I Unintentionally Became Her Kitten

Chapter 65: Intent

I stared at my blank phone screen as the Escapade did its too-quiet car things. My stomach still hadn't settled and every turn made it just a little worse.

“What is it, Kitten?” Alisha asked. She was staring out the window, scrutinizing the people as we passed back into her territory. “You didn’t eat much.”

“... I didn't know it was my fault,” I told her

“What was your fault?” she looked over.

“That you lost the North block. And then since you lost the North block Sergei and Nico started acting up so the rats ended up dead and then your mom was sleeping with Nico but Nico’s being an ass, so your mom…” I trailed off. I didn’t want to say, ‘your mom died.’ But it still felt like my fault.

“Kitten,” she beckoned me closer and I scooted across the seat so I could lean against her. “This is a nasty business. None of that is your fault.”

“... but it started because I ran away,” I pointed out.

She shook her head. “This started before you and I ever met. Nico has been a thorn in my side for a while.”

“Then why is he your advisor?” I asked. There were a lot of ‘why’ questions in my brain right now. Some of them I wouldn’t dare ask.

“He was my father’s advisor,” she told me. “He knows how to do his job… even if he doesn’t always do it.”

I relaxed a little as she wrapped an arm around me and ran her fingers through my hair. 

“You’re not responsible for people knowingly doing something they’re not supposed to. That includes Sergei and Nico and Angela, and all of the other rats we will have to take care of when we find them.”

I nodded. “Are you sure, though?”

“Yes, Kitten,” she murmured and kissed the top of my head.

I blushed, embarrassed and then reorganized my thoughts. “Is it a bad question to ask how much money Mr Santos would’ve gotten from my body?”

“Probably,” she said. “But I’ll tell you, if you want to know.”

I nodded.

She inhaled deeply. “When we’re talking about sexual things, a good living body can be auctioned off for almost any amount, as long as the buyer is interested. But this requires a quiet way to transport a person across international waters, and to keep them from hurting themself and any number of potential complications both legal and medical. More often someone like Mr Santos is going to be looking for someone to prostitute locally, which will be a steady supply of income; anywhere from fifty bucks to a thousand or so a day. Or he’ll be looking to sell the body in pieces, which can bring in a couple hundred thousand dollars as long as there are people willing to buy. But finding buyers can be ridiculously difficult… some organs can be taken without killing a person, so they can extend the window of opportunity, but…” she shuddered. “Keeping a person alive is expensive so they try to break people down as fast as possible.”

To make Alisha make that sickened face, it had to be pretty bad. I would never ask, but I wondered if she had seen someone get broken down as she described.

“That's messed up,” I agreed with her. 

She sighed. “What isn't?”

I wished I could forget that entire conversation with Mr Santos. I didn't like anybody that thought chopping up a human body to sell for parts was a good investment.

Alisha continued stroking my hair, and it did help, but we arrived at the bodega too soon and we had to separate ourselves.

I followed the two of them, feeling a little more disgusted than usual about having to come here and I didn't imagine that would change.

The basement always stunk. At least today the meeting would be brief.

Sergei was happy to see her, he even gave her a smile that wasn't creepy and/or sexual. 

“Is it good news?” he asked.

Alisha stared him down, carefully folding her arms. “Yes. We have the North block again. The Santos family will officially be out of there at midnight,” she told him. “Do not send anyone in there before then, but you have my permission to chase anyone off after that, do you understand?”

Sergei grinned. “Good,” he said chillingly.

Alisha let him soak in his pleasure for a moment before continuing. “For one reason or another, it's likely Tyrone will be doing the collection rounds in this area for a while. I expect you to treat him like you would me.”

“Tyrone?” Sergei asked. “Your enforcer? Are you making him your underboss?” There was concern in Sergei's voice over this.

“We haven't determined yet,” Alisha told him. Which was a lie. “But I'm going to be preoccupied in other areas so he'll be taking on the rounds duty.”

