Page 2 of Urgent Vows
I incline my head and my brother takes care of it.
"You said you need to talk to me," I prompt her.
She nods then looks directly into my eyes again and I'm struck by this small woman's courage. Whatever her father's plans and the violence he used to get her to agree, she is forging her own path.
"You need to save Carlotta."
That is not what I expect her to say.
My muscles tense. "Was she kidnapped?" I ask. "How long ago?"
"No." Catalina's eyes shut, like she wishes she didn't have to say what is about to come out of her mouth. "She ran away this morning while I thought she was in the other room getting ready."
"How do you expect me to save her?"
"First, someone needs to find her. She's too innocent to be out there alone."
"I'm sure your father has that in hand."
Catalina shakes her head. "He hasn't sent men after her yet." She sounds thankful for that fact.
Which makes no sense in light of her asking me to find my runaway bride.
"He was too busy getting you dressed up to take her place," Miceli says, revealing his return and showing he has heard at least part of the conversation.
Catalina shrugs and then winces, holding her body perfectly still. Is she hurt somewhere besides her face?
"Will you look for her?" she asks me.
A plan forming in my mind. "Maybe."
"Oh." My lack of commitment seems to deflate her.
"You said, first."
"Yes…" she lets her voice trail off, like she's hesitant to continue.
I'm not a patient man so my next words come out harsh. "What else?"
"Can you order my father not to beat or kill her?" Catalina looks at me with appeal shining in her eyes, that poor bottom lip taking further abuse from her teeth.
"Under certain circumstances, I can, yes." I reach out and tug her lip away from her teeth. "Whether I will, or not, depends on you."
Confusion fills her pretty eyes. "Me?"
"Yes, you. I expected to get married today. Fifteen hundred guests expect to see me get married. I do not know if you have noticed, Catalina, but I am missing a bride."
"Of course, I noticed. I'm stuffed into a wedding dress that's three inches too long and a size too small because my sister has gone missing." She sounds cranky.
"Ran away," I correct.
She frowns, but concedes with a nod. "Ran away."
"From me and her commitment to marry me." I spell it out for Catalina so there can be no doubt how I see Carlotta's actions.
Biting her lip again, Catalina studies me, but finally she nods her agreement. Not that I need her to agree. We both know the truth.
I remove her lip from her teeth again, this time brushing my thumb over it. "Stop that. You'll do yourself damage."
