Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Catalina

She couldn't stop crying. She wanted to. It was really pissing her off that she had no control. No spine. Sobbing uncontrollably made her head hurt. Her body ache. If she didn't stop soon, she'd make herself sick.

Earlier today, after Jacanas left, she crawled down the hall and to her room. Cat managed to shove the heavy dresser in front of the door before she allowed herself to fall into bed. It wouldn't keep the guards from coming into her room if they wanted in. But she'd have a few seconds of warning.

She'd done this before. When she wanted privacy to shower or just couldn't deal. They were used to her antics. The first couple of times Cat did this, they pushed their way in. Just to make sure she hadn't gone out the window. They made a few jokes about her being too big to fit through and left her alone after that.

Cat figured they wouldn't bother her until morning. Then they'd force her to eat something and drink some water. Jacanas had decreed she wasn't allowed to starve herself. Starvation had been one of her earlier attempts at self-termination and lasted a week before he caught on.

The anger and sorrow in her soul exploded out of her. Cat couldn't do this anymore. She absolutely wouldn't sit through what the Andaran had planned for her in three days. She didn't have time to wait for Baby to come up with a solution for her. Besides, there wasn't one. She would allow herself this night to cry. To wail at the evil and unfairness.

Then she had to figure out how to kill herself.

Cat turned her face into her pillow and screamed. She couldn't do this anymore.

BaOBy

He felt Jay's uneasiness. Captain, you need to get here. Your mate is making herself sick.

Bao was already on his way. Now he sped through the flower forest, running for all he was worth. He didn't bother to ask what was wrong. He'd be there in moments. At the end of the field, he slowed his pace. Not wanting to attract attention.

True dark was an hour or more away. He couldn't take Catalina up to the rooftop, not yet. Not unless she was ready to leave that prison for good. If so, he'd take her to the ship.

Rounding the corner within moments, he slipped behind Jay's illusion and into the alley. Immediately, he heard Cat's muffled screams and sobs. Jay put his hand on Bao's arm to stop him from blasting into the house in a mindless rage. He looked down, realizing he'd pulled out his stun gun.

Whispering, Jay explained, "No one is hurting her now. I told you earlier, the Andaran hit her. Once. Then he left. No one has said anything to her or approached her since Jacanas left the house. I looked inside her room. She's barricaded her door and is in bed. The emotional breakdown stops for a short time, but then she starts up again, stronger than ever."

Bao met his brother's gaze. "Do you have the strength to cover me with illusion?"

Jay nodded. "Enough for the night. I'll eat, rest, and come back at sunrise to strengthen it. I don't think you should leave her alone during the day."

Bao set one foot in Jay's linked fingers and climbed onto the windowsill. He turned and whispered. "Let Lan know. We must have an update tomorrow. We need to give Cat some hope." Swinging his legs through the small opening, he squeezed through and carefully slid to the floor.

Cat wouldn't see him. Jay had set an anchor for the illusion in Bao's skin. Gliding silently toward the bed, he murmured. "Don't be afraid, Cat. It's Baby. I'm just going to scoot in beside you so I can hold you. Jay made me invisible so no one will see me if they open the door."

He stripped off his shoes and hid them under the bed. Once something was taken off his body, it would become visible. He set the stun gun on top of the shoes and pulled back the covers. "It's okay, Catalina. It's just me." Gently, he touched her shoulder and then wrapped his body around hers.

Cat moaned and turned. Without opening her eyes, she nuzzled her cheek against his chest. A few moments later, the wracking sobs turned to hiccups and silent tears. Eventually, she fell asleep in his arms. Exhausted.

Catalina

She woke, knowing Bao held her, but unable to see him. What the man had done for her was sweet and a little creepy. Cat figured she slept longer and harder than she had in years. Certainly deeper than she had since being ‘gifted' to Jacanas.

Moments after Baby explained why he was invisible, the guards knocked on the door. Demanding she come to the kitchen and eat.

