Page 5 (1/2)

“That’s right,” Mr Martinez proudly boorip around his slender son’s shoulder and shakes The pale young reat effort not to take too much pride in his accomplishment “Top of his class!”

I go into auto-pilot, lifting htly as I reach out“It’s nice to meet you all,” I say The dad takes my hand first, but it’s the heat of therade? Aine e, but I stifle it with a kick I’ one of their rich sons “I’m Catalina”

“Ah, she speaks good English,” thelike she hasn’t already heard my name twice

“I went to school in A back the fire in uy isn’t interested inthese in-laill be a different kind of hell

“Ah, yes,” Mrs Martinez retorts “They have much better public schools there than we do here” I let the little jab pass, not bothering to correct her Mrs Martinez doesn’t need to know that I went to one of the ious private schools that money can buy—for a few semesters, at least I’ll keep the darkness ofas possible with these people They don’t need to know my past, not yet

I turn my attention away froeeky kind of way, but his gaze doesn’tto find a way to see through my modest dress

Ugh, pervert Whatever, at least he’s interested Isn’t that what I’m here for?

Before Mateus can say anything inappropriate, or really anything at all, a sharp roar cuts through the ballroom walls All eyes turn away from their conversation as an annoyed hush te rips by It see for aoff

“I guess that ly, after a moment of aard silence His rich brown eyes nearly roll out of his head, but I have a feeling he wouldn’t be saying such things in the presence of whoever he’s talking about

“Who’s Montoya?” I findThe curiosity of that thunderous roar is vibrating behindrod How out of place that sound was ast all of this hushed civility

“A brute,” Mateus scoffs

Sounds fun “What’s a brute doing at an event like this?” For some reason, I want to tease Mateus, not cater to hiainst his criticaleyes, but I know iet back to where I belong I’d break hier

“Probably looking for sos,” Mateus sain There’s barely any cleavage on this heavy skirt, but that’s not stopping this kid’s sliarden snake

Still, I can’t help but laugh There’s so me a whore Fine I’ll show him a whore Where’s this Montoya felloay? “I’ll let him know if I find any,” I subtly sneer back, before I feel Luis’s hand gently wrap aroundme backwards

“Excuse us for a second,” the ht-lipped and clearly a little ticked-off When I’ve been dragged behind a group of oblivious gala-goers, Luis finally stops and I’rip I crosswhat he’s going to say I already know that he’s right, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it