“Mi—” I started, only to have him step in front of me, his finger pressed to his lips.
Panic shot through my veins, thinking something had gone horribly wrong.
But then he held out a hand, gesturing toward one of the barrel chairs in the living room.
In it, Remo was sitting upright, his head tipped back, out cold.
The poor guy had looked awful the night before. Clearly, his system had been crying out for rest only to keep getting denied.
No matter who you were, though, sleep debt was going to catch up to you eventually.
Milo reached for my wrist, gently leading me into the kitchenette, but still talking in a hushed voice. “How are you feeling?”
“Hurting, but better than the alternative. Did they find the other woman? My cat? Dom?”
I felt like so much was going on, and I was somehow emotionally invested in all of it.
Milo handed me two more pills and some water as he answered.
“No word on Dom. But the pit boss is in a safe house. Alley is at Remo’s place. He said she has chosen his second youngestbrother as her person. She keeps slamming against his legs and begging for pets.”
“What? The traitor. She never wants me touching her.”
“I guess she’s more a fan of men.”
“Meanwhile, I literally saved her life. The ingrate,” I said, but there was no real malice in it. If anything, I was just curious if she would be as affectionate with Milo. If he liked cats. If there would be room in his life for me, for her, for us.
“What’s that look?” Milo asked, reaching out to tuck some of my hair behind my ear.
“I was, um, just wondering if Alley would like you. Or if you like cats.”
“I do like cats. And even if she doesn’t like me, I won’t hold it against her.”
“So, you, uh, want to meet her?”
“It would be hard not to meet her if she’s living with us.”
Oh, my heart.
“Really?” I asked.
“I mean, if that’s what you want,” he added, looking suddenly very vulnerable.
“I do,” I said, giving him a smile. “I know things are new, but I feel—”
There was a knock at the door that had Milo sighing. He paused to press a quick kiss to my good temple. “We’ll get back to this later,” he promised as he moved past me.
He slid the lock.
Pulled open the door.
And a shocked yelp escaped me.
Because there he was.
Dom.
A little bruised and bloody.
