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It shattered, and Jake immediately turned his attention to Elsie. “Baby, be careful!” He walked over and picked her up, carrying her away from the mess.
Tears were dripping down her face and Cat moved to grab the brush and pan to clean it up.
“Cat, sweetheart, leave it,” Jake ordered.
She glanced over to find that Jake had set Elsie down on a chair at the table and was moving toward her.
“Go sit down.” His tone was gentle, but it was clear to tell it was a command.
She moved to sit across from Elsie. “Mama really left?” Cat shook her head. “No, she wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t leave me behind.”
“Oh, Cat.” Elsie stared at her with such sympathy that anger stirred. She didn’t want to be pitied.
The kids at school had been complete assholes when she’d first started. Most of them had spat out abuse at her on a daily basis. But she didn’t give a shit. She just stared them down until they backed off. Now, they left her alone.
She could deal with that. She could deal with just about anything.
But Mama leaving her . . . no, that might be the thing that broke her.
“She wouldn’t leave me.” Cat knew she was repeating herself, but she didn’t know what else to say.
“I’m so sorry,” Elsie whispered. “But you know you’re welcome to stay here. We’ll take care of you.”
“No! No!” She stood up. Her chair flew backward.
Elsie flinched, and Jake placed his hands on her shoulders. Shoot. She hadn’t meant to upset Elsie. It was just . . . Mama wouldn’t do this to her.
She knew Cat needed her.
“Cat,” Jake said. “You know something was going on in your mom’s life. Something she wouldn’t talk about.”
Cat frowned. “You mean the reason she entered the cult in the first place, right? That there was something or someone she feared.”
Elsie and Jake looked at each other. Jake nodded.
“Do you think . . . do you think someone took her?”
“Oh, honey, no.” Elsie shook her head.
“No, that has to be it. Someone’s taken her.” She wouldn’t have left of her own free will. No way. “I have to call Stubby. He’ll help find her.”
“We can’t call Agent Stubbs, Cat,” Jake said calmly.
“Why not? He’s the freaking FBI. It’s his job to find missing people, right?”
“She’s not missing,” Jake said. “There’s a note.”
“What? A note? No.” A note would imply that Mama left of her own free will.
Cat just kept shaking her head. “No. No.”
“I’m so sorry, Cat,” Elsie said again.
Why did she keep saying that? It didn’t help.
“She left a note for you and one for us,” Jake said. “I’ll go get them. We haven’t read yours.”
He returned with two letters that he handed to Cat. But she couldn’t do this here. In front of them.
Jumping to her feet, she raced into her bedroom and flopped down on the bed. She pressed her hands to her eyes and took several deep breaths.
There had to be some mistake. Her mama wouldn’t leave her.
No way.
She was just gone for a bit. Maybe she needed a break. Or she was going to work away for a while.
Shit.
She chose the easiest one first. The one to Jake and Elsie.
My dearest friends,
I’m so sorry to have to do this. But you know I wouldn’t unless it was necessary. For all of our safety, I have to leave, and I don’t know when I’ll be back.
I know I’ve already asked so many favors of you, but I have to ask one more. Please look after my Cat. I tried to keep her with me, to live a normal life. But it’s not possible. He won’t allow it.
Love her like she was your own. I wouldn’t ask it of you if I didn’t know that you would do this for me.
I’ll be forever in your debt.
Penelope
A sob broke free, but she pushed it back. She couldn’t . . . she wouldn’t let the pain escape. Not yet. Not until she read the second letter.
Her hands shook as she opened the envelope.
My darling Catarina,
You’re my greatest treasure. The love of my life. The one thing I did right in the world. I am so proud of you.
But I’ve made some mistakes in my life. Things I regret doing. People I regret getting involved with. Becoming a part of the Children of the Divine is the least of my transgressions.
I have to leave, Mija. I know you will be angry with me. I know you won’t understand why. But I’m doing it to keep you safe, sweet girl. Jake and Elsie will look after you. I know that you haven’t known them long, but they are good people. Please respect them.
I know how headstrong you can be. How brave and loyal. You are my daughter, after all.
But do not try to come after me, Mija. I have to follow the path I started, and you can’t walk it with me.
