She carefully placed her hands on my sides, and I pulled away again, studying her. I couldn’t understand what her expression meant.
“We’re going straight to the restaurant to meet up with Francisco. Are you okay with that?” I asked.
She nodded.
“I know it’s been a long flight. You let me know if you’re too tired, and I’ll have Kirill drive you to the hotel.”
Her grip on my sides tightened as she shook her head.
“Okay,kotyonok,” I responded, my voice soft.“Are you okay with seeing your father again?”
Or, at least, the man who claimed to be. But why would he lie? I still couldn’t think of a motive behind that. Not unless he wanted to get to us by using her. But something told me that wasn’t the case.
Again, she nodded and opened her notebook. Fuck me, but I missed her voice so damn much.
She pointed at a single word written. I looked down, even if I knew what was there.
Damien.
I nodded. “We’ll get him back.”
And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she offered me a small smile.
Though her eyes remained dimmed, my breath caught at the sight.
I pulled her seatbelt away, then my own, and stood to my full height. Catalina watched me.
I leaned down and held out my hand.
There was only a slight moment of hesitation before she deftly placed her delicate, much smaller hand in mine.
I pulled her up, her body pressing against my own. “Stay close to me, okay? You’re well protected, but I still don’t trust Bianchi.”
She nodded slightly, coming in closer to me.
We came out to the dry heat of California’s climate.
The sun was barely peeking through the sky, leaving behind a silhouette of pinks, purples, and oranges above us.
I focused on my surroundings. Kirill was already standing in front of a waiting car, having checked it out as soon as we arrived.
I pulled Catalina along with me.
She held her breath when I leaned over to put on her seatbelt.
Just as I was about to pull away, she grabbed my arm. I turned to her.
She didn’t say anything, but I knew what she was trying to tell me from the look in her eyes.
“I love you,” I said softly.
She brought my hand up to her lips and kissed it softly. I felt that touch all the way down to my very being.
She held my hand on the short ride from the airport to the restaurant in LA.
We only ran into a small traffic jam on the highway for a moment, and all too soon, Kirill pulled up in front of a dark Italian restaurant. I had no doubt that Bianchi himself owned it.
Catalina looked out the window with wide eyes before turning to me.