Tis The Season//for KING & COUNTRY

Bamboozled

"Unwrap me."

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?

In the lane, snow is glistening

A beautiful sight

We're happy tonight

Walking in a winter wonderland

"You make a wonderful hostage,"Ben said, twirling around to "Winter Wonderland".

Joel glared at him.

He shimmied, attempting to loosen the red ribbon Benjamin Backus had tied him up with. Like he was a freaking display gift box.

"Want some?"Ben asked, downing an amber-colored liquid.

Joel shook his head; he wasn't in the mood to accept anything from his KIDNAPPER.

Well, not kidnapper. He hadn't been kidnapped, merely held hostage, but he wasn't in the mood to find a better word.

Ben picked up his phone and dialed someone.

"Hey, Vinny, I got the tinseltoe."

Joel glared at him again. Also, he was pretty sure Vinny was Vincent diCarlo.

Bamboozled by his own bandmates, who knew?

"Of course, of course, man."

Vinny talked a bit.

"Yeah, I'll see you later. Send Luke my love."

Luke? His brother Luke? Oh, he better not be involved.

"Yeah, bye."

"Good news, we're transferring you later today."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, we just need your dad to sign off."

"My dad?"

"Yeah."Ben shimmied. "Mafia. You know how it is.'

Joel blinked. "We're in the mafia?"

"Oh, my sweet summer child."

"I want a lollipop."

Ben looked at him. "I didn't mean it literally, okay?"

"Okay, but I deserve one for this."

Ben gave him a look.

"We're trying to help you, Joelito."

"I'm so very confused."

"Look, I know you're sweet on that Morice chick and frankly, live in your own candyland dream world, but, uh, you were supposed to get married today."

"What?"

"Yeah, you were supposed to marry Kari Jobe, she's quite the lethal weapon. Poisoned Abe Tinklemaimer and Dennis McTissue at the KLOVE Fan Awards."

"Kari Jobe? The worship leader?"

"What other Kari Jobe do you know?"Ben asked.

Joel had to admit he had a point there.

"Who else?"

"Who else is mafia?"

"Yes."

"Besides us and Jobe, Tobymac."

"T-"

"He's nice though, not very murdery. It's his wife you should beware. Got him into the business. They're keeping the kids out. But, yeah, that's it. I mean, can you see Chris Tomlin as a mobster?"Ben laughed.