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It’s the briefest contact but it’s enough to make my stomach bottom out before he looks away again.
Disappointment seeps into my chest which only serves to further fuel the anger I already feel toward myself.
He abducted me.
He’s holding me here against my will.
He’s the enemy.
I repeat the mantra in my head.
When no one speaks, the air in the room shifting, Norma clears her throat.
“I was wondering when you’d be down. I made those homemade granola bars you like so much.”
“Thank you.” He shifts from the doorway, stopping on the opposite side of the island from me. He leans down, examining the pie.
“Can I try some?” His soft tone has my gaze sliding up to meet his.
“You have granola bars to eat. Besides, it’s too hot,” I tell him flatly.
“That’s okay. I like things hot.” A wicked glint flashes through his eyes, but his lips remained turned down slightly.
I study him for a long moment, trying to figure out his angle, before blowing out the breath I was holding in. Turning, I drop the knife in the sink and grab a small plate and fork from the clean stack on the counter.
Without a word, I fork a piece onto the plate, the insides spilling out onto the white surface, and extend it to him. He nods, not breaking my gaze as he takes it, sliding a good size chunk onto the fork before shoveling it into his mouth.
His eyes light in appreciation as he chews.
“Good?” I ask. My eagerness to please him is unsettling.
“Very.” He tips his chin, going in for another bite.
Sometimes, when I look at Mateo I forget why I’m supposed to hate him and let myself admit that I don’t.
“Any news from the ground?” He swallows his second bite and turns toward Niko who immediately gives him his full attention, abandoning the newspaper in front of him.
“Spoke to Ross an hour ago. Still no movement.”
“Fuck,” Mateo mutters under his breath, dropping the plate onto the island with a loud clang.
“He’ll slip,” Niko reassures his boss.
“Something wrong?” I chime in, knowing full well neither of them are going to tell me a goddamn thing.
“Just a hiccup,” Mateo tells me, the softness in his eyes now gone. “Nothing you need to worry about.”
“Right.” I blow out a puff of air. “Because it’s not my life hanging in the balance or anything,” I grumble under my breath.
“The less you know...” Mateo starts.
“Yeah. Yeah,” I cut him off. “Doesn’t much matter if I’m dead though, does it?”
I don’t know where that came from, and by the way Mateo’s brow furrows neither does he.
“That’s not going to happen,” he says through gritted teeth.
“No?” I snort, crossing my arms in front of myself. “Because from what I’ve gathered, my father isn’t cooperating the way you expected he would. And we both know you can’t let that slide. If he doesn’t comply, a message will need to be sent. So what body part should I prepare to part with?”
