Page 78 of Captive Audience

Asha’s hands flew up. “We’re not here to hurt you.”

I shoved the door wide and grabbed the barrel, twisting it sideways and wrenching it from her hands. She staggered back, wild-eyed and terrified.

Asha shoved my shoulder. “What the hell is wrong with you? She’s scared out of her mind.”

“Who are you?” I demanded.

“Get out,” she snapped, wrapping her arms around her middle. “You have no right to be here.”

A shuffle behind her drew all our eyes. A small boy waddled into view, clutching an action figure in his chubby hand. Drool glistened on his chin.

He couldn’t have been more than eighteen months old. Tan skin, dark curls, blue eyes that stopped my heart cold.

“Go back to your room, Niall,” the woman said, voice soft but urgent.

Niall.

Asha and I stared at each other.

I looked at the boy again. The shape of his nose, his mouth. His blue eyes were just like mine. Just like my brother’s.

“I’m an uncle?” I croaked, barely recognizing my own voice.

The woman stared, breathing hard. Something shifted in her eyes. Recognition. “Rook?” shewhispered.

I nodded. “Aye.”

She stepped forward and reached out with one hand as if unsure whether she could trust what she was seeing, then lowered it just as fast. “You look like your brother.”

I shrugged. “There’s no need to be polite about it. He was always the better looking one.”

Her lips quirked, just slightly, and she covered her mouth when her breath hitched.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Catalina. How did you find us?”

I didn’t even know where to start.

“It’s a long story,” Asha said. “Do you mind if we sit?”

Catalina hesitated and said, “All right. We have a lot to talk about.”

She led us to a dining room with white curtains and sun-warmed wood floors. After she reassured Niall Jr. that everything was okay, he plopped down beside a pile of toys near the window. He watched us and chewed on the ragged ear of a stuffed rabbit while Catalina brewed coffee in the kitchen.

I couldn’t look away from the kid. It was like seeing part of Niall again. Same inquisitive eyes. Same little smirk.

Catalina set mugs of coffee on the table and sat across from us. Hands clasped and shoulders tense, she said, “I assume you’re here because you have questions. What would you like to know?”

I had so many. All of them swept through my mind like a hurricane, leaving me speechless.

“Why don’t you start by telling us how you and Niall met,” Asha said.

Thank Christ I had her with me. Someone that held steady when my emotions threatened to drag me under.

“We met four years ago,” Catalina began. “At a party in Jersey. I was working that night. Not as a waitress.”

Asha blinked. “Oh.”