Claiming Their Cat by Maggie O'Malley

light off because she didn’t want to meet the man on the street someday. But wow, was he good in bed. He made her feel…all woman. She’d forgotten how many times he’d pleasured her; so many times, she almost made a mistake. Because she was so sated, she’d nearly overslept. The sun’s long rays were creeping in the window when she’d rolled from the bed, dressed quickly, and slipped from the room.
    “I don’t know,” she finally answered. Admitting anything about that night was hard.
    “Okay. Do you want to know the sex of your baby?”
    She shook her head. No, she didn’t because she was so afraid that she’d either lose it or have to…kill him or her. She would not let Alvarez kill her baby. With his sick twisted mind, he’d probably make an example with Cat2.
    The doc pulled a picture from the machine and handed it to her. “There’s your baby’s first picture.”
    She stared at the picture thinking Cat2 was indeed an alien. Her lip quivered. This could be the only picture of her baby if she didn’t figure something out fast.
    The doc put away the wand and wiped off her belly. “ I’m going to do an internal exam. It will be a little uncomfortable.”
    Cat braced herself and winced a couple of times during the examination.
    “Everything feels fine . You can continue to have sex.”
    Her face heated. “I’m not having sex.” Ever again. Did the doctor think she and Rio were involved? That would never happen. He scared the shit out of her. Besides, no man would be interested in a pregnant cow.
    “Now , let me see your feet.” After a few seconds, the doc said, “These blisters look worse that the stitches.”
    “They hurt worse too.”
    “I bet . How about that scrape on your inner thigh?”
    Cat flushed. “Your window.”
    Lucy nodded absently. “I’ll give you some antibiotics that should take care of everything. I need to draw some blood and then we’ll be done. I know you don’t know Rio, and he can be kinda scary, but he’s really a puppy dog on the inside.”
    “Kinda? He’s the scariest man I’ve ever met besides…” She was going to say Alvarez, but the good doc didn’t need to know. The puppy dog reference was the most ridiculous thing she’d heard all day. Full-blooded pit bull was more like it.
    “He said he would take care of you and your baby, and Rio always does what he says. You can trust him.”
    “I don’t…can’t trust anyone.” Especially Rabid Rio .
    Lucy tied off Cat’s arm. “You have to trust someone. Your baby’s due soon. You can’t have him or her born in some back alley or a dumpster. I can get you into a women’s shelter.”
    “No. An organization is the last place I can go.” Records. She couldn’t go anywhere there was record keeping. She was sure every woman’s shelter in three states was staked out.
    The doc lifted an inquisitive brow. “Do you have any parents? Relatives?”
    “No, I have no one.” Her heart clinched in pain. She’d never go near anyone she knew especially her parents, and she prayed Alvarez w ouldn’t find them. She’d been so careful, claiming she had no parents or siblings. Since that day she’d walked out of her parent’s house fourteen months ago, she hadn’t called or written . The only reason she’d told Alvarez her middle name was so that maybe one day, if something happened to her, someone could piece it together and let her parents know.
    The doctor cleaned her arm with an alcohol wipe. “Then if roaming the streets and the women ’s shelter is not an option, I think that leaves Rio.”
    She felt a little stick and watched the red blood pool into vial. Rio must be her punishment for choosing to use a baby to reach her goal. Lord knows she deserved it. Rio would be her choice—for now, but somehow, she’d figure out a better option for her and her baby.
    “I’ll go with Rio, but I need you to do something for me.”
    “Anything.”
    “I need to write a letter—to someone, and if you find