Page 88 of Fixed Asset

“Good. I’ll hit you back soon.”

“We have a plan,” Pete announced. “We hit both targets.”

“Copy.”

“Wait.” Mason stopped Shep from disconnecting. “Are we just going to pretend that Cat and Shep don’t know each other?”

Catarina’s hand shot to the side so fast, Mason didn’t have time to stop her backhand to the solar plexus.

“Damn, woman,” he grunted.

Shep said nothing.

“You do know her, right?” Mase continued, like he hadn’t just had the wind knocked out of him.

“Sphynx,” Shep said.

Catarina went statue still.

“I’m calling my marker.” With that, Shep disconnected.

Catarina frowned. Then her lips twitched. After that, her eyes went to the floor.

“What the hell was that about? What’s sphynx?” Mase pushed.

“I’m Sphynx. Or that’s what some of the guys called me. It’s a hairless cat.”

“Like that grumpy cat with no fur?” Aiden asked.

“Yes, Aiden, that’s what hairless means.” Cat offered no more explanation.

“So you know Shep,” Mase continued.

She lifted her eyes, but her gaze was faraway.

“In another life, yes.” Her tone sounded wistful.

My gut twisted. “And the marker?”

“To keep his secret.”

“Were you two . . . did you . . .” Ryan stumbled, then put up his hands. “None of my business. Sorry.”

It was my business, but I wasn’t going to ask her in front of the team.

Thankfully, she put me out of my misery.

She glanced over at me and answered, “Never.”

That was good enough for me. Cat wouldn’t lie. She’d evade if she didn’t want to answer but she’d never flat-out lie.

“I’m not sure if I’m pissed or jealous Cat knows Shep,” Mason muttered.

“We got work to do,” Pete reminded him.

Right.

Everyone scattered except for Catarina.