Chapter 1

Catalina's POV

They say that family is everything. That it's not an important thing. It's everything. I always wondered what that was like. To be able to say your family is everything.To be able to tell others how great your family is and how much you all love each other. But, to people like me, family is just a word. It doesn't mean much anymore. You learn very quickly that if you love something out of the ordinary, you pay the price for it. Sometimes those things will be taken from you, and you'll cry and be told to get over it, Other times you guard that thing so intensely that you push everyone away. Like those of us who enjoy the night. Most people will look and see an empty void to be afraid of. Wondering what dark creature lurks inside. However, for people like me, we don't see. We feel. The dark is a heavy blanket that keeps us safe from the outside world. In the dark, the monsters can't get us but take the cover off and we're exposed.

"Started without me I see."

Of course, he'd be early. I shook my head and turned as Gabriel made his way over to the spot on the roof beside me. Nothing about Gabriel blended in with the dark surrounding us. His golden blonde hair and light green eyes stuck out against the paleness of his skin and were at odds with the sharp yet boyish angles of his face and muscular body, but it was his overbearing dark gray feathered wings that stuck out the most against the midnight sky.

"Can you blame me, it's hot outside." I didn't need to look at him to know he'd already started counting the empty liquor bottles around me. Five. There are five.

"What would you have done if you had fallen off this roof?" Gabriel asked as he took one of the few unopened bottles.

I rolled my eyes,

"Probably just laid there until you came. There are a lot of stairs after all." I smirked back, and found him smiling down at me,

"Is that all I'm good for? Using my wings to fly you places at a faster pace?"

I knew he wasn't offended. It was the kind of relationship Gabriel and I had. I wouldn't dishonor him and call him family. Family meant so little to me these days but Gabriel was a constant in my life. Just as overprotective and caring as I had always imagined a brother who loved their sibling would be. This was how we were, We could be sarcastic assholes to each other one minute and laugh about it the next.

I pressed my bottle of whiskey to my lips, taking another sip.

"You having wings is certainly a bonus but your best quality is your impeccable taste in whiskey." Gabriel laughed and for a solid moment, I had forgotten all the events that had happened earlier today.

"So what's the occasion?" Gabriel asked, taking the bottle of liquor out of my hands and taking a sip for himself. We usually only met on the roof of the library when one of us had something important to say to the other. Something about being under an open sky full of stars was just so calming and seemed to put us at ease. Like when your parents would sing you a lullaby to help you get to sleep. Not that either of us knew how that felt. My mother's version of a lullaby was telling me if I didn't stop crying she'd give me something to cry about. However, I imagine for others when parents sing them a lullaby it is soothing.

"I decided to go no contact with them," I admitted. It was a long time coming. I gave my family chance after chance to try and be a part of my life, to accept me for who I was but they had proven time and time again that they had no interest in me or my life or being a part of it.

"It'll be hard, you know," Gabriel said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I glanced over and saw him staring at the sky. Sometimes I forgot what Gabriel was and that he hadn't seen his own family for quite some time.

"How do you deal with it?" I asked as I took back the bottle and poured another shot into my mouth.

"It's hard I'll admit but I know that the people I care about are safe." He reached over and grabbed another unopened bottle. Drinking was my sedative. It calmed me down and relaxed me when I had a million thoughts going through my head. It helped me escape and forget.

"Well Gabriel, here's to new beginnings." We raised our bottles and cheered each other. Tomorrow will be a new day for me. I would no longer have to worry about all the toxicity that has plagued my life for Twenty-five years. Tomorrow I would be able to focus on me and my life and what I wanted. That was a scary thought but life was all about adventure.

"You know I'll always be here for you. Whatever you need." Gabriel whispered as I leaned my head against his shoulder. It was comforting to know that there is someone out there who does care about me. That I meant something to someone. Even if a part of me believed it was a lie.

* * *

3 Days Later

Hangovers fucking sucked. Luckily I knew a way to fix it immediately. The cure for any hangover? Another drink. I walked out of my room at Gabriel's house to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of wine from his collection, the bottle opener, and my wine glass, and made my way over to the couch. Out of instinct, I pulled out my phone. 0 notifications. I decided to go no contact with my mother days ago and I thought after a few days of not hearing from me my brothers would maybe get a little worried or maybe even send a text. If I was lucky maybe they would call. They didn't. I knew what that meant. They had taken her side once again. My brothers always took my mother's side whenever she and I argued or fought. They would usually ignore me for a few hours and then talk to me again to try and get me to apologize to Mom. I never did. I should've known better. I should've just left my phone in my room. I glanced down at the still-unopened bottle of wine.

Maybe I don't need a glass after all.

