Chapter Five
Catriona lookedat the sun rising over the city and realized that in itself was the most beautiful prayer. It had snowed during the night, and everything now was pristine and clean, offering a new opportunity to the world. At least, that was what she was telling herself.
The day before had been one of many surprises and contradictions, confirming that she may be good with numbers, but human nature eluded her still. She’d overstepped with Liam in her curiosity to explore her own emotions, and now she had compromised their professional relationship.
After that kiss that rocked her very foundation, Liam had shut down. He could have stood two miles from her. It would have been closer than how he ignored her as they went to the police station. It had been quick work to retrieve all the documentation, and his business-like attitude prevented her from asking any more questions or engaging with his colleagues. When they returned to the apartment, Liam told her he’d forgotten something for Chewy and had to go back out.
Catriona ate alone and went to bed early and didn’t hear him come back at all. However, when she got up, the second bedroom door was closed, and Chewy was no longer on the couch, which meant he was sleeping with his master.
She now stood in front of the window, watching the dawn slowly awakening the city, wondering.
Behind her, the kitchen table held all the files and papers they had brought back from Liam’s current investigation. Catriona knew she should have started sifting through them all to begin any sense of the evidence, but she sighed instead. Her mind was fragmented, and when that happened, her analytical skills were sketchy at best. First, she needed to get her head together.
Silently, she scribbled a note to Liam, telling him that she would be back soon, before grabbing her coat and going out the door. Heading for the stairs, she heard a strange muffled sound coming from a few feet away. When she approached, she realized it was coming from the other apartment, and the door was ajar.
When she peeked, Catriona saw Aleksei punching a large black bag suspended from the ceiling. The entire room looked like a gym, with several metal contraptions along the far wall, many bags suspended, and other equipment scattered about.
Liam’s brother was wearing a pair of blue trunks with no shirt, his fists bound with tape. His entire body was glistening with sweat, his dark hair plastered against his skull, but it was the focus on his face, the fury emanating from him as he battered the bag that fascinated her. There was something of Liam in Aleksei. Physically, the fighter was bigger, more muscular than his brother, but the energy, the contained restlessness she could sense was the same.
Catriona wondered if all the brothers were alike. Not physically, but mentally. It may give her some sort of edge in understanding Liam.
“Are you a peeping tom, little one?”
The deep accented voice snuck into her brain and she realized she’d been caught. Slowly, she pushed the door fully open, stepping into the space filled with the smell of rubber, leather, and sweat.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Breathing hard, Aleksei moved his shoulders and grabbed a towel to wipe himself off. “Heard you leaving. Heading somewhere?”
“How can you hear anything with all that noise you’re making punching that thing?”
Aleksei threw the damp towel into a hamper in the corner before grabbing a water bottle. “That’s called training.”
“Must be interesting when you transfer it onto your opponent’s face.”
Catriona could swear she saw a hint of amusement on his otherwise angry expression. “If I don’t train hard enough, I’m the one who’s going to suffer the transfer. But you haven’t answered my question.”
Her brow creased, she tried to remember his question. “Oh, yeah. To answer you, yes, I’m going out. Liam is still asleep, but I left him a note. Have a nice day.”
“Wait!”
She stopped herself as she was about to close the gym’s door. “Is there a problem?”
Liam’s brother grabbed a t-shirt before putting it over his head and pulling on a pair of dark sweatpants. “I think it would be better if you waited until Liam is up. If it’s urgent, wake him up right away.”
“Why would I do that? I fell asleep late and didn’t hear him come in. You guys always act as if you’re in constant danger, but I haven’t seen anything or anyone that could prove your point.” She wasn’t about to tell him about the incident with Cary. It was only an incident, nothing more.
“Where are you going?”
Were all the brothers this controlling? “Don’t worry about me, it's just around the corner.”
As she turned, Catriona heard him swear, but she didn’t care. She was a numbers specialist who rarely went into the field. And if she wanted to return before Liam woke and started working, she needed to get going.
When she stepped onto the sidewalk, it was like hitting a solid wall of ice. Her breath seized in her lungs, and it took a few more inhales to loosen up her chest.
The walk was beautiful as the city slowly awakened all around. People hurried past her, their heads deep into their shoulders, wrapped up in hats, scarves, and thick coats.
Catriona knew she ought to dress more warmly, but it was too late now. As she rounded the corner, someone huffed and puffed behind her, followed by a curse and flurry of snowflakes surrounding her.
