Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
God, I’m such an idiot.
She should have just called the cops or sent them an email or sent someone an email while she was on the computer.
This right here was why she’d never make it in a horror movie.
She’d be the geek who’d get seduced by the fancy ass computer systems and get herself killed, every single time, no matter how many times you rewatched the movie or yelled at the TV.
And no matter how fancy schmancy these guys’ computers were, she should not have allowed herself to be seduced by them.
She narrowed her eyes at Gunnar. “You can’t keep me here. ”
“I can.” The jerk smirked in her direction.
“There is no way out unless one of us opens the door. If one of my people opens the door, I’ll fire them, and they’ll lose their security clearance which means they won’t work in the business again.
They don’t want that to happen.” He raised an eyebrow toward where Remi was watching them.
Silent communication passed between them and Jerk-God—that was a good description for him, Jorja decided.
Jerk-God—she’d call him that in her head from now on—nodded, then turned to her. “Come with me.”
“No.” Did he seriously think she was going to be all meek and crap about this? He’d lost his mind if he did. “I’d rather find some food and go to bed, please. I find the present company distasteful.” At least if she was in a room alone, she could figure out a way to leave or escape.
“That’s what’s gonna happen.”
Wait, what?
She’d been convinced something horrible was going to happen.
What that horrible would be, she had no idea.
Her imagination, now that she wasn’t engrossed in the computers, was running riot in her head.
And to top it all off, her belly chose that moment to grumble loud enough that everyone in the room could hear it. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Gunnar nodded pointedly to her stomach, which let out a traitorous rumble. “You didn’t eat dinner,” he told her. “You have to be hungry by now.”
“I had a bratwurst in Germany before I crossed the border into Switzerland.” She glanced at her watch but was too tired to calculate the math. “It wasn’t that long ago.”
“What is it with you tech geeks not remembering to eat and then lying to me about it?” Gunnar strode across the room and tugged her out of her chair.
“She’s done, Remi. I’ll bring her back in the morning.
” He turned back toward the door. His grip on her arm ensured she had to go with him or have her shoulder dislocated, which was an ouch she didn’t need right now.
Escaping would be impossible if she was hurt. Even she’d watched enough TV and read enough books to know that. “You’re hurting me, asshole.”
“Shit, sorry.” Gunnar immediately stopped dragging her after him like she was a runaway cat. She refused to be intimidated as he towered over her. “Will you come with me, and I’ll get you food and somewhere safe to sleep?”
“There isn’t anywhere in this place which is safe with you around.” She didn’t trust her own judgment, never mind the sincerity in his voice.
“Jorja?” Remi interrupted them. “You can stay in my apartment if it makes you feel safer.”
Thank you, Remi. It was probably a stupid move to trust him, but she did. Plus, it meant not having to be next to the oh so sexy Jerk-God. “Yes—”
“No,” Gunnar snarled at the same time.
What the hell did he have to be mad for? Did he think Remi wasn’t capable of making sure she didn’t escape? “Thank you, Remi. I’d love that.”
See, I can do polite. Even when I’ve been frick-fracking kidnapped.
“Absolutely not.” Jerk-God propped both his fists on his waist.
Now was probably not a good time to mention that he reminded her of her mom when she was annoyed. But unlike her mom, she dared to go toe-to-toe with him. “Why not? Remi will make sure I don’t leave.”
“No.” He really needed to see someone about that growly stuff coming out of his mouth. Take some honey, it might sweeten his grump. “Do I need to toss you over my shoulder again? Because that can totally be an option.” He tugged her toward him until her nose almost bumped into his chest.
What a dick.
No wonder his wife divorced him.
“Fine.” Let him make of that what he wanted. She snorted a short laugh.
If he does it again, I swear to God, I’m going to puke all down his back.
Remi’s eyes widened. “Gunnar, when a woman laughs like that, you gotta abort mission or end up in the weeds.”
That’s right, Remi, you freaking tell him!
“Where are you planning on taking her?” As if Remi was determined to make sure his brother didn’t ignore the warning he’d just given, he stood out of his chair and stepped in between them. Thankfully, Jerk-God released her arm and Jorja took three steps back.
“My apartment, where I know she can’t escape.”
What the heck does he think I am?
Wonder Woman? Maybe Spider Woman?
Dumbass.
She was resourceful; she’d find a way. Even if it meant waiting until he was asleep to do it.
