Page 38 of Kidnapped By the Boss

Sitting up, I said, “I’m sorry for last night.”

This honestly seemed to surprise him and he sat down on the edge of the bed. “It seems like there’s something hindering you from me, which is the very last thing I want. I hope you know that you can talk to me if something is bothering you. Just because we’re married now, doesn’t mean we have to stop working at our relationship.”

I smiled. “Where is all this relationship insightfulness coming from?”

He shrugged. “It’s kind of second nature I guess.”

“It’s Lyn,” I admitted. “I don’t feel like we should leave while she’s here.”

“Then I’ll get rid of her,” Vincent said.

“But I think she’s a victim of her circumstances,” I explained. “Her family never respected her for the person that she was. This man took advantage of her desire to be loved and used her… I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel akin to her.”

“So what do you think we should do?” Vincent frowned. “It’s not like we’re going to adopt her and be her surrogate parents or something.”

“No, but maybe I could spend some time with her and teach her how to respect herself and demand respect from those around her?” I tilted my head and set my hand on top of his. “I know you want her to remain locked up, but I don’t think she’s dangerous. Maybe I could take her out. Train her a little bit, and then try and get a sense of what she’d like to do with her life now that Antonio’s out of the way. Then we can give her some money and send her on her way. Once she’s gone, I’ll feel better.”

Vincent considered this quietly to himself for a while before finally nodding. “Okay. If you want to spend some time with her outside of her cell, I’ll allow that, but bring either Taylor or Annie with you. It’s not that I don’t think you can take care of her by yourself, but I need someone dedicated to watching your back if you’re focusing your attention on her.”

“I can do that,” I said. “A few hours out to stretch her legs, bond a little bit, and then she’ll be right back. I promise.”

He smiled at me. “I don’t know how you got that heart of yours in the world you were raised in.”

“You find falling in love and becoming a parent softens you a bit,” I said.

“It hasn’t softened me,” Vincent retorted.

I nodded at him and over-dramatically said. “Yes. For sure. You have not gotten softer.”

“I haven’t!” he barked. I leaned forward and gave him a kiss, and he pushed back against me, laying me flat on the bed and pinning me under him. “Something tells me you wouldn’t love me as much if I was soft.”

I smoothed my hands around his neck and locked them behind him. “I don’t think it’s possible for me not to love you.”

He pressed his lips to mine again, and we wiggled against each other for a while, enjoying the passionate makeup moment, but then Vincent’s phone rang and he growled. “That’s probably Annie. I was strict about her being at my office by 6. I wish you’d told me you were planning on making up, I would have been more prepared.”

“That’s okay. I need to feed Sascha anyway. I’ll come find you later,” I said, then I gave him another kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you.” He stood up off the bed and then started towards the door, but just before he walked out, he looked back at me and said, “You know I think you’re a wonderful wife, right? I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else.”

A smile rose to my face. “Me too.”

He gave me a final smile and then slipped out. I was feeling a little heated after our impromptu makeout session, so I knew I wasn’t going back to sleep. Instead, I got up and took a shower of my own, then went in to see Sascha just as he was stirring. I spent an hour with him, feeding and snuggling with him, until his nanny showed up to take over. Once he was settled, I swallowed my fears and went to the kitchen to collect Lyn’s meal for the day so I could go and see how she’d feel about leaving her cell.

“Good morning,” I said to the chef. “I’ll take the prisoner’s meal to her today as well if it’s ready.” The head chef turned around and looked at me with a nervous expression. I furrowed my brow and said, “What?”

“I was given strict instructions not to release the meal to anyone but a specific person.”

“No, I know, but I can bring it. It’s okay,” I explained.

He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Costello, but I was specifically told—”

“I’m telling you it’s fine.”

“No, you don’t understand.” He got a little loud and then slunk back into himself. “I was told not to give it to you. You by name, I was told I should not let you take the meal to the prisoner.”

I recoiled. “What?"

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Costello. Those are the strict instructions I was given on threat of my job, or maybe worse,” he said.