“My lunch is here. We’ll have to chat again later,” Frankie said. I sped back from the door expecting the conversation to end, but his next words were even louder than his previous. “You can come out now, Cara Mia.”
There he was with the damn name again.
Except I was done listening to the wannabe gangster who was stupid enough to take on my cousin. Instead of going out the door, I went into the bathroom and did my morning business, using anger to brush my teeth. I didn’t have a change of clothes and something about taking a shower and changing back into the dirty underwear did not appeal to me. So after about six minutes, I ran out of things to do and grew completely bored.
Freaking A, Shiloh.
I was in the middle of a kidnapping. There wasn’t time for me to get bored. I had to keep my wits heightened.
Get it together.
Great, now I was arguing with myself.
At least in the living room, I might have Frankie to argue with. If I got him talking, maybe I’d learn more about his exact plans. I reluctantly let myself out of my suite into the living room.
“I’m so glad to see you’ve joined us.” Frankie sat in the same chair I’d used the evening before and in front of him were three gold room-service carts. On each of those was a pile of various plates covered by gold domes. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I ordered a little of everything.”
Sounded reasonable. Not.
“I highly doubt you ordered everything,” I replied haughtily as I took a seat across from him.
My stomach growled in hunger. I wasn’t one of those women who ate a fad diet or juice binged. I liked food and tried to eat consistently. Three meals and two snacks a day. My stomach growled at the smell of fresh baked bread, but I refused to give in so easily. A breakfast muffin wouldn’t break my resolve.
Frankie leaned forward and popped the top off of one plate, exposing a croissant with chicken salad shoved in the middle of it and a piece of lettuce on top. It looked heavenly.
I leaned back in my chair and crinkled my nose in disgust. “I’m a vegan and gluten-free.” Let’s see him come up with something for that. Also, when did it become late enough for lunch? How long did I sleep in that super comfy bed?
His stupid little jerky lips smirked and didn’t even falter as he stood up from his chair and moved to the third cart, removing the top of one plate in the middle rack. “A lettuce wrap with tomatoes, cucumbers, and black olives with a small salad on the side.”
Damn him.
“I’ll just take the chicken salad sandwich,” I said and reached for the plate, bringing it to my lap.
Frankie, finally getting smart and probably fearful for his life, didn’t comment on my now non-vegan status as he returned to his seat and let me eat the first few bites of the sandwich in silence.
I was halfway done before he opened his big mouth and started chatting. “Do you have any classes today?” he asked, pulling the top off another plate and sticking one greasy fry in his mouth. Who knew how he kept his physique eating crap like that? More than likely, he was a total health nut when not kidnapping damsels in distress.
I didn’t want to answer him, but I figured what was the harm? More than likely, he already knew my schedule, anyway. Everyone knew you didn’t just kidnap someone off the street randomly. You watched them for a while first.
“No, my next class won’t be until Wednesday next week.” I didn’t mention the fact it was an online course.
Frankie nodded. “Good, because I don’t know if your cousin will have your ransom ready in time, so I’d hate spending the afternoon in Psych 101.”
I stopped chewing long enough to stare at him. “If I had a class today, you would’ve let me go to it?” He had to be the worst criminal in history. Did he not understand how to strike fear into someone or interrogate them? I would be a better kidnapper.
“An education is a terrible thing to waste.”
“True, but also I’m twenty-four. I never took psych 101. I’m working on a masters in business administration.”
“From Northwestern, correct?” he asked, and I grew annoyed.
“If you already knew then what’s with all the questions?”
“To see how truthful you are.”
“This is a test?” I asked him with the last bite of sandwich in my mouth.
“Everything in life is a test.”
