Page 16 of Stitched Up in You
I was so excited to see him it took two hours and a box of tissue to calm me down, but my worries were for nothing. Edgar is great and he’s now sleeping at my desk on the office floor, because someone got him a better cat crate lined with soft padding.
What’s more interesting is how I have no idea what Frank did to piss off the guy after his company, but it’s clear from how Talbot cybersecurity talks that the dude is way bad news. After checking it out myself, under the thorough surveillance of Mikael and Nero, it’s very apparent that someone used me to gain access to their system, and that pisses me off.
After I tracked down everything they needed, they’ve been like busy bees, so I can somewhat relax. Well, relax as much as one can when in a hostage situation. No one seemed bothered when I said I was going to pop down for a bite to eat.
Then again, half of the crew grabbed their coats to leave as soon as I found the location of a warehouse or two that the bad guys have been keeping under wraps.
Bruno and Nero left me under Mikael’s watch this morning, but as soon as I located the shipment, they too all but vanished.
I stop at a big, glass dome-covered plate of cookies seated on the beige stone kitchen counter and my lip curls.
Someone seriously needs their decorating card removed.
Everything in this place feels like they took advice from a Motel 6 representative and unfortunately, got the assignment.
My eyes are wide as I tiptoe through the place, even though I’m fully aware no one is here, the whole room in darkness with only the light from the elevator doors.
I make my way to the fridge, excitement thrumming when I notice the huge electronic panel on the front of it, and my stomach takes a wild dip.Oh my god, I bet this thing can make phone calls.
My hands begin to shake, and I rub them together before wringing them out and glancing around the room, checking that the elevator doors I just left are still closed and unmoving. I punch in the number to my best friend, crossing my fingers and dancing in place while I fervently hope it connects.
“C’mon, c’mon, Aubrey, pick up!” I whisper under my breath, praying that whatever best friend bond we have somehow notifies her that I really, really need her right now. Before, it was neat how dark the kitchen is, keeping me hidden, but now it just feels ominous, because the last thing I need is to get caught on the phone.
I start to ask myself what could happen if I do this before I slam a wall down on my thoughts. There’s no way in hell I’m adding ‘what would Frank Stein do’ to my list of things to worry about.
My lips trembles when the phone rings again and a sob lodge in my throat as emotion threatens to overwhelm my senses. I miss Aubrey so much. It feels like it’s been months since I’ve seen her.
“Hello?” my best friend finally says, and elation surges in my chest.
“Oh my god, Aubrey,” I breathe, whispering into the fridge panel while tossing a glance at the elevator doors again. I’m pretty sure Mikael would have something to say about phone usage, since I’ve been kidnapped and all, but when the cats are away…
“Hey, I was just about to call you. Did you get a new number?” she asks, like this is every other social call.
“Listen to me, Aubrey. I’m in New York,” I say, and a squeal erupts from the refrigerator.
“Shhhhh!” I tell her.
“What?” she says, her voice telling me she is pure confusion, but she whispers at least.
“I’m at Talbot Global dude, Frank Stein, he?—”
“Oh my god, Bernie, I told you to stop looking into him,” she says, and I hear the sound of a door shutting.
“Pay attention. I didn’t look into him, I swear,” I tell her, “Well I didn’t look into himagain, not since I researched him a bit when I looked into Vlad for you. You’re welcome by the way, but then he kidnapped me and?—”
“Wait what?” she asks, cutting me off.
“He took me off the street,” I whisper-hiss, outrage bleeding into my tone as she gasps.
“Frank Steintookyou?”
“Mmhm,” I reply, popping my head up and pushing on my toes to see the elevator still sitting.
“You’re not serious. Bernie, do you remember when you and Grams had to come pick me up from that airfield near Atlanta?” Aubrey asks.
“Yeah?” My forehead crinkles as I lean closer to the fridge, wrapping my arms around my waist in an attempt to stop it from rolling with anxiety.
“He took me that night from Vlad’s castle and made me go home. He’s amonster. Where are you? I’m going to come get you,” she says.
