Page 35 of Ruthless Vow

And for some reason, I believe him.

“Leo said you were worried about what would happen if you didn’t pick up the cat when you were supposed to,” Luca says. “Guess he didn’t want you to worry.”

I am left speechless. Why would Leo care if I worry about my cat? Why would he send Luca to retrieve him? I’m Leo’s prisoner…

“I don’t understand,” I say as Charlie nuzzles my chin and then settles into my arms.

Luca shrugs.

I kiss the top of Charlie’s head. He’s literally the best cat in the whole world. More like a dog, in the fact that he likes to be held like a baby. He’s never bitten me, never scratched me. He’s an angel.

I never want to let him go.

But he can’t stay with me here. Not here. This is no place for something I love.

“Thank you,” I say to Luca.

“Don’t thank me. Like I said, Leo’s orders.” He reaches over and gently scratches behind Charlie’s ear. Charlie presses his head to Luca’s hand and purrs even louder. “He likes me.”

“I think he does,” I say. A dull ache tugs at my heart. “I need you to do something for me, Luca.”

He keeps scratching Charlie’s ear. “That’s probably not going to happen, gorgeous.”

“I said I didn’t have backups of those files, but maybe I do. Maybe I have more collateral than anyone realizes. I’ve seen some shit since working for the Russos.”

The hard edge returns to his eyes as he glances at me. “I have no doubt.”

“I want you to do this because you have a heart,” I say. “But I’m not above blackmail. I’ll share the contents of those files if you don’t do this one thing I ask.”

“Be careful what you say to me next, Nicole.”

I know I’m poking a bear. I know he could kill me with his bare hands in five seconds or less.

“Look after Charlie,” I say, my throat tight. “If…whensomething happens to me, Charlie will need a home. For all our differences, Luca, I know you’ll take good care of him.”

He stares at me for a few moments, brow furrowed, as the realization sets in that I didn’t just blackmail him for anything truly dire.

He glances at the cat in my arms, then back to my face.

“Fuck me,” he says.

“He’s a good cat, the best. He won’t give you any problems. Just feed him, clean his litter. And love him. That’s all.”

Silence. And then. “I fucking hate you for this, Nicole.”

“Is that a yes?”

If his frown were any deeper, his eyebrows would touch his cheeks. Then he shakes his head and says, “Fine, yeah.”

“Good. Thank you.” My eyes are stinging as I kiss the top of Charlie’s head and ease him back into the carrier. I want to keep him here with me, wrapped in my arms. But that’s selfish. “You should take him now. This isn’t a good place for him. This isn’t a place he can be happy. No scratching post or cat tree. No windowfor him to watch the birds. No catio.” I glance at him. “He’s going to need all those things.”

“What’s a catio?” Luca says.

“It’s an enclosure so he can go outside and be safe. Not wander off and get hurt or hit by a car. You can order one online.”

Tears prick my lids as Luca grabs the handle and lifts the carrier. He moves toward the door, then spares a glance back at me.

“You are a goddamn mystery to me, Nicole.”

---