Page 78 of The Vows We Keep

“Fine.” King huffs as he stands and smooths the creases in his jeans. “But sit on the opposite side of the table, yeah?” He turns to me. “Hurt her, I’ll kill you.”

“Understood,” I say.

“King,” Rae admonishes.

He raises his hands and walks out of the bar area with the confident swagger so many of these men have.

Earlier, Niro left me with Rae and went to his room in the clubhouse, telling me to message him when we’re done with our coffee. Before King left, he’d popped back out approximately four more times. Once to remind me which room is his, in case I need it. A second time to tell me to help myself to the cookies in the kitchen. The third time to ask if I wanted to go out for dinner tonight. And the fourth to ask me if I was warm enough.

I kissed him, reassured him that I was confident I’d find him, that I was still full from lunch, that I would make us enchiladas tonight, and that I was definitely warm enough in the large hoodie of his I’d borrowed.

Some might question why he wasn’t there to have my back against his president. I kind of like that he trusted me enough to hold my own.

“He can be overprotective at times,” Rae says as she sits, and I appreciate that she didn’t make apologies on King’s behalf. “Catalina. I’m thrilled to meet you. And I have to admit, I’m intrigued. I was curious about the woman who has Niro smiling for once.”

“He thinks highly of you.”

“He does?” She seems genuinely shocked by the answer.

I think back to the night on the stairs, what he said about her. “He said you’re intuitive and able to understand the rules of keeping secrets.”

Rae picks up her cup and holds it in her hands, blowing gently on the surface. “My profession and my nature have made me exceptional at holding multiple confidences, even if they conflict. Whatever you say to me will never be repeated. Not to Niro, and most definitely not to Uther.”

“Uther?”

She waves a hand. “King. Uther is his real name.”

Uther.

Huh.

“Bueno.”

“Neither will it be repeated to my brother.”

“Your brother?” I ask, wondering why it’s relevant.

“Saint. He’s my brother.”

“Wow.” Now that I know, I can see the similarities. Same hair color, eyes, and smile. “You’re really wrapped up in the club then?”

“You have no idea.” Rae smiles. “Do you feel like telling me why you are here? King has told me nothing. All Niro told me was that you needed a friend and I think that’s a good boundary to stick to given who I am to Niro.”

“Friend works.” I smile at the thought Niro would go out of his way like this for me. So I tell Rae the whole story. How my father left. How he never came back. How I slept with Felipe to get details from him. How I’d do it again in a heartbeat because I don’t think I can rest knowing Papá’s not been avenged. How I enjoy being an assassin and suspect my father’s club is to blame for his death. How I worry that I will never find a place where my skills are treated as equal to those around me. How I’m worried about Neva, who hasn’t responded to any of my most recent messages. How I feel lost. I correct myself, thinking of Niro’s words. How I’mstuck.

Rae listens intently. She nods in the right places, holding space and silence for me to explore my own feelings as I speak. Even when I finish my explanation, she leaves a moment or two of quiet between us.

“Did I say too much?” I ask.

Rae smiles and shakes her head. “There is no such thing as saying too much or too little. It simply is what is it is. And I heard a lot in what you said. I also heard a lot in the silence in between. Do you have siblings?”

“No. Mamá had issues conceiving and staying pregnant.”

She sips her coffee. The way she does everything is measured. “Do you grapple with what is socially acceptable for a young woman and the life you’re building?”

I think of having sex with Felipe. “Only superficially.”

“Can you expand on that for me?”