Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“Oh, hey, you must be Cammie. I’m Catarina De Leon.”
There was a strange note to Cat’s voice as she stood and offered her hand to Cammie. Why had she used her full name?
“You look like you could use a drink,” Cat said, letting her hand drop when Cammie didn’t take it. “Will you join us?”
“I thought Eric was at home,” Cammie accused Faith.
“Uh, as far as I know, he is.”
“He is,” Rafael added.
Cammie turned to study him, swallowing heavily.
“Don’t worry about Rafael. He looks as scary as he is, but he won’t harm you,” Cat said.
Hmm. That could best be described as mildly reassuring.
“I . . . I . . . Faith, what is going on? Why are these people here? Do you know who they are?”
Faith stared at Cammie, taking in the distaste and fear on her face.
“Cat’s here because she’s my friend, Cammie.” And even though she barely knew Cat, she’d been far nicer to her than Cammie had, especially during the last few years.
Cat just smiled and waved. “Sorry if me talking about your rat bastard of a husband like that upset you. But really, he doesn’t deserve to live, does he?”
“Cat,” Rafael warned.
She smiled at him.
Okay. Her new friend could be a bit scary.
“I don’t want him harmed,” Cammie told Faith. “What your . . . your boyfriend did last night was enough.”
Faith clenched her hands into fists. She didn’t agree, but she nodded. “I’m sure he’s fine, Cammie. Cat just likes to joke around.”
“That’s me. I love to joke around. Just last week I threatened to poison Rafael because he wouldn’t take me for ice cream. Didn’t I, McGrumpface?”
Rafael just grunted.
Faith still wasn’t fluent in that language, so she couldn’t figure out if he was annoyed or agreeing with her.
Cammie still didn’t look convinced, but she nodded.
“Cammie, what’s going on? What’s with the suitcase?” Faith asked worriedly.
“I’m leaving.” Cammie’s face softened. “I can’t stay here, I’m sorry. I just . . . I can’t be near you right now.”
Ouch.
Faith tried to take a breath, but it was hard with the hurt racing through her.
“I know none of this is your fault,” Cammie told her. “Mostly, it’s mine.”
“That’s not true, Cammie. You can’t blame yourself.”
“But I can. Maybe I should have left him a long time ago and then I wouldn’t have treated you so poorly. All I know is that I need some time to myself to breathe. Thanks for letting me stay here last night. Will you . . . will you be all right?”
It was a nice thing to ask, but it was said stiffly as though Cammie knew she should ask but wasn’t really interested in the answer.
And Faith felt that last thread tying them together break. Perhaps one day she’d change her mind, but right now, she thought it was probably a good thing that Cammie was leaving.
And that maybe she would never see her again.
“Have you got somewhere to go?” Faith asked instead of answering her.
“Yeah, I’m going to a friend’s place. He’s picking me up. Thanks again.” Cammie turned and strode away. She didn’t even wait for Faith to say goodbye or offer to walk her down.
“You okay, Blossom?” Cat asked quietly.
“I’m . . . I’m not sure.”
“Going to make sure she’s gone and the door’s locked,” Rafael told them before disappearing.
“I didn’t really expect her to just leave like that.” Faith sat back and took the glass that Cat handed her.
Cat clinked her glass. “Drink up. It will help.”
Would it?
Faith wasn’t sure but at this point she’d try anything.
55
“How bad is it?” Alejandro asked Rafael as they both stepped into the apartment.
Reuben winced as he heard a song belting out from the living room. “Is that someone singing?”
Rafael grimaced. “That would be Faith.”
She hit a high note and all three men startled.
“It sounds like a cross between a cat in heat and a pig being slaughtered,” Alejandro said.
Actually, he thought it sounded worse.
They’d just been to deal with Eric. That asshole didn’t deserve to live after what he’d done to his baby. No one touched his girl and lived. But they couldn’t take out Eric just yet. Not when Cammie would be suspicious.
So Eric was going to leave a trail. He was going to call Cammie to tell her he was leaving town. And then in a couple of weeks . . . Eric would disappear for good.
Reuben walked toward the noise even though his body was telling him to run away. That a noise like that wasn’t natural.
Cat ran toward Alejandro as soon as she saw him, launching herself at him as Faith butchered the song she was singing.
“Papi! You’re here! I’ve missed you.”
Alejandro grinned down at her. “Mi Pequeña. I see you’ve been having fun.”
She threw her arms up in the air and nearly propelled herself out of his hold. “So much fun!”