My phone rang again, and there was also a knock at the door.
The dad in the doorway disappeared.
“Where is everyone?” Dusty looked around.
“I don’t like this game,” said Tommy. “Aunt Fiona’s in a timeout in her room, which is silly because she’s a grown-up.”
“Finn, I understand your concern. But could you please untie me, so we can have a discussion like rational adults? I really do love your daughter with all my heart,” I implored. “Also, where’s Hale?”
“I can help you, Little Brother!” Tommy fumbled with the knots on my ropes.
“Tommy, please don’t untie him yet.” Finn looked like he was about to lose it.
The other dad came back in with a very amused look on his face. “Finn, two women with hockey sticks are at the door, demanding that we allow them to pay ransom.”
Fiona ran into the room. “Did you have to tie everyone up? You are infuriating.”
“Grandpa said he wasn’t done with his game, but I don’t like his game, because he had a gun,” Tommy tattled.
“A gun, Dad? Really?” Fiona huffed. “I get your concern, but this is crossing a line. And yes, I’ve thought about what I’ve done. Though locking me in my room is both unnecessary and futile.”
Finn rubbed his forehead. “I was just trying to scare him. He wasn’t repentant enough about what he did to you.”
The other dad’s brows furrowed.
“I’mhappywe’re mated. Wait, Da, who did you ransom him to and why?” Fiona demanded, candy cane scent spicy with anger asshe started to untie me.
“I didn’t. Somebody came offering ransom in exchange for him,” Da said. “Carlos, did you know your life is only worth two party-sized trays of lasagna? That tells me a lot about what your friends think of you.”
I sucked in a breath. “Two party trays of lasagna. You said she has a hockey stick. Does she have purple hair?”
“One has purple hair, one has her hair in school-girl braids,” Da replied.
“Gwen and Mercy–Hale’s sister,” I explained. The fact that they were here warmed me. Someone missed me, someone came for me.
“Gwen and Mercy here? Wow,” Dusty replied.
“Chaotic besties of doom? Hale, your sister came to rescue you,” Fiona called.
Hale appeared. “She did?”
Finn sighed. “Fiona, you weren’t supposed to untie him. I haven’t interrogated him yet.”
“The interrogation is over. This is uncalled for. I object.” Fiona huffed.
“I agree.” I nodded.
“Why should I let somebody who’s only worth two trays of lasagna be with my daughter? He should at least be worth millions,” Da said. “Preferably billions.”
“You don’t understand. Gwen trades my mom a container of just her sauce for a dozen tamales. A big tray of lasagna is probably worth, what, like four dozen tamales?” I looked to Dusty for help with the lasagna-to-tamale conversion rate given one of his moms was Italian.
“One dozen forsauce?I would say five dozen easy, for a party tray, especially if it has meat in it,” Dusty agreed.
“Wow, I’m worth ten dozen tamales? That's incredible,” I agreed.
“Ten dozen ofyour mom’stamales. There’s a huge distinctionthere, because not all tamales are equal,” Dusty added. “Just like pasta sauce.”
Hale nodded. “I could see that. I’ve had Gwen’s lasagna. Personally, I think two party trays are a really nice ransom. Wait there’s only ransom for you and not me?” His face fell.
