Page 43 of Billion-Dollar Ransom

“YOUR LIPS ARE very soft,” Boo said after she pulled back from the embrace. “You know, for a ruthless and dangerously violent kidnapper.”

“Don’t worry,” Two said. “This is only a side hustle.”

“Is that what I am?” Boo asked with a devilish smile. “Your side hustle?”

“I don’t exactly know who you are, let alone what you are, other than the most strangely pleasant surprise.”

“Finish your thought.”

“What do you mean?”

“You said I was the most strangely pleasant surprise, but you didn’t give it a modifier. I’m the most strangely pleasant surprise… of the day? The week? Or maybe the month?”

“The past couple of months, easily.”

“Clearly you’re not a full-time kidnapper,” Boo said. “Otherwise you’d be meeting all kinds of abductees. Some of whom might also be kissable and surprising.”

Two laughed. “Let’s just say I’m glad I was assigned to you.”

The moment Two spoke the words, he realized his tactical error.

“Interesting. Assigned to me, ” Boo said, working it out. “As opposed to someone else. Presumably someone else in my family. Which most likely means other members of my family have been abducted.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“Of course you didn’t. But I was able to figure it out anyway. So who else? C’mon. You might as well tell me. What difference could it possibly make?”

“I know nothing about any other abduction,” Two said, which was mostly the truth. The other parts of the plan were hidden from him, but he had checked the news. The Schraeder kidnappings dominated headlines and airwaves. “My sole focus is you.”

“I assume Randy is safe,” Boo said. “Because you need somebody to gather the money and pay the ransom. How much are they asking for?”

Two shrugged. He could have told her the truth—maybe she would have been impressed. But he’d already said too much, and he vowed to keep all details to himself from now on. He would stop this line of questioning by any means necessary.

“I wonder if you all would be foolish enough to go after Randy’s older son, Tyler,” Boo continued. “Because Randy can’t stand him, and the feeling is mutual.”

Two reached out with his index finger and slowly traced the line of her jaw.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to distract you.”

“That feels nice, but it’s not going to work. Because… oh God. You people wouldn’t be so cruel as to kidnap my younger stepchildren, would you?”

His finger rounded her perfect chin. Nearly perfect. There was the faint trace of a scar running on a diagonal. Perhaps a minor injury from her time in the military. But no, it was too faint for that. Something from childhood?

“Where did you get this scar?”

“Double points for attempting a double distraction,” Boo said. “But it’s not going to work.”

“No?”

“Do you think I’m that easy?”

“I don’t know. I’d like to find out.”

Two kissed her again, deeper and longer, to the point where he wasn’t sure where he stopped and she began. Only her very intentional rattle of the handcuffs snapped him out of his reverie. And it reminded him of why they were stuck in this room together.

When the time comes, Two, will you have it in you to execute your orders?

Boo’s soft voice broke into his thoughts. “Are you trying to make love to your captive?”

“Probably not a good idea, right?”

She smiled. “You really are new at this, aren’t you?”