Page 180 of Titus

“And?”

“He’s already arranging meetings with our teams.”

I nodded. That was all I needed to hear. Jim handling it in my absence made me hopeful.

“Colton and Wyatt?”

“They’re reporting to Mitchell and Associates right now,” he answered. “I assured them I would handle everything with you, report back, and dispatch additional security detail for them.”

I continued watching as Catalina slept, wrapped in the blankets, unaware that the weekend she’d finally allowed herself to enjoy was about to come to an abrupt end.

It was everything I couldn’t protect her from.

Fuck me. My chest tightened, and it wasn’t because I was worried about myself. It was because of her.

“Marcus.”

“Sir.”

“If this goes where we think it’s headed, I want you and a couple of your men here with Catalina.”

“We’re already on our way, sir.”

“When do you estimate arrival?”

“Two hours, sir.”

I nodded.

“Perfect.” That would put him here shortly after whoever else decided to show up.

“What are your instructions once we arrive?”

I looked out toward the mountains, watching the sun rise and knowing these were the final moments of peace I was likely to get.

“If they arrest me, your priority becomes Catalina.”

“Understood.”

Without going into detail, Marcus knew exactly what that meant. He was to protect her, get her home, and have men watching her and her sister in my absence, mainly to keep her out of the crossfire.

If she reported to work, then Christian-fucking-Jameston would be met by my men, ensuring he came nowhere near her or her team’s offices.

“Very well,” I said, then ended the call and slid the phone into my back pocket.

For several moments, I stood there alone, listening to the quiet, knowing it wouldn’t last.

Finally, I turned and walked back inside. Catalina was still curled up beneath the blankets, sound asleep.

I almost woke her, but she looked more at peace than I’d seen her since the day we met. Instead of interrupting her peace, knowing I had at least an hour left to hold her before I was ripped away from her, I climbed back into bed beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

It may have been selfish, but if this was going to be our last peaceful moment for a while, I wanted it to be this. Not handcuffs, federal agents, or accusations.

Just me holding her while she slept.

She immediately moved closer. Instinctively trusting me without even opening her eyes.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. But when the past catches up to a family with a father like mine, peace rarely lasts.