Page 19 of Born into Blood

She laughs and says, “I need to stop at the store and get myself a carton of ice cream and his favorite yogurt popsicles.”

“See?” I tell her. “Best mom ever.”

We’re both still smiling when we head downstairs. The club is even more packed now that it’s after ten, and I wonder how many aspirin Marco takes on a nightly basis to not get a raging headache from the loud, pulsing music.

“Night,” I tell him on my way past him.

“Night,” he tells us both before stepping back in front of the stairs to resume his post while keeping an eye on the growing crowd.

“There’s no game scheduled for tomorrow,” Gabby says, “but they’ll call us if that changes. Otherwise, I’ll see you next weekend.”

“Have fun with Ollie.”

She smiles and disappears into the crowd so she can exit out the front of the building while I turn and step into the dark hallway that will lead me to the back door. Dominic’s door is shut like usual, and there’s no one else around except for the bouncer blocking the exit. When he sees me, he steps aside so I can leave. I get the feeling he’d prefer it if I didn’t attempt smalltalk, so I step out the door with nothing more than a quiet thanks.

The door slams shut behind me, leaving me alone in a creepy alley with nothing but a single overhead light that’s attached to the club. Without it, the alley would be hidden in shadows. I should really start coming in the front door, but I hate having to push my way to the front of the line. I’d done it once and swore I’d never do it again. All the gorgeous women in tiny dresses and long heels that I’d break my neck in had glared at me while I’d scooted by. They’d been kind enough to comment quite loudly about why the hell I thought I should get special treatment when they were stuck waiting in line for an hour. Then they’d laughed, and I’d wanted to crawl into a dark hole and never come out again.

The alley’s not all that bad. It might be creepy as hell, but at least it’s private and I don’t have mean girls judging me.

I’m about to step into the shadows in the direction of the world’s best bacon double cheeseburger when I hear a sound that stops me in my tracks. Freezing in place, I wait and listen. Above the muted thumping of the club’s music, I hear it again—a soft, pitiful-sounding meow. Turning, I squat down near the bushes next to me, trying to find where the meows are coming from.

“Come here, kitty,” I whisper, trying to lure him out.

He gives one more hopeful meow before slowly stepping out into the light. He’s the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen. All black with white paws and a tiny white speck on his nose, he cautiously takes a step towards me before stopping and letting out another meow. He’s so little, not more than a little pipsqueak of a thing, and I instantly fall in love with him.

“Hey, Pip,” I tell him, holding my hand out and then petting his soft fur when he comes a bit closer. “You are the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

He’s purring and rubbing up against my hand when I hear the loud rumble of a motorcycle behind me. Without thinking, I grab Pip, pulling him against my chest and turning to face whoever’s just ridden into the alley. The little kitten’s warm body molds to mine, so small I can easily cup him in my hands.

Stepping closer to the bush Pip had been hiding in, I watch the black motorcycle come closer. The driver is wearing a black helmet, and the visor is dark so I can’t see his face. What I do see is a set of broad shoulders coming my way, and when he stops next to me, I recognize the tattooed forearms immediately. Luka cuts the engine and pulls off his helmet.

His green eyes land on mine, and he doesn’t look away. With a soft smile playing at his gorgeous mouth, he says, “I didn’t expect to find you hanging out in the alley, Lara. What are you doing?”

I stare at him, stunned he actually remembers my name.

He runs his eyes over me, stopping when Pip’s furry head peeks out from between my hands.

“Well, what do we have here?” he whispers, smiling down at the little meowing kitten. Reaching out, he strokes Pip’s head while my breath catches in my throat. His fingers are dangerously close to my breasts, and when I lift my eyes to his, he’s staring at me so intently that I have to look away.

Giving Pip one last pet, he lets his hand drop, putting distance between us and making me wish he hadn’t.

“Did you find him out here?”

I point to the bush next to us. “He was hiding under there. I heard him meowing.”

“You’re keeping him, yeah?”

I look back at him. His dark brow is arched, green eyes filled with amusement because he knows as well as I do that it was a done deal as soon as I saw his cute little face.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“Well, okay then.” He says it like a plan is already in motion, and when he reaches back and grabs the extra helmet that’s strapped to the bike, it takes my brain a second to catch up to what’s happening.

“No,” I quickly say, taking a small step back.

“Why not?”

I can’t tell if he’s joking, but I laugh anyway because he’s out of his mind if he thinks I’m hiking my leg over his massive motorcycle and riding off into the night while holding a kitten.

---