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It was clear Tina was fond of Storm and cared about him. So far, everyone here was great. Save for Carla. I’d only met two other kittens: Amber and Libby. I was glad most hadn’t been with Storm. It disgusted me enough seeing Carla, his preferred kitten, mewling about.
Tina stopped at a door where a guy I hadn’t seen before casually leaned against the wall. “Hey, Copper. How are they doing?”
“Haven’t heard a peep out of them. Who do we have here?” His eyes raked over me as he scratched his jaw. He looked young like AJ, just beefier and a ginger.
“Down boy, she’s Storm’s woman.”
“Oh shit.” He pulled his eyes off me. “Sorry, um…”
“Madeline.” I smiled, stifling a laugh. I appreciated how being called Storm’s woman made all the men stand at attention and treat me with respect.
He nodded, and Tina laughed, tapping her knuckles on the door.
“Yeah?”
“It’s Tina and Madeline. Thought you two might like a snack.”
There was a clicking sound—a deadbolt, I assumed. The door opened. “Come in.”
The room wasn’t dark enough to hide the black and blue bruises and swelling on both women’s faces. I did everything possible not to gasp, cry, or stare.
Jesus, these poor women.
“Thanks, dear. Is there anything either of you need?” Tina set the plate on the nightstand. She reached back and took the bottles from me, placing them beside the dish.
“No, we’re okay. Thanks.” The blonde peered around at me.
“She’s Madeline,” Tina said before the woman could ask. “She’s Storm’s girl.”
“What? Seriously?” She studied me. “Weren’t you at The Bullet last month singing karaoke? You look familiar.”
“Yes.” I recognized her too. She’d flirted with Storm.
“I didn’t know you could sing.” Tina’s eyes twinkled.
“She sings really good. I’m Nancy, by the way. Congratulations on catching Storm. You’ve done what we’ve all dreamed of doing.”
“Um… thanks?”Awkward. “I wasn’t trying to catch him.”
“Probably why you caught him. You know, a man likes a challenge. And those little dresses and boots are quite a look too. How long have you been together?” Her gaze skirted up and down my body.
I shifted from one foot to the other, fisting a bit of my skirt. I didn’t have anything else to wear here, and I didn’t want to run around in only Storm’s T-shirt.
“Not long. A couple of weeks, maybe. We’re just dating.” Was itonlya couple of weeks? It felt longer like we’d always been together.
Tina giggled, tossing her head back. “You’re not dating. Do you think you’d be here right now if you were? No, sweetie, you’re his. We all see how crazy he is about you.”
She had no idea how happy she just made me. I knew how I felt and thought I knew how Storm felt, judging by how he treated me, but I had no clue how anyone else saw us.
“Where is the prez?” Nancy asked.
“Out,” Tina replied plainly. “How are you doing, Ava, dear?”
She was curled onto her side with the covers drawn up to her neck. She hadn’t spoken once. “I want to go home.” She appeared worse off than Nancy. But it wasn’t the two black eyes or busted lip that made me feel different toward her. It was the haunted, empty look in her eyes. The attack must have been more terrifying for her. God, my heart hurt for these women.
“Soon, dear. You let Copper out in the hallway know if you ladies need anything. I’ll be back later with dinner unless you’d like to eat in the kitchen?”
Ava shook her head.
