I Unintentionally Became Her Kitten

Chapter 83: A New Page

Alisha put the knife in a safe that was hidden under some of the carpet in her closet.

This was also, I noted, where both of our personal documents were as well as an old style gun with notches in the grip I could only assume weren't there just for show.

We got ready for sleep, the routine falling into a familiar rhythm. I was grateful to finally crawl onto the giant bed and sink into the plushness and the soft sheets and comforter. She was soon to follow behind me, still fixing her hair a bit before curling up in our usual sleeping position, her arm draped around my waist protectively.

I felt settled in and even fell asleep easily just to wake up shortly after drenched in cold sweat and heart pounding.

This was turning into the norm every night. I started to pull away from Alisha but her grip tightened and my back was pressed flush against her front.

“Alisha,” I said quietly, hoping not to wake her up fully and just to get free. Her arm tightened a little more.

“I like Kippen,” she mumbled and her face buried against the back of my neck. The warmth of her breath blew across my skin.

“Are you awake?” I asked.

She nodded gently.

I reached to hold her hand a bit, reassuringly. “I am, too,” I told her.

She was quiet and only rubbed her face into me a little more.

“I'm a bit disturbed,” I told her.

Her breathing was still slow and even, then she inhaled deeper. “I'd be worried if you weren’t,” she said.

“I guess… it's just… I mean Nico was a bad dude but the way– the knife in his eye socket, you know.”

She shifted to soothe my hair back and kissed the back of my neck.

“I know. It's messed up.”

I was quiet for a long moment. “Will it always be like this?” I asked.

“Violent? Probably.” She soothed my hair back again. “As long as I can remember, people were murdered and tortured and brutally dismembered.”

I nodded. “Does it have to be?”

She didn't answer right away, letting the quiet stretch on for quite a while. “I was taught it was necessary. But I just don't know anymore. It's not like I need to threaten Tye and Matteo for them to do what's needed.”

“But you can't exactly fire someone either,” I continued. “And that's the real problem, huh?” I gave up on sleep and instead pulled free of her to sit up.

She let me go, a bit hesitantly as she let her arm trail across me as I got up. A while later she sat up as well, watching me.

“Can you get by with less violence?” I asked softly.

Her face was complicated. There was both hope and fear there as she let the idea process. “This life is kill or be killed. I don't think there's any way around that.”

“I know when it comes down to it…” I agreed. “But maybe there should be some steps you take before then. To correct behaviour more directly before murder and maiming and torture becomes necessary.”

“Are you suggesting I put together a performance improvement plan for rats?” She asked, a level of cynical skepticism I'd never heard in her voice before.

“Well… I guess so.” I didn't know what a performance improvement plan meant but her distrust of it was enough to know it probably wouldn't do much.

She stared at her hands for a while. “I’ll try.”

“I won't blame you if it doesn't work,” I told her. “I know this life was never your choice.”

She reached over and pulled me closer, burying her face in my hair and closing her eyes.

“I don't want it to be yours either,” she murmured.

“I know. I'll be okay, though.” I waited for her to get more settled before starting to lay down again.

We cuddled again, her pulling me tight. I let myself fall asleep, even knowing it was going to be fleeting.

When morning came, we got up together. I was very relieved that our usual routine seemed to resume like we had never left this house. It made things feel more normal, even if there was a taint to everything.

I pointed that gun at Nico, and prepared myself to fire it. The desperation I felt in that moment was still lingering. I just wanted Alisha safe and happy, even at the cost of another person's life.

But Nico wasn’t a good person, as I kept reminding myself. I didn’t like that I had even threatened him but he wouldn’t have hesitated, and probably wouldn’t feel any remorse even if he had done horrible things to me.

I welcomed coffee, and sitting at Alisha’s dining table as she set up a new phone. We didn’t have too long before I heard the front door open and looked over, alert.

“It’s Tye,” Alisha informed me, without looking up.

I did my best to relax and settle back down, though I still felt on edge. It was indeed Tye that came into the room a moment later and pulled a chair out to sit and stare intently through the glass of the table for a long moment as Alisha finished something on her new phone.

She finally put it aside and addressed him. “How was Sergei?” she asked.

“He was quiet,” Tye informed. “Behaving despite your absence.”

“Hm… he’s the one I’d think we’d have to dispose of before anyone else,” she commented.

I opened my mouth to speak and then stopped myself, though Alisha waited expectantly.

“What is it, Kitten?” she asked.

I tried to hide the fear I felt over asking such a dumb question. “Didn’t you pardon Nico’s rats?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yes, but information is important. I should still keep an eye on them even if they don’t get exterminated.”

