Page 14 of Instinct & New Identity

“So you both really were shot?”Iasked, trying to recap that part.

“We were both shotat, but neither of us was directly hit,”Valeriaexplained.

Even thoughIcould seeCatwas fine and alive in front of me,Istill felt my chest pinch, hearing she’d been injured.

“When we were pushed to the ground for protection,Ilanded on my knee and my leg bent in a weird direction,”Catexplained. “Ibroke several bones from my knee to my ankle.Ido just fine with it now.”

I had to hold myself back from reaching out and grabbing her foot to check it out for myself.

“Don’t let her fool you,”Valinterrupted. “Itbothers her sometimes when it’s cold out.”

“I can still run faster than you can,”Catsnapped back at her sister.

“The men in black kept moving us around every six to twelve months because they’d get a tip about something,”Valsaid, waving her hand around. “Whichis a pain in the ass when you’re in high school and just want to make friends and go to prom and dates and all the normal stuff.”

“Men in black?”Iasked.

“It’s whatValcalled theMarshals, since every time they came to tell us we were moving again, they showed up in black suits,”Catexplained.

“Okay, but everything my group gathered about the robbery suspects and subsequent courthouse shooters shows they’re all now dead, so why keep moving?”Iasked.

“Because my sister is paranoid,”Valmumbled.

“I’m not paranoid.I’mcautious,”Catsaid defensively. “You’reall the familyIhave left.I’mnot losing you too.”

“Well, for once,Iwouldn’t actually complain if you wanted to move again,”Valsaid dryly.

“Because the guy across the hall is bothering you,”Isurmised.

Cat gave me a questioning look, andVallaughed.

“No, that’s not why, althoughIdefinitely wouldn’t miss seeing that creep’s face all the time,”Valsaid while shivering and making a grossed-out face. “I’dbe okay with moving because this place sucks.Thisis by far the most boring place we’ve ever lived, and the weather here sucks.”

“It’s not that bad, and the people here are very nice,”Catdefended.

“Well, since you never let us talk to anyone, that’s kind of a moot point,”Valsnapped back.

I was getting the impression thatCatstill had them living as though they were under full protection, even though they didn’t necessarily need to be.

“How do theMarshalsandFedsfeel about it?Dothey mind if you stay put and start to live a normal life, or do they still think there’s a threat?”

“They told us we were free to live normal lives two years ago but to still stick with the new identities,”Valanswered. “Wheredo you live,Vince?”

“Georgia, just north ofAtlanta,”Iresponded.

“Oooh,Icould doAtlanta.It’smuch warmer than here,”Valsaid.

“Val,”Catall but growled.

The sisters stared each other down, and thenValstarted speaking in rapid-fireSpanish.Iknew a few words and phrases but definitely couldn’t keep up with them.Theykept going back and forth, hands waving around in the air and talking so quickly, and then they just stopped.Catgot up from her chair and began pacing in the living room.

That’s whenIsaw it.

It was currently tucked behind one of the living room chairs, butIsaw the movement.

“Uh, what is that?”Iasked slowly, my voice laced with a hint of concern.

“What is what?”Catlooked around, trying to figure out whatIwas talking about.

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