Black
I didn’t wake up to an amazing blow job, but I did wake to an empty bed. I could hear Quill’s laughter coming from the kitchen, so adorned in just my briefs, I followed the infectious sound.
“That is so great, Dr. Mason. Maybe I can come and get Lady Whiskers McMeowers today?”
Who the fuck was he talking to and who the hell was McDonalds Whiskey what?
He laughed loudly just as I rounded the corner. His back was to me and he had a sheet wrapped around his body. “I can’t figure out a better name for her. I liked them all, so I mashed them.”
Her?
“Thank you, oh, can you tell me the final cost of her medical bill?”
Medical bill? Oh, this is his cat.
“Eep. Okay, thanks, Doc.”
I observed him a minute before making my presence known. After he placed his cell down, his shoulders hunched and he rested his face in his hands. I knew defeat when I saw it.
“Lady Whiskers McMeowers?” I spoke as softly as I could, but he jumped all the same.
“Shit, you scared me.” He spun around and the blanket slipped off his shoulders, exposing his gorgeous skin.
“Your cat?” He nodded. “I’m guessing the bill is high?”
“Yeah, it’s ridiculous dollars and insanity cents.”
I had a dog growing up and when he broke his leg, it cost my folks three thousand dollars. Animals were costly.
“You have to pick her up today?”
He slid from the stool and wrapped the sheet tighter. “Yeah, if I don’t they are going to likely charge me to board her and I can barely afford the bill as is.” He looked down at himself. “So, I need some clothes and if you’re not cool with a cat here, then I need to go elsewhere.”
I wasn’t a cat person, but I seemed to seriously be a Quill person. “It’s fine, when we get your clothes, we can grab a litter box and some food.”
I was growing to adore his smile. “Oh, I have all that stuff at my apartment if someone can just…”
“No. The next time anyone goes to your place, it will be Ginger. Until then, no one can go there. Lana will get you clothes and I will just ask her to get a few things for her majesty McPurrfect.”
He chuckled. “I’m going to have to add on to her name.”
“Of course you are.”
Our morning consisted of Quill calling Atlas to tell him he was going to be out for a few days. Fortunately, he wasn’t met with anger. Then he called Mel and told her way too much. I explained the less they knew the better, but he explained that Mel knew the situation with Ronnie and should know that Dylan was in town in case he showed up there.
As he told Mel the details, my fingers itched to get a grip on that son of a bitch and the Sterlings. The vibration of my cellphone snapped me out of my rage. Lana was on her way in with clothes and cat things.
I closed the bedroom door to give him privacy and greeted Lana.
“Wow, this place looks like a Christmas wonderland.” Her eyes twinkled as she took in all the décor.
“Yes, I left Quill alone for a few minutes and this happened.”
She shook her head and handed me two bags. “Clothes and shoes.” The third was dropped at her feet. “Cat paraphernalia.”
“Thanks.” I could still hear Quill on the phone in the bedroom. “I have one more favor to ask of you.” Reaching in my back pocket, I handed her my credit card. “Go down to Dr. Mason’s, the veterinarian, pay the bill and bring the kitten here.”
Her eyes widened and I didn’t need to ask her what she was thinking. I wasn’t normally a soft man. Lana had seen me at my worst when Sunshine died and all the years that followed my self-destruction and the rebuild of who I was today. She knew I was beginning to care a whole lot about Quill. Every time I tried to temper it, he’d look at me, say something, or just be, and I couldn’t hold back.
“Okay,” her voice cracked, and if she cried, I was going to have to walk away. I wasn’t answering questions or explaining myself to her or anyone. Something in my gaze must have told her that because she started walking back toward the elevator.
“Hey, did I hear someone?” Quill asked from behind me after Lana left.
“Lana, dropping off clothes and cat things.” Quill raced to the clothes and sighed when he lifted a t-shirt out.
“She gets me,” he said, then headed back to the bedroom to change.
After he was dressed, he began setting up everything for the royal furball and I was just answering Ginger’s text to come up when Quill spoke.
“So, after Ginger leaves, we can get Her Majesty Lady Whiskers McMeowers the Purrfect?”
I stopped mid-step on my way to the elevator. “Seriously with that name?”
