Page 67 of The Perfect Snipe

“I owe her for the glitter bomb incident. And we all know how she is when it comes to chocolate cake. Anyone would believe she stole the cookies. Especially Wyatt. He knows she’s part demon.”

“Leo!”

Cat’s phone vibrates and my heartbeat increases. Nora is watching the kids, and the parental part of me kicks in, worrying something happened. Especially when Cat’s features pinch tight as she stares at the screen.

She puts the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

The color drains from her face, her skin paling as she sits up straighter, the fingers of her free hand clenching into a fist.

“Yes, this is she. What happened?”

I signal the waiter to bring the bill because whatever is going on is serious, especially when her eyes start to tear up.

“Yes, I’ll be right there.” Cat hangs up, taking a shuddering breath, patting her eyes with the napkin. “My grandmother is in the hospital again. I have to go.”

I reach across the table and grab her hand. “I’m taking you. We’ll go together.”

The tears stream down her face now. “I can’t lose her, Leo.”

The waiter brings the bill and I throw in money, then grab Cat’s hand. As we hurry out of the restaurant, I keep a steadying arm around her waist as she trembles against me, and I wish more than anything I could take away her pain and fear. “It’s going to be okay.”

She doesn’t say anything, just gets in the car, then clutches my hand tightly as I start the engine. We head out of the parking lot and to the hospital. I make a quick call to Nora to update her, asking if the kids can sleep over because I have no idea how long this is going to take.

After hanging up the phone, I glance over at Cat, her face a mask of worry and fear. No matter what happens, I'll be there for her. Every step of the way. Because that's what family does.

And Cat has become the heart of my family.

Chapter 28

Cat

The morning sun assaults my eyes as I stumble into Leo's kitchen, my head pounding like a jackhammer on steroids. I make a beeline for the coffee maker, fumbling with the buttons as if they're written in hieroglyphics.

I lean against the counter, rubbing my temples, the events of last night replaying in my mind like a bad movie.

The hospital released my grandmother after midnight and we came to Leo’s house. Luckily, my grandmother didn’t put up too much of a fight, relenting when we pointed out the time. And I also added the guilt trip about Nora having to have Leo’s kids stay over unexpectedly.

Before the phone call from the hospital, my date with Leo had been going perfectly. I’d been worried beforehand it might fall flat, that while we have feelings for one another and off the charts chemistry, that maybe the romance would be bleh.

It was the opposite.

Conversation came naturally, silences were comfortable, and for once in my life, it was easy to open up. To share my personal life without fear of being judged.

"Mierda," I mutter, finally managing to get the damn thing brewing. The rich aroma of coffee fills the air, providing a small comfort in this clusterfuck of a morning, because God only knows what shitstorm I’m going face when it comes to my grandmother.

I just can’t do this anymore with her.

"Such language, mi nieta."

I whirl around, nearly knocking over my half-filled mug. There she sits at the kitchen island, looking fresh as a fucking daisy in her neatly pressed blouse and perfectly coiffed hair. How the hell does she do it after a night in the hospital?

Especially in the same clothes she had on yesterday.

I rub the center of my chest. “Think I should put a bell on you. Had enough scares for one lifetime, thank you very much.”

Her eyes widen, but that stubborn set of her jaw tells me she's gearing up for a fight. "Ay, Catharina, always so dramatic. It was nothing but a little dizzy spell."

I grab my now-full coffee mug, taking a long swig before responding. The scalding liquid burns my tongue, but I barely notice. "A little dizzy spell? Are you fucking kidding me right now?"

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