At least Karma was on my side for once. I hoped the bag would leave a bruise.
“Thanks so much for getting him,” I said.
After blinking at me and shaking his head, he turned back to his bag.
I raced to the kitchen, where Killer was happily sniffing his clean cage. I spotted carrots, a whole corncob, and a bowl with rabbit food that seemed to have been put in there recently.
I wondered if it was Gunner who’d fed him or one of his guys. I went over to my baby and, much to his annoyance, lifted him out.
“Sorry, Killer, don’t be mad. I just need one little cuddle, and then you can get back to stuffing your face,” I said and kissed him before setting him back inside his cage.
He’d make my escape plans a lot harder. But I couldn’t stand the thought of him being at the apartment all by himself and most likely hungry. There was no way I’d leave him on his own for who knew how long.
When I opened the fridge, I found that the food fairy had come last night too. It was fully stocked, and most of it was normal human food instead of the vegetables and protein powder Gunner seemed to exist on. It made me wonder how long he planned on keeping me here, because there was a lot of food.
I got out ingredients to make an omelet, then poured myself a big cup of coffee I had just made with the machine that had also magically appeared overnight.
“You found something for breakfast?” Gunner asked, walking into the kitchen ten minutes later, his hair wet, wearing a tight black T-shirt that outlined his pronounced muscles above black cargo pants.
Does he have any clothes that aren’t black?My gaze lingered on his body before I willed them to look at his face, hoping he hadn’t seen me check him out.
He smirked, and I knew I’d been caught. My cheeks heated up. I was the only one in my family with a fairer complexion, taking after my mother. My brothers were carbon copies of my dad, with their dark hair, olive skin, and tall build.
Not only did I get burned if I dipped so much as a toe in the sun without sunscreen, but I was also short instead of inheriting the height all my brothers seemed to have been blessed with.
“I did,” I said, looking away.
He grunted and made himself a shake.
“How long are you planning on making me stay here?” I asked, wondering if I should just call my dad and go home. Even if it would only mean replacing one prison with another.
“As long as it takes to eliminate the threat,” he said, not a muscle in his face twitching.
I rolled my eyes at the emotionless way he talked. “You mean until someone gets rid of the Irish.”
He watched me for a few seconds before answering. “Mr. Olysses is working on it. If all goes to plan, you’ll be back in your apartment by the end of the week.”
“Tell my dad I don’t need protecting,” I said, thinking an escape with a bunny in tow wouldn’t be all that bad after all, considering the alternative. “Especially not by you.”
I could look after myself. If I holed up in a motel room somewhere, there was no way anyone would find me. I’d just have to wait for everything to blow over.
He scoffed and watched me dump my omelet on my plate. “Is that why you were almost taken yesterday? Because you’re so good at taking care of yourself?”
“I had it under control. I’m not the helpless bimbo you seem to think I am.”
“Didn’t look like it to me.”
I fought the urge to flip him off. “Maybe you need glasses.”
He pushed off the wall he was leaning against. “You aren’t getting out of here until I get the all clear. Why don’t you sit down and watch TV? Or take a bath?”
When I didn’t respond and instead began angrily chewing my breakfast, he said, “I have work to do. If you promise to be a good girl, I’ll let you stay in here by yourself. I’d hate to have to tie you up.”
I thought I detected a gleam of excitement in his eyes at the suggestion, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. “You look entirely too happy about the thought of tying me up.”
He shook his head, a smile playing around his lips. “That’s because I am. Choice is yours.”
I huffed and crossed my arms. “Fine. I’ll stay in here and won’t try to get out again.”
