Page 75 of Be Very Quiet

He refused to dignify her question with a response. He deposited the cat on the floor and opened a can of ocean whitefish and tuna feast in sauteed seafood-flavor gravy.Gag.It looked like something the cat barfed up.

Smoke had the opposite reaction, pawing at Luca’s leg, trying to get to the chow.

“Knock yourself out, kitty.” He placed the bowl on the floor, and Smoke practically dove in headfirst.

Luca checked his messages to find one from Reese. He dialed the FBI agent, glad he was keeping Luca in the loop.

“What’s up?”

“Still no trace of Georgia Perkins. No hits on her credit cards or contact with her family. She’s disappeared.”

It was becoming more plausible that she was involved with Speke in the murders and had been spooked after he’d been caught and killed. She’d ghosted. But why hadn’t she swung by to pick up Smoke?

“I spoke with her mom and sister. They insisted she wouldn’t leave without telling anyone and she’d never leave her cat. She called him her baby.”

“Did she talk to them about a boyfriend?”

“They were adamant that she wasn’t dating either. Her sister said she’d sworn off men after her ex did a number on her.”

“Did you check on him?”

“He’s on a Caribbean cruise with his secretary.”

“He could’ve hired someone and used the trip as his alibi.”

“We’re checking his bank accounts as we speak.”

Liliana appeared, and Luca’s heartbeat sped up. She was so damn beautiful. The front ends of her hair brushed her shoulders, and her green eyes seemed to sparkle. When their gazes met, he forgot how to breathe.

“Russo?”

He shook his head to dissipate the Liliana-induced stupor. “Sorry, what was that?”

“I asked if you still had the cat.”

Smoke had finished his breakfast and was butting up against Luca’s ankles. He crouched down to pick him up and rub his head. “Yes. Did Georgia’s mother or sister want to come get him?”

“Her sister is allergic, and her mom lives in Atlanta in a building that doesn’t allow pets.”

“What do we do with him?”

“I guess we can take him to the shelter until we find Georgia.”

Luca hated to take the sweet kitty to a place that might kill him due to overcrowding. “I’ll keep him here for a while. He’s used to being alone if Georgia leaves him while she works.”

“Sounds good. We’ll chat later.”

Liliana walked up to him, and for a moment, he thought she would rise to her tiptoes and kiss him. Surprisingly, he didn’t mind that Audria and now Christian, who had come in while he was talking to Reese, were a few feet away. His only thought was on those cherry-red lips that tasted like sunshine. She reached up and . . . slid her hands around Smoke, lifting him from Luca’s grip.

“Good morning, sweet Smoke.” She cuddled him close and murmured to him. His eyes closed, and he purred in kitty contentment.

Damn lucky cat.

#

Liliana hated leaving Smoke all day. It didn’t matter that he might be used to it. She didn’t want him to be stranded in a strange place. Instead, she convinced Luca to let her take him to the studio. He could hang out in her office with them.

The change of plans meant a detour to a pet store for a litter box. Liliana knew he might be with her for only a day or two, but it didn’t stop her from buying extra supplies and cute toys.

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