Page 44 of Sheltering Hollis

As we walked, I glanced at Dimitri. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Something heavy still weighed on him, but now wasn’t the time to pry. We also needed to talk about what was going on with all this talk about no bus and no after-school programs.

The pet store was small but charming, filled with chirping birds and the soft mews of kittens. Olive was in heaven, darting from cage to cage, trying to decide which one to take home. Finally, she settled on a tiny orange kitten with big green eyes.

“I think I’ll name her Luna,” Olive declared, cradling the kitten gently, rubbing the fur gently. It was a long-haired cat, and I wondered if that was okay with Dimitri. It was going to get everywhere.

“Good choice,” Dimitri said, ruffling her hair. The worry lines on his face smoothed out momentarily, and he looked almost relaxed.

“She’s perfect,” I said, watching Olive’s face glow with pure joy. Moments like this made everything worth it.

Dimitri quickly swept through the store with Olive, loaded up a litter pan and all the essentials, then had Olive pick an assortment of toys and a tiny cat tree. They giggled, discussing building cat ladders and cat things in her room. He bent his head close to the kitten, letting it rub against his stubble that had grown in the hours since he’d shaved.

“It likes you,” she declared definitively.

“Only if you say so, moya milaya.”

We moved outside after Dimitri paid and Luna was secured in a carrier. Dimitri was quieter than usual, eyes scanning the street outside more often than necessary. I reached out, placing my hand over his. “Are you okay?” I asked softly.

He nodded, squeezing my hand. “Just a lot on my mind.”

“If there’s anything I can do...”

He smiled a little more genuinely this time. “Just being here helps.”

The afternoon passed in a blur of happiness. We visited the town’s small park, where Olive ran around with Luna on a leash that Dimitri had her buy, the kitten’s tiny bell collar jingling merrily. Dimitri and I sat on a bench, watching her play. It was peaceful, a bubble of tranquility that I wished could last forever.

“Who knew you could leash a cat?” I mused. He shrugged and winked at me.

As the sun began to set, we made our way back to the car. Olive was yawning, and Luna was asleep in her carrier. The drive home was quiet, Olive dozing off in the back seat. Dimitri’s tension seemed to return, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror frequently.

“Whatever it is, we’ll handle it,” I said softly, not wanting to wake Olive.

He nodded, but I could see the doubt in his eyes. Something was brewing, something he wasn’t ready to share yet.

Hollis

The house was enveloped in a quiet calm. Dimitri had pulled straight into the garage and closed it. Today was the first time I’d gotten a look at his motorcycle, a sexy-looking Harley. I wondered when he’d take me for a ride, but I hadn’t asked yet. Today, he’d worn his MC cut and explained to Olive that he was in a special club. Olive had cocked her head at him and nodded and then asked if she could wear one too. I could have told him that would have been the outcome. Special club? Olive wanted in.

Dimitri had set up the kitten’s box in the mud room, and Olive had exhausted herself following the tiny thing around. I wasn’t sure it could climb the stairs, but Olive had Luna practicing all night.

Olive was sound asleep, with Luna, her new kitten, nestled at her feet. I gently tucked the blanket around them, watching them sleep peacefully. The sight warmed my heart, a tender moment of serenity amidst the growing unease I sensed around us.

I closed the door softly and walked back to the living room. Dimitri was there, staring out the window, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. His silhouette looked tense as if the weight of the world was pressing down on his shoulders.

“Dimitri,” I said gently, approaching him. “What’s going on?”

He turned to me, his eyes reflecting a storm of emotions. “I’ll tell you.”

We moved to the couch and sat down, a palpable tension hanging in the air. I reached out, taking his hand, offering a silent assurance that I was here, ready to face whatever he had to share. Or … was he over this? I didn’t think that was it …but what if?

“There’s something important you need to know,” he began, his voice tight with concern. “Maddox talked to me last night. There was a body found in the next town over.”

“Okay.” Did he have something to do with it? Was he going to jail? Was he worried?

“No, I had nothing to do with it,” he reassured me, reading the look on my face. “I’m relieved that’s your first concern, though. I think.” He winked. “But, this town has another MC, the Cobras. We are allied with them. The leader, Pike — the police suspect him.”

His grip on my hand tightened. “I’ve found out some of the details. I don’t think he had anything to do with it, but I’m still concerned. I didn’t want to worry you, but I need you to be aware and prepared.”

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing heart. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

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