I opened up the wine and finished half the bottle in a matter of seconds. Gabriel truly did have one of the best wine collections. It was a holy experience. I settled in as the wine started to gently erase the feelings of this morning. I glanced at my phone, my finger hovering over an app I hadn't used in months. Wine could only help so much and a girl has needs and it's not like I was looking for anything serious and hell I needed some kind of distraction.

Screw it let's have a little fun

* * *

After endlessly swiping guy after guy after guy and having the same old boring conversations, I managed to score a hookup for tonight. I reached over and grabbed the bottle opener and opened my third bottle of the day.

"Damn you look gross," Gabriel muttered as he made his way into the kitchen and placed his keys on the hook by the door.

"How much did you drink today?"

I shrugged and lifted the barely open wine bottle,

"Counting this one, Three." Gabriel sighed as he walked over to the couch and sat in front of me on the coffee table.

"That makes Ten bottles in three days," Gently he pried the bottle out of my hands,

"If you're upset we can talk about it." I rolled my eyes,

"There's nothing to talk about." I hated that. I hated that he thought something was wrong whenever I was drinking. I was just a normal 25-year-old. We drink and make bad decisions. It's what we're best at.

"Catalina I think-"

"I have to go get ready anyway." I cut him off trying to avoid the entire issue. We've had this discussion before and I wasn't really in the mood to hear how much of a problem he thought my drinking was.

"Ready for what?" Gabriel asked as I stood up and made my way back to my room. Gabriel followed. I leaned against my doorframe and answered him.

"I have a date tonight, we're going to that new club that just opened up downtown." Gabriel nods,

"Just please be careful and call if you need me, seriously If you need me I'm there." I smiled. Gabriel nodded, I could tell he wanted to say something but he was holding back, like he always did.

"I won't be out too late I promise," I said as I walked into my room to get ready. I needed this distraction tonight. I needed to get out of my head, even for a few hours.

* * *

I stared at my outfit one last time before heading out. A simple black strapless satin crop top, black leather pants, and my Christian Louboutin Vidura's. Perfect. Simple and a little edgy. I grabbed the black little handbag that Gabriel had gotten me last year for my birthday and headed out the door. I didn't see Gabriel on the way out but I figured he'd be busy doing whatever work he hadn't finished for the day anyway. Gabriel was always busy running around town either working his small little music shop or doing whatever volunteer work he had signed up for that day. I pulled out my phone and texted him,

Heading out now! B back at 3 :P

I had just started the car when my phone pinged with his response,

Stay safe and please call if you need me. Have fun loser!

I heart reacted to the message and plugged the address into my GPS. fifteen minutes. Not bad at all. Tonight was going to be a good night. I could feel it. Nothing was going to ruin this night for me.

* * *

The Veilwas everything I had hoped to be, Devon however was not. He had asked me my favorite color at least eight times and I was thoroughly annoyed. Some guys just didn't have a personality. I had lost him around 1 AM after telling him I had a "Family emergency". Oldest trick in the book but I couldn't take it anymore. I did manage to get six tequila shots from the guy. Which is why I was feeling so damn good right now. It could've also been the guy standing behind me with his hands on my waist. He had startled me when he first did it but as I turned to face him and saw his very handsome face, toned sculpted body, short black hair, piercing blue eyes, and tall. Very tall. At least 6'5. I gave in.

"You got a name?" He whispered in my ear as his grip tightened on my waist.

"You can call me Cat," I replied. I never give out my real name. Not anymore.

"Well Miss Cat, why don't we continue this dance in private." Now that sounded like fun. I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him in close as I whispered,

"I like the way you think." he kissed my neck before reaching for my hand and leading me out the door to his car. A 2022 E-Class All-Terrain crossover.

Oh, he's loaded.

Like a gentleman, he opened the passenger door for me and helped me inside. I could tell from the immaculate interior that he just got the car.

I wonder if he used his own money or his daddy's money

Within ten minutes we're at his place. Rose Pointe Luxury Apartments.

Of course, he lives here.

These places easily went for over $8,000 a month. He pulled up to the front and opened my door, taking my hand and leading me to the front entrance as he tossed the keys to the valet. I glanced at the floor-to-ceiling windows that graced the front of the building.

Damn, it would suck to clean those.

Dark amber golden lights lit up the place, adding a touch of normalcy to the porcelain white tiles that covered the floor.

I didn't have a chance to take in the rest of the place before he picked me up and carried me to the elevator.

"You are quite the dancer I must say." I blushed as I looked him in the eyes and whispered,

"Well I trained in dance for many years so I guess it's paying off," I smirked as his eyes slightly widened, The heat building in his eyes intensified,

"Well, maybe you'll have to show me what other moves you've learned." He leaned down and placed a kiss on my lips

Not bad mystery man. Not bad at all.

The elevator door dinged and opened up to a-

Of course, he lives in the top-floor penthouse. How original.

