Chapter 39
Idon’t bother closing the door to my office.
It’s late enough that everyone’s scattered to do their own thing, in their own space.
I should be with my Boys, but fucking Javi requested a meeting, and as much as I want to see what the guy’s insides look like on the outside, he is someone I won’t—can’t—deny, simply because of why he’s here.
As if my thoughts have summoned him, he slips into the office and shuts the door.
“Thanks for meeting me,” he says and signs.
His accent is terrible, and his signs are those of someone who either is barely learning or hasn’t used his skills in a long time.
Either way, I do appreciate him trying. Even if parts of me are uncomfortable with the idea of anyone going out of their way to accommodate me.
“What’s so urgent that it couldn’t wait until the morning?”
“I got Marshall Bates, the family counselor.”
“The one who doesn’t have any free space on his books for the next century?”
“Yes, that one.” He nods his head, grinning.
I eye him cautiously. “How did you pull that off?”
“Oh, you know, just broke into his apartment, gave him a reason to hear me out, and offered him a signing bonus—speaking of which, do you know how to get two kittens before seven tomorrow morning?”
I blink, then blink again, wondering if my hearing aids are malfunctioning, but the pretty penny Hollis paid for them means they should last me a very, very long time. And…sadly, Javi is insane enough that what I think I heard and read from his lips is accurate.
“Why do you need two kittens? You already have one!”
“Not for me, for Marshall; that’s his signing bonus. So, I need kittens. And all their stuff. Before he gets here, so he knows that I am a man of my word.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath. “Why is this my problem?”
“Because you're a Voice, and in charge of the finances, which means you are the one who needs to give the go ahead on all those pesky acquisitions.
None of the shelters are open, and most don't open until after Marshall is supposed to be here. I figured breaking in would be the best bet… Maybe I can borrow one of the twins? Unless you want to go with me?”
I stare at him, wondering if Doc can somehow get ahold of his medical records, because there is no way on this fucking Earth that someone like him is walking around without a file folder a few inches thick.
“No, I am not allowing one of them to be alone with you.”
He shrugs. “So you’ll go with me then? I mean, I can go by myself, but I know how you lot feel about doing things with a plan and all that.”
Fuck my life. Just…what the fuck is even happening right now?
Sighing, I look into his multi-colored eyes. “You’re determined to do this, aren’t you?”
He grins. “Yep.”
“Fine. Let me text Hollis, so he knows what we’re up to.”
Javi wrinkles his nose. “Doesn’t it get boring having to ask permission for everything?”
Taking my phone out, I don’t look up as I begin typing.
“It’s not permission, but even if it was, it’s none of your business.
Not wanting to die, or take unnecessary risks, isn’t a hardship.
If you’re going to be here, you need to get used to the way we do things.
You don’t need permission when you go hunting, though you will take the guard you’re assigned, and let Hollis know when you’re leaving.
But when you’re working with one of us? You must follow protocol. ”
He sighs like I just told him they were out of his favorite brand of lollipops. “Fine.”
My phone vibrates with a text, which is mostly swear words in three different languages, but he signs off on Javi’s little excursion.
“Let’s go.”
“I’ll drive!”
Testing my weight on my bad leg, I decide it feels good enough to not need a cane, and so I follow the crazy man out of the office.
Javi has the back door to the shelter unlocked within seconds of Hollis giving us the go ahead. I am concerned at how quickly he can do that, but considering lock picking is one of Tennant’s many talents, I decide to let it go.
The dogs immediately start barking and I wince, pulling out my phone to turn my hearing aids as low as possible, while still being able to hear Javi.
Javi coos at all the dogs, stopping at a few that get his attention, and I wonder if I’m going to have to drag him out of here, so we don’t come out with more animals than we need.
Not that we need any. Except, of course, we do, because fucking Javi promised two to the new motherfucking family therapist we’re supposed to be hiring.
Running away sounds better and better with each passing minute.
When we get to the cat room, Javi squeals. I stare at him, seeing the blush on his cheeks in the dim light of the shelter.
I don’t want to think he’s cute, but…fucking hell, he seems almost human in the semi-darkness—even in the ridiculous pink T-shirt, dark-blue corduroys, and suspenders with red and pink hearts.
“Okay, I’ll start on this side, you do the other.”
I stare at him. “What are we doing?”
“We have to take them out, so I can know which ones are the best fit!”
“Just pick two!”
“No! They need to have the right vibes.”
“They’re cats. Their vibes are tiny serial killers!”
He narrows his eyes. “Oh, I see, you’re an animal hater.”
“Just…stop,” I say in a commanding voice. “Fucking hell, you need a Goddamn spanking.”
Those eerie multi-colored eyes of his glimmer in the dim lighting. “I’m not one of your Boys, Daddy. But if you keep flirting with me, I’m going to get a complex. Especially since I recently learned that Hollis doesn’t take too kindly to people touching what’s his… Not that I care.”
Taking a step closer, I pull out my knife. “I know what you did with Ten. I don’t care, what he does sexually is his business, as long as he communicates with the rest of us, but you’re a different breed that brings out my protective side, and not in a good way.”
Javi leans forward, the knife between us. “Promises, promises, Jude…”
Pressing the knife against his stomach, I watch as his lips part, missing if he makes a sound, but the way he leans further into it tells me he likes the threat. He wants it.
My heart pounds, and my traitorous cock hardens.
I shove him backward, hearing his grunt as he hits the bank of cages behind him. With my knife still pressed against him, I step into him and take his mouth with mine, hissing when he fucking bites me.
The blood in my mouth—even though it’s my own—hardens my cock further, and I press my hips against Javi’s, feeling his matching erection.
He’s shorter than I am, and fits so fucking perfectly against me that the thought is fucking terrifying. Pulling away, I look down at him, aware that sometime between me pulling my knife and kissing him, he pulled his own, and it’s now pressed against my side.
“Next time, I’ll stab you for real, Pazzo Papero.”
He hums. “All I’m hearing is there will be a next time.”
I sigh and shake my head, stepping away and putting my knife back in its sheath. “Let’s just get this over it.”
Javi sighs and shakes his head, as if he's sad that I didn’t actually stab him. He starts opening cages and getting cats and kittens out, so I do the same, hoping by giving in that it’ll go faster.
Afucking hour and a half later, Javi finally settles on a tiny orange kitten, and a less tiny, but still small, grey and white Siamese kitten.
We put all the cats back in their cages, following the pictures on the outside doors, then Javi makes me hold the two he chose while he goes hunting for their paperwork in the shelter’s office.
“Can we go now? Hollis is probably losing his mind; we’ve been in here way too long.”
“Such party poopers,” he says just loud enough to be heard.
“Next time, he’s going to insist you wear an earpiece.”
Javi shudders in disgust.
As quickly as we entered, we leave the shelter, Javi locking the door behind us.
“Can you order some supplies to get these two cuties and their new owner started while I drive?” Javi asks. “Or better yet, you drive, I’ll order and hold them.”
Javi takes the keys out of his pocket and holds them out in exchange for the kittens.
When we’re securely in the car, I remove my phone and send a “we’re out and safe” text to Hollis, so he doesn’t call the cavalry on us.
“Home now, Pazzo Papero?” I ask.
Javi doesn’t look up from his phone as he types one-handed, using the other to pet the orange kitten. “Yep!”
Thank fuck.
Next time, I’ll send Nario, or even Antonio. They’ll appreciate Javi’s brand of crazy more than me… Though, fuck, if he flirts with them, I’ll probably have to kill him… Which he apparently takes as a fucking come on. Fuck. My. Life.