hot for hostage

maggie evans

Copyright © 2025 by Maggie Evans

Sylvana Skies Publishing

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Edited by Nia Quinn

Hot for Hostage was previously published on Kindle Vella in 2022.

www.maggieevans.com

Hot for Hostage is dedicated to all the girls who watched The Mighty Ducks 2 as a kid and thought the Iceland coach was absolute scum of the earth and hated him with the fire of a thousand suns, then re-watched the movie as an adult and couldn’t help thinking “… Wow, he’s actually kinda hot??”

(Or was that just me?)

contents

1.  Happy Tails Haven

2.  Teenage Thugs

3.  Sadie, Get Your Gun

4.  Taking Mr. Reed Hostage

5.  Not Your Sweetheart

6.  Daisy the Death Trap

7.  Gladys Does Not Approve

8.  Who’s the Hostage Now?

9.  Sadie’s Great Escape

10.  The Car Wash

11.  A Girl and Her Broom

12.  Migraine

13.  Hellhound

14.  Getting to Know You

15.  Melting the Ice Cream

16.  Can’t Deny It

17.  Grind on Me

18.  Apartment 431

19.  Making Things Right

20.  Someone Owes Sadie a Door

21.  Rat, Interrupted

22.  Sleepover

23.  Why Are You Naked??

24.  Just Keep Swimming

25.  Just Stop Kissing

26.  Caught Wet-Handed

27.  Laundry Tips

28.  Too Sweet for a Mafia Prince?

29.  Fetch

30.  Baking Me Crazy

31.  Caught

32.  Davian’s Treat

33.  A Very Good Girl

34.  Pretty Little Thing

35.  The M-Word

36.  Let Her Go

37.  The Shed

38.  A Prized Cow

39.  Manhandled (Again)

40.  Phone-a-Friend

41.  Sadie’s Great Escape 2.0

42.  Again?

43.  Noooooooo

44.  A Van with a Plan

45.  Meringue

46.  You Can Run, But You Can’t…

47.  Stranger Danger

48.  Above Average

49.  How Many Times Can One Be Taken Hostage?

50.  Who Are You Calling an Old Woman?

51.  Anything but That

52.  Mine

53.  Smitten Kitten

54.  On the Hunt

55.  A Girl and Her Broom (Sadie’s Version)

56.  You Missed

57.  Party Crashers

58.  Pretty Boy

59.  Fourth Time’s a Charm

60.  The Dream Team

61.  Remember His Name

62.  Partners

63.  Hot for Hostage

64.  Disgustingly Sweet

65.  Two Conditions

Epilogue

Also by Maggie Evans

Acknowledgments

happy tails haven

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking, Tip #1: Forget everything you think you know about hostage situations.

Happy Tails Haven had been brutally vandalized.

Again.

I frowned at the mess of graffiti marring the front of the dog shelter. Sunlight glinted off scattered shards of glass, and my eyes narrowed on the broken window. I’d been volunteering at the shelter for three years, and the sight of it defaced like this made me sick to my stomach.

“I won’t stand for this,” I declared, fists clenched at my sides. “That’s the third time those little thugs have hit us this week!”

“Sadie—”

“No, I mean it this time,” I told Gladys, dodging my fellow volunteer’s outstretched hand. I was so frustrated I could cry. Graffiti was one thing. Destruction was another—the glass could hurt the dogs! “Happy Tails Haven is a sanctuary for abandoned and mistreated dogs. They don’t need this sort of abuse from teenagers who should know better.”

Gladys’s wrinkled forehead creased further as she followed my gaze to the obscene graffiti. She didn’t look particularly bothered, which made no sense.

“Does it really bother the dogs, though?” Ryan, another volunteer, asked from my other side. “I’m not sure they even notice.”

Why were neither of them upset? This was an outrage.

“Oh, they notice,” I promised. Dogs were very sensitive to negative vibes like this. “We have to do something.”

Gladys snorted. “What can we do? We called the police weeks ago, and their extra patrols haven’t caught any suspects.”

I frowned and planted my hands on my hips. “Why don’t we camp out here with the dogs until we can catch those troublemakers in the act?”

She squinted at me. “And then what? We take them on ourselves?”

I looked down at my noodle-thin arms and pink sundress. Nothing about me was very intimidating, and dying my hair pink hadn’t done anything to build my street cred. The teenagers messing with our shelter were all bigger than me, and Gladys was made of elderly sticks and bones. She was the oldest volunteer at the shelter by at least two decades, and neither of us could open a jar of spaghetti sauce without asking for help.

