Page 64 of The Kat Bunglar

“I didn’t do it for the right reasons.” Kat lifted her head, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “I was warning you because I was jealous. You were moving on without me—new partner, new jokes, new everything. And I hated it.” She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “I was glad when Joseph turned out to be a shitty guy. How awful is that?”

Christian blinked, her lips parting slightly in surprise. She didn’t speak right away, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

Kat pressed on, her voice cracking under the weight of her guilt. “But I don’t want to be that person anymore. Next time you fall in love, I want to be happy for you. I want to be a better friend.”

For a moment, Christian didn’t respond. Then, slowly, she crossed the room and perched on the barstool beside Kat. “I wasn’t a good friend either,” she admitted, her voice soft but steady. “I let Joseph come between us. I didn’t think about how it would affect you, or if he was even good for me.” She reached for Kat’s hand, her touch tentative at first, but when Kat didn’t pull away, her grip tightened. “How about we hold each other accountable? Make sure the next person who comes into our lives is good for us, no matter who they are.”

Kat blinked and a single tear trailed down her cheek as a watery laugh escaped her. “Deal.” She slid off the barstool and wrapped Christian in a fierce hug. “I couldn’t live with myself if something had happened to you. I really couldn’t.”

“Nothing happened,” Christian murmured, her voice trembling but full of conviction. “And nothing is going to happen. We’re going to be okay, Kat. Better friends, better people.”

Kat pulled back, her eyes red-rimmed but lighter than before. “Better everything,” she agreed with a faint smile.

At that moment, Laila reappeared, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her expression was a mix of exhaustion and urgency. “Gabriel is out of surgery,” she said, her voice brisk but tinged with relief. “He’s stable and recovering, but I need to get to Mount Sinai Hospital.”

Both Kat and Christian nodded, stepping aside as Laila moved toward the door. She hesitated for a moment, her gaze softening as she looked at them. Then, in an uncharacteristic gesture, she pulled them both into a quick, fierce hug. “This world is insane. Please take care of each other,” she said quietly.

With that, she dashed out the door, leaving the apartment feeling emptier somehow.

Kat turned back to Christian, who was still standing by the counter, her arms crossed over her chest. “Are we okay?” Kat asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Christian met her gaze and reached out to squeeze her hand. “We’re going to be,” she said firmly.

For the first time in what felt like days, Kat believed her.

Laila Malik

Laila’s footsteps echoed in the sterile hospital hallway, the beeping of monitors the only sound accompanying her as she approached Gabriel’s room. She felt a quiet nervousness flutter in her chest. Her mind kept drifting back to his words as he had almost bled to death on the concrete:“I love you too, preciosa.”Had he meant it? Her breath hitched at the thought of it.

When she stepped inside the room, Gabriel was sitting up in bed, bandages wrapped around his right shoulder, covering up his beautiful tattoos. His eyes brightened when he saw her, although the tiredness still clung to his face. He tried to sit up straighter, clearly wanting to appear stronger than he felt.

“Hey,” he said, voice raspy but warm. “I’m glad you came.”

Laila forced a smile, even though seeing him wounded made her die a little inside. “Of course, where else would I be?”

Gabriel laughed. “Me personally? On a flight back home, far away from shootouts and crazy men named Smoke.” His tone became sober. “Did they catch him? Are the girls okay?”

Laila nodded, stepping closer and reaching for his uninjured hand. “I just left Kat and Christian. They’re safe back at their apartment.” Her eyes flickered over the tubes in his arm and the bruises on his chest. She cleared her throat and offered him a tremulous smile. “The police have Smoke and Joseph in custody, no bail. Turns out they were running a weapon-smuggling operation from Long Beach to Haiti.”

Gabriel exhaled heavily, his gaze scanning her face. “Long night for you,” he murmured, noting the dark shadows under her eyes and her chapped lips.

Her smile wavered. “I’m just sorry you got hurt. Gabriel, you were—” Her voice caught, and she looked down at their linked hands. “You were incredible. You protected Kat and me. I don’t know how to thank you.”

He shifted uncomfortably, glancing out the window. “Not a hero,” he muttered. “Just a guy trying to make the world a better place.” His lips twitched as he tipped an imaginary cowboy hat. “Ma’am.”

Laila laughed despite herself. “You’re ridiculous,” she teased, shaking her head. But as the laughter faded, her gaze softened. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you,” she said quietly.

Gabriel’s eyes met hers, and for a moment the room felt smaller, more intimate. His hand squeezed hers slightly, and he looked at her as though measuring the space between them. He hesitated, searching for the right words to say. “Did I say anything else before I was taken to the hospital? I remember tackling Smoke while reaching for the gun... and then it got kind of hazy. Did anything else happen after that?”

Laila looked into his eyes, trying to gauge if he remembered. Did he want her to say it aloud? Or did he want her to forget it? She thought back to when he had first arrived in her office. It felt like eons ago. He had been so confident and self-assured in his love for his late wife. She didn’t want to mar that by mentioning something he inadvertently blurted out while delirious with a bullet inside of him. She hesitated before painting on a small smile. “That was pretty much it,” she said lightly. “Thankfully the paramedics and the police came just in time.”

Gabriel broke eye contact and slowly retracted his hand. Laila felt the loss of contact immediately. “Good,” he finally said, his voice thick. “I’m glad I didn’t do or say anything stupid.”

Her chest tightened at the words. “You were—are perfect.”

Gabriel nodded and continued to look out the window. “I’m going to get released in about ten days,” he said slowly. “I think it’s time I head back to Morelia. Check in with the kids. I only have a few weeks left of summer vacation. And now that I know you’re safe, I can—I can move on.” His voice ended on a whisper.

The words hit her like a physical blow. She blinked, unsure where to look before clasping her hands together tightly and staring at the monitor with the various numbers beeping at her. The air between them became heavy. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Instead, all she could do was nod, her thoughts scattered.

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