Page 2 of Accidentally Kidnapping the Mafia Boss
“It’s got the child lock on,” I tell him, and start the engine. “You can’t get out.”
I drive off, my heart hammering.
Noah doesn’t say anything, but I hear a deep sigh. A glance in the rear-view mirror reveals his head is bowed so I can’t see his face because it’s in the shadows.
“I’m really sorry.”
This gets a grunt.
Yeah. Definitely the pink handcuffs are the issue.
That and the abduction.
I steel myself. This is the right thing to do, even if it feels like yet another heavy responsibility that I’ve taken on for my family.
I wait for Noah’s outrage, but nothing comes. The silence is thick. Maybe it’s the knowledge that I’m doing something about my problems rather than allowing life to just happen, but for once, I don’t feel alone. This is way better than coming home to an empty apartment and microwaving a meal for one while Noah is out gambling. Though he’s being surly and silent, and there’ll be a confrontation when he discovers I’m taking him to our parents’ cottage, I have an unexpected warm blanket of confidence around my shoulders.
This will work out.
I think it went pretty well for my first kidnap.
“You don’t want to ask where we’re going?” I ask, aiming for a light tone.
No reply.
“Your gambling is out of hand, Noah. Sorry, but it is.” My voice wobbles and I channel my inner kingpin. I half expect a barrage of angry denials. But no. Nothing.
Agrunt.
Another stupid grunt, and irritation flares in me. All my feckless brother gives me is a wordless answer that could be anything, or anyone. Honestly.
I roll my eyes as I turn my small car onto the motorway and head north.
Maybe when it’s light, and he sees the pink handcuffs, he’ll talk.
I sigh. “It’s a good thing I love you.”
2
FINN
One week earlier
The pub is full to bursting as I walk in, but as ever it instantly goes quiet. I almost sigh. It’s been a long time since I could enter unnoticed. I’ve got my core team of six men with me this evening, but it’s not them that cause the hush that’s broken only by the beat of the music and the whispers and giggles of the women who blush and look over.
Nope, it’s me.
Or rather, it’s the man I pretend I still am.
I wink at the woman next to me, who’s with a guy who bristles but knows better than to say anything to the kingpin of Kilburn.
A man behind me gives a belly laugh. “Finn, you dirty dog.”
Nodding and catching the eye of another woman is second nature to me, but I don’t hold her gaze for long.
Right, duty done, playboy reputation upheld. Now I can get on with business.
Ronan has gone to clear out the table at the back with the best line of sight to the whole room, and I prowl through thecrowd, which parts for me, as natural as the hush settling in a forest as a wolf stalks through. But they also greet me nervously, eager to please.