Ryan wasn’t much better. While he could lift two of the extra-large bags of dog food without breaking a sweat—something all the workers at the shelter admired him for—his appearance could be a little deceiving.

I eyed our muscular friend before smiling hopefully. “Any chance you’ve stopped practicing that whole pacifism thing?”

Calm blue eyes blinked back at me. “Violence isn’t the answer. Not now, not ever.”

My shoulders slumped with my sigh. “I figured. No, I’m not saying we take them on. But there’s got to be something we can do. Maybe if we just tried talking to them?”

My other idea was to find a way to signal for Batman, but they’d probably just make fun of me.

We lived in Westport, not Gotham.

Gladys pulled her grey cardigan tightly around herself, despite the summer weather. “If we confront them, we’ll probably get shot.”

“Shot?” My jaw dropped. “But we saw them in the security footage. They’re barely even teenagers. You think they have guns?”

“I saw a few of them packing,” Ryan said. “There’s nothing we can do. These kids are stupid and think they’re invincible. The only people punks like them respect are the Reeds.”

I bit my lip. The name didn’t ring any bells. “Who are the Reeds?”

Two blank gazes stared back at me before Gladys shook her head. “I know you’re from the ’burbs, Sadie, but you’ve lived in the city a few years now for school. You’ve seriously never heard of that old psycho Sebastian Reed? He has more Westport property than a game of Monopoly, and he’s head of the local mafia.”

It took me a second to make sure I’d heard correctly.

… Mafia?

I gulped. That was crazy talk.

“Which means he basically owns the city,” Ryan added.

I doubted our city actually had a mafia—it sounded like the stuff of history books and movies—but a spark of hope ignited in my chest. “So, we just need to ask this Mr. Reed to help us, and those boys will leave Happy Tails alone?”

Gladys’s white brows skyrocketed, and she gave me her signature no-nonsense look, which had my spine straightening on instinct. “Did you miss the part where I called him a psycho? You don’t want to mess with men like Old Seb unless you have a death wish, child. And the Reeds don’t help no one but themselves. It’s part of their code.”

I was tempted to point out she’d just used a double negative, but that wouldn’t help matters.

“If you even got close enough to talk to Old Seb, he’d rip your tongue out before you could say anything,” Ryan chimed in. “Crazy bastard. His son is the one you’d want to do a job like this anyway. He does all Seb’s dirty work.”

Ignoring the unsettling thought of my tongue getting ripped out, I perked up. “So Mr. Reed’s son would help us, then?”

Gladys snorted. “Davian Reed would sooner murder a litter of puppies than do a good deed. You’d have to hold a gun to his head just to make him hear you out.”

I tried not to show my horror at the thought of a man hurting innocent little puppies, but it left a sour taste in my mouth.

Now what were we supposed to do?

Ryan snickered and glanced at the defaced wall. “Can you imagine asking Davian for something? If Old Seb would tear out your tongue, Davian would slit your throat without blinking.”

“What else would you expect from a mafia prince?” Gladys asked. “He’d stab his own father in the back if it suited him.”

I crossed my arms, unable to hide a shudder. How did my friends know so much about this supposed mafia? Usually, we talked about dogs or flea medicine or our Thursday night bowling league. Not stabbing and puppy murdering. “Okay, that’s enough of that talk. There must be something else we can do. Something we haven’t tried.”

A familiar light blue sedan pulled up to the curb, and we fell silent. Our boss hobbled out of the driver’s side, wearing his usual sweater vest and khakis, with a wooden cane. Mr. Sanders had owned Happy Tails Haven for decades, and there were pictures of him in reception from long before his hair turned grey. He loved the shelter with everything in him, and it pained me to watch him take in the broken window with a shake of his head.

“Those goddamn kids.” He limped closer with a frown. “Another one?”

“We’ll get to the bottom of this, Mr. Sanders,” I said, determined to make it true. “I promise.”

He managed a small smile and patted my shoulder. “It’s not your problem to solve, lass. You just let me worry about this.”

“At least insurance will cover the repairs, right?” Ryan asked. “That’s a small win.”

Our boss’s smile faded. “Not this time, I’m afraid. I had to lower our coverage after the last rent hike.”

My heart twisted. The shelter’s landlord had nearly doubled the rent six months ago, and we’d been cutting costs everywhere we could. I hadn’t realized it was so bad that Mr. Sanders had to cut back on insurance.

