The Assassin's Silence: Wren and Trace

Chapter 4: Cat or Cupid

Wren

Ainsley and I searched around the building for a while but didn’t find Jinxy anywhere. Disheartened, Ainsley takes my hand and silently cries as we walk back into the building.

As we’re approaching the elevator, Mrs. Goldfield rushes out of her office, her face lit up with glee, “Good news, ladies. I think we found your little friend.”

Relief rushes through me, “Where is she?”

Mrs. Goldfield hands me a post-it, “The tenant in the penthouse suite just texted and told me that he saw a chubby black and white cat hanging outside his window. He was worried she’d fall, so he let her in, but now she’s hiding beneath his couch and refuses to come out. I was going to get her before you walked in.”

Ainsley pulls at my arm and cries out, “It’s Jinxy! We have to go get her mom. You know she won’t come out of hiding unless I get her.”

I look at Mrs. Goldfield, “Ainsley is right; Mrs. G. Jinxy won’t come out until she sees Ainsley, so we’ll just go and get her.”

Mrs. Goldfield opens her lips to respond, but I’m not listening as Ainsley pulls me into the elevator.

Ainsley vibrates with excitement as the elevator rises to the penthouse.

Once the doors open, Ainsley runs to the front door, rings the doorbell and pounds on it.

“Stop, Ainsley,” I grab her wrist and gently push her back, “You’re being rude.”

Ainsley nods her head, her legs shuffling as she impatiently waits for the door to open. A second later, the door opens, revealing the gorgeous man from the elevator. My mouth goes dry, and my eyes widen as I run my gaze appraisingly across his naked chest. The man is a tapestry of muscle and tattoos.

“H-hi,” I stutter with a croak.

The man arches his brow, but I’m speechless as I eye f**k him.

Thankfully, Ainsley is not as tongue-tied as I am when she screams out, “Jinxy!”

To my shock, Jinxy walks between the man’s bare feet and tenderly rubs her face and body against his legs before jumping into Ainsley’s arms.

Ainsley cuddles the chubby cat to her chest and looks up at the man, “You saved her.”

The man smiles and signs something that I don’t understand.

“Sorry, we don’t…we don’t speak sign language,” I state apologetically.

“He said that it’s not a big deal,” Ainsley answers.

Our eyes snap to my daughter, who expertly signs something back toward our handsome neighbor.

He signs back with a light chuckle while I stand there dumbfounded that somehow my daughter knows sign language.

Ainsley steadily replies in a matter-of-fact tone, “Last year, I learned that our librarian Ms. Medley is deaf. So, I took out a book and learned how to sign, and now I can talk to her.”

My brows rise to my hairline with surprise, “I didn’t know that.”

Ainsley shrugs her fragile shoulders, uncaring that she admitted to doing something so incredible, “I can’t tell you everything, mom.”

Seeing that questioning Ainsley will not get me anywhere, I tell her, “Well, tell our neighbor thank you for taking care of Jinxy.”

Ainsley signs what I ask, and the man signs back.

Feeling stupid, I look at my daughter and mutter, “What did he say?”

Ainsley faces me steadily and answers, “He said his name is Trace and that you don’t need to sign because he can hear us. He’s mute, not deaf.”

My eyes widen when I recall what Ellora and I said in the elevator earlier. Face heating with mortification, I squeak out, “Oh god, I’m so sorry for what you must have heard earlier. I’m so, so embarrassed.”

Trace shakes his head, and Ainsley interprets his response, “Trace said he’s not offended and that he’s flattered,” Ainsley nods as he keeps signing, “He thought Ellora was funny.”

I grimace, wishing a hole would open up on the floor and swallow me whole, “Yeah, Ellora is something else. Well…um…I’m Wren, and this is my daughter, Ainsley. As for Jinxy, I─we want to thank you for caring for her.”

Trace waves his hand dismissively before he gestures toward an empty can on the kitchen floor.

Still clutching her cat tightly against her chest, Ainsley walks toward the can and gives Trace a warm smile, which surprises me because she rarely smiles at strangers.

“He gave Jinxy tuna,” she moves toward Trace and gently takes his hand, “Thank you, Trace. Jinxy loves tuna, and she would have been upset if she didn’t get dinner.”

Trace places his other hand over Jinxy’s furry head and shrugs. Enjoying the attention, Jinxy cuddles against his fingers and purrs happily. I have to say it’s cute how Jinxy and Ainsley seem comfortable around Trace. It’s like Ainsley was never afraid of him.

Clearing my throat, I slide my arm around Ainsley’s shoulder and say, “We should go and let Trace continue with his evening.”

Ainsley nods and glances up toward Trace’s eyes, “If you ever want to see Jinxy, we’re in apartment Seven D. I think she would like it if you visited.”

Trace bows his head in concession and gives her a warm smile before he meets my gaze and nods.

Trying not to blush, I lead Ainsley toward the door and wave before stepping out.

When we reach our apartment, I release a mortified sigh and call Ellora to tell her what happened.

Of course, Ellora is not regretful when she humorously replies, “Hey, at least you got to see his yummy naked chest. You lucky girl,” she states calmly.

I shake my head, dumbfounded by my best friend’s boldness, “How can you say that, Lore? I was so humiliated.”

“Look on the bright side, Wren. At least, Ainsley warmed up to him. I mean, she held his hand, and you found out Ainsley knows sign language, which is freaking unbelievable when we think about it.”

I consider Ellora’s statement and concede that it was cool to learn that Ainsley knows sign language. I also liked how she was so sweet with Trace. Ainsley takes a long time to warm up to people, and even then, she keeps people at a distance and rarely initiates any kind of contact.

“Okay, so Ainsley’s thing was cool. But now I’m too mortified to face Trace because of what you said in the elevator, so thanks for that,” I grimly retort.

Ellora scoffs, “Yeah, sure you’ll avoid the man after─how did you describe it again? Oh… after seeing his delicious body and face.”

I mutter with exasperation, rolling my eyes, “Don’t you have a date to get ready for?”

Ellora snickers, “Yeah, I do. Cause unlike you, I still like to have fun.”

“You suck,” I reply grouchily.

She chuckles, “Oh, cut me some slack. You know I love you. So are you still going out with me tomorrow night?”

I puff out a breath, “Yeah, my mom’s picking Ainsley up after school, so she’ll be at grandma’s house all weekend.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Ellora replies, “Don’t forget to wear something sexy because if you don’t, I will force you to wear some of my clothes, and I know how much you hate it when I dress you.”

My eyes widen at her threat. It’s not that Ellora dresses badly. It’s more like the stuff she wears can be too revealing. The last time I wore something of hers, the dress was so skimpy that I could feel a breeze around my v****a.

“Okay, I’ll wear something nice. G’night.”

Ellora’s laughter follows me soon after I disconnect the call.

I spend the rest of the night tossing and turning in my bed as I dream of a gorgeous man with tattoos pounding into my body until I’m screaming with pleasure.

If only my real life was exciting as my dreams.