As he struggles, I pull out my phone and unlock it. Swiping to Arya’s picture, I point it in his face. “Recall her? Let me give you a hint. The bus this afternoon.”
His face pales as recognition hits. “I… She…”
“You shouldn’t have laid a finger on her,” I growl. “Big fucking mistake.”
Shoving the end of his tie in his mouth, I pin him to the hood of the car and lay his right hand flat on the top. I lift the knife in the air.
The glint of the blade jerks his gaze in its direction.
“No! No… puhlesss,” his muffled voice comes out.
Slamming the knife below his knuckles, I slice his fingers into two.
He wails in agony.
Showing no mercy, I do the same to his other hand. In the next second, the stench of piss fills the air. Blood paints the hood of the car, spraying against the windshield.
He crumples to the ground in a heap after I pull away.
Crouching to his eye level, I squeeze his throat until he stares at me through blurry eyes. “Speak of this to anyone and I will kill you next time.”
Then I make him black out with a right hook.
***
Hours later, when I come out of the shower after washing out all the blood, there’s a text from Arya waiting for me.
ANGEL: Somebody’s missing you.
Attached is a picture of Pihu hugging the handkerchief I left at her place after it fell out of my pocket.
ME: So, your cat’s a thief.
ANGEL: How dare you? My Pihu isn’t a thief!
ANGEL: Forget ever getting your handkerchief back.
ME: Keep it. She probably would’ve returned it in two pieces.
ANGEL: She wouldn’t have.
ME: Kittens are aggressive and scratch every surface.
ANGEL: Pihu is sweet as a pie.
ME: Wait until she gets older.
ANGEL: Stop believing the stereotypes. They’re giving cats a bad reputation.
Sitting against the headboard on my bed, I look up cat memes and find the perfect one to prove my theory. I send it to Arya.
ME: So, these aren’t cats?
ANGEL: Well, my Pihu won’t turn out like them.
I chuckle.
Another text comes from her, making me straight-up laugh.
