Page 130 of Thug

She nodded.

I looked at Price. “I’m getting a kitten?”

Price nodded. “Pick of the litter.”

“Can I see them?” I asked excitedly.

Wearing a prideful smile, she reached for my hand. “Follow me, sweetheart.”

I followed her down the hallway. She reached for the door and then paused. “There are six. Three little boys, and three little girls. Take your time. Let them settle down before you try to pick them up, they’re quite rambunctious. They’ll be excited to have a new visitor.”

“Okay,” I said, nearly choking on the word. I was so excited I almost peed. “I’m ready.”

She turned the door handle and pushed open the door.

Cat trees and cat toys were everywhere. At the very top of the tallest of the cat trees, a kitten was curled into a tight ball, sleeping in the sun. I took a moment to admire the little ball of fur.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash.

A spotted flash.

“Oh my God,” I said, nearly bringing myself to tears. I looked at Price. “They’re Bengals?”

Wearing a clever grin, he nodded. “Like she said, take your time.”

I couldn’t contain myself. I knelt and waited for them come to me. After nothing happened, I wiggled my finger on the floor. “Come here, kitty, kitty.”

Five spotted balls of fur came running. The cat on the top of the tree raised his tired head, took a quick look, and then lowered it.

Marbella nodded at the lazy one. “He’s the most energetic, believe it or not. Little boy. We call him Eddie. He was up all night, terrorizing the others.”

There was no way I could decide. They were all adorable. I picked up the one that was rubbing against my leg. She was a golden color peppered with brown Cheerio-like spots

She purred so loudly I could hear her over the all the others.

“She’s a sweetheart,” Marbella said. “Belle is what we call her. The names are temporary, you can rename them however you like.”

Belle looked just like a baby leopard. While I held her, she buzzed like a wind-up toy. “She likes me.”

Marbella smiled. “She seems to.”

“Can I take her over there?” I asked, nodding toward the corner of the room.

“Sure.”

I carried her away from the excitement and rolled onto my back. I placed her on my chest and ran my open palm along her spine. She walked up to my chin, stepped onto it, and took a swat at my hair.

I picked her up. “Well, aren’t you feisty?”

She swatted my hair again.

I glanced around the room. Price was at the cat tree, petting the lazy cat.

I looked the kitten over from head to toe. Her spots were perfectly symmetrical, each side being a mirror image of the other. Her front legs were covered in little spots that almost connected to make stripes.

I glanced at the other four cats. They were nowhere near as pretty. “I like this one,” I said. “I’m pretty sure she’s the one.”

Price held the crazy little boy to his chest. “What about this one?”