Cat sighed. Her appetite was better, too. The depression was gone. In its place was a firm resolve. After breakfast, when she returned to her room, she closed the door and looked around.

"Baby," she whispered.

His arms wrapped around her, and he nuzzled her ear. "I'm here."

Lightning shot through her system and she gasped. His simplest touch made her body pleasantly vibrate. Before he could ask her what happened, she stepped away. "Thank you, Baby. For last night. It really helped me. I feel so much better this morning. You can go. I'll explain everything tonight. But I can't do that now. I have to go check on the girls and then get cleaned up. It's already past noon. Can Jay make it look like I'm in bed, asleep? I could come to you a little earlier."

She felt his arms go around her waist for a quick hug. Once again, he whispered in her ear, "I'll leave. Within the hour, Jay will be back outside your window. Whenever you are ready to go, he can definitely create the illusion of you on the bed. Just let him know you want to leave and I'll come get you. We've set things up in the flower forest, just as you suggested."

The sensations swamping her body made it hard to concentrate. She gasped when she realized what he meant. "You took one of his ships!" she hissed.

Cat felt him nod.

"And so much more. I have a lot to tell you. But I'll go now. If you get in trouble, or just need to disappear, let Jay know. He'll help you." His arms slowly slid from around her waist and she felt the breeze from the window as he quietly opened it and slipped out.

Catalina took a deep breath. Determined not to cry. Or not to chase after him. She would go through this day as if nothing happened. Then confess to Baby that he was out of time. She was out of time. The weapon she needed to end this nightmare was in her hidden duffle bag.

Just before dark…

Cat glanced once more at the illusion of her sleeping in the bed. Shaking her head at how real it looked, she tumbled out the window into BaOBy's arms. She couldn't suppress a soft giggle. That move had never been graceful. Normally, she ended up in a heap on the ground. Tonight, two incredibly beautiful men witnessed her humiliation.

As things went in her world, it could have been worse.

Jay kept them hidden from view as they quickly made it down the street to the Violetta fields. She tugged on Baby's hand to stop him when they walked into an old warehouse. She could see what had to be several of his brothers swarming over the building. Cleaning and repairing walls and the roof. The men were a rainbow of shades, all with Baby and Jay's face. "What are they doing?"

Baby grinned at her. "It was abandoned. We rented it. For one thing, it will hide our tracks in the field if we go in the front door and out the back side that is overgrown with flowers. No one will see us. It gives us both storage space, somewhere to keep prisoners if we need to, and just seemed like a good idea." He shrugged.

Frowning, Cat looked around and decided they were right. This building was big enough to hide almost anything. She grinned when he took her out the back, straight into the flowers. She could see a trail forming with all the back and forth through the Violeta forest. Something they needed to hide. This was a great idea.

When they reached the ship, Catalina was stunned. There were two spaceships and several hovers parked among the giant flowers. She couldn't help the grin splitting her face. "You took the ASC 3000. I wish I could see Jacanas' expression when he realizes it's gone!"

Jay snorted. "Let's hope he doesn't realize it until we're ready. But yes, the man is going to be furious."

They walked up a ramp to the transportation bay of the ship. She had done all the research for the Andaran when he wanted to purchase the top-of-the-line, most up-to-date spaceship available. Cat knew exactly how much it cost and what all the options were. She studied floor plans and features for months before making her recommendation.

Cat wanted to take her hand away from Baby and wipe it on her robe. She was sweating. Nervous. She wished they'd just gone across the street to the rooftop. Another one of the brothers was watching the house, just in case something happened while she was gone, but she still didn't like it. He took her right to an elevator, and they went up to the first floor. The navigation bridge.

When the doors opened, two Earth women were waiting for them. They were both bald, as were two of Baby's brothers standing next to them. One man was light blue, the other was dusty green. Bao stepped in front of her, demanding, "What is going on?"