Page 12 of Carnal Urges

When he only sits there gazing at me in inscrutable silence, I prompt, “Anytime you feel like enlightening me, I’m all ears.”

“You.”

Surprised, I blink. “Me?”

“Aye. You.”

“I don’t know any Salvadorans. Of the mobster variety, that is.”

“Did you think your abduction would go over well with your friend Mr. Portnov?”

He means Kage, my bestie’s man, who also happens to be top dog of the Russian mafia.

From what Stavros once told me, MS-13 is the fastest-growing gang in the Boston area. Kage must’ve made some kind of deal with them to try to rescue me as soon as I got off the plane. But howwould he know where Declan took me after the parking garage or where we might ultimately be headed?

Or even if I’m dead or alive, for that matter? Declan could’ve slit my throat the moment he nabbed me.

Then it hits me: Natalie doesn’t know if I’m dead or alive, either.

I sit bolt upright on the seat and shout, “Oh my god, she’ll be so worried! Give me your cell phone.”

“I’m not giving you my cell phone.”

“I have to let my girlfriend know I’m alive.”

His pause seems loaded. “Ah.”

“What do you mean,ah?”

“You and your girlfriend.”

“What about us?”

“You’re very … close.”

“Of course we’re close. She’s been my best friend since…” I trail off, frowning at his expression. Then I sigh. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

“I’m not judging.”

“Will you shut up already? We’re not lesbians.”

He looks unconvinced. “You did say you couldn’t keep a boyfriend.”

“No, I said I don’tkeepboyfriends. You totally missed the emphasis. Boyfriends are like koi fish: a time-consuming and boring hobby. I have no interest in that kind of commitment. Are you getting this?”

“You also seem like you really dislike the opposite sex.”

I smile at him. “Only a deserving few.”

He ignores that. “And there is the matter of the way you handle pressure.”

“What about it?”

“You’re almost as brave as a man.”

“What a coincidence, I was just thinking that about you.”

He exhales a short breath through his nose and shakes his head.He doesn’t know whether to laugh or clobber me. “You’re really something else, lass.”