Page 65 of Blood & Loyalties
I swore, this woman was not thinking straight. Someone was sending her this shit, and she just left?
Entering the gym, the first thing I smelled was sweat, and lots of it, along with some overzealous users of perfume. While I choked back a gag, I headed to the front desk. The woman was young and cute in that girl-next-door sort of way, but when her eyes focused on me, they widened until they took up half of her head.
As we breezed right past her, she didn’t protest, but she was undoubtedly calling in reinforcements. Scraper had told me Catarina was in back with her trainer, whoever the fuck that was.
Women on treadmills glanced up, smiling, and men lifting weights stopped momentarily as we walked through. I kept my eye on all of them, not knowing who this guy threatening her was. Chances were he was watching.
After checking the wall filled with stair-steppers and two of the classrooms, we headed down a small hall off to the side.
“Again!” the deep sound of a male voice echoed through the hallway as we followed it. “No, your legs are wrong. Let me show you.”
Turning the corner, my eyes narrowed into slits so small I could barely see. The trainer guy stood with his chest pressed up to Catarina’s back. Her legs were spread wide, as if she was doing squats, with her knees bent and feet pointed out from her body. The guy’s hands were on her thighs as he pressed them down toward the blue mat underneath their feet.
“What the fuck?” I snarled, busting into the room.
The trainer was built, but I would fucking take him in a heartbeat just for touching Catarina.
He stopped and stood up, looking at me curiously. “Can I help you, sir?” His voice was calm and self-contained. I wanted to fucking punch him on the spot.
“Get your fucking hands off my girl.”
He tilted his head to the side, studying me; not in fear—even though I had two guys behind me—but in consideration. He must have seen whatever he was looking for as he crossed his arms and gave me a chin lift.
“I needed to get out,” Catarina said, staring straight ahead of her at a bright blue wall, her arms outstretched in front of her.
“You were not supposed to leave.” I walked in front of her until her fingers were a hair’s breadth from my chest. Then I placed my hands in my pockets instead of grabbing for her.
She still looked as beautiful as the moment I had left her all those months ago, except her body had firmer curves than before. Each contour of her luscious shape was toned, and her tight clothes gave me the perfect view. The light sheen of sweat added to her beauty. I remembered when that sheen had come from me. I would damn well put it back on her soon.
“I needed out. I needed to come here,” she countered, standing tall from her position without moving her feet. She took three deep breaths and lowered again. The small bra she had on barely covered her tits, and it looked like they could bounce out at any time.
I squeezed my hands in my pockets, trying to hold back. “Dolcezza, this is important. Someone is after you, and until we find him, you have to listen.”
Her eyes snapped to mine with guilt, despair, and anger swarming in them.
“I know, but sitting upstairs was too much. I needed out.” She turned to the asshole who had been touching her. “Phillip, I’m hitting the bag.” She stood from her position then headed out the door.
“Dan, follow.”
I turned to Scraper as he continued to stand in the corner. “Boss needs you and Ghost in the rush. Now. We’ve got her.”
He nodded, pulling out his phone, no doubt calling Ghost.
I looked at Phillip. “Where is she?”
“Next room over.”
“Don’t put your hands on her again,” I ground out before leaving the room.
Catarina wrapped tape around her soft, little hands. I watched as she swirled it around and around, looping it through her fingers, paying special attention to her knuckles. She didn’t look up, but I could tell she sensed me.
“Wanna hold the bag?”
If that was what she needed, sure. I didn’t answer with words; instead, I slipped my arms out of my leather jacket and handed it to Brett along with my watch. I walked to the bag right as she finished taping up.
She intertwined her fingers then moved them every which way, checking the tape. When she looked up, anger now swarmed in her eyes so fiercely it would have melted a normal person. Thank goodness I wasn’t normal.
“Hold it tight,” she ordered, but it didn’t bother me one bit.
