Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Cat gasped, placing her hand on her chest. “What do you mean, what did I do? I didn’t do anything. I am a perfect angel. Can’t you see my halo?”
“I know you can’t be talking about yourself, Catarina,” a deep, accented voice said from off-camera. “Because an angel you are not.”
“Papi!” Cat complained. “Don’t be mean. I am an angel. And it’s really not fair. I just wanted some ice cream.”
Hmm. She bet there was more to it than that.
“You attempted to sneak away from your guards. Again. I thought you would have learned your lesson after the last time.”
“What happened the last time?” Maeve asked. She didn’t remember Cat telling her about that.
“Never mind,” Cat said hastily. “Cat’s naughty. We all get it. Bad Cat. Cat must never be left on her own again.”
Alejandro moved into the screen. Gently grasping Cat’s chin, he turned her face toward him. “Cat is not bad and you know it. Cat just has an overabundance of energía.” He kissed her lightly.
And Maeve almost swooned. Yep, there were a lot of things to envy about their relationship. When Alejandro looked at Cat, it was as though she was his whole world. Which she was. That’s why he was so overprotective. Cat might push the boundaries but she did it so that she knew he cared, that he still loved her.
Maeve wasn’t the only one who had some issues. Luckily, Alejandro never flinched from enforcing boundaries and rules. He never seemed to tire or get exasperated with her friend.
She was so glad Cat had him.
Even if she wished she could find someone like him. Well, not exactly like him. Alejandro was perhaps a touch too controlling for her. Although, not without good reason. His life wasn’t a safe one.
And Cat should really know better.
“Cat, I can’t believe you tried to sneak away from your guards,” she scolded.
Cat pouted. “Don’t you start with me, Maeve. You’re meant to be on my side. Littles unite!”
“Maeve is far too sensible to be on your side. She wouldn’t do something so reckless. Would you, Maeve?” Alejandro turned his dark gaze on her. There was something about the way he looked at a person. It made you want to confess everything you’d ever done. Even make some things up just so he praised you for confessing.
It was his weird superpower or something.
There was something almost otherworldly about him. A fallen angel. Deadly and charming. He was so good-looking that it was intimidating. But his beauty almost faded when he stood next to Cat. She was stunning.
Maeve used to be slightly jealous. She’d always been quirky and unusual. The girl with the weird issues. She’d never quite fit in. Whereas people would flock to Cat, practically worshiping her before they even knew her.
Maeve now knew that she preferred being left out of the limelight. Attention wasn’t something she wanted.
You didn’t worry about that last weekend when you went dancing.
Yep, and that had been a mistake. Although she couldn’t regret meeting Gray. He was going to fuel her sexy dreams for months to come.
Maeve stared back at Alejandro, aware she had to say something. She felt like a deer caught in headlights.
“Well, that’s a guilty look if ever I saw one. Just what have you done, Maeve?” he asked in that low, commanding voice.
Don’t answer.
He’s not the boss of you.
“Alejandro,” Cat said warningly.
She knew that asking Alejandro for help a year ago would come with strings. Alejandro didn’t do anything for free. Not that he required payment, exactly. But he considered her family. And Alejandro’s family was expected to defer to him.
Alejandro wouldn’t hurt her. He wanted his family safe. And he could be very persuasive. After the incident a year ago, both Cat and Alejandro had wanted her to move in with them.
But she couldn’t. Instead, she’d gone to stay with her other friends . . . until she’d started feeling like a burden. And then she’d taken off to travel around the country.
Alejandro wasn’t a complete tyrant. No matter what Cat thought. He was like an overprotective big brother who just happened to think he was always right.
“Papi, don’t you have a meeting or something?” Cat asked.
“It’s okay,” she said quickly.
She didn’t want to upset things between them. Not that she thought Alejandro would ever allow that. Cat came first. Always. And any threat to her would be eliminated.
“I went out dancing.” Thankfully, a week had passed, so her cheek was no longer bruised and swollen.
“You did?” Cat squealed. “Oh, Maeve. That’s great. You love dancing and you haven’t been in ages.”
“What happened?” Alejandro asked suspiciously.
She sighed. “Nothing that bad.”
They both stared at her. Yeah, she wouldn’t believe her either.
How much could she get away with telling them without either one of them insisting on pulling her back to live with them?