Chapter 1
Rain trickled down the windows, you predicted which raindrop would reach the end faster as if they were cars racing around a track. Usually this type of weather would attract customers or random people hoping to find somewhere dry but it was quiet not that you minded it just meant more silence filled the shop, fitting into the every small space it could find.
The owner of the bookshop had hired you a year ago, they were nice although they only hired you thinking a younger face would encourage new customers. The fortunate opportunity was that your apartment was only a few streets away so you never had to worry about a long trek home. Being passionate about books tends to help with the job and you always had a quick recommendation for any specific desire.
You ran your finger across the bookshelves, looking for any dust lingering and restocked the popular classics. You wondered what your cat was doing at this moment, you left in the morning as she slept on the pillow next to your head, never moving despite the morning noise; she’s probably still in that same position, lazy cat.
Hearing the bell of an opening door, you held a smile of great customer service and returned to the front desk, briefly catching the broad figure of the customer as they disappeared into the high shelves. Their heavy footsteps sounded louder in the silence so you began to hum to break the cycle. Eventually the footsteps stopped and then books began to slide out of their place and were inspected before another took its place until a head popped out from the end of the row, a head of styled black hair appears. His face looked frightening but you were more surprised than anything.
“ Hi, I’ve got a question, do you guys have any books that you need to read before you die ?”
Moving from behind the counter, you move towards him pondering what answer to give.
“ Well that depends, I’m not going to force you to read anything, what genre do you lean more towards ?”
He looks bewildered and his eyes shifted to the other books beside him. You lead him to other shelves and he follows obediently, the gears in your mind wait patiently for his answer as if the entire machine has been put on halt.
“ Um, anything to keep my mind occupied, I read Moby Dick awhile ago and wanted to find something similar or better.”
Tapping your finger against your chin in consideration, you pulled a book and presented it to him.
“ The Great Gatsby, perfectly describes the luxury of the 1920’s whilst critiquing the capitalist society and the effects onto the working class.”
He takes the books and inspects it, flipping to the back before looking back up to you with a small smile.
“ Thanks ma’am, I’m sure it must be good if you can describe it in detail.”
You both began to walk to the register as you scan it and tell him the price, he easily plucks money from his wallet and gives it to you.
“ Hopefully you enjoy it, I’ll always be happy to give another recommendation if you come back.”
He laughs and turns to walk away but stopping and looking back at you over his shoulder.
“ I’ll hold you to that”
You wave goodbye and settle on the stool at the register, the feeling in your chest was hard to describe despite the many times an author has explained it in clear words. Maybe it was the joy of sharing your passion, maybe it was the anticipation to see the brooding stranger again.
A week later the stranger came back with only words of small praise from his mouth, he enjoyed the story but wished the ending was more satisfactory but as you replied,
“ Not every powerful man gets the ending he can control “
When you said that you noticed a twitch in his face, a drop of his grin before it returned with more strain in his expression and you gave him another book.
You later learned his name, Pete Castiglione.
Pete would return to the bookshop every few weeks, more often than not he wouldn’t buy a book he’d just talk with you for as long as he could before another customer would walk in to which he’d say his goodbyes and a promise to see you soon. You felt like you knew everything yet nothing about the man almost like he had notoriety for the wrong reasons but you wouldn’t question it, if he didn’t talk about it there was no reason for you to go digging.
“ So are you a cat or a dog kind of guy ?”
“ Definitely a dog guy, never been around cats long enough to like them”
Shocked, you almost drop the book you were putting away but Pete caught it in time, his fingers grazing yours gently before pulling away quickly.
“ Oh, Pete, your missing out big time with cats; they’re like the best pet ever. My cat can be a pain sometimes but when she brush’s up against my leg after coming home.. it’s too cute.”
Your large smile makes Pete laugh before he leans against a book case.
“ What’s the cats name then ?”
“ Duchess, I’ll have to send you pictures of her when I get home.”
You might have been subtly trying to get Pete’s number. He understood what you were asking and looked blankly.
“ I don’t know if that’s a good idea, you know, being able to contact me. “
Shit, you felt embarrassed but just rubbed the back of your neck.
“ Hah, yeah that’s fine don’t worry about it.”
He held a look of sympathy as if you was a child who’d scrapped their knee on the street. When you looked back at him, trying to think of a joke to ease the mood, you saw his phone in front of you and now he looked embarrassed although it was hard to tell.
You put your number in and smiled, Pete seemed to smile as well. Later that night you positioned Duchess so that she was in her perfect pose and took a picture, well a few, more so for yourself.
Pete responded later with a casual, Nice Cat but you didn’t expect a paragraph of Shakespeare from a man like Pete.
One night you walked up to your apartment to find the door had been forced open, the wood of the door had splintered in places and you rushed in to find your apartment in destruction. Glasses and plates had been taken from your cabinets and smashed onto the floor and the TV was smashed and lying on its back. At that moment you couldn’t care about the mess, you called out for Duchess, you overturned the entire apartment looking for her pleading for her to come out; promising her anything just so that you could hear her cry but it was quiet and you sobbed. Your cat was missing, you couldn’t bear to think about any other fate she had met.
There should have been no reason for this to happen, you lived in a quiet area with minimal crime, you’d never interacted with gangs or dangerous people. You worked in a bookshop.