“Oh yeah.” The waggle of his eyebrows had me chuckling just as the doors opened and Ginger stepped out.
Ginger had a small smile on his face as he observed Quill and me. “Is this an okay time?”
I worked hard at keeping my personal side apart from my professional and it wasn’t that I didn’t want Ginger to see me happy, I just didn’t want him to see the affect Quill had on me. I righted my expression and waved him over to follow me.
“I told you to come up, did I not? Why would I say something I didn’t mean?” My tone was stern, leaving no room for argument. I wasn’t Ginger’s friend, I was his boss and we killed people for a living.
The slight amusement faded from his pale, freckled face. “Sorry, sir.”
I gestured for him to sit just as Quill came in shaking his head.
“Ahh, there’s the hardass I fell in lust with.” He fanned himself with his hand and dramatically fell into the wingback chair, legs dangled across the arm. “Be still my horny heart.”
Like everyone else, Ginger wasn’t immune to Quill’s snark and bust out laughing. He tried to school his expression several times before being successful.
“If we’re quite done.” I gave Quill a narrowed look, but he just winked at me.
“Sir, I purchased hair dye and Lana said that she sent over a ton of clothes that are Quill’s. We’re close to the same height and build, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”
I desperately wanted to flick his nose, but I refrained. “I’m aware, Ginger, it’s why Leo suggested you’d be perfect for the part.” I rubbed my temples trying to keep the impending thud at bay. “Please tell me working without Jones doesn’t make you stupid?”
“What?” he snapped and immediately slapped his hand over his mouth, and of course, Quill giggled.
“I’ll let that slide,” I said. “Jones and Lee are currently suspended.”
“I’m aware, sir.”
“Are you sure you can work without Jones’ guidance?”
There was a challenge in those eyes of his. “I lived a long time on the streets without him. I don’t need him or anyone.”
That comment sucked out the last of any calm feelings. I was no one’s therapist, so I just moved on. “Quill will dye your hair. He hasn’t been wearing many piercings lately, so we are going to forgo anything like that, fake or otherwise. It’s winter, so covering up will work perfectly from car to apartment building.”
He nodded as I spoke and whatever haunted memory that showed in his eyes was now gone.
“All you have to do is go inside. If they want to get to you, they are going to either call you to leave or try and show up.” I turned to Quill, who was watching us intently. “Have you received any texts or calls on your cell since the bombing?” He shook his head. “Perfect. If anyone calls him, Quill will speak. You two don’t sound alike at all so if he’s contacted, I will call you.”
“Has anyone searched Quill’s phone for whoever may have called him earlier?” Ginger asked.
“Lee is the best, but…”
Quill interrupted my sentence. “He’s too stubborn to call him and ask for help.”
“Stay out of my business, Quill.” I hadn’t spoken to Quill that way since we were at my office, and the flinch he made had me wishing I’d never said anything. I understood Quill was a free spirit of sorts, but I wasn’t. Showing or telling anyone who worked for me my secrets or the depth of my emotions was a huge mistake. I couldn’t afford it.
But, it wasn’t Quill’s fault, so I continued in a softer tone. “We know who planted the bombs, so likely, it was Quill’s brother or the Sterlings.”
Ginger and I went over the game plan while Quill listened, commenting about the alarm system and asking questions about what-if scenarios. After everything was settled, Ginger went with Quill into the bathroom to dye his hair gunmetal gray. Since that was the color he had when he went into Joker’s Sin, it had to be the color Ginger went with now.
I was glad Lana arrived while Ginger and Quill were in the bathroom. The kitten was somewhat pathetic looking. Gray fur, not very shiny, but Lana explained she had a special diet in the bag and antibiotics. Everything was printed out for Quill and I was grateful the cat seemed docile.
“Where did he put the litter box?” Lana asked.
“Master bathroom. But he’s in there with Ginger doing hair.”
Lana rolled her eyes. “Well, he was going to find out you did this for him eventually, so now is that time.” With Lady Majesty puffy pants whatever the hell her name was cradled to her chest, she marched, determined, into the master bathroom.
“What the actual fuck, Lana!” Quill’s voice shouted, followed by him saying, “God dammit, Black, you stubborn mule.”