“Bro, this whole place is like Fort freaking Knox.” Remi turned to his computer and shut off the screen. “Ain’t nobody coming in or out of here unless we allow it.” He stepped around Gunnar and went to the door. “I’m hungry, and I’m craving curry cheese fries.”
“What the heck, Rem, are you pregnant?” Gunnar muttered.
“Nope, I’ve just been eating healthy shit for too long.” Remi held the war-room door open. “Move your asses. I’m going to the main kitchen. You can finish the debate of where Jorja stays while I cook.”
Jorja watched the silent power play between the brothers as they glared at each other and decided it might benefit her to play them off each other.
She’d never had curry cheese fries before, but they were now officially her most favorite food on the planet.
“I adore curry cheese fries.” She side-stepped Jerk-God and smiled at Remi.
“I’d love to try yours, if you are willing to share? ”
“Absolutely.” Remi grinned at her. “Just as soon as Gunnar moves his ass out of my office, I’ll make you some,” he promised.
Gunnar’s jaw tightened and he grumbled something under his breath which she couldn’t hear.
But clearly, he’d decided this was a battle he wasn’t likely to win, and he stalked toward them.
Jorja jumped back to avoid her toes being trampled on and stared after him as strode toward an archway further down the courtyard. “He looks pissy.”
“Hah.” Remi locked the war-room door. “Gunnar is always a grumpy shit, and pissing him off is one of the few fun things I do.”
Jorja walked next to Remi. “You do it often, huh?”
“Every damn day, if I have time.” Remi pushed open a door and led her into a massive but cozy kitchen.
Jorja ignored the glower from Gunnar who sat at the head of the table in the center of the room. “What can I do to help?” she asked Remi. Let the brooding Jerk-God brood his pants off. It reminded her she was happy to be an only child, even if she’d wished for the opposite when she was a kid.
“Nah, I got it.” Remi opened a door to what turned out to be a pantry. He grabbed a wicker basket of potatoes and returned to the sink. “I like to cook.” He dumped some potatoes into the sink and turned on the faucet. “I can do it without thinking too much, unless I’m experimenting with a recipe.”
She totally understood that concept. How many hours did she spend on her phone playing some matching game, hoping the repetitive nature of the swiping across the screen would settle her runaway mind?
Candy Crush was both the bane of her existence as it was the ultimate time waster.
On other days, it was her only sanity. She and Candy Crush had a love-hate relationship at this point.
But she didn’t care if it was a time-killer, or that her mom called it her procrastination crutch.
It soothed her brain, so it fulfilled a purpose.
She hovered near where Remi filled a pot of oil and put it on the stove.
The uncomfortable silence echoed around the room.
She opened her mouth and snapped it shut again when Remi hit a button over the stove and soft music filled the kitchen.
“Coffee is there.” Remi nodded to a cabinet which had been set up as a coffee station. “Or there is wine in the fridge if you prefer. Water and juice too. Help yourself.”
“Thanks.” Having something to do instead of standing around holding down the floorboards was a relief. “Do you want something too?”
“Mons—”
“Nope.” The humming which she hadn’t noticed until it stopped paused. “No Monster for him. His brain is already running on too little sleep and too much caffeine,” Gunnar said.
“I thought all you macho types ran on too little sleep and too much caffeine. Isn’t that part of your DNA makeup or something?
” She opened the fridge and found an open bottle of white wine in the door.
Perfect, that would do. She wasn’t fussy when it came to wine.
As long as it was white and cold, she’d drink it. “Glasses?” she asked Remi.
“Here.” Gunnar reached over her head to a cupboard over the top of the fridge.
Jorja jumped at the sound of his voice behind her and whacked the top of her head off his chin. “Shit. Quit sneaking around.”
“I’m in my own damn kitchen.” Gunnar placed the glasses on the counter next to the fridge. “I’m not sneaking anywhere. You didn’t know where the glasses were,” he pointed out.
That was true. But while she might admit it in her head, she wasn’t going to tell him he was right. Because from what she’d seen, he already ducked to get under doors. His head didn’t need to get any freaking bigger. She flipped open the wine stopper and filled all three glasses to half full.
“Glass is there, Remi.” Gunnar placed one of the glasses near Remi’s elbow.
Obviously, this was something which happened often, as Remi kept his eye on the oil he was filling into the pot and snagged the glass with one hand. “Thanks.”