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Scotty’s footsteps click against the cement ground. The metal clicking of his gun cocking a round into the chamber is followed, then silence. More Russian is spoken. The gunshot sounds, ringing my ears.
His steps become clearer, until he stops in front of me. I open my eyes, taking in the drops of blood on his sneakers. He bends, scooping me into his arms bridal style, and presses a kiss to my temple. “Let’s go home.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my head into his shoulder. “No more punishments tonight,” I whisper. “Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Asoftmeowtugsme from that blurred line of sleep and dreams, almost like a lullaby, until I’m jolted awake. I shoot up from the couch, my eyes wide. It continues, letting me know it wasn’t just in my dreams.
The meowing is frantic, loud, and rushed. I sigh with relief. My Froggy is back.
“Jaime.” I shove at him on the other end of the couch.
He grunts, then rolls to his other side.
I hurry off the couch and toward the back door. The back light is on, and my heart flutters when I see him. My grumpy orange tabby sitting at the back door. I’ve left out a can of tuna every night since we’ve been home. Each morning it’s empty, but he manages to leave before I catch him. Last night I decided I was sleeping downstairs.
Frog catches sight of me and stands. He rubs his back along the glass. I flip the lock, and slide it open. He’s scared and shoots across the patio.
“Froggy bubba boy, it’s me,” I say in a horrible baby voice. “Here kitty, kitty.”
He lets out another cry, this one softer. It hurts how sad he sounds. Almost as if he’s letting me know I’ve betrayed him. As if I could control what happened to us. I bend down so I’m not as intimidating. Then he rushes from under the table and straight into my lap.
My fingers make quick work, rubbing him down and inspecting him for any injuries or fleas. His fur is mangled around his neck, some dried blood there. He had to have gotten the injury early on in his escape if the scent of decaying flesh is any indicator.
“Poor baby,” I coo, petting the top of his head. “You’ve had a rough go of it, haven’t you?”
He presses his head against my hand, a purr escaping. I grin, squeezing him to my chest.
I stand, getting us back inside before he’s able to escape again. Once I lock up, I hurry back to the living room. Scotty is still sound asleep, soft snores rumbling in the air. I head past him, straight for the kitchen so I can get Frog cleaned up and check out the source of the blood.
The nasty bugger hisses and scratches while I force him into the sink, spraying off the grime, then using dish soap to rinse. If he’s got any fleas, it’ll help start the process of killing them naturally.
“Sit still,” I grumble, my grip tightening around his waist. I don’t want to grab at his neck because I’m worried about worsening the injury there.
“Princess?” Scotty’s soft voice comes from behind me. “What’s going on?”
“Frog is home, Jaime,” I say, my voice high pitched with excitement. “He came home.”
Frog lets out a pained scream when my hand accidentally brushes along the wound. I shut off the water.
“Oh, baby,” I coo, inspecting a gash on his back. “It’s okay. We’re going to make it better.”
Scotty comes up from behind me, grabbing Frog. “He needs stitches. It looks infected, too.” Once he’s done inspecting him, he tugs the cat into a football hold so he can’t escape.
“I’ll take him to the vet in the morning,” I say. “In the meantime we should put him in the cat carrier so he can’t hurt himself worse.”
Scotty reaches for my arm, fresh scratches dripping blood.
“Damnit, Saoirse. You should have come and got me. If he had cat shit under his nails, you’re going to get an infection.”
He’s agitated, his tone clipped and rude, but I smile. I’ll be fine, and he knows it.
Scotty taps Frog’s butt, as if he’s punishing him, but it’s so soft it barely counts as a tap let alone a smack. “And you. Don’t go scaring her like that again. I’m too old to be sleeping on a goddamn couch. My back is royally fucked.”
“Don’t hit him!” I exclaim, slapping Scotty on the back of the head. It’s light, the same way it was for Frog.
