Page 58 of Black Bay Enforcer
He came back with a gift in hand. It was a flat square, maybe only an inch thick and four inches wide. It was wrapped in Hello Kitty wrapping paper. Katherine smiled at the reminder of her pajamas until Kong said, “Happy birthday, love.”
Eyes going wide, she sucked in a sharp breath at the reminder. “My birthday!” She bounded out of bed so fast she nearly fell on her face and had to throw an arm out to catch herself. “Oh, my God! My mom! What time is it?”
Katherine didn’t wait for a reply. “Where’s my phone?” She dropped to the floor and looked under the bed – though why it might be there, she had no idea. Jumping to her feet again, she ran out of the bedroom to search the rest of the apartment.
Kong followed to help her look.
“My mom’s the type who would have called me if I was five minutes late and if I didn’t call her right back she’d start calling hospitals. Shit, Kong! She’s probably freaking out.”
She spotted her phone in the kitchen and she snatched it off the counter. Someone must have brought it in from the SUV. Whoever they were, they must have also silenced it. Or had she done that? Honestly, with everything that had happened, she couldn’t remember. Katherine groaned when she saw the number of missed calls and messages.
With a helpless look, she asked Kong, “What do I even tell her?” Before he could reply, she shook her head. “I have to tell her some version of the truth. She’s never going to believe that wehad car trouble on the same day that both of us just happened to forget our phones.”
“You can tell her we were attacked and the criminal is in custody. Just keep it vague.”
Vague. Yes. Vague was good. “Attacked, though? Is that too strong a word?”
Kong let out a rumble. “Considering the bruise on your cheek it’s not strong enough.”
Katherine nodded. Right. Right. “I think I’ll lead with we’re okay.”
Connecting the call, she didn’t even hear it ring before she heard her mom’s voice, shrill with worry, say, “Katherine! Are you okay? What happened? Where are you?”
“I’m okay, Mom. Kong and I are both okay.”
“What happened?”
Her stomach twisted and her mouth went dry as her mind filled with flashes of Kong being shot, the dead body in the trunk, that psychopath…
Kong’s arms suddenly came around her, his body pressed against her back, his warmth driving away the visions.
“Katherine? Katherine, you’re scaring me.”
She swallowed, trying to dislodge the thick knot that seemed to have taken root in her throat. “We’re both okay,” she repeated, but her voice trembled as her eyes prickled with imminent tears. She didn’t think she could say the words out loud without completely losing it.
“Mom,” her voice cracked as tears slid down her cheek and she looked helplessly at Kong.
“I’m coming to you, Katherine. Tell me where you are.” Sounds in the background seemed to imply her mother was already moving. Harper Knox had gone Mama Bear and it only made Katherine cry harder.
Kong took the phone from her shaking hand and Katherine turned in his arms to hug him.
“Ms. Knox? This is Kong. Katherine’s okay but she’s just a bit emotional which is making it hard for her to talk right now.”
She couldn’t hear her mother’s reply.
“I’m afraid we were attacked on the way to the party –”
Katherine had no problem hearing her mother’s screech.
“We’re both okay,” Kong loudly reminded her, “and the criminal is in custody.”
Her mother’s response was too soft to hear but judging by Kong saying, “I’ll send the directions to your phone,” followed by, “Okay, we’ll see you soon,” Katherine had to assume her mother was coming.
Wiping at her face with her hands, Katherine looked up at Kong. “Thank you. I just…” Her chin began to tremble and she shook her head.
Kong’s arms tightened around her and he kissed her forehead. “I’ve got you, Katherine. Always.”
She took a deep breath through her nose and blew it out slowly, trying to regain her composure. “It’s okay for her to visit?”
