Page 26 of Stealing His Cupcake
“Yeah. Men are assholes,” Amy replies with a sigh, then glances at me and amends, “Most of them, anyway.” It’s intriguing since the look she gave me wasn’t fearful. It was scrutinizing, as if she assessed me and amended her statement based on what she saw. Which means she doesn’t consider me an asshole. It’s a start.
Kayla hums in agreement. “Yeah. Most of them. So… If you don’t mind me asking, what changed your mind about Craig? I mean, the last we talked, you were all prickly when I even suggested anything negative about him, so this is quite a leap. Was it the session with Miranda? I told you she’s great.”
“She is,” Amy agrees. This time, her look is a little apprehensive as she looks at me. “But I probably won’t be visiting her again. I don’t really need therapy anymore.”
She’s been going to therapy? I can’t believe I missed that. Great, now I have to arrange for therapy as well as regular phone calls with a girlfriend. Captives are hard work.
“You can’t quit after just one session,” Kayla protests. “You promised you’d go.”
“I promised I’d go once, and I did. Look,” Amy cuts off Kayla’s protest, “I’ll see, okay? Maybe I’ll be too busy, anyway. I need to…find a new job and I might be…” Another look at me. “Busy. So, if you could ease up a little on those phone calls and give me a bit of space, that would be great.”
Kayla sighs. “Okay. I didn’t mean to be annoying. I just love you. Are you sure you’re okay? You sound…different.”
“Yes. I just…I found out some things about Craig.” That has me straightening up in my seat, ready to snatch the phone from Amy’s hand, but the way she shakes her head at me stops me in my tracks. Her eyes hold a silent plea for trust, which I can’t ignore. After all, if I want her to trust me, it’s only fair that I trust her in return. “I went shopping this morning,” Amy continues. “See? I’m not just sitting at home moping.”
“Don’t bullshit me, sister. You went shopping because you had no food.”
Amy snorts. “Well, maybe. But…I saw some tabloids there, talking about Craig’s death and—” She huffs out a sharp breath. “There were photos of him with other women, Kayla. So many other women.”
“What?!” I wince at Kayla’s screech. “That lying sack of bullshit! Fuck. If he wasn’t dead, I’d totally drive over just to kick him in the nuts.”
Now, that’s a sentiment I share. Except I’d do much more than just kick Craig in the nuts.
“I’m angry,” Amy admits reluctantly, casting another look at me as if to gauge my reaction. “I know we shouldn’t speak ill of the dead but, dammit! I wish I could yell at him.”
“You still can. I mean, he’s probably being boiled alive in hell, but I’m sure he’ll hear it.”
Shaking her head, Amy chuckles softly, and it’s the sweetest sound I’ve heard. “It’s 2 in the morning, Kayla. I’m not going to yell at my dead boyfriend in the middle of the night. In fact, I should probably go to sleep. I’ll call you on Monday?”
There’s a prolonged noise that’s probably a yawn. “Okay. But wait, what about The Price of Passion? There’s a new episode on Sunday and you promised we’d Facetime while watching it! You can’t back out of that. I need emotional support in case Maggie doesn’t choose Eric. I will literally not survive that alone!”
“You’re so dramatic.” Amy’s grin falters as she looks at me. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it. I—” Seeing me nod, she pauses. I don’t even know what I’m agreeing to, but I’d do anything to put that smile back on her face. Covering the phone’s microphone with her hand, she whispers, “You’d let me watch it? It’s this silly romance TV show we used to watch together before she moved out and now—”
“Yes. The same rules will apply, but if you don’t break them until then, you can watch your show with your friend on the phone. Audio only, no video.” Christ, I’m such a pushover. I doubt other kidnappers spoil their captives this much.
“Thank you!” she whisper-squeals before returning to her call. “I’ll see what I can do, Kayla. I’ll text you on Sunday, okay? And please, no more calls in the middle of the night.”
“Perfect! Sorry about waking you up. I was just worried. I love you, I miss you, and we’ll see each other on Sunday. Right?”
Even though Kayla can’t see her, Amy nods, her smile wider than before. “Right. Thank you for checking up on me, Kayla. I love you too, you know? You’re the best.”
“Aww, now you’re making me blush. Go to bed, weirdo.”
“Yes, ma’am. Bye.”
Amy is still smiling as she ends the call and hands me her phone. “Thank you for this. Really. I…I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I think it’s time we heeded your friend’s advice, though.” My mouth spreads into a grin. “Let’s go to bed.”
Chapter 17
Amy
“Let’sgotobed,”Lucifer says and the bubbly excitement from speaking to Kayla swiftly fizzes out, replaced by gut-churning fear. Bed. Right. The motel’s neon vacancy sign glows brightly, suggesting we’re unlikely to be turned away for lack of free rooms, and I doubt Lucifer will demand twin beds.
Sucking in a deep breath, I try to convince myself that it will be alright. He’s been so nice to me so far, even let me talk to Kayla. Even if it was just to stop her from calling repeatedly or showing up in Kansas City and finding out I’ve vanished, he didn’t have to do that. He’s been respectful and promised he wouldn’t hurt me. Surely sex with him can’t be that bad.
A memory flashes in front of my eyes uninvited. The detached, empty look in Lucifer’s eyes as he tortured Turbo. “Lie to me again and you’ll lose more than just your fingers.”Thesnapof Turbo’s neck. The dead weight of his body. Dammit. If my captor could do that without an ounce of emotion, who’s to say he wouldn’t become that same cold psycho when we’re in bed together? What if he needs to inflict pain to be able to come? I know some people are into that, some even enjoy receiving pain, butI’m not one of them. I might handle some light spanking but what if that’s not enough for him? What if he needs to see blood flow, to hear someone scream? Christ, if he pulls out that big knife of his, I’ll probably pee myself. Or pass out. That would actually be the best option. Can you make yourself pass out on purpose?