“Adoption fees and donations are barely keeping us afloat,” he continued grimly. “My accountant says we have maybe six months before we’ll have to close up shop.”

“Close up shop?” I echoed in shock. “But Happy Tails Haven has been here for years! It’s a neighborhood treasure.”

Piles of trash littering the sidewalk and graffiti penises on the wall did little to showcase the shelter’s appeal, but it was the truth.

“We can’t let it close,” Gladys agreed.

My chest squeezed with worry, and I rubbed at it. “What will happen to the dogs?”

“They’ll get divvied up between the pounds,” Mr. Sanders said. He poked at a large crack in the sidewalk with his cane. “It’ll be a damn shame to see this place go.”

I tried to picture our sweet dogs all alone and scared at the city pounds, but it was too awful to even consider.

No, that wouldn’t do.

“I better call for a repair quote.” Sighing heavily, Mr. Sanders limped over to the door. “Don’t stay out here too long. The dogs need breakfast.”

When the door swung shut behind him, Gladys crossed her arms and frowned at me. “This is the first I’m hearing about a rent hike. Is that why you started bringing your own treats and toys for the dogs? And that nasty mush you make for Bear?”

“Hey, he has a sensitive stomach. Yogurt helps,” I said, defensive. She didn’t need to know about the whole treasure trove of dog supplies I hadn’t brought to the shelter yet. After the rent was raised, Mr. Sanders couldn’t afford as many toys or treats for the dogs, so I kept a backup stock at my student housing. Baking their treats myself helped save money, and my culinary school scholarship included a stipend I happily put toward supplies for the dogs.

I clapped my hands. “But that’s enough wallowing. Let’s do another round to make sure the dogs aren’t traumatized, and I’ll give Bear his medicine. Then we can figure out how to patch up this window until it gets replaced.”

Gladys rolled her eyes before leading us back into the shelter’s lobby, muttering under her breath the whole time.

I allowed myself one last glance at the broken window and swore I’d make those little hooligans pay.

But there were more important things than vengeance, I reminded myself as I stopped by the medical cart and picked up Bear’s medicine. The dogs, along with their health and happiness, were way more important.

Bear was a fixture at the shelter, and a knot formed in my stomach every time someone stopped by his kennel when looking to adopt. I wanted him to find his forever home more than anything, but I also dreaded the day I’d have to say goodbye to his furry face.

But it’d been three years, and Bear was passed over again and again. People claimed he’d be too much work.

He’s too big.

He’d be a fortune to buy food for.

He’s not a puppy.

To me, he was perfect.

Bear might be huge—even by German shepherd standards—but it was just more fluff to cuddle with.

“Hey, handsome.” Smiling, I reached Bear’s kennel after greeting each of the dogs in his row. Bear’s head popped up from where it rested on his paws, and his large pink tongue lolled out. “I brought your yummy medicine.”

An excited awoo sounded from Bear’s next-door neighbor, and I smiled at the young husky.

“Hello to you, too, Mr. Woofkins,” I murmured, reaching through the gate and giving the other dog a scratch behind the ears, hoping he’d switch to his inside-voice howl. He would rile up the other rescues if he kept that up.

Bear took his medicine without any trouble—thank god for peanut butter—and I gave him, Mr. Woofkins, and the rest of the dogs some quality pets before heading to the kitchen to help Ryan get their breakfast ready.

Looking over my shoulder at the dogs, I promised myself I wouldn’t allow those boys to ruin what we’d built here. Mr. Sanders had enough problems keeping the shelter afloat, and he shouldn’t have to worry about a group of wannabe thugs.

I’d fix this.

teenage thugs

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking, Tip #2: You might think you’ll go through life without taking anyone hostage—that you’re part of the 99.9997% of the population who doesn’t need to resort to taking someone captive to get what you want. Get over that mindset, because I used to think the same thing.

I was wrong.

A nice man from Wally’s Windows came by to replace the broken window the following morning, and Happy Tails Haven was back to normal—just with a few additional penis-shaped spray-paintings next to our door.

At least the little jerks hadn’t taken anything valuable from inside, like the medications for our dogs.

The shelter fell back into a nice groove over the next week, with my plans to fix the vandalization problem taking a backseat while Gladys and I hosted a bake sale fundraiser. We sold treats for both dogs and humans, and it was a big hit in the neighborhood—even if we only raised enough to cover what Mr. Sanders had paid for the window repairs.

