Page 10 of Married into the Mob
“What helps with your phobia? Singing? Listening to music? A fan blowing on your face? Tell me and I’ll make it better.”
The only way to make things better was to turn back time to last night. Or maybe before Uncle made his first bet. No, to the day before Uncle Stan had his accident. That was when his life changed.
But that was impossible, and I was out of options unless I considered begging.
“Singing.” Aunt Louisa had sung to me as a kid when I said the walls were closing in.
“Okay. Ummm, I don’t know many songs, but my niece and nephews love nursery rhymes. Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall.”
A laugh bubbled up my throat, and I couldn’t stifle it. It burst out of me, and I joined Hunter in singing the rhyme.
There were more corridors and closed doors leading off them. Each had a fingerprint lock or retina scanning device on the door. But eventually, he paused at one door that looked much like all the others.
The nondescript space had old filing cabinets lining one wall and boxes overflowing with paperwork on the other. The panelling facing us had photos of what appeared to be this building and its progression through the years.
Hunter had stopped singing, and my voice trailed away. “If I don’t get some fresh air, I’m going to faint, and when my heart stops beating, you’ll be arrested for murder.” I reflected on what I’d said. “Maybe manslaughter.”
His cheeks blanched of color, and his bottom lip trembled. I almost felt sorry for the guy until I reminded myself he was locking me up in a deep, dark dungeon.
“I would breathe life into you if you stopped breathing.”
This guy was so dramatic and reminded me of the kids I taught, but I’d collapse in a heap if I didn’t get out of here.
“But I understand it doesn’t appear that way.” He waved his hand toward the wall. “Plenty of fresh air down here. I had it specially designed.”
Damn. Those documentaries on serial killers, the ones I watched long into the night when I couldn’t sleep, reared their heads. Maybe he didn’t own the debt and my future was more bleak than I thought.
I had it all wrong. He was going to tie me up, maybe starve me, and perhaps send pieces of me to Aunt Louisa. She had no money for a ransom. Maybe this guy had a fetish for almost-married omegas and he stalked City Hall.
Draven might have been his accomplice and this was a ploy.
I’d taken for granted the sun shining every morning, the wind blowing my hair out of place, slushing through snow, my feet freezing on the way to work. And now I’d be facing four walls, and I’d never see my aunt again. Or the kids I taught.
My kidnapper placed his hand on the wall and a panel slid to the side, like a pocket door. “This is where you’ll be safe.”
There was yet another retina scanner, and he pulled me into a dark space and the door closed behind us.
The ominous click signaled there was no going back.
FIVE
HUNTER
My wolf complained at my churning belly, saying it was making him seasick. Not surprising because of the situation. My attention was on Odell and how scared he was. He was reacting as anyone would who’d been kidnapped. Shit! I should be doing more to calm him. But my priority was his safety. Affection and love would have to come later. Hopefully.
“Lights on.” Unlike the ones outside in the basement, this lighting was soft and warm. I’d designed it to be as welcoming as possible, considering the circumstances of why my family would need to be in a panic room. Technically, it was rooms.
Let him go, my wolf demanded.
I’d forgotten I was holding my mate tight, not that I wanted to release him. Keeping him next to me, his scent filling my nostrils, was where I wanted Odell to be forever. But I did as my wolf suggested, and my mate rubbed his arm where my fingers had dug into his flesh.
“Sorry.”
He lifted his head. “For all this?” He extended his arms and swung around. “Or for the bruises that’ll appear on my arm tomorrow.”
Fuck! I’d hurt him. “I’m not aware of my own strength sometimes.”
His short, sharp breaths didn’t fill me with confidence, but I didn’t want to get too close and overcrowd him, making him more panicked.
