Page 207 of Titus

A young woman sat across from a man in a detention uniform while a little girl colored beside them. An older couple sat with another detainee several rows away, and attorneys occupied two tables near the windows.

Correctional officers remained stationed throughout the room, watching and listening to everything.

It was surreal to see all the detainees in this room, waiting for someone else to decide their future. I hated this so much for Titus.

My eyes drifted toward the secured door at the far end of the room. Still nothing. Then, finally, the door opened, and everything inside me immediately stilled.

My heart rate picked up when a correctional officer stepped through first, and then my heart damn near stopped when Titus followed behind him.

For a second, he didn’t see me, his attention still on the officer after the officer had said something to him.

Then he looked up and just froze. How many times did I wake up last night, knowing I was coming here today, imagining this moment? What I would do. How would I react and feel?

Instead of reacting in any of the ways I’d imagined, the shock of seeing him right now left me paralyzed where I sat. It was when the officer pointed toward my table that Titus began walking over to me.

Every step made this feel more real. The facility-issued uniform hung across his broad shoulders. The stubble along his jaw was darker than I’d ever seen it, and the shadows beneath his eyes told me he wasn’t sleeping nearly enough.

And despite all of that… he still looked like Titus Hawk. He still carried himself like the most powerful man in the room and moved with the same quiet confidence that had made entire boardrooms nervous.

The correctional officer walked away when Titus stopped beside the table.

“Catalina.”

“Hi.”

His jaw flexed when he sat across from me. “My God. What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too.”

His expression didn’t change. “What are you doing here?” he asked again, more seriously.

“I came to see you.”

“No, please God, tell me that one of my brothers didn’t pull you into the middle of this.”

“Nobody pulled me into the middle of anything,” I said, meeting his direct gaze and realizing this would not be the reunion I had hoped for with him. “Now,” I said, trying to soften the mood. “It really is good to see you. I don’t approve of the wardrobe, but that’s a subject for another day.” I waved my hand over the jumpsuit.

For the first time since I’d arrived, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he glanced down at his uniform. When his eyes met mine again, they were softer. God, I’d missed him.

“Fine. As always, you win.” His eyes narrowed.

“I know,” I smiled.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he said with absolute sincerity. “I swear, it’s probably a good thing we’re not allowed to embrace, because if I touch or hold you right now, I wouldn’t be able to let you go.”

“That’s not a bad thing,” I answered with a soft laugh, then glanced over at the guards. “I guess it’s a stupid question, but how are you doing in here?”

“Well, I can’t say I’d give the place a Michelin star,” he answered with a soft laugh.

“I certainly could think of better décor to warm the place up,” I said, my expression reflecting the shock I truly felt.

He finally offered me the smile I’d missed, “I really have missed you. How are things with work?”

“That’s a fun one,” I said.

“What happened?” he became serious again.

I took a breath. “I terminated the lease at the Newport office and am moving back to my old place on Melrose.”