Page 13 of Married into the Mob
He sounded like a kid, telling his parents or older siblings he was a big boy. “I do it myself.” I could hear it in my head while imagining him as a toddler.
“Food first and then we can talk,” he said.
He read the instructions on the instant rice and stuck it in the microwave before opening a can of beans. But I’d lost interest in wondering if he could manage a microwave because I desperately needed to pee.
He said there was a bathroom and had pointed it out. But the door was closed. We were how many feet underground? It might stink. Ewww!
I crossed and uncrossed my legs, and grimaced. The microwave whirred in the background as I wriggled my butt and tried to think of something other than needing to use the bathroom.
He frowned, and I straightened and stilled. He might think I was planning my escape, but I was aware there was no getting out of here unless he gave me permission and unlocked the door.
In an attempt to take my mind off not venturing to the bathroom, I posed a question. “Do you come here often?” As soon as I said it, I regretted it and wished I could swallow those words.
“Into the panic room?”
I processed what he’d said and weighed whether he brought me here to keep Draven away from me. A panic room was a safe haven. Or was it his hidey hole where he kept his victims?
But nothing about him said he was going to torture me or use me as a sex slave. I sensed he was speaking the truth about protecting me. And from the interaction I’d had with Draven,hewasn’t someone I wanted to be around. Besides, he’d forced Uncle into a deal that involved handing me over to him.
“I did a bad thing.”
Damn! Fear prickled over me. My emotions swung back to my earlier belief: he didn’t give shit about my safety, and I’d been passed from one bad guy to another. I’d misjudged him, and yet… he was caring and wanted to feed me, and he was no friend of Draven. The other emotion, the one that kind of liked him, I pushed deep down ‘cause that was wrong.
“Other than the people who built this panic room, no one but me is aware of its location, the size, or that it’s been completed.”
“Is that all?” My life was in freefall and he was worried a building inspector would tell him he’d been a very naughty boy. Though how all of this had been created without anyone knowing was beyond me. It was ironic that I’d panicked in a panic room.
“My brothers have their own jobs and they both have families. I’d mentioned in passing that I was having work done at the club, and most of the work was conducted during the day when the club was closed.”
“They must trust you.”
He sported a warm gooey expression. It must be nice to have siblings who had faith in you. “Maybe. As kids, they didn’t or my oldest brother didn’t. He might be peeved that I went ahead with the construction before I got the planning permission.”
He pulled the rice out of the microwave and screwed his face up, not at the rice but when he looked at me. “Are you all right?”
I groaned. This was ridiculous. I was a grown man, and I could tell my kidnapper that a) I had to pee and b) I was worried the bathroom was so small, I’d suffer another claustrophobic episode and c) the room might be stinky.
“I can’t hold it any longer.” I bent over.
“You’re ill.”
“No, but I will be if I don’t pee. I need to, so badly,” I burst out. Thank gods it was only words bursting out of me.
Hunter’s mouth fell open, and he pointed out the bathroom. “Go. There’s a functioning toilet there.”
“But is it small, like a plane toilet?”
“No, though it is smaller than mine at home.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything.” I wasn’t in the mood for a “my bathroom is bigger than yours” discussion. “You probably have a spa tub, a waterfall shower, heated towel racks, and someone to rub your back and help you on with your robe.” I was yelling and crossing my legs, not wanting to embarrass myself by peeing my pants.
“I don’t. I live alone.”
“That’s what you got from what I said.” I would have laughed but not when I needed the bathroom.
“And I hatethose ridiculous plane bathrooms, and I hold my pee when flying.”
“Maybe you and your big brothers should buy a plane.”