“I see,” I followed.

Alisha turned back to Tye. “Do you have someone in mind to replace yourself as Kit’s guard?”

Tye hesitated. “Yes but…”

Alisha waited patiently as he put his words together carefully.

“I know she's not the most experienced but she's probably the most trustworthy.”

Alisha scowled. “Lili?” she asked.

Tye nodded. “Lili,” he agreed.

“Is she really suited for a posted guard position?” Alisha sat back and folded her arms.

“Who is…?” I asked.

“Matteo’s sister,” Tye explained. “Liliana. She goes by Lili.” He then looked at Alisha. “She'll be squirrelly but she's the most trustworthy person I have, and since Matteo will spend most of his time with you, Kit needs someone dedicated to watching her. This also means if there's a problem we can have Matteo sit her down and have a heart to heart. She'll listen to him if no one else.”

Alisha still hesitated. “Fine. But if there's any problems she's not getting special treatment. I don't care if Matteo hates me.”

Tye was not convinced of that last bit but agreed anyway. “I'll let her know then.” He sent a message on his phone before continuing. “I'm assuming you want to see Jess personally about Nico’s phone.”

“Mm,” Alisha agreed. “I would prefer that. I'm glad she didn't get sucked into the drama.”

They discussed who was who in the underworld. A lot of it was stuff like, ‘Joseph seemed displeased about your disappearance’ and ‘Luka stuck to Nico’s side like glue.’ Alisha didn’t make any threats against anybody but she certainly was making a mental list of who needed to be watched and who could probably be trusted on their own. I continued to sip coffee and wondered about groceries, letting them handle their business things I couldn’t really comment on.

The front door opened again and Tye stood.

“Is that Lili?” Alisha asked. She set her coffee mug down.

“And Matteo,” Tye confirmed. The siblings came down the hall and into the room, Matteo hulking as usual. I expected Lili to take more after her brother but she was much smaller. Still tall, but with a figure that was arguably very attractive in a curvier way than Alisha’s. Her waist was very narrow while her chest and butt were well fleshed. Her skin was also very dark. Matteo was definitely brown but Lili was even darker, her skin color approaching an ebony.

This did make me a little uneasy, only because she came from a culture I didn’t fully understand.

Alisha’s dining room was getting crowded, not because it was too small but because I had never seen this many people in it at one time.

“Kit, this is Lili,” Alisha explained. Her gaze pierced the girl with ferocity.

Lili didn’t budge though and held her hand out to me.

I took it, hesitating as my brain scrambled.

“K-kit,” I managed to introduce myself.

“Lili,” Alisha began, keeping her fixed in that intimidating gaze. “You understand the importance of your task, correct?”

Lili released my hand, and gave her a stoic nod. “Her safety is my priority,” she agreed. “Above all else.”

Alisha nodded. “In light of recent events, this won’t be an easy task. There will be people who take interest in harming her.”

I suppressed the urge to swallow fearfully. I hadn’t thought about my safety after the Nico problem. Since I had shown my face and even pointed a gun at Nico, I was an enemy to his underlings, whoever they ended up being.

Lili agreed with Alisha, and then Alisha gathered up her things and looked at me. “Let me know if there’s any trouble Kit, okay? Your safety is my biggest priority.”

I felt a bit of heat from embarrassment at that. She was getting more comfortable fawning over me in front of others. People would talk.

She, Tye and Matteo all left, leaving me alone with Lili, who promptly sighed once the door was closed and pulled a chair out to slouch onto.

I avoided eye contact as she did so, but her gaze was tangible against me anyway.

“You're the one that got into Alisha’s pants?” Lili asked skeptically.

I couldn't stop myself. “It wasn't like that,” I protested. The regret was immediate and I shut my mouth before anything else came out.

Still, Lili rolled her eyes and took her phone out. “Whatever. Just scream if someone tries to break in, ‘kay?”

I didn’t wait long before going up to the bedroom to curl up on the bed, debating things.

This was such a different person than I thought. I should tell Alisha this…

But did that put Lili at risk?

So far I didn’t think Lili was a bad person, just maybe… immature.

Yes, that was the word. And I couldn’t fully blame her, she looked like she could still be in high school.

Why had Tye chosen her to accompany me? Surely there were better choices… Maybe he thought a woman would be easier for me to adjust to. It wasn’t like I had trusted Tye at first either, and I was getting more comfortable with Matteo, even if his demeanor would always make me uneasy.

I heard television from downstairs, playing loud enough that the glass rattled a little.  Lili was far from an ideal guard.