Page 94 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

But I’m shocked.She went from laughing to pure panic in a heartbeat.I think it’s time I know what’s really going on.Why she’s here.Why she ran in the night with her damn—”Gotcha!”

I grab Pussy, scoop her up, and hold her like a football.When I walk into camp, Frankie’s on the ground, sobbing.

She sees me and reaches up.“Is she hurt?How bad’s she hurt?”

The cat’s fine.But Frankie’s not.

“Not a scratch on her.Be back in just a second.”

I go inside and put on my jeans, then grab the blanket.I kneel next to her and put the blanket around her shoulders.Frankie won’t look at me, but her entire body is convulsing.She’s struggling to breathe.

She’s falling apart, and I don’t know what to do.This isn’t about Pussy running off a hundred feet or so because she wanted to sit in some ferns.

“You need to tell me, Boots.Time’s up.”

“He’s going to kill me!”she screams, her eyes wild.“He won’t stop until I’m dead!I fucked up my life!I didn’t know he was a Russian mobster!So much blood… I saw it and now he won’t stop looking for me until I’m dead, just like them.”

She’s squeezing Pussy to within an inch of her life.As gently as possible, I extricate the cat from her arms and toss her back inside, then shut the door.I reach Frankie, pull her to her feet, and steady her in front of me.

I hold her shoulders.“Look at me,” I say, needing her to focus.She stares up at me with glassy eyes.She’s checked out.“Frankie.Pay attention, okay?”I watch her slowly return to herself.

“Here’s what you’re going to do.Grab what you need for a couple days.We’re leaving—right now.We’re getting you and Pussy inside an actual house where you’re both safe and comfortable.Nod if you hear and understand what I’m telling you.”

I can tell that she’s about to argue with me, and I sigh with relief.It’s a good sign.“Nod, Boots.”She does.

“And I’m helping you get away.No discussion.I will find a place where you’ll be safe—it’s already in the works.”

Her mouth opens, then closes.“Okay,” she says.

Ten minutes later, we’re on our way down the trail on DG.Pussy’s tucked in between her back and my front.

I swear the cat is purring.

Frankie and I are silent for most of the trip.

“It’s my fault,” I say when we reach the flat grazing land.

“No,” she snaps.“I wasn’t paying attention.It’s my fault.It’s my fault for bringing her here and risking her life in the first place, just like you said, and…”

I reach around and tip her chin to the side.Then, I lean in and kiss her.

A few minutes later, she speaks again.“I need you to promise me something, Special K.”

“As long as I don’t have to go home and give you your space, yes.Whatever you need.”

She nods.“Swear that if anything ever happens to me, you’ll take care of Pussy.Promise me you won’t give her away or take her to a shelter or—”

“Frankie…”

“Promise me.”

“I promise,” I tell her, my heart breaking in two because she truly believes that her slimeball ex is going to succeed in killing her.

The fucking Russian mobster.

“I’d like you to promise me something, too,” I tell her.

“If it doesn’t put you or your family at risk, yes, whatever you need.”