keep the blood pumpin'

Calum blinked as he watched Cat, listening to her explanation, and he knew it must have been so hard to see her friend go through something like that. “I’m sorry,” he told her gently as he watched her, taking her in, amazed by her beauty, even in a time like this when she was explaining something so difficult. “I get it. I understand. You were doing a bad thing for a good reason.”

Anelie tensed when Cat told them about her dad; she hadn’t planned on telling them, and she hadn’t really wanted them to know, especially when she saw the pity in Ashton’s eyes. She looked away as she listened to Ashton speak, ducking her head slightly. “So, what, you’re gonna let us leave with the money?” she asked, unsure, not willing to lift her gaze or meet his.

Ashton sighed quietly, but watched Anelie carefully, knowing that it was exactly what he had to do - she didn't deserve such hardships. What she and her friend did was wrong, of course it was, but it was done with the right intentions, and Ashton cleared his throat. "That's exactly what we're going to let you do." Ashton offered a small smile. "You'll have to get out of here quickly, but there's a shortcut down there..." He nodded towards the back of the alley. "I hope your Dad gets well soon, and I mean that, I really do." Ashton let go of Anelie then, looking towards the direction of the flashing lights, before looking back to the beauty. "Get out of here, now."

Cat looked between Calum, Ashton and Anelie as Ashton spoke, and she blinked in surprise, but didn't question it, in case the men went back on their promise. Looking back to the man with the golden skin and golden retriever eyes, Cat offered him a gentle smile. "Thank you. The both of you." Cat gently took Anelie's arm, leading her away as she heard the sirens that accompanied the red and blue flashing lights. "Come on," she murmured.