Page 133 of Safe and Sound

“What sister?” I asked.

The woman pointed into the cage. If it hadn’t been for the green eyes shining back at me, I would’ve never noticed the tiny fluff of black. “Her name is Cinder. They’re a bonded pair.”

‘“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means they can’t be without each other.” The woman stroked the boy’s head through the cage. “From what the good samaritan told us, he attacked the kid who was trying to hurt her. Despite being beaten and bloody, he was trying to save her.”

“Jayus,” I muttered under my breath. I must’ve been out of my fucking mind because as I eyed the kitten, all I could see was my brothers. And when I took in the cowering little female behind him, I thought of Maeve. All those years we defended her against our father came flooding back, causing my chest to ache.

“We’ll take them,” I pronounced.

Piper shrieked as she jumped up and down. “I get two kitties?”

“He needs a friend, right?”

She nodded emphatically. “Mm, hmm.”

“Then you can have them both.”

Taking the carrier from Piper, the lady opened the cage and put the orange menace inside first. The minute her brother disappeared, the little black fluff went into panic mode and began wailing. When he realized she wasn’t with him, he began fighting to get out of the carrier to get back to her.

Fatherhood had turned me into a complete pussy because I teared up. “Hurry up and put her in,” I commanded.

The woman gave me a funny look before she scooped up the black furball and put her with her brother. Instantly, they both chilled out.

“If you guys will follow me, there’s some paperwork I need you to fill out.”

“Why don’t you think of what to name them as I fill out the forms?” I suggested to Piper.

“They has names.”

The lady smiled. “While we give them names, you’re welcome to change them.”

Piper appeared thoughtful. “How about Cheeto and Blackie?”

I chuckled. “Great choices.”

After filling out the forms and paying the adoption fees, I also gave a fat donation to the shelter. While I was much more a dog person, I couldn’t help wanting to support them for the work they did for animals.

When we reached the car, Niall opened the door for us. At the cacophony of meowing, he cocked his brows. “You got two?”

“They’re a bonded pair, so they had to come together.”

He had the audacity to chuckle. “It was nice knowing you, mate.”

I scowled at him as I handed the carrier to Piper. “Ava didn’t say anything about only getting one cat,” I shot back.

“I think she expected you to have enough sense where she didn’t have to.”

“So you’ve been married two years and now you think you think you know everything?” I asked, as I climbed in the back with Piper.

“Obviously I know more than you.”

“Just shut up and drive us home.”

Piper gasped in the seat next to me. “That’s not a nice word.”

Great. Now I was getting shit from a three-year-old. “I’m sorry.”

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