Page 36 of Wild Card
I turn off the phone and drop it back into my pocket.
Catriona’s curled up next to me. It’s wrong, but I indulge myself and stroke her soft strawberry blonde curls, enjoying the feeling of her sleeping next to me. I let her rest for a while, but I don’t want her to be stiff in the morning, or so I tell myself as I carry her to my bed.
When I place her gently down, her eyes flutter open.
“Did you tell him?” she asks.
“I did. Your sister is well guarded.”
“Thank you,” she breathes, relaxing.
I feel a tendril of anxiety weave through my spine. I can’t get used to seeing this woman in my bed. I need to remember who she is, and what my part has been in keeping her here.
She’s so tired. She can barely keep her eyes open.
She reaches for me and it triggers a feeling of tenderness in me that disturbs me. Am I taking advantage of her? Does she really feel safer with me, or is it some kind of Stockholm Syndrome?
“Beauty,” I say, kissing her forehead. “I’m going to sleep on the couch. I promise you’ll be safe in here.”
Her eyes flash open in panic. “No. Please don’t go.”
What’s the right thing to do?
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I say. “Catriona. It’s not right. I don’t want to take advantage of how vulnerable you are right now.”
She starts crying. I sit on the bed next to her and put my hand on her side. I can feel her ribs through her shirt and it’s disturbing. She’s lost too much weight in the short time she’s been with us.
Things are going to get worse before they get better. I don’t trust my idiot uncle not to follow through with his plans to grab her little sister. Lorenzo is Nonna’s only remaining child. She loves him, despite what a piece of shit he can be. I can’t take him out for that reason. She can’t handle another loss.
But I can’t let two innocent women pay the price for their father’s evil and my uncle’s arrogance. Besides, who’s to say their father would give up money for either girl?
It’s the last thing I want to do, but I squeeze her arm, place a gentle kiss on her forehead, and leave her to sleep alone.
Nothing can happen between us. Not after what she’s been through at my uncle’s hands. It’s cruel of me to sleep next to her when she’s so fragile. I still want her father to suffer for his sins against my family, but now for his sins against her too.
I have to do what’s right, not what’s easy. I move a chair in front of the bedroom door.
I need to find out from Lorenzo what Freddie’s timeline is. I’m sure we don’t have forever to wait for that ransom. Especially since it’s not coming anyway.
Just something else to hate James Carney for.
