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The shock dissolved somewhat from his face and a hint of a smile crossed Nico's lips. My heart dropped as Catalina grabbed him by the collar, pulling him to her and kissed him gently on the lips. My hands started to clench when they didn't move for several seconds before they parted.
"I need you to do me a favor," she said.
"Anything, remember. Just name it," he whispered.
"I need you to rescue, Fernanda. She's probably hurt bad, and I trust only you to understand how much she means to me."
He nodded, and she released her grip on his collar. She looked over at me with a blank expression before turning back to Atlas and Nico. "Can I have a moment alone with your brother?" Their eyes flitted in my direction before they both nodded.
"Get well baby girl. We'll see you up and about in no time." Atlas bent over and kissed her on the forehead and Nico did the same.
"See you soon, Angel."
She giggled, "I know what that is, and I like it." Nico grinned as he and Atlas left the room, closing the door behind them. The room descended into silence. I didn't mean to seem stand-offish, but I didn't know where to start.
"Thank you for the flower." Catalina said in a low voice. "It was beautiful."
Just like you.
"You're welcome. Catalina, I-"
"I'm sorry about the house, and the fire," she blurted. "And the flowers. I know they meant a lot to you. I didn't know."
Dammit Nico. How much did he tell her?
The thought of the smoldering flowers on the house made my heart drop and a spike of anger reignited, but I knew I had to keep my cool.
"They did, but they'll grow back. Or so I'm told." Again we descended into silence.
"I know you're mad, but I'll return your Mercedes and your gun."
I shook my head, "They don't matter. You can keep them. The car suits you better anyway, and you might need the gun someday to protect yourself. You can never be too careful."
She looked at me in shock. "You're not mad I stole your car?"
"No. Maybe I was at the time, but it's not what I'm concerned about."
"Then what is your concern?"
I held my breath. I didn't know how to broach the subject, and I paced the floor as I tried to think of a way to express how I felt.
Catalina rolled her eyes. "Will you just stop with the broody pacing already and tell me what's on your mind?"
Argh! I forgot how frustrating she was with her demands.
"You!" I blurted.
Her eyes opened wide with shock. "What about me?"
"Everything, Catalina. Everything! I'm concerned about you! Your wellbeing. I'm constantly wondering if you're okay. If you'll come back to us? If you trust us? What you think of us? What you think of me? I want to know what the fuck is going on with you and Nico? And you have a boyfriend? What the fuck!” I was breathing heavily, and I was acutely aware that I was ranting. I took a deep breath to calm my thoughts and I rubbed my hand over my eyes.
What the fuck is this woman doing to me?
When I finally opened my eyes to look at her, she was smiling at me. "So, you're not angry at me?"
I shook my head. At the time I was fucking fuming, and I could have wrung her pretty little neck. And seeing her with the boyfriend didn't help either. But when I'd had the chance to think it over, I knew I missed having her around. She had left a hole in the household. I think everyone felt it.
"Come here." She patted the bed beside her, and I stopped my pacing to sit down. She took my hand and squeezed it gently. "I don't fully understand how we're enemies, and I'm not sure what you're all hiding from me, but I trust in time you will tell me and not kill me in the meantime.” Catalina paused, “I'm still not sure why you guys are protecting me in the first place."
