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Catalina looked confused, "Because of his close friend who died?"
"Close friends?" Atlas frowned. "You mean his wife and kid?"
"What?!" Catalina spluttered on her coffee, coughing for a few seconds before she looked between the both of us.
"You didn't know?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"His wife died during childbirth. His daughter was born but she died a few days later from an unknown disease.”
"When?" Catalina asked softly.
"Both of them died five years ago." Atlas replied. "He created the foundation in honor of their memory."
I nodded, "So the fact that he bought you a dress to his wife's fundraiser… it means something."
We sat in silence, finishing off our breakfast until Atlas got to his feet.
"Okay, I'm outta here. Got some errands to run." He clapped me on my shoulder, making me wince. "Take it easy bro. Catalina, a pleasure as always." He gave her wink before leaving the table.
I rubbed my shoulder, "Ow."
"I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose."
"Oh, I'm sure he does just that. The sadist." I chuckled.
Catalina giggled, "Come on, let's get you some fresh air. Let's go for a walk in the garden."
As we walked out, Catalina greeted Hugo our gardener and waved to Ivar, our head guardsman, who blew her a kiss back.
My brow furrowed, "How do you know everyone?"
She laughed, taking me by my good arm, "Let's just say I had a lot of time to explore the compound and meet everyone while you were out."
"It seems you fit in well here." I was impressed. The more I learnt about Catalina, the more my interest was piqued.
"I guess so. It's starting to feel like one big family here. I get this sense of real camaraderie and loyalty among everyone. It's how a home should be. How are you all so close?"
I crinkled my brow at her. The truth would be too much for her to comprehend.
"Let's just say we've known each other a very, very long time."
"Well, you and your brother's have done well here. You're all really sweet… well mostly."
If only she knew how ruthless we could be.
She looked at me with questioning eyes. "Why did you take that bullet for me?"
"To keep you safe. Protect you. Call it a protective instinct."
That and I didn't think the bastard would actually shoot me. He must have had slow reflexes.
"But I still don't understand why?"
"Because you're important."
"Why? How? Help me to understand."
