🖤🖤🖤
Meow!
Malia and I both turn at the squeaky sound, accompanied by tiny bell chimes, while I'm rinsing dishes in the sink and she's wiping down counters. "Huh?" She cranes her neck in the direction of the sound.
I forgot Salvatore was supposed to drop the kitten here when I got home. He must've known I wasn't alone so he just let the cat enter without making an appearance. He lives nearby—and is one of the only few who can come and go inside my penthouse as they please—and has taken it upon himself to pet sit whenever I'm not home. My men take turns looking out for the cat while I or Salvatore aren't around.
"Oh, my god! You have a cat? How come I didn't see it when we came in?" Malia bends low and picks up the kitten. I'm about to tell her it might scratch her if she gets frightened, but it seems I don't have to. The kitten nuzzles against Malia's arm and purrs as though she's done that a dozen times before.