his ear. After a few seconds someone must answer because he starts speaking.
“Go get a few litter boxes to put around the house, cat food, dishes, treats and litter, obviously.” He pauses and his eyes darken as he listens to whomever is on the other end of the call. “Did I ask for your opinion? No, go get the stuff and be back within the hour or I’ll shoot you in the foot. Got it?” His response comes out in a snarl, and he hangs up, sliding the phone back into his jacket pocket before we step inside. My eyes dart between him and the cat several times before he explains what just happened.
“It’s called the cat distribution system. I’ve heard of it, but never seen it in action. That cat is yours now, Short Stack.” He leans down and drags his fingers through the cat’s fur. “What are you going to name it?”
With my mouth agape, I stare up at him with question after question rapid firing through my mind. I feel the warmth of fur wrap around my leg as the cat, my cat, weaves between to capture my attention. My eyes begin to well with tears and I launch myself at the man who has become a pillar in my life in such a short amount of time. My arms fold tightly around his muscular middle as I take in the familiar scent. Tears begin to fall, and my shoulders begin to shake as I sob against this beautiful man. He wraps himself around me like a snake strangling its prey, but this is protective and maybe just a little possessive.