I sigh and run my fingers through Mr. Whiskers’s fur, lapping up my final moments with him. As much as I waslooking forward to Riley and Cruz coming home so I can go back to the estate with Mom, I was always dreading leaving my fluffy companion.
Maybe it’s time I get a pet of my own. I’ve always wanted one, but until Mr. Whiskers came into our lives, Mom wasn’t a fan of animals, so it was never an option.
Something to consider when Colten lets me move back to the estate once he’s deemed it’s safe.
He’s the security expert, so I’m going to do everything he says to ensure I can maintain the freedom I’ve become accustomed to since Cruz killed our father.
“I’ll see you soon, bud. And you’re going to have a new friend to give you all the belly rubs,” I coo. “Be nice to her. She’s coming over just to look after you. And maybe give your dad’s office a break. It’s already in a disarray for when he comes home.”
Another loud meow.
I carefully lift him into my arms and press my face into his fur. “It’s going to be okay, bud.”
But I’m not sure if I’m reassuring him or myself.
By the time I reach Colten’s SUV, he’s already in the driver’s seat with his phone in hand. He taps out a message before turning his attention to me, his eyes searching my face for something.
“All okay?” he asks as I climb into the passenger seat. I’m still wearing the pajamas I fell asleep in, with the addition of a cardigan he handed me as I was packing my clothes and a pair of slippers.
If Mom could see me right now, she’d have a heart attack. She may not have subscribed to a lot of Mafia woman teachings, but she’d definitely consider leaving the house like this a cardinal sin.
I shrug. “Realistically he isn’t going to care that it’s not me feeding him. He’ll only care when the love of his life and his favorite victim return.”
Colten chuckles. “You’re allowed to miss him, you know?”
I shrug and turn to look out the window. I don’t want to think too hard about why I’m so sad to leave, because then I might have to process the fact that once again I feel like a failure.
At some point Colten is going to put the pieces together of why that man broke in tonight, and my whole family is going to find out what I’ve been doing behind closed doors, and there’s not a single part of me that’s ready for their disappointment.
THIRTEEN
COLTEN
As a rule, I don’t have anyone at my place.
There are a number of reasons, but the fact I’ve been actively stalking my best friend’s sister for close to a decade is at the top of the list, along with the way my obsession has…spread.
It started small, things that could be hidden away in a shoebox or the chest at the end of my bed, but now the pieces of her are throughout my entire apartment.
I’m not certain how I’m going to explain it when she asks, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Right now, keeping Lexi safe is all that matters.
My own adrenaline is beginning to drain, exhaustion threatening at the edges of my consciousness, but it’ll be hours before I can sleep.
I’ll be lucky if I get to shut my eyes much before the sun goes down tonight.
I pull into the underground parking lot for my building and guide the car into my usual parking spot, but when the car comes to a stop, neither of us moves.
“You doing okay, Wildcat?” I ask softly.
She shrugs. “I guess. I just feel…out of control, I guess. Tired but wired at the same time. Like my body isn’t a part of me right now. It’s confusing.”
I nod. “Let’s see what we can do to get you settled. We’ll head upstairs, you can take a shower, and I’ll make us something to eat. Blueberry pancakes sound okay?” I already know her answer, seeing as they’re her favorite, but I don’t point that out.
She’s going to get enough confirmations of my obsession once she gets upstairs without adding anything else to the list.
Her lips tip up into a small smile, and my chest tightens at the sight. I did that. I made her smile even at one of her darkest moments.
