“He left to find answers since he wasn’t getting any from you.”
“Wait… He left me here? Alone? With you two?” My voice rose with each question.
“Shhh,” Z soothed. “He’ll be back in two days.”
Two days… Angel left my baby and me alone with strangers for two days. The room started to spin. “Oh, God.”
Lucas’s expression shifted to concern. “Are you alright?”
Fuck no! “Where is my baby?”
“He’s fine.”
I pounded my fist on the bare mattress and snarled at Z. “He’s not safe from you three, so no, he is not fine .”
“He’s safe, Mian. And if you do as you’re told and don’t try anything idiotic, you will be too.”
“Take me to my son.” There was no way in hell I would trust anything either of them ever said. I needed to see him and feel his warmth against my skin.
“We can’t do that. When we get word from Angel, he’ll decide where we go from there.”
“Listen to me,” I pleaded. “He’s not well. I needed cash to pay for a doctor’s visit. I don’t know how sick he is and I’m worried.” When they didn’t respond or move, I added, “ Please .” They exchanged looks over my head, and my stomach plummeted.
After another heavy silence, Lucas scratched his head and said, “We thought he might be sick.”
“Please, you have to do something.” They exchanged another look and my stomach knotted this time. “He could die!”
“Part of Angel’s business trip is to arrange for a doctor—one of the best—to look at your son.”
I scrambled for the bed and faced off with them. They still sat on the bed wearing shock on their faces. “Are you telling me my son isn’t here? He took my son?” I roared.
“He’s trying to help him, Mian.” Lucas’s voice deepened. I was approaching a danger zone but fuck that. My son will always be worth any battle.
“He could help him by letting us go!”
“So you can do what?” Z snapped. “I’m willing to bet you don’t even have the money to make it back home, let alone keep you both fed. He would be dead by the end of the week, and you wouldn’t be able to live with that. You’d be dead, too.”
I tore my gaze away because I couldn’t stand to see the truth in his eyes. “I’m going to kill you both.” My vow was made quietly and aimed at the ground.
“That may be, but for now, let Angel help him.”
I did look up then. “After I’m done with your ring leader, I will kill you both.” I was sure my promise made its mark this time. They both nodded, seeming to take it in stride. They were men who likely dealt with death threats on a daily basis and still managed to continue breathing.
Not for long.
“Maybe we shouldn’t trust you to make us breakfast,” Z joked to break the tension.
“Why would I make you breakfast?”
“Angel wanted us to keep you busy while he’s away so you’ll be seeing to our needs.”
My stomach tightened at the thought of their needs. “Like a maid?”
“Titles can be tricky,” Lucas said and grinned. I didn’t return it.
“Your needs aren’t my problem.”
Lucas shook his head, took my arm, and steered me toward the door.
“Battles already lost, Mian.”
*
“ So you worked with my dad and Uncle Art? Why haven’t I ever met either of you before?”
After Lucas had led me to the state-of-the-art kitchen with Z trailing behind us, I refused to perform any culinary action. My defiance lasted up until Z calmly worked his belt from the loops of his pants while maintaining eye contact. The threat was clear. I barely knew Z, yet somehow, I was surprised but smart enough to know he meant it.
“Maybe he didn’t trust us with you,” Z leaned in and whispered.
“Makes sense. My dad didn’t really trust anyone with me.” He would have told Angel not to bring anyone around.
Lucas chuckled from his perch beside Z at the bar. “He’s not talking about your pops, girl.”
“Oh…” They were silent but watchful, letting it sink in on its own. “I think you’re wrong. Angel didn’t even know I existed.”
Z rolled his eyes and leaned back. “If you truly believed that, your sexy body wouldn’t be so flushed right now.”
“It wasn’t always tense between us,” I admitted.
“You want to fuck him, don’t you, pretty girl?”
“No, Zachariah. I do not. I want him to die.”
“I call bullshit.”
“You can call the press, too, if you’d like. My answer stays the same.”
“You like lying to yourself?”
“It’s not a lie to say I’m not attracted to the man who kidnapped my son.”
“So you feel nothing?”
“Not even a twinge. Eggs are ready.” I picked up the hot skillet from the flat top stove and spooned the scrambled eggs onto their waiting plates. Bacon, toast, and fresh fruit were already waiting along with tall glasses of orange juice. “Enjoy,” I said, not meaning it.
Lucas smirked and fixed his gaze on mine. “You didn’t poison the food, did you?”
“Oh, how I wish I could.”