Page 14 of Booked for Kidnapping

“Murky waters,” Beatrice muttered. “Murky political waters.”

No kidding. “Trust me, it’s better to read about politicians than it is to have to get up close and personal with them.” I hesitated at admitting I’d met one of the targets at the service, but I decided as he hadn’t been one of the people to send a card, it would be safe enough. “I had an unfortunate brush with Senator Smithhall, and he hates exsanguinators almost as much as I loathe and abhor having to use a wheelchair.”

Bradley raised a brow. “You had neglected to mention Smithhall.”

“The President rescued me from having to actually talk to him, and honestly, at that point, I was pretty freaked out I had to talk to the President.”

My parents exchanged glances, as did my co-workers. After everyone got their fill of sending silent messages, they focused on Bradley.

I wanted to know what the hell had them all joining forces against Bradley without having to say a single word.

Bradley sighed. “I didn’t do anything nefarious.”

“You could have called and told us she’d made it home rather than falling asleep on her couch after going on a bender,” Beatrice complained.

I gave up trying to understand my friends and family. “Mom, please hand me my cane. I’m going to go to the bathroom, and by the time I’m back, I want you all to be sane again.”

While my mother fetched my cane and handed it to me, she shook her head at my request. “My sweet summer child, you can’t restore what they never had.”

Wow. My mother had taken aim at the entire cell, and I’d missed what had spurred her into joining in the snarky commentary and attempting to take over the world. “Dad? What did you do to my mom?”

“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I wish I knew. She didn’t even hesitate. I mean, she was pretty upset with you this morning. She had picked a switch.”

I gasped. “She hadn’t! Don’t you lie to me, Dad.”

“It was a willow switch,” he informed me, holding his hands apart. “This long, pretty thin.”

I turned my attention to my mother, and I gasped again, as dramatically as I could. “You were going to switch me for going to a funeral?”

“I was going to switch you for doing something dangerous. It just happened that the funeral could have been very dangerous,” she informed me. “I have decided on a better punishment.”

When my mother doled out punishments, she meant them, and as I’d pulled a rather effective disappearing act for years, I would go along with her demands as a repentant child should. “What punishment? It wasn’t actually dangerous, unless you view talking to strangers to be dangerous.”

“Talking to strange politicians is one of the most dangerous things you have ever done, young lady.”

Someone had gotten to my mother and convinced her she could show her true colors to our family friends and my co-workers. I recognized when I would lose, and I eyed the only escape I had, which was my bathroom. I took care with creeping across my own damned living room, dodging the people who’d taken over the floor. Fortunately, they had mercy, and when I couldn’t get by without potentially tripping, they moved. Once a safe distance, I said, “Not even my pride was damaged at the memorial service. I promise. But if I can have a significantly reduced sentencing, I would be appreciative.”

“You will share sleeping accommodations with Bradley. Your personal room rights have been revoked.”

Bradley’s brows shot up, and he relaxed into my couch while I debated beating myself over the head with my own cane to escape. He smiled and said, “I accept your punishment. That will make it a little easier to keep track of her.”

Traitor fiancé. Rather than beat myself into unconsciousness with my cane, I used it to limp into the bathroom to hide.

The respite lasted all of ten minutes before I accepted I needed to leave my bathroom and face my mother, who would pile on the hints about what I should be doing while Bradley enjoyed her antics. They’d left my favorite spot on the couch free, and I limped over, careful to minimize how much weight I put on my foot. My work had done wonders for my pain levels, but until the inflammation came down on its own, any weight on it hurt.

With the damned bracelets unlocked so I could control them, my new daily routine would involve cleaning the infection out and changing the bandage, and I’d play stupid when my doctor questioned my swift recovery.

I longed to walk without having to grit my teeth due to the pain.

“Have you accepted your fate?” my mother asked in her sweetest voice.

“When did you go from mortified you had switched me once to gleeful in your desire to teach me my manners?” I asked, and I crossed my arms and sulked on my couch. “You’re supposed to be mortified at the thought of a switch. Weren’t you the one to claim I’m too sweet and adorable to switch?”

“I put some thought into the situation, and I have decided I was generally incorrect on my beliefs. You aren’t too old or too cute to switch if you insist on doing dangerous things. But I think my other plan is better. Maybe Bradley will have better luck keeping you out of trouble.” She sniffed and went to Meridian, who continued to charm my cat. Ajani accepted my mother’s attention with a purr, especially as the woman armed herself with the brush to bribe her way into my fluffy goddess’s affections.

Bradley’s mother emerged from my bedroom, strolled over, and handed me my cards and the pad of paper. “Personally, I don’t care where you sleep, but sharing a room with Bradley seems much better than a round with the switch. I don’t think your father is responsible for her change of heart, but I do think you need to be more careful. You might become rich if you keep these antics up. Also, we might want to investigate everyone who sent you a card. There seems to be an abundance of guilty consciences. Every gift card for the bookstore is three hundred and fifty dollars. You should be able to buy a nice piece of jewelry, too. I have it on good authority my son has been jewelry shopping, so you should splurge on something you like and will be useful to you. Perhaps a nice watch? You don’t seem like the diamond and pearl necklace type, really.”

I tore the piece of paper with the values of the gift cards off the pad and stuffed it, along with the cards, back into the main envelope. “I will cope with their generosity later.”