Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 124140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 621(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 621(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
“It’s not for you to worry about, Catarina,” her mother said firmly.
“But—”
“No, I am the parent. I made a mistake joining the Children of the Divine. I thought it would be safe . . . but it wasn’t. You were nearly harmed because of my poor choice. It’s my job to take care of you, and I will, Mija. I promise you that.”
Cat’s phone started ringing and she snatched it up. “Stubby?”
“I’ve told you not to call me that,” Agent Lochlan Stubbs replied, his voice filled with exasperation.
“Sorry.”
She wasn’t. Not at all.
And Stubby knew it too as he sighed. “You’re a brat.”
“I don’t think that’s an appropriate thing to say to me,” Cat replied.
“I don’t think anyone would disagree with me,” he shot back. “Here I am, calling you as soon as I have some information, and all I get is disrespect and sass. Bye.”
“No, wait, I’m sorry. Are they all right? My friends?”
“Yeah, Cat. They’re all fine. A bit traumatized, but they’re all here, safe and sound. One of the girls isn’t talking much, but the big guy has them both close to him, watching over them.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“First nice thing you’ve said to me.”
“Don’t let it go to your head. Can I come see them?”
“Soon. I’ll get one of our agents to bring you to them.”
“And the Deity? His Sentinels?”
He breathed out a sigh. “That part isn’t such good news.”
“What do you mean? What happened?”
“They’re all dead. They poisoned themselves.”
Six months later
Cat yawned as she walked in the back door of the small house in Queens. It was actually a pretty nice house. A little cramped with the four of them living here, but she hoped that she and Mama could move out once they had some more money saved.
It would help if Mama could get a job. But Cat had been working at the local diner, earning as much as she could so they could get their own place. Didn’t have to be fancy or anything. She’d be happy sleeping on the sofa if she had to.
She just wanted a home. A place she could settle down.
Maybe they could even move closer to her friends. She hated being separated from them. But Mama insisted on staying with Jake and Elsie for some reason.
Not that Cat didn’t love them. They’d been wonderful.
But they weren’t her friends.
She glanced at the oven clock. Nearly eight. It had been a short shift at the diner, but she still felt tired. And she had geometry homework.
Geometry. Like she was ever going to use that. Sometimes she thought about quitting school and just working full time. Then, she could definitely afford a cheap apartment.
But Mama had made her promise that she would graduate high school and at least think about college.
“What are we going to tell her, Jake?”
She paused at the frantic sound of Elsie’s voice.
Tell her? Tell who?
“The truth,” Jake replied. “What else can we say?”
“The truth? We don’t even know what the truth is. Would she really leave without Cat?”
“She would if she thought it was safer that way, Elsie,” Jake replied solemnly.
“This is going to kill Cat, Jake,” Elsie cried. “I can’t do that to her. I can’t tell her that her mom has just disappeared.”
What?
What the fuck?
Cat could feel herself growing numb. Her heartbeat slowed. The world around her dimmed.
Mama was gone? Disappeared? Without her?
No, no. They had to be wrong. She wouldn’t. No!
She stumbled forward, banging into the table. A chair scraped across the floor and their voices immediately grew quiet.
“Penelope?” Elsie asked, racing into the room. She came to a sudden stop, her face falling as soon as she saw it was Cat and not her mama standing there. Then she smiled. But Cat could tell it was forced. It didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh, Cat, you’re home early.”
Jake walked in, his face serious. They were a similar age to her mother. Jake had a thick build and dark hair that was going gray around his temples. Elsie was petite, her blond hair cut in a bob. Mama said she’d known them for years, even before Cat was born. That she trusted them implicitly.
“I better make you some dinner. What do you feel like?” Elsie fluttered around, not meeting Cat’s eyes.
So Cat moved her gaze to Jake. He appeared grim. Even more serious than usual. Jake was a straight shooter. She knew he’d tell her the truth.
“Tell me.”
“Cat,” Elsie said hesitantly as she drew some leftovers out of the fridge.
“Tell me. Just tell me.”
“You should eat first,” Elsie said.
“No. Tell me.” She could feel the tears developing, but she forced them back. She had to be strong.
Always so fucking strong. But she could do this. She could take anything.
“Your mother left.”
“Jake!” Elsie said, dropping the glass she’d been reaching for in shock.