By the time I arrived to feed the dogs on Friday morning, I was hopeful we could turn things around. After dropping off a plate of freshly baked brownies with Emily at reception, I skipped down to Bear’s kennel while greeting each dog along the way. It was time for his special-made bowl of dog food with yogurt mixed in—he’d had an upset tummy the day before.

But for the first time since I’d started at Happy Tails Haven, Bear wasn’t waiting for me. I stared at his empty kennel for a full minute before blinking.

“Have you seen your neighbor, Mr. Woofkins?” I asked the husky behind the next gate over. He wagged his tail in answer with both icy blue eyes focused on me. If he knew, he certainly wasn’t telling.

I frowned at the bowl of yogurty mush.

“Has anyone seen Bear recently?” I asked the row of dogs, earning a dozen barks in answer. None were helpful. “Did a volunteer take him for a walk?”

It wasn’t unheard of for volunteers to show up at the crack of dawn, but Bear wasn’t usually a morning person—er, dog—and I struggled to keep my panic in check. Had someone adopted him? Had I missed it?

Taking a deep breath to quell my rising panic, I ran to all the other rooms before checking the courtyard play area. When Bear was nowhere to be found, I marched back to Emily in reception.

“Where’s Bear?” I asked, setting his food bowl on the counter.

The brunette receptionist looked up from the brownie she was nibbling on and brushed a crumb off her chin. “He’s not in his kennel?”

“No,” I said, trying not to freak out. “Was he adopted? Or did a dog walker take him out?”

She flipped through the sign-out notebook in front of her. “No adoptions so far today. Tasha is walking Pepper and Biscuit now, but no one else signed out any dogs.”

“Where could he be?” I rubbed a hand over my chest to calm my thundering heart. “I checked everywhere!”

Emily rolled over to the computer on the other side of her desk and clicked around. “I can access the back-door security footage from here. Maybe he escaped?”

“Bear would never…” I trailed off as ice filled my veins. There was another possibility—one I didn’t even want to contemplate. I darted around the counter and leaned in next to her. “Play the footage.”

Turns out, overnight security footage is pretty boring. And Mr. Sanders didn’t have the best quality surveillance system. But after a false alarm with a raccoon and one terrifying second where I could swear I saw a ghost—I saw intruders.

“There!” I stabbed a finger at the screen, making Emily jump. “Pause it.”

She clicked the mouse, and we both leaned in. Three figures lurked in the alley, dressed in dark clothes and ski masks.

Dread pooled in my stomach at the cans of spray paint they held. “It’s them. The teenage thugs.”

“I thought they only vandalized the front of the building,” Emily said.

“So did I.”

She resumed the footage, and we both watched closely as the small group of dark figures approached the back of the building. They spent a few minutes spraying the brick wall—I cursed myself for not seeing it when I checked outside for Bear—before approaching the back door. It was locked overnight, but one of the figures swung a brick at the lock.

Emily and I both gasped as the lock clattered to the ground. I hadn’t even noticed the broken lock in my panic earlier.

“They wouldn’t dare,” I whispered, clutching the arm of Emily’s chair. We both leaned even closer to the screen.

The boys disappeared inside the building, but Mr. Sanders didn’t have indoor security cams for us to follow them with. Emily and I waited with bated breath as she sped up the video, and five whole minutes passed on the timestamp before the boys stumbled back out with a wiggling German shepherd between them.

Bear.

Muzzled, leashed, and probably terrified out of his mind—Bear was being herded down the alley by these dog thieves.

My fingers itched to reach through the screen and grab him.

And in the silence of the reception area, I could almost hear the last bit of my patience snap like a glow stick.

sadie, get your gun

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking, Tip #3: Always have a plan. Multiple plans, if you can. But in the event of an impromptu hostage-taking, improvisation is your friend.

The police were at the shelter within the hour, but they claimed there was nothing they could do.

Again.

They advised us to put up missing dog signs, post online, and check other shelters in the area. When Officer Jake Murdock offered to take me out to dinner so we could discuss strategies to find Bear, I almost socked him in his pretty little face. He spent more time flirting with me than he ever did helping.

All I cared about was getting Bear back.

Luckily, I knew exactly who’d taken him, and they would pay.

The only problem was I had no idea how to find them.

Keeping a skeleton staff on-site, the rest of the volunteers and I took to the streets. We were each armed with a roll of tape and a stack of Missing Dog flyers that showcased Bear’s adorable snout. Mr. Sanders assigned us each different sections of the neighborhood, and I drove my car about ten blocks away.

