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Mochi was gone.

Luca had checked everywhere.

Under the couch? Nothing.

Behind the fridge? Empty.

In the laundry basket where she sometimes liked to curl up? Not a single strand of fur.

Panic crept into his chest as he tore through the apartment, calling her name.

"Mochi! Come on, baby, where are you?"

He searched in the cabinets, under the bed, inside Damien's closet—nothing. Nothing.

She was nowhere to be found.

The last time Luca had seen her was that morning, sitting on the windowsill, watching the world outside with her usual curious, smug little face.

Had he left the window open?

Luca rushed over to check, and his heart sank when he realized—

The window was open just enough for a small, adventurous kitten to slip through.

"Oh, no, no, no—"

Before he could spiral any further, the front door swung open violently, slamming against the wall.

Luca barely had a second to react before Damien stormed in, looking like he was ready to set the entire city on fire.

"Where is she?" Damien demanded.

Luca blinked. "What—"

"Mochi. Where. Is. She?"

Luca had never seen him look this serious, not even during his most dangerous meetings.

"She's missing," Luca admitted, voice small. "I think— I think she got out through the window."

The second the words left his mouth, Damien's entire aura changed.

"Stay here," Damien ordered, already turning toward the door.

Luca grabbed his wrist. "Wait—where are you going?"

"To find her." Damien's voice was deadly sharp, his golden eyes glinting with something dangerous.

Luca had never seen him like this before.

"But—"

"I already sent out my men. They're scouring the area. The entire block is being searched as we speak."

Luca gaped. "You—what?"

Damien brushed past him, already pulling out his phone. "I need updates. Now."

Luca just stood there, completely stunned.

Sure, he was worried, but Damien was treating this like a full-blown gang emergency.

And then it hit him.

Damien was even more anxious than Luca.

Luca insisted on going with him, of course.

Damien, naturally, tried to argue, but Luca was having none of it.

"You think I'm gonna sit here and wait? Yeah, no." Luca crossed his arms. "Let's go."

Damien sighed but didn't fight it. Instead, he just held onto Luca's hand tightly as they hurried out into the streets.

What Luca hadn't expected was just how many people were involved in the search.

It seemed like half the city was on high alert.

Damien's men were talking to street vendors, checking rooftops, and searching alleyways like they were looking for some stolen contraband instead of a tiny, mischievous kitten.

Luca even overheard one guy talking into his earpiece.

"She's small, white with gray ears, fluffy as hell, answers to Mochi. Find her or don't bother coming back."

Luca stared at Damien.

"Did you seriously threaten them over a kitten?"

Damien didn't even blink. "She's our baby."

Luca felt something warm bloom in his chest despite the situation.

After almost two hours of searching, Luca was starting to lose hope.

"What if—" He swallowed. "What if she's really gone?"

Damien gripped his shoulders, forcing him to look up.

"Don't say that." His voice was firm, unwavering. "We're going to find her."

Luca took a shaky breath and nodded.

And then—

A small meow.

Both of them froze.

Luca's head snapped toward the alley beside them, heart pounding.

And there—huddled near a stack of crates, looking slightly dirty but otherwise unharmed—was Mochi.

"Oh my God—MOCHI!"

Luca ran over, scooping her up instantly. She mewled in protest but didn't fight him, curling into his chest instead.

Relief flooded through him so fast it made him dizzy.

Damien was at his side immediately, hands hovering like he wasn't sure whether to hug Luca or grab Mochi first.

"She's okay," Luca murmured, stroking her fur.

Damien let out a slow exhale, running a hand through his hair.

"I was ready to burn this entire city down."

Luca laughed shakily, pressing his face into Mochi's fur.

"I know."

Damien wrapped an arm around both of them, pressing a kiss to Luca's temple.

"Let's go home."

Luca nodded, holding onto Mochi like she was the most precious thing in the world.

Because, to him—

And, apparently, to Damien too—

She was.

Back home, Mochi got a bath (which she hated), a warm bed (which she immediately claimed as hers again), and a lot of kisses (which she only tolerated from Luca).

Damien, meanwhile, refused to let Luca out of his arms for the rest of the night.

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Luca muttered against his chest. "But I think you freaked out more than me."

Damien's grip tightened.

"Don't remind me."

Luca smirked. "So, does this mean you like Mochi now?"

Damien groaned.

"Don't push it."

Luca laughed.

But Damien didn't let go.

And Luca?

He didn't mind one bit.

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