Page 89 of Wounded King

Alejandro jumps off the barstool as if a wasp just bit him in the ass. Good. My fists ball, and I'm about ready to punch the shit out of him, when I notice his scratched up face. And chest.

"What the hell happened to you? If you touched her?—"

Violet jumps forward and puts a calming palm on my chest. "It was Felix, Marcello. Felix attacked him."

"Felix?" It takes my infuriated brain a second to make the connection. "The cat? Your cat?"

"He had to wrangle him to get him here," She explains.

"Sorry, boss."

I wave Alejandro off.

"I was just making sure his scratches won't get infected."

I almost forgot that she's a nurse.

Just then, the fattest cat I've ever seen waddles into the room as if he owns the fucking place. His tail is up high in the air. Green eyes stare at me, before he turns his head and hisses at Alejandro. Then, more agile than I would think his weight would allow him to be, he jumps on the counter. Where he sits down and starts wailing.

"That's Felix," Violet unnecessarily introduces. "He's hungry. Aren't you, my good boy?" She walks over to him, and he snuggles into her hand.

"I forgot to ask Alejandro to bring his food, or his litter box…" she trails off, staring at me.

"I'm not going out there, buying cat food and a litter box," I assert.

"I'm on it, boss," Alejandro puts on his shirt, which is ripped in places, and I can barely disguise my snicker.

"That cat did a number on you."

"Trust me, I've never wanted to shoot anybody or anything as bad in my life, boss."

I stare at his scratches and nod. "Understandable."

"Hey," Violet pipes up. "He was only defending himself."

"My apologies. I should have sent a backup with you," I tell Alejandro.

"Next time, I'll ask for it." He grins. "Be back in a flash." By the door, he turns and asks, "Anything in particular?"

"Yes, hold on." Violet looks at me. "Do you have a pen and paper?"

"Seriously? For cat shopping?"

"If we don't get the right litter, he might use one of your plants," she says, then mumbles something that sounds like,he might anyway, "and if he doesn't have the right food, he'll throw up."

"Any more unpleasantness I can expect from our cat?" I deadpan.

She seems to think it over, apparently deciding it's best not to answer. I hand her a pen and paper, and she writes a list for Alejandro. "Oh, and get him some of those little mice he likes to play with and balls and… how long are we going to stay here?" She looks up at me, and her face turns flaming red.

I love seeing her blush and grin. "Forever."

She blinks a few times. I guess we'll have to hash that out later.

"You should get a scratching post too, but, umm…" her face turns a shade redder, "I lost my purse and wallet."

"He's got a company card," I tell her.

"But—"