“Of course, I understand, Atlas. I will make sure everything is secure, so your little dove doesn’t fly away. How long before you think she wakes up?”
I led Joe out of the room, locking the door behind me, and we headed for the kitchen. I ran over to the island and grabbed my keys.
“She will be out for a while. Sit at my computer desk. The camera is up. Again, all you need to do is help her if she wakes up and needs something. She shouldn't wake up before I return, but you are now her official sitter. So, I need you to get used to the idea.”
I slapped Joey on the back and headed out the door. I needed to get this shit over and done with.
Atlas
I pulled into the woods behind Kitten's house and parked in the same spot I did last night. The place was desolate and hidden from the main road. Because it was so isolated, I should remain undetected.
I am glad I took her when I did. It is too dangerous to live out here all alone. She is just a bitty thing, and someone bigger could overtake her easily. Someone like me, and I can’t even fathom that thought.
Thinking of somebody else moving in on what’s mine angers me. I’d fucking kill the bastard, just like I am going to make that little sissy sorry for trying to take advantage of her the night before. I will deal with that fleabag, eventually.
I shut the engine off and stepped out of my car. It was hot and sunny outside. This morning, the ground was dry, and my boot prints from yesterday had disappeared. I calmly walked to the front porch and opened the door. I never locked it last night. I need to get in and out of here quickly. There's no time for bullshit.
I asked Kitten where her laptop and cell phone were, but she never answered. I quickly toured the first floor's rooms, searching for the items I needed to remove from the house.
Instead, all I found was the cat walking around the living room. I headed to the second floor, taking the stairs two at a time. Her office revealed the laptop sitting on her desk. I tucked it under my arm and headed to her bedroom.
I quickly scanned the room for her cell phone and located it on the bed. She must sleep with it in case of emergencies. Too bad it didn’t come in handy when I grabbed her last evening. I disabled locationtracking and reset the phone in case the cops put a trace on it.
Right away, I shut it off and stuffed it into my pocket, then ran to her closet. I grabbed one of her large gym bags on the floor and filled it with some of her clothes. Reaching in, I quickly grabbed anything I could find on the hangers. I turned to her bureau and did the same.
I stuffed everything into the bag, including the laptop, phone, and her Louis Vuitton, which was on the bedroom floor. I zipped it up, and I ran back downstairs to grab Tuna.
I found him lying on the couch, snoozing. I looked around the parlor and the dining room for a carrier. Luckily, it was sitting right under the table. I picked it up and headed to the couch, where the cat was sleeping.
Quietly, I entered his space on my tiptoes so he wouldn’t hear me. I needed to be as silent as possible. If he gets spooked and runs away, I don’t have time to chase him around the house. I gently set the pet carrier onto the floor, opened the top of it, and slithered over to the animal.
He has already shown his true colors by running away when someone he doesn’t know walks into the house. I reached out and easily picked him up into my arms. Thankfully, he didn’t claw or bite me.
I am not in the mood to wrestle with a cat. Gently placing him in the carrier on top of the blanket, I locked him in to keep from escaping. I don’t have time to find the cat box, and I’ll be damned if I’m cleaning that fucking thing out.
I don’t clean cat shit and piss. I hire people to do that for me. I’ll stop and buy a new one for him withsome fresh litter and wet cat food to go along with it.
I can kill a human being without a second thought, but I never hurt animals. I will keep him at my place for the night and offer him up for adoption tomorrow morning. It's the best choice for him.
She won’t be running around in her room this afternoon, anyway. I plan to keep her chained to the bed and off her feet, at least for a while today. Keeping her restrained is her consequence for screwing with the bandages this morning. I picked up my baggage and headed out onto the porch.
As soon as I punched in the code, I shut the door behind me and escaped into the woods. I sat Tuna in the passenger seat, started the engine, and drove away.
It may be a little while before anyone notices she is missing. She works from home, and I am not sure how often she sees her friend Becca, but the police are aware of a stalker.
I am betting an all-points bulletin will go out later today or tomorrow morning.
Kitten doesn’t speak to her mother. I overheard her on the phone with Becca, discussing her mother and their broken relationship. I’ll eventually get the information from her regarding that situation.
I never bothered conducting a background check on her. I will be able to pry all the info from her myself.
My mind switches back to the present as I pull into the pet store to buy what I need for the animal.
Shaking my head, I laugh. I am a lethal killer who stalks and kills his prey, but here I am shopping for Tuna, my captive's fucking cat. I know I am insane at this point.
Chapter 13
Atlas
