Leighton Mia - Hero

“There’s no danger,” I reassure her. “But I want you close anyway.”

“Are you afraid I’ll say something I shouldn’t?”

“I wouldn’t have invited you if that were the case. However, I’d advise you to be careful. I’m trusting you.” Her fingers compress around my bicep as she nods. “What’s your poison?” I ask.

She scans the room up to the second floor balcony and over the crown molding along the ceiling. “They’re even richer than you.”

“Helpful when it comes to charity functions.”

She looks back at me while biting the inside of her bottom lip. “I was never much of a drinker. Can you order for me?”

“Gladly.” I get her a glass of red wine and keep her close as I roam the party and make my presence known. In the wake of this week’s headlines, it’s important as ever to maintain a sense of normalcy. Cataline’s Hero fell days ago, so I haven’t bothered sharing the news with her. When the story broke, not even my own publications could skirt publishing the photos.

Cataline shows me someone new at the party. She’s the woman in the crimson dress: sophisticated, sexy, restrained. Hardly the same girl I kidnapped months ago. I don’t know how to feel about it. Mostly she’s composed, smiling and nodding at the right times, but I note how her fingers curl in and out of little fists. Finally, mid-conversation with two other couples, I still her hand with mine. She blinks up at me as I lace our fingers together. Her mouth opens slightly, and she squeezes my hand. I wonder how it would be to kiss her here, claiming her in front of all these people.

I only break our gaze when the mention of Hero draws me back into the conversation. The mayor and his wife have joined the group, so I bend my mouth to Cataline’s ear. “Will you refresh our drinks?”

She nods and leaves with my glass.

The mayor shakes his head, talking to the man next to me. “I know as much as you do. Nobody suspected he was anything more than a vigilante—trained fighter or soldier, something like that. Chief Strong’s been working around the clock, looking for an answer.”

“We were shocked,” says one of the women. “Brian insists it’s something extraterrestrial, but I told him that’s absurd.”

“Whatever it is, it can’t be good,” says the mayor. “We’ve been fielding phone calls all week from concerned citizens. I don’t even want to know what the force is dealing with, what with the FBI all over them.”

His wife shudders. “What if one day he suddenly turns on us? Can you imagine that, a man who can’t be killed? I do hope he’ll just go away, and leave us alone. What’s your take, Calvin?”

I’m struggling for an answer when something across the room catches my eye. “I think Brian’s onto something,” I tell her. “It was only a matter of time before the aliens found us. If you’ll excuse me.”

I step away from the group and just out of Cataline’s sight as she accepts two drinks from the bartender. A man I don’t recognize won’t stop smiling at her. I’m not in the habit of listening in on people’s conversations, mostly because there’s nothing worth hearing. Now, though, I’m rapt as he leans in and speaks.

“You look familiar,” he says, “but I can’t put my finger on it. Have I seen you at one of these before?”

She glances around the room so quickly that it’s almost imperceptible. “It’s my first time. I’m a guest.”

“Of?”

“Calvin Parish.”

“Aha. I wasn’t aware he had guests.”

“Meaning?”

“He never brings anyone to these things.” The man grins and whispers loudly, “He’s a bit uptight if you haven’t noticed.”

She smiles at the floor but answers clearly and loudly, probably for my benefit. “Oh, I definitely have.”

“Rob,” he says, sticking out his hand.

She hesitates a moment, unmistakable fear in her eyes. I can see her newfound wariness fighting with her innate politeness. That a strange man scares her doesn’t surprise me. “I should really get this to Calvin.”

“Oh, come on, chat with me for a minute. You’re the only other person in the room under thirty. What’s your name?”

“Cataline.”

“Nice to meet you, Cataline.” He cocks his head. “You do seem a little young for such a stuffy event. And much too pretty.”

Her forehead bows to the ground again as she smiles a little. I can see that it radiates warmth, even though it’s not directed at me. Suddenly I’m too far from her, and this man is too close.

“Thank you,” she says.

An unusually long silence stretches between them as her eyes travel up to meet his again. His eyebrows lower, joining in the middle as he studies her. Something about the way he’s looking at her propels me out of the shadows and briskly forward.

“Hang on. I think I do recognize you,” he says. “Aren’t you the girl who was kidnapped?”

