Her Cat is a Mafia Boss

- 3 -

A couple of weeks passed since the disturbing phone call from her landlord. The man huffed and stuttered so much Alex could barely understand what he wanted to say. In the end she had to summarize what she understood, and he confirmed. Alex was shocked, but decided not to tempt the fate, and did not ask what brought the sudden changes. Instead she went out and bought different tuna brands for Leo and a bottle of wine for herself to celebrate.

Leo's paw healed completely, which made him almost restless. He 'insisted' that Alex would always leave the small kitchen window open for him, which he did by sitting next to it and meowing or scratching the glass and meowing, or sometimes simply throwing angry looks at from Alex to the window and vice versa. As soon as she started leaving the window open, his mood changed. He was once again the sweet fluffy kitty that she picked up on a snowy day.

At first his disappearances scared her. She was worried that he wouldn't come back or he would get hurt, but with time he proved to be a loyal companion. The longest Leo has ever been away was three days. Alex was so stressed, she called her friends and hanged MISSING CAT posters. When he finally showed up in the kitchen, with a suspiciously smug face, Alex couldn't help but scold him and threaten to neuter him if he ever does it again. The cat was untouched by her threats. He sat casually on the kitchen table cleaning his paw, while she paced back and forth fuming like a kettle.

Leo yawned, making Alex freeze and stare at him. She groaned loudly and wrapped her arms around him, snuggling his fluffy body. Leo gently clawed her chest while staring into her eyes. She laughed. "Pervert," she kissed his pink nose and let him go. Leo didn't touch the plate with tuna offered to him and made his way to the bedroom. He hopped on her pillow and circled around trying to make it cushier. Alex watched him smuggled to her pillow and close his eyes. It made her smile. She planted a soft kiss between his ears and went to the kitchen, leaving him to rest.

***

The sound of doorbell caught her off guard. "I'm coming!" she yelled, quickly wiping her hands on the kitchen towel. The bell rang again. She swung the door open and froze. "Oh my god, no way!" Alex screamed throwing her arms around the person at the door.

"Easy girl," said a deep pleasant voice. "Have you gained a couple of kilos since we've last seen each other?"

Alex laughed and punched his arm. "You know the answer to that question."

He carried her into the flat and kicked the door shut.

"Good to finally see you live," he kissed her forehead and sat let her go. "I've missed you."

"I missed you too. How was Italy?" she questioned offering him a seat.

"Amazing. I told you, you should have come with me," he responded. A smile spread on his unshaved face.

"You know I have to study; this is final..." Alex responded apologetically.

"I know. That's why as soon as you give in your dissertation, I will be taking you away...how does Thailand sound to you?"

"Hot, but amazing." She laughed.

They sat in silence looking at each other. "Are you hungry?"

"I could eat." He looked inside the fridge. "How much tuna do you eat?" he whistled wide eyed.

"That's not mine. It's for my cat." He replied. "I can put together...hmmm a carbonara? How does that sound to you?"

"Good, but not edible." He laughed.

"Really now, I might just get offended Johnny." She laughed back.

He raised his hands in defeat. "How about we eat out tonight?" he smirked. "Just you and I and a bottle of chardonnay."

"I've stopped eating wine for dinner when I woke in the middle of the night to a loud snoring, completely black out the last night's events, thinking I was in bed with some guy I didn't know."

"But you were in bed with a guy..." he started, but she hushed him.

"But I know you."

Johnny ran his hand through his messy black hair. "My little girl is all grown up now."

"I've been grown up for four years now old man."

"Old man?" he gasped in fake shock.

"Yeah, what are you like...fifty?" she played along.

"RUDE!"

They looked at each other and burst out laughing. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Alex returned his embrace and closed her eyes. The warmth of his large body was nurturing.

"Come on princess, let's go." He patted her head like a child and handed her the jacket. "It's cold out there, wrap up."

Alex nodded and grabbed her purse.

She threw one last glance around the kitchen, making sure the window is open for Leo and rushed after Johnny.

The door shut with a loud thud. The key turned twice, and footsteps echoed down the stairs. Everything went silent. A shadow slipped through the open window. Leo landed on the table and listening to the silence. His whiskers moved vigorously as he inhaled the scent of an unknown male in the flat. Leo hissed angrily and tensed. The cat form was replaced by human. The guy clicked his neck. His eyes shone in the darkness. He made his way out of the flat and followed the familiar scent.