Page 17 of Instinct & New Identity

WhereIhad curves and a little extra padding in my hips, chest, thighs, and butt,Vincewas solid rock.I’dnoticed he was fit when he first walked into our apartment, but when he’d stepped up behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist, pretending to be my boyfriend in front ofSteve,Icould feel all that muscle everywhere.

Vince was definitely the type who never missed a workout.I, on the other hand, was the type who never missed a meal and then thought about working out but usually never did.

He had dirty-blond hair that curled at the edges like a surfer.Hehad a distinct five o’clock shadow surrounding his jawline, like he had forgotten to shave the last few days, but it looked good on him.Hisgreen eyes were dark like emeralds, a colorIhad never seen before in a guy, butIloved it on him.

My mind was racing.Onone hand,Icouldn’t believe he was here.Iwas slightly annoyed with the situation withSteveand was also stressed becauseVinceand his team were able to locate us.Oh, and nowValwas packing up, ready to move to another state.

I wasn’t sure what to do.Valhad never, andImean ever, wanted to move.Shehad been the one to always push me into staying put so we could make friends and start to live a normal life, andIwas always the one to move her around for our safety, or because theMarshalstold us to.

I needed to talk toValabout this, butIfelt bad leavingVinceout there.ValandIhad separate bedrooms, but they were connected via aJackandJillbathroom, soIwent through and knocked on her door quietly before poking my head in.

“Val,”Isaid asIwalked in and noticed she was actually packing.

She had her suitcase out and was grabbing clothes out of her drawers.

“I know what you’re going to say,” she said, holding her hand up to stop me from interrupting her. “Ihate it here.Thisis by far the worst place we have ever lived, andIwant a real life.”

She paused and sounded a bit exasperated.

“I want to make friends, have a real job,” she said. “I’man extrovert, andIwant to be around people.IfVinceand his friends are as good as they appear to be since they found us, which we were told by theMarshalsis not easy, then they can keep us safe.Theycan find us a place to live that is safe, get me a job that is safe, and we can start to be normal people again.Iwant that,Cat.Please.”

Her eyes were pleading with me, andIfelt so much guilt.Iwasn’t an introvert by any means, butIwasn’t the super outgoing extrovert thatValwas, andIknew this living-in-hiding situation had been hard on her.Hardon both of us, but especially hard on her.

“Okay, let’s talk about it,”Itold her.Isaw her want to push back, butIdid the same thing she did a minute ago and held my hand up. “I’mnot saying no, andIhear all of your points and they are valid, but you know me, andIneed to talk this out.”

She smiled, nodding.

“Is he still out there?” she asked, andInodded back. “Whydon’t we do this?Tellhim to go back to his hotel or wherever he’s staying and come back with breakfast in the morning so we can chat.ThankstoSteve, we’ve already given him plenty of crazy for one day.Hedoesn’t need to see us bicker back and forth on this for the next few hours until you come around to the dark side with me in the end.”

She winked, andIchuckled a little because she knew me so well.Inodded, and we both walked out her door to findVinceon his phone on my couch.Heinstantly looked up when we walked out.

I was about to tell him the plan whenValstarted speaking first, “Okay,Vinny, here’s the plan.”

“It’sVince.Onlymy grandma can call meVinny, and that’s only becauseIhate telling her no to anything,” he said, giving her a small smile.

I swooned a bit, knowing he would let his grandma call him by a name he didn’t like just because she was his grandma.

“Whatever,”Valsaid, rolling her eyes overdramatically. “Vince,Ithink this is a great idea to move toAtlanta, but my sister, the overthinker here, needs to make a list of pros and cons and go over it with a fine-tooth comb at least seven times before she finally comes around and decides that you andIwere right the whole time.”Shefinishes with a wink to him. “Shelikes to be in control and know what is happening, along with every possible exit strategy in case something goes wrong.”

“Understood,”Vincesaid, but nothing on his face let me know what he was thinking.

“How about you go get a coffee or chill at your hotel while we have some girl time to chat, and then come back with breakfast in the morning, and we’ll have a decision for you—which, judging by the fact thatIalready want to move immediately, and the fact that my sister has had a secret thing for you ever since your letters,IknowIcan talk her around.”

“Val!”Iyelled, but he cut me off.

“With all due respect,Idon’t trust your neighbor not to try something onceIleave,” he said. “Ifyou need time to chat, you can do it, butIwant you both to put my cell number in your phones and call me if he tries to pull anything.Don’tanswer the door, not even with the chain, if he comes back.Justpretend you aren’t here.Canyou do that?Itwould give me peace of mind.”

“That’s fine,”Valagreed.

“We know how to defend ourselves,Vince,”Iexplained to him a little defensively. “TheMarshalstaught us how to shoot a gun, some self-defense moves, and extensive security measures.We’renot idiot damsels in distress.”

“I didn’t say you were, and sorry ifIimplied that, but the fact of the matter is,Steveisn’t the type to be happy thatIjust walked all over what he thinks is his, so the momentIleave he’ll return.”

“What does he think is his?”Iasked.

“You,” bothValandVincesaid at the same time.

My head pulled back in a flinching motion.

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