Her eyes widen instantly. “What?”

“I’ve seen flyers downtown with your picture.”

“My picture?”

“Are you?” he asks. “Are you the girl who was kidnapped?”

My heart is racing as I approach her from behind, restraining myself from clamping my hand over her mouth.

“No,” she says, and I almost stop in my tracks. “It must’ve been someone else.”

“Shit, are you okay? You don’t look so good.” He touches her arm. If I react how I want, I’ll draw unwanted attention. “Should I call someone?”

“Cataline.”

She whirls around at my voice and immediately huddles into my chest. My arms instinctively surround her trembling shoulders. “Is there a problem here?” I ask the man.

“I’m sorry, no—”

“What’d you say to her?”

“I thought—I’m sorry. Nothing.”

“You’ve clearly upset my girlfriend. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t level you.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Parish. I was mistaken.”

I lean over her head and glare at him. “Stay the fuck away. She’s with me, got that?”

Cataline’s fingers curl into my shirt as I watch him leave.

“Shh,” I say into her hair. “It’s okay, Sparrow. I’m here.”

“Flyers?” she whispers.

“Frida, I think. She’s the only person I know of who’s never given up looking for you.”

“Oh, God,” she says into my chest. “Poor Frida.”

I roll my eyes. “Yes. Poor Frida.”

Her hands still clutch me, and I fucking love it. I love that for once she needs me. In this moment, I am her solace; I’m good Calvin to her. I take a chance and stroke her back, running my hand up her neck. I kiss the top of her head, careful not to disturb her nest of hair.

She doesn’t respond at first. We stand that way until she says, “You called me your girlfriend.”

“I know.”

She looks up at me finally, our eyes locking together. “I’m sorry for this morning,” she says. “I know you were trying.”

“You pushed me. You wanted me to lose control.”

“Ever since I found out about Hero—about you . . . I feel numb. Different. Everything is turned inside out.”

As she’s talking, her eyes grow warm and alive again. The eyes she used to stare at me with in the office, like she might love me in some weird way. Eyes I’ve seen here and there over the past few months, but not since the night she learned the truth.

I can’t help myself. She’s a magnetic force field, and I’m a man without a chance. I lower my head, hungry to gobble up that bottom lip of hers that’s quivering, begging for me. Doing what I do, being who I am, I’m never unprepared. But that’s exactly what I am when she shoves me away.

“I can’t,” she says, and I’m left open-mouthed with empty arms. “This isn’t what we are. I don’t want you. I don’t love you. And whatever this is, I can’t do it.”

My last promise to Cataline was that I’d let her be, but what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. I’m leaning against a brick wall near her apartment, impatiently waiting until a black town car pulls up. Cataline gets out with a small duffel bag and nothing more.

Norman’s right behind her, watching while she puts the bag at the doorstep of her apartment building. People pass them by, oblivious. The look she gives Norman makes my throat constrict. All I got in the car on the way home from the charity event was a cold shoulder and no explanation.

“I don’t know what to say,” she says to Norman. “It feels wrong to say thank you or I’ll miss you, but that’s what I want to say.”

He nods, and I’m sure the sentimental old man has tears in his eyes. “I want you to know, if you ever need anything, you can come to me.”

They hug, and she kisses him on the cheek. Then he’s gone, and she’s alone. Since he doesn’t take her upstairs, I know he knows I’m here. She approaches the building’s entrance and pushes the button to her apartment with an unsteady finger. She’s biting on her thumbnail when a voice comes through the speaker.

“Yeah?” Cataline just stares. “Hello?”

“Frida?” A silent beat. “It’s me, Cat.”

I realize I’m holding my breath until Frida says, “I . . . I’ll be right down.”

Cataline sighs and closes her eyes, and I have to remind myself why this is right. I want to bolt across the street and take her in my arms, crush her in a hug that reminds her I’m not just a bad memory but a real person who needs her, who no longer knows anything without her.

Frida bursts through the door and almost knocks Cataline over with the force of her hug. They cling to each other like they’re in danger of drowning in their own tears.

“Oh my God,” Frida chokes out. “Where have you been? What happened?”

I justify spying because I need to know what she’ll say. In fact, I wouldn’t care if she went to the police and told them everything. Exposed me as Hero. She deserves that kind of justice.