Not because she’ll know, necessarily, though it’ll likely be obvious. But because part of me understands, deep down, that I won’t be able to face her if I break her trust in this way.
Maybe this is what other people call a conscience. I don’t know.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. Speak of the devil.
To get him off my back, I texted Declan my plans for the night. Well, I texted him about Tony earlier. Needed a couple of guys to haul the body away without alerting Finn to the fuck-up, and I knew he’d come through.
That conversation led to my presence here tonight, along with a reminder to nab the diamond if I got the chance.
He’s wishing me good luck, like I’m a child on my way to the spelling bee state finals.
Thanks, Dad. Your support and love is all I need. I feel like a winner already.
Fuck my life.
All I can hear is Cat talking about her own father, her words woven with so much passion and respect. The man’s her North Star. Their love is pure.
She’s the real winner, having Eduardo Ricci as a father. Simple as that.
I bet, even if she failed, Cat’s dad would love her just the same.
Not Declan.
I’ve never thought of my father’s love as unconditional. Or anyone’s for that matter.
My brother and sister come the closest. They love me just because we’re siblings, but our father? Anything less than perfection was unacceptable. He wasn’t against corporal punishment, and a swift hand to the head was standard. But at least when he hit Brody or me, we held his attention
The silent treatment was worse, because while pain from his blows quickly receded, the hurt from being treated as invisible lasted a long time.
To avoid being ignored and relegated to the sidelines, I learned quickly not to fail.
If I won or succeeded at a task, I’d earn his favor.
Honestly, I don’t understand how Cat dealt with it all these years.
Just like that, my mind flips back to her. As we lay together on that couch, our eyes locked and our bodies became one…
No. I can’t let her distract me.
I’ve got thieving to do.
I pull the balaclava over my face and leave her bedroom, creeping silently past the mermaid and her dark, judgmental eyes.
Chapter 23
Caterina
I lurch upright, a cold, sweaty panic breaking over my neck and chest as a woman’s scream rattles me to consciousness.
The noise continues, clawing at my eardrums. She sounds like she’s being murdered.
Like…
I shove Tony’s face from my mind and shake the covers beside me to rouse my bedmate. “Connor, there’s…”
The sheets are hollow.
No Connor.