You thumbled for your phone, hands shaking as you called for the only person who could help, Pete.
Within twenty minutes you saw a heavy breathing Pete barge into the apartment and stop in the door way, he scanned the rooms, looking at the chaos before meeting with your gentle eyes in the midst of it. Seeing your redden eyes and streaming tears, he walked over and picked you up bridal style; your head was buried into his chest before he sat down on sofa minus the pillows which had been ripped apart.
He let you cry for some time, his rough hand cradling the back of your head and wiping your tears every so often. You didn’t care about the damage or the eventually costs to replace everything, you just wanted your cat back. Seeing the cat fur embedded into the carpet made you sob even harder before later on you calmed down enough to cough out some words.
“ I don’t know what I’ve done wrong Pete, I always tried to be good and look where it got me. Duchess is gone and I don’t know if she’s dead or missing.”
“ Hey, this wasn’t your fault, I don’t know why this has happened but I promise you I will be here for you, no one should ever take advantage of your goodness. If I have to, I’ll fuckin’ break every door down to find your cat, got it ?”
His promise made you smile with a trembling lip before you wrapped your arms around his neck bringing him closer to you.
“ Thank you, Pete.”
He didn’t move, didn’t make a noise of acknowledgement before opening up.
“ It’s Frank actually.”
“ I won’t ask why but thank you… Frank.”
“ Come on, you can stay at my place cause you can’t sleep in this shithole.”
He begins to stand up and you untangle yourself from his arms.
“You don’t have to Pe-Frank, I can spend the night at a hotel or something.”
He raised his eyebrow at you but your resolve quickly dissolved and held tightly onto Frank’s arm before making your way to his apartment, it wasn’t much and very devoid of personal items, other than the stacks of books he bought from you, but that didn’t matter you just needed to have someone keeping you safe.
The night was a blur but you distinctly remember the warmth of sleeping onto of Frank’s chest, the comfort it brung helped sleep and you felt the small kisses Frank left on the top of your head.
In the morning, Frank wasn’t there only a cold space but there was a message on your phone saying he’d left for work which you had no clue as to what it was he did. You replied, saying you were going to look for Duchess there was chance she’d ran out the door when whoever broke in; she’d done it before when she was younger.
You’d called your boss to tell her the news, you couldn’t work even if you tried, when you explained the break in she paused and gasped but not because of the damage but you mentioned that multiple people could of been apart of this and she seemed to stutter a response of sympathy and that she would be fine on her own, she sounded worried, not for you but for herself.
Leaving Frank’s apartment, you went to every location Duchess could be; any fish monger, a Pet shop or the parks. You had a bag of cats treats in your hand shaking it where ever you might think she’d hide. Unfortunately you’d hear a meow and perk up only to see a stray cat but you still gave the treats to them although it only helped to crush your hope.
You’d ask anyone who pass but you never got the answer you hoped for. Frank did call at lunchtime to see how you were doing only to distantly swear across the phone when he heard your sigh of defeat.
“ If I could, I’d leave work right now to help you but my boss is a dick and doesn’t let you leave mid-way but the minute I’m done I’ll come straight to you so just stay in the park and I’ll find you”
“ Ok, I’ll see you later Frank”
“ See yah later, baby”
After the call ended, it took you a minute to register what he’d called you. It left you shocked but almost excited to see him soon. Frank was a good man, you didn’t care about his unspoken past because he’s clearly moving past it and making better choices you just needed to focus on the broad chest, dark-haired and caring man.
Once the evening had come, Frank texted you to say he was on his way, the park was more empty now with all the children being taken home after playing all day on the playground. The metal of the bench you were sat on had become colder, it made your bottom half near enough numb. You were lost in your thoughts when a voice called out to you, thinking it was Frank.
It wasn’t.
An older guy approached you, his hands stuffed into his pockets, his eyes skittish. You were cautious and looked up to him.
“ Are you the lady who’s been lookin’ for a cat ?”
“ I can imagine a lot of people are in a city this big.”
You didn’t trust him, you just had to keep waiting for Frank but the guy kept talking.
“ Yeah, it’s got like white fur, it ain’t a short -hair cat either and the collar around its neck says, Duchess.”
Abruptly standing up, you grabbed the front of the guy jacket and dragged him forward, you were at you breaking point and could only resort to action.
“ Where is she, you bastard, I swear if she’s hurt I’ll fucking kill you.”
“Woah hold on lady, you got the wrong idea, I just saw her. She’s trapped under a gate seems she was trying to crawl under it and got stuck.”
Releasing him, you still held your guard up but couldn’t miss the opportunity to find Duchess, if he was lying you’d just have to knock him down quickly, he wasn’t exactly a strong guy.
“ Show me”
Scoffing, the guy made you follow him for some time and your patience was thinning as he made casual conversation. Whilst he was distracted you texted Frank about the situation but didn’t see his reply before the guy announced your arrival.
Down a dark alley, you could see the outline of a gate that was in the middle of the alleyway, you pushed past the guy to run towards it, you wished for Duchess to be there and to meow loudly once she saw you but there was nothing there.
Before you could turn around to confront the guy, you felt a sharp thud hit the back of your head and could only feel the rough sensation of the ground dragging against your back as you were pulled by your feet towards a van, you could barely see as the corner of your vision grew darker.