“I see… You're finally getting rid of Nico then?” he asked.

Alisha scowled.

“It's no secret you and him have been butting heads. I'll be sad to see him gone, he did a good job of keeping you in line but I know business is business. You can't be without an advisor and underboss at the same time.” He shrugged off the fact Nico was about to die without much thought.

“I'd be careful about which opinions you divulge with me,” Alisha warned him. “I'm going to be replacing captains anyway; one more won't be that much of a hassle.”

“Yes, yes, scary Alisha,” Sergei dismissed. “Why don’t you sit down and have a drink?” He beckoned to one of his guards who picked a bottle of clear alcohol up and started to carry it over.

“Sergei…” Alisha sighed. “One of these days I am going to throw you off the highest roof I can find and I don't think anyone will be surprised.” She said this, but there was no hostility in it for once.

“Yes, I am aware.” Sergei started to offer her a drink but she put her hand up so he stopped and continued, “but between now and then, you've gotten me the North block back which means good money and good money buys good drink and good drugs and even some good girls– all willing and paid, I promise you,” he finished quickly at her skeptical look. “I’m aware of what you do to people that try to sneak that under your radar.” There was an unpleasant shift of his legs when he said this. “Very aware.”

“Watch your neck, Sergei,” Alisha said finally. “You'll choke on your own ego one of these days.”

She then turned and gently pulled me alongside as we left. Sergei grinned more as we did so, sending an unpleasant shiver down my spine.

Once we were in the clean open air I commented, “he's in an uncomfortably good mood today.”

“I said it before, as long as he's pacified he does a good job.” She brushed some invisible dirt off her front, like that would help at all.

“Still…”

Her driver opened my door for me and I found myself reflexively thanking him. I should ask his name one of these days. He was just so quiet, very much there to do a job and get that job done without much, if any, chatter. But if he was Alisha's third choice he must have some history of building trust. Still, he was quite young, probably just getting out of teendom. (Not that I could be talking much in that department.)

We got settled in the Escapade again, and I let myself lean against Alisha.

“So… Nico…” I started. “He’s getting put down today?” I asked.

“Yes,” Alisha agreed. “You can stay in the car, if you want.”

I shook my head. “If you do it in that office place or whatever I’ll just wait in the lobby or something. I imagine that's a bit safer, right?”

“You… might still hear things, Kitten,” Alisha told me.

I nodded. “I know.” My hands clenched. “But this is something I need to get used to.”

“Used to?” she echoed, and then sat forward to give me quite a concerned look. “Are you intentionally trying to traumatize yourself?”

“No…” I said but thought about it a second longer. “Maybe. I want to be able to be there for you… no matter what. And I won’t always have the option to just stay home and look pretty, you know…”

“Kitten…” she reached over to pet my hair. “It doesn’t just go away– the bad stuff. It gets easier to address and handle, but it doesn’t feel better. You shouldn’t torture yourself with it for my sake.”

“It’s not just that though… you don’t have anyone to talk to about things. I know Tye is the closest thing you have to a friend but even he has certain limitations. I can’t expect to understand anything if I don’t have some experience with it myself.”

She sighed. “Your sweetness is going to make you sick.”

“I know… but I want to be strong.”

She finally settled back against the seat. “I won’t force you to do anything. Not even stay home to keep you safe. But I won’t let you actively participate in this. That’s where I’m drawing the line, do you understand?”

I nodded. “I don’t want that either,” I reassured her.

“And should anyone ever put you in a position where that becomes necessary, you know I will drag them to hell myself, right?”

I nodded again. “I trust you,” I told her. “You do keep me safe and that's a lot more than a lot of people have bothered with.”

“Mm. And you care about my mental health which is more than most people would even think about,” she resonated. She finally pulled me close, as we always ended up when the situation permitted, and stroked my hair some more. 

I once again wished I could purr, because she was very sweet and the gentle tugging against my scalp felt a little possessive. I was learning I definitely liked being hers.