14. All’s Fair in Love and Kidnapping

14

All's Fair in Love and Kidnapping

D onatella's captor had made it clear that he was not to be disturbed.

It's not terribly difficult to kidnap someone. Most people walk around the streets so unaware of their surroundings, it's as if they wish to get plucked from their ordinary lives.

But Donatella Dragna wasn't just anyone, and her life was far from ordinary. She might have joked about wishing to be kidnapped, but she would fight like a hellion if she actually thought someone were trying to take her or take control of her.

For this kidnapping to work, it had to be executed perfectly. Even now, her captor could hear her down the hall, battling against her door. She would hurt herself before she hurt the door. But he didn't imagine that would stop her from trying to escape.

"I hope this is important," he growled at the performer who had summoned him.

"I'm not sure if important is the word I would use… but I do think you'll find this interesting."

The performer held out a palm-size booklet with a cloth cover and gilded print. "Yasmine found this among the princess's things."

Tella's captor could see that the spine of the booklet was worn and the cover was wrinkled, making it clear this was something the princess had read multiple times.

He flipped through some of the pages quickly, sur prised and slightly disturbed by the content. "And Yasmine is certain this was among the princess's things?"

The performer nodded.

Donatella's captor closed the book. If he'd found the booklet under other circumstances, he would have simply tossed the thing in the fire.

But considering the current situation, this was something he could use.