"So," I breathed after he kills out the cigarette butt. "Who are you hiding from?" Something told me he held an important position in his life.
"Mothers throwing their daughters at me." The words were grim. He had to be an underboss at least. "You?"
"Everything." I looked up at the starless sky. The soft music drifted with the breeze. "You know the Pegasus constellation; Named for the winged horse in Greek mythology. It is only made up of a square set of four stars with others surrounding it. The number of stars you can see inside this square tells you how clear the night sky is." I glanced up to see him already watching me. "Something I make Diego take in deep into the desert, away from the pollution and city lights so I can see the constellations." I haven't been since the incident.
"Your husband?" I felt his eyes scanning for a ring on my fingers. If he had looked six months ago he'd easily spot the diamond rock.
"Second cousin." I try not to think of why he asked that. "Sometimes I need to get away because it gets too hard to breathe." I've never told anyone that.
"Do you ever feel like that?" Once again his eyes were already on me making every inch of my skin hot.
"Sometimes." Something soft and gentle wove through his deep voice. I never thought a mobster would ever confess to feeling overwhelmed. My heart hurried to a halt when he turned his large frame my way. I eyed the open door; if Axel or Papa caught me with a man like this... I hate to think what would happen to him. I didn't stop him as he cupped my waist, his palm resting against me. The grip was tight and I was pushed back against the railing.
"Didn't your Mama warn you about strange men in dark places?" My pulse beats in my throat, our chests grazed together and I could only gasp as my nipple tightened underneath the tape. It's only been six months since I've been with a man- I didn't think I would crave that touch for a long while.
"She did," my throat thick with nerves. "But you don't seem—,"
"What is your name." He cuts me off, leaning in. His smoky and earthy scent fills my senses.
"Catalina," I breathed."Catalina Sanchez." His palm slid off my waist, taking the warmth. I held back a protest as he pulled away. What is wrong with me? I was acting like a horny teenager. Something about the way he now stared at me tells me he knew who I was or at least my last name.
"Your not my father's mortal enemy are you?" I joked. The tension between the Mexicans and the Russia wasn't that bad.
"Would that make a difference," His voice held an indifference. "I think you'd still let me have my way with you."
"Oh really," a laugh escapes me. "Someone thinks highly of himself." He knew he was attractive.
"I think you were a second away from begging me to fuck you. Why else would you talk about stars with me." I didn't get a chance to soak in his words because a man walked in and I immediately took a step back. The intruder paused, takes in my flushed skin and meets the Russian eyes. The man clears his throat, hands behind his back. "Sorry b—" he couldn't get the sentence out before the Russian practical screamed at him.
"Cas! It's Cas!" My stranger exclaimed. Something like amusement flashed across the man's eyes. "Right." Another glanced my way. "Cas," there was something playful about the way the intruder said the name. "We have matters to discuss."
"Delicate to other ears." Another glance my way. He meant mob business.
"It was nice talking about the stars Cas," I smile knowing it was time for me to leave. "Excuse me," I nod at his friend.
Cas. Cas. Cas
I say his name over again in my head. It rolled off my tongue beautifully. It had to be short for something.
"Catalina." My heels halted at the hidden command. A man used to being answered. I drag my eyes slowly across his large body till I reached his eyes.
"We'll meet again." Promise laced in his words.
"Te abrazaré a ello" I'll hold you to it. I say with my back to him. I felt him watching each step I took; I might have swayed my hips knowing my backless dress made my ass more prominent. I couldn't help the smile that found it's way to my lips. For him to think I was flirting because I spoke about stars might make him a bit of a nerd if it got him hot and bothered. But the smile soon fell when I saw Axel marching up the steps with Diego.
"Where have you been." Axel snapped. I couldn't even respond before he yanked me down the steps.
"Just went for some air." I felt Diego eyes on me from the side. We've spent too much time together for him not to know I was telling half the truth. "Is everything okay?"
"No, Carina is missing." Axel rushed out. "Papa wants you to go back home while we look for the little brat." It wasn't the first time she's done something like this. I knew not to worry; there's no where she could hide that Papa wouldn't find her. He owned half of Las Vegas with men loyal to him. I could barely keep up with him as he dragged me.
Our mother already stood next to the blacked out SUV; crying and mumbling in Spanish. Papa stood beside the other car with three of his men I recognised. Axel finally released me and I quickly made my way to our mama.
"She's going to kill me one day Catalina. She wants to give me high blood pressure." Even after thirty years in the states she still had her Colombian accent. "Podría estar muerta en algún lugar de una zanja o ya estar vendida!"She could be dead somewhere in a ditch or being sold already!
"Probablemente esté en algún lugar con su amiga, mamá, no te preocupes." She's probably just somewhere with her friends Mama, don't worry.
"Vamos a casa y esperemos. Papá y Axel la encontrarán."Let's go home and wait. Papa and Axel will find her. I guided her into the car, knowing my sister had done it this time. I don't think they'll ever let her leave the house again.
"Find her." I grabbed Axel. She might be a brat but she was our little sister.
"I will." He promised, and I knew he would keep true to his words.