Page 61 of My Favorite Kidnapper

“Don’t play games, Dante. You asked me about the cake baker. Carolina said she tried to call her, and her number is disconnected. She asked me to check on her, and her boss informed me she quit. That some man called and did it on her behalf. You. Where is she?”

“With me,” I said simply, keeping my face neutral.

He slammed his hand on his desk. “What? Why? Are you out of your mind? She’s twelve years younger than you!”

“And Amanda is seven years your senior,” I snapped.

That startled him. “Dante, what is going on?”

I wasn’t prepared for this confrontation. I scrubbed my face and told him a half-truth. “She was in a desperate situation. I offered to help. She’s here with me.”

“As?”

I frowned. “A guest. An employee.”

“Which one?”

“None of your goddamn business which one,” I replied, my anger surfacing. “She is safe and happy, and that is all you need to know. None of this should concern you.”

“Is she? Safe and happy, I mean?”

I sent him a photo I had just taken. Brianna was concentrating, a smile on her face and some flour on her nose. She looked adorable and content.

“Yes,” I said tersely. “Satisfied now?”

“Why, Dante?” he asked again. “Why her?”

“I don’t know. There is something about her. We clicked.”

“So, she is okay?”

“She is fine. Do you want to talk to her?”

“No, but Carolina might.”

“Her phone was a piece of garbage. I got her a new one. I’ll send Carolina her number.”

“Is she baking in that picture?”

“Yes. She is making me a cake. One of many.”

As soon as I said that, I knew I’d fucked up.

“What?” he joked. “Did you kidnap her to make you cakes? Are you holding her for ransom, and she is paying it in baked goods?”

I took too long to answer, and his face went lax. “Dante, what have you done?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. We made a deal, and she came to visit.”

“You had better be telling me the truth.”

“You are the irresponsible, reckless one, remember?” I deflected. “I don’t pull crazy, half-assed stunts.”

Until now, I added silently.

“That was years ago.”

“She is fine. Everything is good,” I repeated.