Page 30 of Coveting Catherine

“What did Victoria say?”

“She didn't say anything. Her eyes got huge when Ivan leaned down and spoke Russian in her ear. He picked her up and hauled her over his shoulder. Then he turned toward me and said ‘Comrade, I give you some advice, spank her ass as red as the hair on her head. It's the only way to control such antics in them.’” Chase mimicked Ivan's voice, making Leo laugh.

“Hopefully, I scared Kassie enough on accident; she'll think twice before doing something reckless again,” Leo answered.

“Somehow, my friend, I doubt it,” Chase replied.

Leo chuckled at the doubtful tone in Chase’s voice. He sobered before he gave Chase the bad news. “Doc, I asked you to ride along for a reason. The team investigated Ash. As you know, something seemed off from the moment we rescued him and Whiskey. Rahimi and his men contacted Ash. Our objective is to convince him to head back to Serenity Mountain with us. He texted me and said it’s urgent. I’m not sure if Ash suspects us or plans to admit his involvement with Rahimi. I don’t want you to be surprised by the information revealed today. We believe he participated in Kassie’s abduction with Stanton.”

Chase’s posture stiffened and his hands clenched into fists. “Does he realize how much damage he’s caused?”

“We’re about to find out. I need you to keep your shit together. There’s more, and Ash holds the missing pieces. We’ll interrogate him with the team present and video it. If my guess is correct, it will affect all of us.” Leo’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. Despite the calm demeanor he presented to his friend, Leo’s fury bubbled beneath the surface. He didn’t know if he hoped he was mistaken about his former teammate, or if he prayed he guessed correctly, setting Catherine free from Ash.

“I’ll follow your lead,” Chase replied.

Leo turned down Ash's street and pulled into the driveway. He leaned down and pulled a gun from under his seat and handed it to Chase.

“Stay vigilant, I don’t trust him,” he warned.

Chase nodded before taking the gun. Both men exited the vehicle. Their arms hung lose by their sides, yet they scanned the area and prepared to strike at the first sign of danger. Leo forced himself to keep a steady head as he walked to the door. Whatever Ash revealed to the team, might change the lives of the people he cared about forever. One person, in particular, remained at the forefront of his mind and he worried about the price Catherine paid all these years and why she didn’t tell him. He would address his fears later. He called upon his call sign to give him the strength and patience to wait for his prey’s confession before he released the lion ready to pounce.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Kassie accepted the tea from Maddie and leaned against the wall of her reading nook. She sipped at the hot liquid as she pondered Leo's statement. Catherine apologized for things not working out between them. She forgave Leo. The wind blew the trees outside as if mimicking the emotions rolling through Kassie.

Kassie reached out to both of her friends upon her return from her honeymoon. Kassie immediately moved Samantha and LJ to the third cabin in the mini subdivision when she discovered her friend suffered from panic attacks and LJ refused to sleep alone. When the proximity of their nearness to Whiskey proved too much, Edie opened Saint's home to Samantha and LJ to give them a sense of security and the team watched over them. Kassie set up a temporary salon between Ty's and Bryanna's businesses in the vacant building. Victoria's men moved all of Samantha's products, while the women moved the more personal items. Yet, Samantha refused to communicate with Kassie directly.

Kassie swiped at the tears pooling in her eyes as she breathed through her nose. The helpless feeling at her inability to reach her struggling friends frustrated her to no end. Her thoughts moved to her feisty cohort. Catherine drew boundary lines. Kassie honored them even if her heart hurt watching Melody and Emma hug their goodbyes. The kids didn't understand their parents' issues. The idea of watching Catherine's house started when Kassie recalled waking up to find out Catherine and the team moved her entire apartment while she slept. Her friend refused to accept no as an answer because of her concern over Kassie and Emma.

