Page 38 of Matched into the Mob

“Then what?” I was a little panicky, awaiting his answer and yet not wanting to hear it because we couldn’t go back. Ranger had kidnapped me, and yet he’d looked after me as one would someone they cared about. What if he said it was a ploy to stop putting him, me, or both of us in danger?

My emotions were flip-flopping, one moment expecting him to say the kiss meant nothing. Or worse, he just wanted to have sex because we were stuck in a house together with no power and there was nothing better to do. How would I react to that?

But what if he told me he more than liked me and the bite, the kiss, the being kind, and looking after me was a sign of his affection?

I was a mess, see-sawing from one opinion to the other.

“Something much more.”

“Ranger, we met thirty-six hours ago. Please don’t kid yourself that you’ve fallen for me.”

“Not at all.”

What the hell? Now he was saying it was nothing. This guy. The sooner I removed myself from his clutches, the better. But if I wasn’t in his, I’d be in Dane’s. And Ranger’s clutches were warm and safe with a bit of tongue thrown in.

Ranger waved a hand in front of me. “Thought I’d lost you.”

He never had me, though technically, as he’d abducted me, I guess he did.

“My kind fall instantly in love when they meet the one.”

There was so much to dissect in that sentence. “The one?” His kind? In love? My poor overwhelmed brain couldn’t process any of it. Being mafia didn’t make him love any differently to the rest of us, did it? Unless the fear of dying, of being killed by a rival, made mobsters grasp an opportunity and embrace it. But they didn’t call themselves that apparently.

“I’m not like you. None of my family is.”

“And there you go again.” It was hard to keep track of the inconsistencies. “Earlier this morning you tried to tell me you were the same as any other family.”

“Yes and no.”

The lights came on. Great, the power was restored. I got up and headed for the kitchen, tired of trying to figure out the meaning behind Ranger’s words. Flinging open the fridge, I was disappointed at the lack of food. I slammed the door and began opening cupboards, banging them closed when I found cups, saucepans, and baking pans.

“Where the fuck is the food in this house?”

Ranger pointed to a door. “Pantry.”

I stormed in and scrutinized the shelves, lined with tins and labeled containers, a freezer filled to the brim with meat, fish, frozen pastries, bread, fruit, and vegetables. But I was so annoyed, I avoided the healthy stuff and raided the snack section, taking a handful of cereal bars, spicy chips, and chocolate bars. I slipped a can of soda in my jacket pocket.

Plonking myself in an armchair, far from Ranger who hadn’t moved, I tore off a hunk of chocolate and shoved a fistful of chips in my mouth. It was too much and my cheeks bulged, but I didn’t care. The sugar, salt, and oil combination soothed me a little.

Ranger didn’t speak, and I got more ragey. I gnawed on a cereal bar and the nuts lodged in my teeth. Gross! But not only was I angry at him, but also, I was pissed off with myself. Allowing him to worm his way into my affection.

No. Nooooo. I didn’t care about this guy. Not one little tiny weensie bit.

I chewed more chocolate and bit my tongue. Owww. I was pissed off with everyone when my anger should be directed at that fucker Dane.

“Come.” Ranger extended a hand, and I ignored him. He was always giving me his hand, holding it, biting it, squeezing it. Fuck him and his handsy ways. “I’ll give you an explanation for the mark.”

“Not going anywhere.” I spoke with my mouth full and bits of chips spattered over my purple jacket. Not mine but the one I was wearing.

“I don’t expect you to. But you’ll have to stand near the window.”

For a second I wondered where the gun was. Maybe my expression gave me away because Ranger added he’d have to be naked outside. He was one weird dude, and I considered asking for the gun, but I’d never handled one, let alone fired a gun, so I gave that a miss.

“Fine.” I trailed chip crumbs behind me. So Gretel and Hansel like. Hmmm, while that story ended well, the middle bit was not great for either of them.

Being naked during a flood had to be a ritual. I could lock him out, take the keys to the car, not that I knew where they were. Probably not a good idea. But if I gathered enoughfood, I could run into the woods and hide for days. And then what? Every solution either ended with me drowning or being submerged in mud.

“Show me what you got.” I cringed. I always said the wrong thing at the wrong time and now Ranger was naked and headed out into the freezing weather.

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