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“Seems like a nice guy.”
“What did you want to talk about, Damien?” She sat on the sofa and blew out the candle.
I shut the door behind me and took a seat on the sofa beside her. “I’m pretty pissed off at Annabella right now.”
She crossed her legs and gave nothing away.
“Since the two of you went to lunch yesterday.”
She slowly turned to me, stunning as always. “So, she told you.”
“Patricia did.”
“Traitor.”
“I’m the one who employs her. I’m the man of the house. She’s loyal to me—not to you. Therefore, she’s not a traitor. Don’t call her that.”
She sighed. “You’re right. She cooks so well that I could never be mad at her…”
But her cooking wasn’t good enough to stay home, apparently.
“Fine. Yell at me. Go ahead.” She turned to me, both of her arms resting on her raised knee.
“I’m not here to yell at you, Cat.”
“Then what?” she asked.
“Just want to make sure you’re alright.”
The defiance in her eyes slowly softened. She was naturally stubborn and difficult, but she melted right before my eyes, becoming vulnerable in a way very few people ever witnessed.
“Annabella told me what happened with Liam. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“If you have to ask, she didn’t tell the story right. I broke his nuts and forced him on his back.”
“He’s a professional fighter, Catalina. He could have killed you.”
“Even if I’d known that before, it wouldn’t have changed anything. I’m not scared of him. I’m not letting that asshole take my friend away. He spoke to her like a dog. You think I’m gonna let that shit fly?”
The things I loved about her were also things I hated. I loved that she didn’t take shit from anybody, but I was afraid it would get her killed one day. “I appreciate what you did, but I never want anything to happen to you. So be careful in those situations. You have no idea what your opponent is capable of.”
“We were in a crowded restaurant, Damien. Not in an alleyway.”
“Then you understand to run in an alleyway?”
She shrugged. “Depends on the situation.”
“Catalina.”
“I’m just being honest.”
I was glad she knew how to defend herself, but if she messed with the wrong guy, it could end badly. “Where did you learn to do that?”
“This guy I was seeing.”
“And why did he think that was necessary to teach you?”
“It was probably just an excuse to keep seeing me, honestly.” She straightened her back and brought her hands together on her knee, her gold bracelets complementing her tanned skin.
“I’m sorry Annabella put you in that situation. You are two of the three women in this world that I love, and I would die if something happened to any of you.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “She didn’t put me in that situation.”
I stared at her.
“It was my idea. I guess she didn’t mention that.”
“No.” Now I was starting to get angry. All of this was instigated by the person I’d assumed was innocent in the whole ordeal.
“She didn’t have to cover for me like that, but I respect her for it.”
I felt the adrenaline spike in my blood.
“I was the one who pestered her to leave the house,” she said candidly. “I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal since we were just going two blocks away. I didn’t take the situation seriously, and after I knocked him on his ass, I still didn’t. She’d wanted to stay home, but I talked her out of it.” She held my gaze and told the truth without hesitation.
I bowed my head because I couldn’t look at her.
“I’m sorry, Damien.”
I shook my head. “You know what your problem is? You think you know everything.” I raised my head to look her in the eye. “You think you’ve got everything figured out. Your ego misdirects you. You refuse to listen. Maybe people find your confidence attractive, but I know it’s just arrogance.” I rose from the couch and headed to the door.
“Damien.”
“Goodnight, Catalina.” I headed into the hallway.
She came after me and grabbed me by the arm.
I twisted out of her grasp but faced her, nostrils flared.
“You know I don’t apologize unless I mean it…so you know I’m sincere.”
“I don’t care that you’re sincere. I care about the fact that you put yourself and my woman in danger—for absolutely no reason. You expect me to be impressed that you fought him off? The only reason you’re alive is because it wasn’t a fair fight. But next time…maybe he’ll feel differently about it.”
Pain was etched on her face, sincerity so bright it was unmistakable. She was never apologetic about anything, but now she wore her heart on her sleeve, showed a sign of humility. “It won’t happen again, okay?”
“Now I’m afraid he’s gonna come after you.”
“He has no idea who I am.”
“Doesn’t matter. And maybe it’s not obvious to you, but I love you and would die for you. So, if I have to protect two women, it’s gonna be a lot harder than protecting one.”
