Page 12 of Married into the Mob
“Are you hungry?”
“Forget food. You need to do something for me.”
I strode back to the couch and sat.
“I don’t care what happens to me, but I need you to help my aunt.”
He obviously cared about her, not that I understood why she was in danger, but if Draven couldn’t get what he wanted, he’d hurt Odell’s family members.
“Mistakes were made, and I’m paying the price.”
“Tell me everything.”
He folded his arms, defiance in his eyes. He was the Odell who’d tried to get away from me outside City Hall, not the anxiety-ridden one I led to the panic room.
“Nope. Not saying another word until I know she’s safe.” His fists clenched, and he added, “My aunt and uncle. I guess you’d better bring him too.” He pinched two fingers and ran them over his lips in a zipping motion.
This wasn’t the moment to delve into why his uncle was an afterthought, but he gave me their names and address.
I had to go into the monitoring room, but I shut the door after me to prevent him seeing or hearing anything. Flint and Ranger were busy, and I would have to join them, but telling Odell he’d be alone in the panic room might bring on another anxiety attack.
After contacting two of my men about the aunt and uncle, I gave them instructions and told them to hurry, adding that the couple were extended family.
When I emerged from the room, Odell hadn’t moved, and he jumped at the door clicking. I had to be careful or I’d trigger more panic.
“Done!”
His face crumpled. “Please tell me you didn’t have them killed? Guys like you probably have hit men on speed dial.”
Yikes. We’d taken a step backward, or maybe a bulldozer had dredged a channel and I was teetering on the edge, about to fall in headfirst.
Odell removed a phone from his backpack. Instead of explaining why he couldn’t use it, I snatched it out of his hand. Keeping him safe was my priority, and my manners vanished. Or maybe I didn’t have any. Flint used to tell me I didn’t.
“Sorry, but you can’t use it here or anywhere ever again.”
“What?” He gritted his teeth, and color flooded his cheeks. “Look, I get you’re used to being a little warlord who oversees his… his… ummm, flock. Damn, that’s not the right word. Slaves? Hostages?” He pressed his fists into his eyes.
“I’m none of those things.” Odell’s words were barbs, stabbing at my body, the pain worse than a gunshot wound. “But your aunt and uncle are being looked after.” I put a hand over my heart. “I guarantee my men will not harm them.”
While removing the chip from his phone, I calculated how long before I could leave. He needed to eat, and after that, I’d encourage him to sleep. But I couldn’t sneak out. I’d told him to trust me, and I’d have to give him a heads up.
“Fine. Now can I have some damned food, because I’m starving. Being almost forced to marry a freaky guy will do that. Plus, being kidnapped has made me ravenous.”
I raced over to the kitchen, hiding a smile. That was the Odell that gave me hope we’d one day be mates. He had an inner strength that would serve him well for what lay ahead. That was assuming he’d want to mate with me and meet my wolf.
“And while you’re doing that, you can tell me why you’ve brought me to your underground hideout.”
I opened the cupboards. I could make something with microwave rice, a tin of spicy beans, and there was the makings of a salad in the fridge. I’d stocked the place only this morning because I figured I’d spend a night here, making sure everything worked as it should before inviting the family on the weekend.
“I’m no chef.” I peered at the instructions on the rice. “But I can do this.”
Odell rolled his eyes. He got up and removed the packet from my hand.“Please tell me I don’t have to prep food for me and my kidnapper.”
SIX
ODELL
“No, you sit. I can do this.”
