AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What do you care?” Psycho grumbled, pouting. “I do everything for her: run the show, manage the workers, arrange the sales . . . ”
“I can give you some pointers if you want. It sounds like she doesn’t look at you as the smart guy you really are. I’ve been there.” I hoped he couldn’t see through my thin façade that I actually gave a fuck. I’d read in psychology class that kidnappers and serial killers don’t humanize their victims. This was my lame attempt to become Psycho’s friend. There was no way I could tell if it would work or not, but I didn’t have anything to lose.
“Yeah? Whatcha got. If it works then I’ll make sure you’re treated a little nicer.”
Not what I’m looking for, but it’s a start.
“Isn’t that funny. We both want to be treated better.” I faked a yawn and leaned back in my chair. My stomach growled, and I placed my hand on it. “Some food and water would be nice. Maybe we could eat lunch together.”
He glanced at his watch. “It’s six thirty-two in the morning.”
I tried to hide the surprise on my face. “How long have Jagger and I been here?”
Psycho flashed me a devilish grin. “Two days.”
I groaned. “No wonder I’m tired and hungry. Have you ever gone two days without eating?” I asked, my voice teetering on whiney.
“All the time. You’ll live.”
The sound of the door opening distracted me from the monster babysitting me to the well-put-together woman waltzing in. One hand held a bottled water and the other a sandwich. Please, God, let those be for me.
“Samantha.” I gave her a salute. “I would say it’s nice to see you so soon, but I would be lying.”
Samantha frowned. “You always were a smart-ass.” She turned to Psycho and tilted her head to the door. “Leave.”
Glancing at him, I waited for his attention to dart to me. “Told you,” I mouthed. If anything, maybe I was fucking with him. It gave me something to do while I bided my time to try to find Jagger and escape again. If they thought I would work with them without a fight, Samantha and Psycho were sadly mistaken.
Psycho scooted his chair back, the metal feet scraping across the cement floor. He walked past Samantha and grumbled under his breath.
“He certainly isn’t the chatty type.” Under different circumstances, I would never talk to my kidnapper so casually, but this woman had helped raise me from the age of nine. The evidence was right in front of me. She was a hundred percent monster, but I still couldn’t wrap my head around it.
She placed the water and sandwich on the table before she settled into the seat beside me.
“Where’s Jagger?” The deep longing to know he was alive and unharmed made me flash my vulnerability like a stripper on a bad day.
“He’s fine. Safe and sound.” She cleared her throat and pointed to my sandwich. “Eat. You’ll need your energy.”
“For?” I opened the water but only allowed myself a few small drinks.
“You’ll see.” Samantha folded her hands in her lap.
“Did you ever love my father or, for that matter, your own son?” I unwrapped the sandwich and sniffed it.
Samantha laughed. “Jagger did the same thing. It’s not drugged. You have my word.”
I snorted. “Because your word is worth so much.” Pulling the slice of tomato from between the bread, I popped it into my mouth.
“I love Jagger. Theo . . .” Her lips pursed. “He’s a necessity.”
I nodded and nibbled at the roast beef hanging off the side. As much as I wanted to wolf the food down, I had to take it slow and make sure she wasn’t drugging me. Plus, I didn’t want the food to come back up in record time.
“You should tell Jagger you love him. From this angle, it looks like you’re a monster without the ability to feel anything except greed.”
“My goodness. You don’t hold back, do you?” She tilted her head, studying me while I took a full bite of my food. “You’ll learn to be polite and do what you’re told. If you don’t, I’ll hurt Jagger. If you comply, he stays safe.”
I lowered my sandwich to the table, staring at her. “Don’t you fucking touch him,” I seethed. “You’ve done enough harm.”
“Then you better stop being a little bitch.” She smiled as if she’d won the game. Samantha had no damn clue how wrong she was. I’d learned a lot over the years with Peter, and I was happy to use Samantha as my guinea pig to try some new tricks, including escape.
