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"Tino has a mommy and daddy and a sister," Coco whispered "My ulped "How did that - I’m sorry I’m sure you don’t want to talk about it"

Raquel perched on the bench next to Coco "Soe and killed our families They hate us because we’re different"

Caitlyn sucked in a deep breath Good God Were the girls’ families killed because they were vampires? That was unconscionable It re It could not be allowed to continue

She was struck suddenly with a moment of crystal clarity If she took the job offered by Emma MacKay, she could work to protect innocent children like Coco and Raquel And her niece and nephew

Coco tugged on the sleeve of her cardigan sweater "Am I bad ’cause I’m mad at Tino?"

"No, sweetie It’s normal to be envious when someone else has what you want for yourself"

"I really do like him" Coco sniffled "I want to be happy for hiirl’s long black hair "But in a strange way, you can be happy that the world isn’t fair"

Raquel stiffened "But it should be fair"

"Think about it," Caitlyn said softly "In a world that was totally fair, everything that happened to you would be because somehow you absolutely deserved it"

Raquel’s mouth dropped open "We - We didn’t deserve it"

Coco sat up, her eyes ith horror "The bad irl by the shoulders "You are good You are a sweet, innocent child, and there is no way you could ever deserve what happened"

Raquel jumped to her feet "Then why did it happen?"

Tears filled Caitlyn’s eyes "Oh, honey, I don’t knohy there’s evil in the world I think it has soood or bad"

"I want to be good," Coco whispered

Caitlyn blinked back her tears "Sweetie, you are good"

"If we’re good, why did that bad thing happen to us?" Raquel cried

Caitlyn winced She was in seriously over her head "I don’t know It shouldn’t have happened to you I’m so sorry that it did"

Coco burst into tears and threw her ar hesitant to ask for coirl onto her right knee Her own tears spilled over as she listened to the girls’ soft cries and felt their small bodies tre theht back to when she’d been stationed in Thailand and she’d visited the Tiger Temple She’d asked a Buddhist monk the same question Raquel had asked her He’d siood in the world that brought love and joy She pointed out that he’d avoided giving her a real answer

"Sometimes there are no words to answer Only love," he replied "And love is always the best answer"

So she sat silently, hugging the girls and hoping it was enough to give them some comfort

Slowly, a sense of purpose and completion seeped into her She’d been fired from the State Department because she’d interfered with local custoret her actions She’d do it again in a second

Maybe that was her true mission in life Protect the innocent She was here at this irls needed her Her whole life had been a oing to be here for you," she whispered to the girls in Portuguese She wouldn’t let anyone hare?" a deep asp, she turned her head Good God, it was hieous mystery ed in a shaky breath What was it about this ed? It was as if every nerve cell was exposed and vulnerable And instead of frightening her, it excited her

He stepped out of the shadows,he’d been there How much of their conversation did he hear? Since he obviously spoke Portuguese, he would have understood the girls

"Uncle!" Coco scra her arms around his waist

Uncle? Caitlyn watched as he patted the girl on her back Was the uncle an honorary title? Coco had said her family members were dead

Raquel approached him slowly, as if afraid her need for affection would be rejected

Caitlyn exhaled with relief when he drew the girl closer Soracefulness he had while playing basketball His ht?" he asked quietly in English

"Yes" Raquel aze shifted to Caitlyn and his eyes narrowed "Yes, I know"

She had a strange suspicion that he was annoyed with her, but that didn’t make any sense "How do you do? I’m Caitlyn Whelan"

"Yes, I know"

She waited for him to introduce hi and intense, as if he were sizing up his prey Maybe to a vampire, she was prey She suppressed a shiver "You’re Coco’s uncle?"

His et back to the party Thank you for your assistance"

He was annoyed Why would he object to her helping the girls? Caitlyn looked at Coco and Raquel "If you ever need to talk again, I’ll be happy to listen"

Coco grinned and ran to her Raquel followed, and Caitlyn wrapped her ar the at her, she couldn’t resist needling hiaze drifted down to her feet, then inched slowly back up "I don’t do groups"

Her skin tingled with sensual awareness, but she refused to let hiers"

His wide mouth curled up on one side "I don’t consider you a stranger I know your nalim cat and mouse with her She lifted her chin She was not the sort to accept the role of ed on her sweater "Will you coo on with youruncle," Caitlyn replied "I’ll see you in a little while"

"’Bye!" The girls ran back to Carlos

He inclined his head at Caitlyn "Good evening" He turned to escort the girls back to the cafeteria<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>