Chapter 23
Benjamin had rushed up the stairs of Catalina’s apartment building, taking two steps at once. He knew his father was here, because he’d seen his Porsche parked outside.
The door to Catalina’s flat was only ajar, and he opened it. His father and Catalina were staring at each other in the middle of the room.
“Dad!” he called out, making him look over his shoulder. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“We were just talking,” Amaury answered.
Benjamin reached Catalina and put his hand on her arm. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. He squeezed her arm reassuringly.
“Dad, a word. Outside.”
When his father walked toward the door, Benjamin said to Catalina, “Excuse us for a moment.”
Outside, he pulled the door closed and glared at his father.
“Why were you harassing Catalina?”
“I wasn’t harassing her,” Amaury snapped. “I’m just looking out for you. You should have told me that she’s Santiago Vargas’s sister. And I could have told you right away that she’s using you.”
“Like Mom was using you to get justice for Eddie?”
“That was entirely different!”
“Was it? Because from where I stand, it’s the same. Mom asked you to help her. And Catalina asked me to help her get justice for her brother.”
“By dragging you into her mess. Don’t you see that? You think the Prestons are gonna let that video slide? They’ll recognize her, and then the jig is up. And you’re right in the middle of it. It won’t be easy for you to distance yourself from this, unless you do the right thing now.”
“I’m doing the right thing,” he insisted. “And why would I distance myself from her? I would do anything to keep her safe.”
Amaury stared at him, stunned. “Anything?”
“That’s what I said.”
“You barely know her!”
“I’ve known her just as long as you knew Mom when you made her yours.”
A gasp of air rushed over Amaury’s lips. “Are you saying she’s the one?”
He simply nodded, because it was the truth. He loved her, and it didn’t matter what he had to do to keep her safe. And when she was ready, he would make her his. His to cherish, love, and protect.
“Does she know?”
He shook his head. “That I want to make her mine? No. She knows I like her. But I don’t know how she feels about me. I don’t want to pressure her. She’s got enough to worry about.”
“Hmm. You should have told me everything when I showed you the video.”
Benjamin shrugged. “What would that have served?”
“I wouldn’t have questioned the choices you made. Because we do everything for our mates, because we have to. And if she’s yours, then I won’t stand in your way.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“Just one piece of advice. Be careful. The Prestons are powerful, and if Catalina is right that they framed her brother for a crime he didn’t commit, then they will stop at nothing to make sure the truth stays hidden.
But if he’s guilty after all, you have to convince Catalina to accept it, because the Prestons won’t tolerate anybody besmirching their name.
They will come after her and, by association, all of us. ”
“I know that.”
Amaury put a hand on his shoulder. “Oh, and another thing.” He smirked. “Catalina just told me that she loves you. Sounded pretty convincing to me.”
With a grin, he left.
Stunned, Benjamin stood there for a few moments. Catalina had confessed her love for him? To his father of all people? He shook his head. Amaury had a way of intimidating people, and one of these days, he would ask him just how he’d managed to elicit that confession from Catalina.
But right now, there was something he needed to do. He knocked. The door opened within a few seconds. Catalina stood there, looking at him.
“May I come in?” he asked.
“Of course.”
He entered, and Catalina closed the door behind him. He turned to her. Her cheeks looked flushed, and she appeared worried.
“I have to apologize for my father,” he started, taking her hands in his. “He behaved like a bull in a china shop.” He took a breath. “It won’t happen again. I made sure of that.”
“It’s okay…”
Despite her words, he knew she wasn’t okay.
“I’m sorry, baby.” He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “It’s my fault. I should have told him right away about you and your brother. Then he wouldn’t have shown up here unannounced trying to figure out what’s going on.”
“It’s not about that.” She sighed. “I got a call from Santiago.”
The sadness in her eyes made his heart constrict. Had something bad happened in prison?
“What’s going on?”
“Santiago is scared. He said one of the other inmates told him that he’ll protect him from now on, but Santiago thinks that he’ll want something in return, you know…”
Benjamin let out a breath of relief. “Oh, thank God. I was worried that he’d gotten beaten up again.”
“But don’t you understand? What if that inmate rapes him?”
Finally, he realized why Catalina was looking so worried. It wasn’t simply his father’s visit that had put her in this state, but her brother’s phone call.
“It won’t happen. I’m paying the other inmate to protect him. Nobody will touch Santiago. He’s safe now. Trust me.”
She stared at him, relief and surprise crossing her face in equal measure. “You’re paying a prisoner to watch over Santiago? But why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t want you to feel like you have to thank me for it.”
“But I want to thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and lifted herself onto her tiptoes.
She kissed him, and he tilted his head to the side and responded to her.
He gripped her tightly and lifted her off her feet, holding her close to him.
A few hours without having her close had made his hunger for her grow exponentially.
But as much as he wanted to make love to her right now, there was no time.
Now more than ever, they were under time pressure.
Reluctantly, he severed the kiss and set her back down on her feet. “There’s something else you need to know.”
“About the inmate?”
“No. About the Prestons.”
Her eyes widened, and she dropped her arms. “What happened?”
“The Prestons have a video of you trying to break into their safe and of me catching you. They sent it to my father, asking for an explanation.”
She gasped and pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh, my God!”
“We think they haven’t recognized you yet, but if they do…”
He didn’t have to finish his sentence. From her facial expression, he could see that she was aware of what would happen.
“That’s why your father was here, wasn’t he? To see why you’re harboring a thief.”
“I told him you didn’t steal anything.”
She motioned to the door. “What did your father say just now? Was he asking you to hand me over to the police?”
“No. He asked me to be careful when looking for proof that Santiago is innocent.”
“Why? I mean, he came here and accused me of dragging you into my evil plan to take revenge on the Prestons and use you to do my dirty work. So why would he suddenly change his mind?”
Benjamin sighed. “Because I told him that I love you.”
Catalina looked at him, her lower lip suddenly quivering, her eyes welling up.
“Don’t cry, baby,” he murmured.
“You love me?” she whispered, lifting her hand to caress his face.
He pressed his cheek into her palm. “I do. With all my heart.”
“I love you too.”
A tear loosened from one eye and rolled over her cheek.
He kissed it away, then pulled her back into his arms and kissed her lips.
Knowing she felt the same way about him filled his heart with warmth.
He hadn’t planned to confess his love for her so early in their relationship, but when his father had told him what she’d said, he knew that his declaration would be well received, rather than put her under pressure.
He released her lips. “Damn, baby, you get me so hot.”
Her cheeks were an even deeper red than before. “You do the same to me.”
“I wish we could make love right now, but we have to leave. You can’t stay here. You’re too vulnerable here.”
“Vulnerable?”
“Yes. We can’t risk the Prestons finding you here, where I can’t protect you. Pack a bag. You’ll be staying with me.”
She hesitated, but only for a few seconds. Then she nodded. “Alright.”
“But we have to go to my office first. Anita sent the video the prosecution relied on in your brother’s case. We need to figure out if it was doctored.”
And that wasn’t the only thing they had to look into. There were plenty of other things to investigate before they could call it a night. The clock was ticking.