Page 97 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

“We’ll bring her back soon,” Phoebe yells back at him.

“You will?”I ask.

“Where should we take her?”Emma asks.

“Anywhere is better than this shit show,” Summer says.

“My place is closest,” Victoria says.“We’ll chill there while they sort out their drama.”

Pussy and I are shuttled inside a gorgeous mountain house on a large lake.The second I set foot in the entranceway, two golden retrievers bound toward me from the living room and go nuts trying to get into the cat backpack.

“Hhhhhhhhhhhhsssssssshhhhh!” Pussy complains.

I spin back around and head to the front porch.“This way,” Emma says, putting her arm around my waist.“My place.No dogs.”

We all relocate to another gorgeous house, and, just like she said, it’s dog-free.I can see all the way to the back of the house where there’s a resort-sized pool and pergola.Everyone stands in the living room, while Emma goes into the kitchen to cook.I let Pussy out of the backpack just as her stepdaughter Jasmine runs in after us and slides to a stop in front of me, breathing hard.

“I want the cat!”she announces with glee.“I love cats!”She holds out her arms.“I’m Jasmine.”She’s such a cute little girl with dark curls and light blue eyes.

“Jasmine, this is Frankie,” Phoebe says.

“Hi, Jasmine,” I manage, though I’m overwhelmed and worried that I smell like woodsmoke and unwashed clothes.“It’s very nice to meet you.”

She blinks at me, her eyes huge.“You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen in my life,” she whispers.

“You should see me after I take a hot shower.”

“Knock!Knock!”Aunt Phyllis sing-songs as she enters without knocking.“Mind if I join you?”

“Come on in!”Emma calls, popping her head out of the kitchen.“Food’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”

“That gives Frankie enough time to shower and put on something fresh,” Phoebe says, smiling sweetly at me.I can’t believe all of these women are so nice.I’ve always had women friends, but I’m also used to being around a lot of catty women.But not here.No one except for resting ex-face from the driveway smackdown.

Summer plops down on the couch and puts her feet up on the coffee table.“Jasmine, show Frankie to the guest bathroom and make sure she has towels and find something of Emma’s for her to wear.Something comfortable and warm.”

“And then we’ll chat,” Victoria says, her eyes twinkling.

“I’d like that,” I say, truthfully.I have a million questions.And I have the feeling that I’m in the right place to get every one of them answered.

“Come on, Frankie!”Jasmine’s jumping and holding out her hand for me.“I’ll show you everything!Do you want to see my dollhouse?”

She proceeds to drag me upstairs.

CHAPTER 47

Special K

My brothers and father follow me to the barn without a word.

Their silence is unnerving.Normally there’s no end to them running their mouths.It’s almost like they’re conserving their energy for some kind of coordinated assault.

Joe the stable hand meets me in the aisle and takes DG to be fed, watered, and spoiled, as usual.“Thanks, Joe.Appreciate it.”

“You got it.”

I lean back against one of the stall doors and face them.“All right,” I tell my brothers and father.“Go on.Let me have it.I’m ready.”

They’re still quiet.Almost like they’re stunned.It’s disconcerting.One of Cal’s eyebrows has arched high on his forehead.Finn looks perplexed.Declan looks like someone’s just put a gun at his head and ordered him to solve history’s most difficult calculus problem.