Page 121 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

I’d wear a bright red dress and matching party hat to his funeral.

Niko’s phone rings, and he stops dead to answer it.He yanks my hand hard to make sure I stand still, right in the middle of the sidewalk, and I turn my back to him to give him privacy for his call, just as he’s trained me to do.

I don’t listen in, but I can hear the conversation anyway.It’s half Russian, half English, and Niko isn’t yelling, which means whoever’s on the other side of the line is important.More important than Niko.As far as I can tell, Niko is a senior manager of whatever organization he’s in.He’s plenty high up, but he’s not the boss.

I keep this information to myself, of course.It’s not like I’m trying to take down the mob.It’s not like I’m even trying to take down Niko.Or escape.I might not even be trying to survive.I’m just trying to save the man I love.

And his family.

My throat hitches, and I struggle to swallow down my emotion.I need to stop thinking about Special K.I need to stop thinking about love.For the good of everyone, I need to believe that this is my present and my future and the extent of whatever miserable reality is possible for me.

Behind me, Niko continues his conversation.As pedestrians avoid me and throw me glares of irritation, I stay put.But I take a moment to scan the area around me.Folks are walking back and forth on the Strip, enjoying their vacations in Sin City.I watch a group of young women giggling as they walk, and I find myself smiling.It’s nice to see that there’s still happiness out in the world.Normalcy.

I’m thankful that Niko’s phone call is dragging on.Just standing here people-watching makes me almost feel like something other than the prisoner of a lunatic killer.I can pretend that I’m walking to the parking garage after my shift, looking forward to getting home, showering and changing into yoga pants and a t-shirt, and opening a can of food for Pussy.

For a moment, I’m lost in a pleasant snippet of remembered happiness.And the tears come when I think of how much I miss my damn cat.

And then, I see them.

Oh, no.This can’t be.

Oh.

Shit.

I see a very tall man, muscular with thick black hair.By his side is a beautiful woman with long dark hair wearing custom-made cowboy boots.There’s a little pregnant pooch under her shirt.

Pregnant.

The man turns, and I suck in air when I see his violet eyes.So much like Special K’s.

It’s Declan and Summer.

Their faces brighten just before they look confused but try to smile through it.They’re just about to wave, when I shake my head violently, my lips pulled in a line of warning.

It doesn’t matter.They’re curious and walking toward me, smiling but not understanding what they’re seeing.

Of course, they don’t understand.They thought I was in love with Special K.They thought I was good for him.They even supported our decision to take off together for as long as it took to keep me safe.

I must be a liar in their eyes now.An imposter.

I think quick.

“Sure!I’d be happy to take your picture!”I reach out my hand to cross the space between us before Niko can stop me.I mumble under my breath as Summer’s smile freezes on her face.“Give me your phone.Now.Go with it.”

The uncertainty on their faces increases.Declan looks from me to Niko and back again, catching on.

“Get closer together,” I tell them, my voice high and overly friendly.“That’s it!That’s lovely!”I pretend to snap a picture.“Hold on—let me change the focus and I’ll get one more!”

Behind me, Niko finishes his phone call, and I hear the sound of his thousand-dollar shoes tapping along the sidewalk, coming closer.Quickly, my thumbs fly over the keyboard and then I make a show of taking the last photo before I practically toss the phone back to Summer.

I nearly jump when Declan taps my upper arm and says, “Thank you for taking our picture.We really appreciate it.”

I immediately whip around and slip my hand into Niko’s claw.We walk away, continuing in the direction we were originally headed.

“I hate tourists,” he spits out.“Nothing but vermin infesting this city.”

“I know, right?”I sigh, pretending to agree with Niko while checking to ensure Summer and Declan have stayed behind.They’ve read the message by now.I hope to hell Declan doesn’t decide to be a hero.