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Mrs. Patterson has left a note saying the cats are all accounted for, fed, and thoroughly spoiled. Enzo steps inside, looking around at my battered couch, overflowing bookshelves, cheap kitchen table, and the collection of cat toys scattered across the floor.

I immediately become self-conscious.

"Well?"

He turns toward me. "Well, what?"

"My apartment. Go ahead. Get the disappointment over with."

He looks around again, taking in the framed photographs and the stacks of books beside my favorite chair.

"I like it."

I snort. "Enzo, you don't have to lie. We just had a whole conversation about that."

"I'm not lying." He touches the spine of a paperback on my shelf. "It feels like you. I like that."

Before I can answer, Murder Mittens emerges from beneath the couch.

"Oh, shit. Be careful. He bites."

Enzo looks down at the small black-and-white menace approaching his polished shoes.

"I've dealt with worse."

Murder Mittens promptly sinks his teeth into the leather.

Enzo freezes.

I burst out laughing, which hurts my shoulder but is absolutely worth it.

"Congratulations. You've officially met the head of household."

He looks from the cat to me. "Should I be concerned?"

"Only if he starts climbing your leg. That's when things get ugly."

Enzo crouches carefully and offers his hand. Murder Mittens sniffs his fingers, considers his options, and decides not to draw blood.

It's practically a marriage proposal.

The others eventually emerge. Darcy supervises from the couch, Poe watches suspiciously from the bookshelf, and Salem immediately begins investigating whether Enzo's wallet contains anything worth stealing. Sir Pounce, meanwhile, climbs directly into his lap as soon as he sits down.

I stand there watching a powerful Moretti lieutenant get pinned beneath an enormous orange cat on a secondhand couch.

He looks ridiculously happy.

"What?" he asks when he catches me staring.

"Nothing. I was just thinking you look good here."

He reaches for my hand. "I'd like to stay awhile, if you'll let me."

I look at the cats who've already made themselves comfortable around him.

"Tonight?"

"Only if you want."