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“About twenty-three,” she said. “I tried to reach out to him a few times since he turned eighteen but he never responded.” She shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal but it was. “He probably bought into my mother and step-father’s lies about me. I can’t blame him. I just left him behind and he has to hate me for that.”
Repo sweetly kissed the top of her head. “I seriously doubt your brother hates you, Honey. You were only doing what you had to. You got out of a horrible situation and found your way, doing the best you could in life.”
Cat laughed, “Sure, a prostitute is the best I could do—thanks for that, Repo,” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.
“That’s not what I mean, Cat,” he said. “I’m just saying that you’re a fighter and you did what you needed to do to survive. I admire that—hell, I know that life all too well,” he admitted. Cat sat back and eyed him suspiciously.
“You know my life?” she questioned. “How could you know what it feels like every time I have to show up at a seedy motel and knock on the door, knowing exactly what waits for me on the other side? How could you possibly know how disgusting I feel every time I have to crawl into the backseat of some John’s car to give him a blow job or let him use my body? You know me, Repo—really?” she challenged.
“Yes,” he breathed. “I’ve been in your shoe’s Cat. You think you’re the only person who’s had a tough childhood?” he asked.
“No,” she whispered. “I’m not that naive, Repo. I’ve seen sadness and destruction and I know I’m not the only person affected by it. I’ve told you my sad story—how about you tell me yours?” she asked.
Repo stood and paced the floor in front of the bed and she wondered if he was going to run. She knew what it felt like to be so scared out of your mind that all you could think about was running away. Hell, it was her go-to move and if she wasn’t mistaken, Repo had that same wild look in his eyes that she recognized in herself.
“This isn’t about me, Cat,” he said. “I’m sorry that you’ve been through hell but I won’t go and spill my guts just because you think we’re sharing here. That’s not what this is—we don’t have a give and take relationship going on here,” Repo said.
“So, I’m supposed to just give and you take then?” she challenged.
“I wouldn’t call posting your bail as me taking anything from you, Cat. How about we just forget the whole thing? You need to get up and get dressed. We’re leaving in about thirty minutes,” he said. Repo started for the door and Cat panicked.
“Wait—where are you taking me now? You can’t just drag me around with you all day. Am I supposed to just be your shadow now?” she asked. Cat knew that the longer Repo kept her tethered to his side, the less her chances were that she’d be able to get free of him. And, that was the plan—running. It was always her plan.
“I’m taking you to my house in Tennessee. I can’t trust you to behave yourself here and honestly, I’m tired from staying up all night worrying that you won’t try to run again. I can see it in your eyes, Honey. You’re thinking about running and if you do that—”
“You’re out the money you put up for me,” she finished for him. Cat was just a payday for him and she knew it but after she spilled her guts and told him her story, she was hoping that Repo might give her a little more trust. He shouldn’t though. He was right not to trust her because she was going to take off just as soon as she saw her opening. If he took her to Tennessee, she wouldn’t find that opening and she’d be trapped with him until her arraignment.
“I can’t leave the state,” she countered. “I have a courtroom to show up to when they call me. If you take me to Tennessee, I won’t be able to meet with my court-appointed lawyer.”
Repo turned back to look at her and smiled. “I’ve got it all worked out Cat,” he promised. “You are free to travel as long as you don’t leave my side. As for your lawyer, I’ve hired one for you in Tennessee. You’ll need someone who knows how to keep you out of prison and I have a friend who was willing to help out.”
“You hired a lawyer for me?” she whispered. Repo was surprising her at every turn. One minute he was surly and mean and the next, he was doing something sweet like hiring her a lawyer.
“Yeah,” he said. “Now, get your ass out of bed and get dressed—you just wasted five minutes.” He walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him and Cat wondered what her next move should be. He wasn’t leaving her much choice—she was going to have to go with him to Tennessee and hope that at some point, she would figure out her plan because, for the first time in her life, she didn’t have one.