After hitting a few of the small shops, I marched up to my favorite ice cream parlor. The Sprinkled Scoop’s familiar yellow door was heavy, and I squeezed inside before seeing the owner—Bruno—was already helping two customers at the register.

Shivering from the cool air, I pulled on the hem of my short pink overalls and debated waiting outside in the summer heat. But I sucked it up and got in line behind them with my stack of flyers.

My gaze drifted over the glass display while I waited, checking for any new flavors since yesterday.

“You sell ice cream. What could you possibly need more room for?” one customer asked Bruno, and the casual note of command in his voice had goose bumps popping up along my arms. Or maybe it was the air-conditioning? I peeked at the stranger from under my lashes. He wore a nice suit, while his friend had on dark jeans and a black jacket. Both were tall, well-groomed, and held themselves like they owned the room. I felt like a mangy mutt next to them. “All the product fits here.”

“If I expand into the empty space next door, there’ll be room for customers to sit at tables instead of just the counter,” Bruno explained. “Room for more prep space and flavors. And who knows, maybe I could start offering gelato?”

My ears perked up. If Bruno was expanding the parlor, maybe he could add a little corner with dog beds and finally allow canine customers inside.

“You’re thinking of expanding?” I asked in excitement, unable to keep quiet. “That’s a great idea.”

All three men fell silent, and it hit me just how serious the vibe in the place was. It bordered on… dangerous.

I gulped.

Both tall men in front of me went still, and Bruno leaned to the side until he could see me behind them.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite customer.” He ran a hand over the top of his bald head. “You’re here early today. The usual two scoops?”

I managed a small smile, but now wasn’t the time to indulge in one of my favorite treats. Finding Bear was my priority.

Since it didn’t seem like the two men were about to order anytime soon, I carefully stepped around them and sidled up to the counter. “Excuse me, sirs. I’ll be quick. I’m actually here on official business today, Bruno.”

His eyebrow rose, and he glanced over my head before answering. “Business? Tell me more.”

I took one of Bear’s flyers off the stack and showed it to him. “There’s a dog missing from the shelter—it’s a long story—and I’m hanging these up in the local shops. Do you mind if I tape one in front of your register?”

“Be my guest, and sorry to hear about the pup,” he said. “Mrs. Applebaum was in here earlier and asked when you’re baking more of those treats.”

My gaze darted to the empty treat bowl I’d set up next to his register, and my lips parted. “I just dropped them off yesterday. They’re already gone?”

“Your treats always go fast. The dogs love them.” He shrugged, and I might’ve preened a little at the praise as I tore off a piece of tape. “She asked if it was a new recipe.”

“It was!” I beamed, momentarily distracted from my mission. “I tried sweet potato this time, but it’s always tricky to—”

One of the men cleared their throat behind me. “Bruno, as charming as this is, I have a meeting to get to. Can we get back to the reason you called?”

I snapped my mouth shut at his sharp tone and wrinkled my nose. Talk about rude.

Bruno winced like he’d been told off by a schoolteacher. “You’re right. Sorry, Mr. Reed.”

I jerked at his words, and my hand froze with the flyer halfway to the counter.

… Mr. Reed?

That was the name Gladys had mentioned the other day. The family who could stop the young thugs terrorizing our shelter: Sebastian Reed and his son, Davian.

I warned myself not to jump to conclusions, but my heart thundered at this crazy stroke of luck.

“Need anything else, Sadie?” Bruno whispered. I was still standing in front of his register with my hand frozen halfway to the counter. The flyer trembled in my grip.

My mouth opened and closed, but it took a second before I could form words. “I… uh, no. Sorry. I’m good. I just need to finish taping this, then I’ll be on my way.”

I wasn’t even paying attention to what my hands did, but I somehow taped the flyer to Bruno’s register. Clinging to the stack of papers like my life depended on them, I took a deep breath and slowly faced the two men.

It took one glance to know which one had spoken. If the man in the suit wasn’t one of the Reeds who owned the city, I’d bet all my savings he was at least related to them.

He towered over me, leaving me feeling small in his shadow. Dark brown hair called attention to his equally dark eyes. He was looking down at a fancy watch, and he had a chiseled jaw my fingers itched to scratch like I did for Mr. Woofkins.

If I had to guess, he was in his late twenties. Maybe a little older in that suit.