Kassie knew the life she led now resulted from Catherine's stubbornness and unwillingness to let Kassie live another day in fear. Why couldn't she return the favor? The older couple who owned the home across the street from Catherine stood stunned when a disguised Kassie offered them a month's all-expense-paid Hawaiian vacation and ten thousand dollars if they vacated their house. If they refused, she already prepared to purchase the home outright in order to watch over Catherine.

Kassie involuntarily shivered as she remembered Leo's SEAL mode as he held the gun to her head. Kassie wore a bulletproof vest under her black clothing. The extra layers masked her breasts from his quick grab. She wondered briefly how men reacted to Leo's threats without peeing their pants. His voice sounded deadly, and she knew instantly he intended to carry out his threat. The stitches on her head throbbed as she recalled Leo telling her how he unceremoniously dropped her noggin on the ground.

Chase stayed by her side all night, demanding to know her name and the date. His quiet calm showed his fury at learning of her deception. Then he pulled out the big weapons and sent Joe to talk sense into her. The quiet man who acquiesced to his wife ninety-nine percent of the time put his foot down. Maddie's set mouth and Joe's frown let her know Maddie received a tongue-lashing from Joe. Kassie managed to get not only herself in trouble but Maddie and Victoria. She reached out to Victoria, and Alek informed her that Ivan and Victoria were unavailable. The next day, one of Victoria’s men dropped off Rollo, and even the dog seemed miffed at her.

Kassie sighed. Catherine never accepted Kassie's excuses or pleas when she refused Catherine’s help. She fought for her while Kassie focused on surviving. Now, they traded places. Kassie refused to back down and let her friend handle the situation with Ash alone.

Her gut churned as she thought of her conversation with Catherine when the team's helo crashed. Catherine feared to hope Leo somehow survived because she cared for him. They left things unresolved. With Ash's return, Catherine left Serenity. Kassie knew Leo stepped back to give Ash time with Catherine and Melody. Kassie should've guessed he wouldn't leave Catherine and Melody alone with Ash without first ensuring their safety.

Her mind mentally put the pieces of the puzzle in order. Catherine worked on Fridays. She took the day off to bring Melody to Serenity to see her mom, who usually spent the weekend with her granddaughter. Catherine apologized. She forgave Leo…

Oh shit. Kassie jumped from her seat and ran to her closet. She pulled on her leggings and stuck her knife inside her shoe and another into the side pocket of her leggings. She needed to play it smartly. Maddie made her stance known; Kassie lost her privileges until Maddie escaped the wrath of Joe's disapproval. Donning Chase's over-sized Navy sweatshirt and pulling her hair into a messy bun, Kassie pretended to finally accept her fate of another day of resting.

“Maddie, did you bring any cookies over?” Kassie called from her room as she situated herself back into the nook and covered her bottom half.

Her godmother appeared in the doorway as she inspected Kassie's head injury from afar. “No, Sugar. What kind of cookie did you have a hankering for?”

Kassie let out a deep sigh. She hoped she sounded disappointed, “I’m craving oatmeal and raisin. I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”

“Nonsense, I’m putting dinner together and I can whip up a batch when I finish.” Maddie dried her hands on the dish towel she carried.

Kassie pressed her hand to her head. “I'm getting a bit of a headache, Maddie. I'll nap until Joe returns. Will you wake me then? Oh, darn it. I think I packed the last of the raisins for Emma’s snack. There might be some in the pantry in the far back if Chase picked some up from the grocery store.” She waited for Maddie to take the bait.

Maddie took her teacup and gave her a motherly frown. “I agree. Go get in the bed, Sugar. No more gallivanting around with Victoria. I have a few choice words for her when she makes her next appearance,” she scolded Kassie.

“Please don't blame her. It was my idea,” Kassie explained as she slipped under the covers in the bed. Maddie pushed the button to close the curtains, darkening the room.

“Sleep tight, Sugar.” Maddie softly closed the door behind her. If she knew her godmother, Maddie headed straight to the kitchen to gather ingredients for dinner and checking for the missing cookie item.

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