Blue Smoke

“You take care of yourself. See you, Bo.”
    Reena’s gaze ticked back to Bo. “What’s going on?”
    “You didn’t tell them.”
    She opened her mouth, hissed out a breath. “And you did.”
    “You should’ve told them, and you put me in a spot where I had to be the bearer.”
    “Great.” Stewing, she stared at her house. “Just great. You couldn’t just keep it zipped, wait for me to deal with this.”
    “You know what?” he said after a moment. “It’s been a crappy night, and I don’t feel like going another round. Do what you do. I’m going to bed.”
    “Bo—” He held up a hand as he walked away, and she was left with a good mad on, and no place to put it.
    By the time she dragged herself through her own front door, it was after four in the morning. She wanted a long, cool shower and her own soft bed.
    Her parents were on the sofa, snuggled up like a couple of sleeping kids. Considering that a blessing, she eased back, intending to tiptoe upstairs.
    “Don’t even think about it.”

    Her father’s voice stopped her, had her closing her eyes. Not once, not once had any of them been able to sneak into the house after curfew. The man had instincts like a snake.
    “It’s late. I want to catch a couple hours’ sleep.”
    “You’re old enough so your wants won’t hurt you.”
    “Oh, I hate when you say that.”
    “You should be careful with your tone, Catarina.” Bianca spoke without opening her eyes. “We’re still your parents, and we’ll be your parents a hundred years after you’re dead.”
    “Look, I’m really tired. If we can just table this until tomorrow.”
    “Someone’s threatening you, and you don’t tell us?”
    Okay, no chance for a respite. Reena dragged out the band holding her hair back as her father rose from the couch. “It’s work, Dad. I don’t, can’t, won’t tell you everything about the job.”
    “It’s personal. He’s calling you. He knows your name. He knows where you live. And tonight, he tried to kill you.”
    “Do I look dead?” she shot back. “Do I look hurt?”
    “And what would you be if Bo hadn’t acted quickly?”
    “Oh, great.” She threw up her hands, stormed around the room. “So he’s the white knight and I’m the helpless damsel. Do you see this?” She yanked her badge out, shoved it in her father’s face. “They don’t give these out to helpless damsels.”
    “But they give them out to stubborn, selfish women who can’t admit when they’re wrong?”
    “Selfish?”
    They were shouting now, their faces inches apart. “Where do you get that? It’s my job, it’s my business. Do I tell you how to run your business?”
    “You’re my child. Your business is always my business. Somebody tried to hurt you, and now he’s going to have to deal with me.”
    “This is just what I was trying to avoid. Why didn’t I tell you all this? Play this conversation back. You are not getting into this. You are not getting into my work, into this part of my life.”
    “Don’t you tell me what I’m going to do!”

    “Back at you.”
    “Basta! Basta! Enough!” Bianca sprang off the couch. “Don’t you raise your voice to your father, Catarina. Don’t you yell at your daughter, Gibson. I’ll yell at both of you. Imbeciles. Stupidi! You’re both right, but that won’t stop me from knocking your empty heads together to hear the crack. You—” She jabbed a finger into her husband’s chest. “You go round and round and don’t get to the meat. Our daughter isn’t selfish, and you’ll apologize. And you—” The finger stabbed out at Reena. “You have your work, and we’re proud of what you do, who you are. But this is different, and you know it. This is not about someone else. This is you. Do we ever say, ‘No, no, Catarina’ when you go into a building that may fall on your head? Did we say, ‘No, you can’t become a police officer, and worry us every day, every night’?”
    “Mama—”
    “I’m not finished. You’ll know when I’m finished. Who stood the tallest, who was the proudest when you became what you always wanted? And you’d stand here and tell us this isn’t our business when someone wants to hurt you?”
    “I just . . . I just didn’t see the point in worrying everyone.”
    “Hah! That’s our job. We’re family. ”
    “Okay, I should’ve told you, and I would have after tonight—and if Bo hadn’t—”
    “You’re going to blame him now?” Gib broke in.
    She hunched her