He carried me through the penthouse and into a very spacious and dark bedroom. Not a single thing was out of place, everything was so..cold. It almost felt like he lived in a hospital. He gently placed me down and went to close the door. I took the opportunity to look at myself and fix myself up. My long black hair reaches just past my chest, you'd never know my hair was naturally curly. My dark eye shadow and mascara were a little messed up but honestly, it was about to get messier. Luckily my foundation was still going strong and concealing my dark freckles. My olive skin has a tinge of pink making me look a little flushed and glassy green eyes.

Damn I look like a mess

"Shall we continue our dance Cat?" Mystery guy said as he looked at me through the reflection in his mirror. His hands found their way to my waist and his lips found their mark on my neck.

This is just what I need.

This feeling. Call it lust, passion, and desire. Whatever you want to call it. I just needed it. Needed to feel something. To feel wanted. I turned to face him. The heat was still prominent in his eyes as I pushed him down onto the bed and ever so slowly began to remove my top. Like every man, his eyes got wider as he stared at my chest, and for a moment I smiled until his gaze locked with the mirror and on my back.

Dammit

"Are you alright? What happened-" I leaned forward and kissed him to stop the question.

If I can just get on my back it'll be like nothing ever happened.

And as if he read my mind, he laid his hands on my waist and flipped me onto my back. Breaking the kiss to admire my chest.

"God damn these can't be real," he murmured against my chest as he placed soft gentle kisses on each breast and slowly began to kiss his way down my body. He stopped and gently unbuttoned my pants and slid them off my body. He smirked as he realized I had nothing else underneath.

"I should have known," He chuckled and gently placed a kiss right below my belly button.

"Girls like you are always ready."

Girls like me? Wtf is that supposed to mean?

Before I could even continue thinking I felt his tongue slide up my center.

Holy Fuck!

Was the last thought I had as I gave in to the sweet abyss.

* * *

Why do cell phones have to make so much noise?

I reached for my phone to hit snooze for what seemed like the fifth time. I glanced at my phone and nearly had a breakdown as I saw the time. 8:00 AM.

"Fucking shit I'm late," I muttered to myself as I looked around the room for my clothes.

Gabriel is going to kill me

Twelve missed calls and Thirty-four text messages only meant one thing. I royally fucked up. I found my top, pants, and shoes and practically sprinted out of the door. I was no stranger to the occasional walk of shame but it never got easier, especially when old folks are hardcore side-eyeing you. I ran out of the apartment complex and started heading back towards the club to get my car. I plugged the address into my GPS. Twenty minutes.

I knew I should've worn better shoes.

I decided to make a run for it. The faster I got my car, the faster I could get home and possibly avoid Gabriel's lecture.

I made it to the club in fifteen minutes and immediately saw my little black Nissan with the crescent moon dangling in the mirror. I smiled at the realization that my car was where I left it and hadn't been towed or broken into. I hurried over to the car, turning up the heat as much as I could and taking a minute while the car warmed up to take a look through all of the text messages Gabriel had sent me last night.

Hey, just checking in to make sure you're okay.

Let me know when you're on your way home so I can unlock the door.

Catalina call me back when you get this.

WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!!!!

IF YOU DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE IN THE NEXT 20 MINUTES I'M GOING TO COME LOOK FOR YOU!

He was going to be so pissed.

Maybe I can make it up to him? After all, I do make a pretty mean mimosa.

I pulled out of the parking lot and started the drive home. It was Sunday so luckily for me everyone was still at church so there was no traffic and I was home in ten minutes. I parked the car in the driveway and began to make my way up the stairs.

"Where the fuck have you been?"

Shit

" I told you Gabriel I was going out" I replied as I looked up and saw Gabriel leaning against the door frame of the front door.

"You said you'd be home by 3 AM," His voice was deep with frustration.

"I know Gabriel but time just got away from me. I'm sorry." I finally reached the top of the stairs and could see the worry and anger in his eyes.

"You reek of booze and regret." he tilts his his nodding for me to get inside

"Get inside and I'll make you some food while you shower and change." I hugged Gabriel before making my way into the house and into my room, chucking off last night's clothing and starting the water. I looked at myself in the mirror.

Damn I look awful

Runny makeup? Check. Dark circles under my eyes? Check. Messy hair? Check. Hickies covering most of my body? Check. Yep, I thoroughly looked like a hot mess.

I think I've looked at myself long enough.

I opened up the glass door into the shower. The water felt amazing except on my back. Sometimes if the water was too hot it made the scars sting a bit but I had gotten used to it over the years. Gabriel tried to convince me to let him heal them but I wanted to keep them. They reminded me of what I've been through and who put them there.

Don't focus on that right now

I wiped the memory from my head and focused on the way the water and steam came together to soothe me and wash away the events of last night.