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We were near the shop, but Katia couldn’t wait for an answer as she pushed.
“How bad?”
“You know the answer.”
With her gaze on the mirror, she replied, “I guess I do.”
I parked my car but didn’t get out. Instead, I watched her. Her hand caressed her thigh. That anxious little tic she frequently fell back on. Katia couldn’t resist pulling her eyes away from the mirror, and when they left, it was only to see past me. Surely, following Rio and Sergio’s back as they walked deeper into the open area to clear the shop and find all exit routes.
“I won’t intervene in any measures you place for safety.” Katia’s docile tone tipped me off. I could see bits of vulnerability, but I saw right through it. She wanted something.
“But.”
“You need to let me train, Lucca.”
“There are many places you can, Katia. The grounds are as perfect as they come.”
She acted as if I was keeping her from doing laps in the pool. Keeping her from taking a walk, or even a run around the premises. Hell, she could even do core exercises in any room. Why did she want access downstairs so desperately?
“And yet, I know there’s a room fully equipped with everything I could possibly need downstairs.”
“Along with my men? I don’t think so.”
“You really believe me a fool to try anything with them, or them to me for that fact?” Her pitch rose, as did my nerves.
This was nonsense.
They weren’t ignorant. But was she so blind as to not understand my reasoning?
A dark chuckle escaped.
“What? For once, actually speak to me!”
She was infuriating. Passionate and tempting as her spirit fought me back.
She was distracting.
“It’s not just equipment, Katia. Quit acting as if you don’t know what all happens there.”
“What are you afraid of, huh?” Fire burned her poise with frustration as her cheeks turned a deep rose color while she pointed her finger at me.
“What are you afraid of, huh?”
Long gone was the calculating woman I’d grown accustomed to. Instead, she’d been replaced by someone who spoke out of tone and out of turn, unafraid of who she was speaking to.
“That I’m going to leave? Do you think I will cry myself to sleep because of what I see? Of what I hear? That,whatexactly?” A thick stream of English spewed from her lips. “I can’t leave. I can’t cry myself to sleep, and I can’t care about what I see or hear. Until you realize we could be stronger for Miami as partnersthanthis.” Her hands flung between us. “The easier our lives will be.”
Katia took a deep breath while mine remained even. Her eyes pooled in nothing more than anger at her outburst, quickly regretting her words. I watched her tuck her hair back with closed eyes, trapping her tears of bitterness.
For once, I was lost. Unsure of what to say or how to react. She’d thrown a curve ball into the game that I wasn’t ready for.
I’ve seen women cry, and while she hadn’t shed a tear, this felt different.
Just this time, I allowed myself to speak freely.
“You are right. You can’t leave. And while you don’t care for what you might see or hear, I do. Because you should care. That’s what good people do. That’s what people with the same light that shines in your eyes do.” Her eyes fluttered open, and any sign of tears was long buried. Instead, her eyes were now soft, frail even as she fought them with her strong stance. “I’m not looking for a partner, Katia. But when I promise to keep you safe, I mean from this world too.”
“That’s where you are wrong.” She shook her head. “Thisismy world, Lucca.”
