Page 103 of My Favorite Kidnapper

Being without Brianna.

When I’d heard he was dead, my first thought had been relief. She was safe from him now. There was a part of me that rejoiced, that immediately went into planning mode on how to get her back, except I realized he had people still loyal to him. Those who might still want to hurt me, and the best way would be to hurt her.

So, I had to keep her away.

Paolo told me she was safe. Unhappy, but safe. She rarely came out of her room and she wasn’t eating much, but she did visit with Carolina. I forbade him to tell Brianna what was happening. I wanted her to have a clean break from me. Knowing her, she would get a crazy idea in her head and show up, demanding to lead the investigation.

I had to admit, the thought made me smile.

My phone rang, and I accepted a video chat with Paolo.

“Hello, brother.”

“Any news?” he asked.

“No. They have some leads they are tracking down. I wasn’t his only enemy. But it all takes time.” I paused. “How is she?”

“Mad as a hornet.”

“Why?”

He paused, taking a sip of what I assumed was scotch. “Carolina told her.”

“Fuck.”

“She wanted to fly back, help. She said you needed her.”

Of course she did.

“I hope you convinced her otherwise?” I asked.

“I was very blunt and repeated our conversation from the other night.”

“And she was angry?”

“She told me to feck off.”

I gaped at him. “She said fuck off?”

He shook his head. “Feck off. I think that was as close as she could get.” Then he repeated what she had said, and I winced at her words. I hated that she compared herself to a whore. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“But she believed you.”

“I think so. Tell me, was I lying?”

“She is better off without me. Don’t let her come back here.”

“So I was lying.”

I remained quiet.

“Her passport is in the safe, she has no access to the accounts you set up yet. The phone I gave her has limited usage. She can’t go anywhere.”

“Good.”

“I heard her and Carolina making plans to go shopping. It’s colder here, and her clothes aren’t warm enough anymore.”

I had tossed out most of her things that were old and threadbare. It made sense she needed new ones.