Page 34 of August 20

Ten feet from the door, a burst of adrenaline surged through her. Maybe these men had no idea Maverick was holding them hostage.

And then, Wire hobbled over and stuck his crutch in front of the door while balancing on one leg, blocking her escape.

She slowed, wanting to cry in frustration. Couldn't the men ignore her and let her go?

"Please," she mouthed, not wanting to scare Skye.

Wire's gaze softened in an otherwise hardened face, and he shook his head. She gritted her teeth to keep the tears at bay.

"Hey, Skye." Dio approached. "I have something I want to show you." He looked at Brooke. "You can come, too."

She had no choice. Where Skye went, she would go. There was no way she would leave her niece alone with men who looked as if they would kill her if she opened her mouth.

Dio led them deeper into the room to a hallway. "Last month, a cat broke into the building and wouldn't leave."

Skye hopped beside her at the mention of her favorite animal.

Dio stopped outside a door and bent over, taking himself to her level. "Let me see your hands."

Skye held up her hands. Dio rubbed his whiskered jaw and murmured. He turned her palms up and plucked at her fingers. He even slapped her palms and curled her thumb, making her giggle.

Finally, he nodded and stood straighter. "Yep, you've got the right size hands for the job."

He opened the door and let them walk into the room. There was a bed against the wall and a dresser near a closet.

Dio walked over to the closet, motioning Skye to come to him. Brooke followed her niece. She had to admit, she was curious to see what the biker would do.

He produced a flashlight, lighting up the interior of the closet. Skye gasped. Brooke bowed over Skye's back to see and warmed at the sight despite the emotional day.

Meow

"You're okay, momma." Dio reached inside the box and brought out a small black and white bundle. "We're just going to borrow this one for a little bit, and then we'll return your baby to you."

Skye dropped to her knees and held out her hands. "Can I hold her?"

"That's the plan." He put the kitten in Skye's hands and urged her to cuddle the kitty to her chest. "She's only a week old."

"How many kittens does she have?" Brooke couldn't help petting the top of the kitty's head in Skye's arms.

"Six." Dio chuckled. "All of them are gray stripes, except this one."

Skye had the gentlest death grip on the baby. Brooke's heart swelled, knowing Skye would talk about today for the rest of the year. She was a softy toward cats. Unfortunately, where they had lived in Beaverton, there were no pets allowed in the apartment, and she had to break Skye's heart every time her birthday came around, and she asked for a cat.

"She's so soft." Skye stroked the kitty's back. "Feel her."

"I did," whispered Brooke. "She's beautiful."

"She's cute." Skye put the kitten up to her face and rubbed her cheek against the animal's fur. "I like her."

"She's a sweetheart." Brooke cupped the back of Skye's head.

If she'd had her phone, she would've already taken twenty pictures of her niece with the kitten. She swallowed hard. She couldn't let a kitten distract her from where and why she was here.

"Can we buy her?" Skye looked over her shoulder at Brooke. "Please?"

She shook her head. Her mood instantly darkened. She had no idea if she'd have a house to stay in tomorrow. If she'd still have Skye in her life. If she'd still be alive.

Dio chucked Skye under the chin with his finger. "The kittens are too young to be away from their momma. We should give her baby back so she doesn't get mad at us."

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