Page 25 of Curvy Hostage Mate
But he was already shaking his head. “Even if Kendra didn’t give it away herself, there’s no guarantee there isn’t someone staking out her house who might follow her here,” he explained. “I’m sorry, but it’s just too risky.”
Anger and frustration bubbled inside me as I glared at him. I wanted to argue. I wanted to stand up for myself. I wanted to see my sister, just for a few minutes. But at his intense look, I shrank back as my shoulders began to lower, and I found myself wilting into myself, any potential fight leaking out of me.
“Okay,” I said.
He blinked, brow creasing as he stared at me in mild confusion, as if he had thought I would fight back on his command. It might have been funny, were it not for the situation.
Without another word, I turned and walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind me.
Chapter 11 - Chris
I never told Morgan about Cain’s visit or his threat. I knew her well enough to know that she would blame herself and do nothing but worry over the next several days. I didn’t want to stress her out more than she already was. Part of me wondered if that was the right move, or if I was being unfair to her by keeping that secret.
Ever since, though, she was even quieter than before. She kept to herself, giving faint, distant smiles when she caught me glancing at her, but then looking away. Seeing it made my stomach twist with guilt, but not enough to make me bend. It was for her own protection. She should be able to understand that.
But I needed her help. She was the only one who could give us up-to-date information on Cain and his operations, and any protections he might have. As much as I hated getting her involved, even indirectly, I would have to.
Which was how I found myself coming to sit down on the couch next to her, two sandwiches on the plate in my hand.
“Are you hungry?” I asked.
“Famished,” she answered. “I was actually about to fix lunch.”
“Here.” I handed her the sandwich, and she grimaced.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
“Just my stomach’s been a bit weird lately,” she muttered. “This doesn’t sound good to me. I’ll fix myself something else.”
“Are you coming down with something?” I asked as she pushed herself to her feet and went to the fridge. She shook her head.
“Just anxiety,” she murmured as she started rummaging.
“I was actually hoping I could talk to you about something,” I said as she pulled out carrots and hummus and came back to the table.
She studied me with interest and curiosity as she dipped a carrot. “What’s up?”
“Cain.” I leaned forward, propping my elbows on the table as I kept my gaze locked on her. “I need to know if he has any protections, anything that can help or that we should know about before we start our attack.”
Snorting, she shook her head in amusement and disbelief as her mouth quirked upward. “Funny,” she remarked.
I frowned, my brow knitting as I stared at her. “What are you talking about?”
“Asking for my help. I get that you’re trying to stop me from asking about Kendra, but pretending I would be helpful here is just too ridiculous.”
My mouth dropped open as I stared at her. “Again, what are you talking about? You are incredibly helpful.”
She shook her head, her brow creasing. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I don’t get why you’re coming to me for help on this. I’m more or less useless.”
I stared, not bothering to hide my confusion. “What the hell are you talking about? In what universe are you useless?”
“Look at me.” She gave a vague, dismissive gesture at herself. “I can barely stand up for myself. I’m useless in fights and things like that. I can only do simple spells. And it isn’t as though Cain confided all that much in me. I don’t get why you would think I’d be helpful.”
By the end of the short monologue, my mouth hung open as I gaped in disbelief. “You’re joking, right? Because if you actually think you’re useless, then you need to reevaluate some things. And you’re sure as hell not weak.”
“Right,” she muttered with an amused tilt of her lip, the kind of smirk you gave when you didn’t believe someone but were going to humor them.
I let out an angry snarl that seemed to take Kendra by surprise. But I couldn’t help it. Normally, I tried to hide my emotions, but I couldn’t hold this one back. How many slaveowners had managed to convince Kendra that she was entirely useless? She was an incredible woman, and the fact that anyone had tried to tell her anything otherwise was infuriating.
