Page 75 of Booked for Kidnapping

“We’re going to knock on the door. If nobody answers and the place looks empty, we’ll pay the place a visit at night with some friends who work security to get us in without tripping every alarm while we do it. We’ll have a great time.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“Simple.”

“How is this simple?” I grumbled.

“Mr. Hampton owns the security company that monitors the house.”

I blinked. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“I did,” I admitted. “But I don’t believe it.”

“It’s funny. It’s like the woman wanted to make sure if something did happen to her house while you were in it, the exact right people would be able to ride to the rescue.” Beatrice laughed. “I do feel badly we didn’t let them take Bradley now. You would have been so much better off with your man around to keep you happy.”

“But then he would have been kidnapped, too!”

“Don’t lie, Janette. Nothing would have made you happier than a bunch of books and your man around to keep you company. You would have been in your personal slice of heaven.”

Damn. My favorite enemy was out for my blood. “You saw the pictures.”

“You couldn’t have been more adoring if you tried. I’ve seen how you look at Ajani, and while you adore your fluffy goddess, you only had eyes for him in those shots.”

“Mr. Hampton is a cruel traitor, compromising my position!”

Beatrice giggled. “I have some good news for you.”

“You do?”

“Ren has possession of your cat, she is booked to fly with us, and she will be in your hands by the end of the day. We also discussed the situation with your hotel, and we have paperwork registering her as an official emotional support animal. She’s still a demon, but she’s a demon who has missed you very much. Also, don’t be surprised if her behavior is a little different than you’re used to.”

“What did you do to my cat?” I growled.

“We didn’t do anything to her. We just had someone with the right talents come in and teach her manners is all. She has learned to be gentle with her warning nips, and she now realizes petting is a show of affection rather than… whatever it was that cat was thinking. She’s still a demoness and a fluffy goddess, but at least she won’t leave scars on those who pet her three times instead of two.”

I grinned. “I love my fluffy goddess. You’re really bringing her?”

“We’re really bringing her. I need to get out of here or I’ll miss my flight. Go interrogate your man. I’ll see you soon.” She promised to text me the flight number before hanging up. I stared at the phone for a long time before narrowing my eyes, getting up, and heading into the main room to wait for Bradley to wake up so I could demand answers to my many new questions.

SEVENTEEN

Why are you looking at me like that?

To prevent me from murdering anyone due to my supreme annoyance over Bradley’s attempted kidnappings, I crawled into bed with him and took a nap, waking up a little after nine so I could order us breakfast. Bradley slept like the dead until ten, and he woke only because of room service knocking on the door. I waited for him to use the bathroom and stumble about his morning routine until he started eyeballing breakfast to stage my interrogation.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked, glancing at me.

“You’ve been almost kidnapped how many times, and you left Ren at home?”

His eyes widened. “How did you find out about that?”

“A songbird told me.” I pointed at the desk and snapped my fingers. “Eat.”

“You’re in bodyguard mode, I see.”

I foresaw a complete lack of bodyguard mode in my life in the future, as I’d evolved. Future-wife or irritated fiancée mode seemed more important than mere bodyguard mode. “No. I’m in highly irritated fiancée mode. That’s even worse. It’s like protective bodyguard mode, but regarding my future spouse, who apparently got almost kidnapped how many times?”