He wasn’t the greasy mobster I’d expected—the kind with slicked-back hair and pinstripes.

He was… beautiful.

I wasn’t complaining.

But there had to be hundreds of Reeds in the city, and I needed to be sure.

I swallowed for courage, but my voice came out as more of a squeak. “Hey, you look familiar. Aren’t you—um—I think you’re—”

Bruno cleared his throat behind me. “You should run along now. Come back tomorrow.”

My flight instinct kicked in at his urgency, but my knees threatened to buckle when Mr. Reed’s dark gaze met mine. A predatory coldness in them raised the hair on the back of my neck.

“I think we’ve met before,” I lied, ignoring Bruno. “Isn’t your name…?” I trailed off as my voice decided to give up and stop working. Nerves ricocheted around my stomach like pinballs at having this scary man’s attention on me.

“Davian Reed, and we haven’t met,” he answered shortly.

The room tilted around me.

Davian Reed.

My gut screamed at me to run far, far away, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. He could be the answer to our prayers.

“Mr. Reed, I need to talk to you about something important—”

“I’m not interested in buying any cookies.” He averted his gaze, brushing me off without a second thought. “Maybe another time.”

“Cookies?” I echoed quietly. I frowned and glanced down at my short overalls before shaking my head. “No, I’m not a Girl Scout. It’s about the Happy Tails Haven dog shelter. We’re in trouble—”

“He said to get lost,” the other man snapped, and I tried not to stare at the muscles that bulged in his arms when he crossed them.

But I wasn’t ready to admit defeat so easily. Bear needed me, so I lifted my chin and focused on Davian. “Please. You’re the only one who can help us.”

He looked at his phone, not even sparing me another glance. “Then I guess you’re out of luck. Vince, take care of this?”

Bruno protested as the scruffier man stepped forward, and I hopped back with a squeak. The stack of flyers fell from my arms, scattering across the tile floor.

Oh no.

“I’m so sorry,” I said to Bruno as embarrassment washed over me. I dropped to the floor, scrambling to pick up the scattered papers.

Mr. Reed’s shadow—Vince, he’d called him—sighed before crouching in front of me and less enthusiastically sweeping flyers into a pile. My cheeks burned hot, and I stammered another apology before a soft glint beneath his jacket caught my eye.

A black gun rested inside his waistband.

Time slowed to a crawl as I tried to remember Gladys’s warnings about the Reed family. She’d mentioned a gun.

Davian Reed would sooner murder a litter of puppies than do a good deed, she’d said. You’d have to hold a gun to his head just to make him hear you out.

If this wasn’t a sign, then I didn’t know what was.

Desperation seized me, and my hands moved before I could fully think things through. I leapt forward with my heart in my throat and grabbed for the gun. My fingers closed around the smooth grip before I tugged backward with all my might.

Vince lunged for me, but I slid back on the floor and pointed the gun up at Davian’s towering form.

Everyone froze. My frantic breaths were the only sound in the room.

“Don’t move,” I warned, scrambling to my feet and dusting off the backside of my overalls. One strap had fallen down, and I hiked it back up onto my shoulder before clutching the gun with both hands.

Was I doing this? Oh my god, I was really doing this.

My hands shook, but I pulled it together enough to level the gun right at Davian’s chest. A strange peace filled my own chest when his dark gaze returned to me.

Gladys was right. Now I had his attention.

taking mr. reed hostage

Davian

The day had taken a strange turn.

Either I was having one hell of a hangover, or Strawberry Shortcake herself was standing in front of me and pointing a gun at my chest.

Vince cursed beside me, and I barely held back a smirk despite the situation. No one ever got the jump on him—it was why he was my number two, after all—and if his piece weren’t currently pointed at me, I would’ve laughed my ass off at this little girl getting the better of him.

Except maybe she wasn’t so little. She’d grabbed the gun with a move too quick for either me or Vince to catch.

I was impressed.

Now she nibbled on her lower lip and looked as surprised to see the gun in her hands as we were. Her gaze flitted between me and Vince before settling on me.

“That was a nice grab,” I said, and Vince grunted next to me. He wasn’t as amused.

The girl’s brows pulled together, and she wiggled the gun like she was trying to look like a seasoned bank robber. “Put your hands up where I can see them. Both of you.”

I focused on the gun trembling in her hands. Neither of us made a move to comply.

“I said put your hands up,” she repeated, voice growing squeaky.

Okay, maybe I’d play along. I slowly lifted my hands in the air to ease her growing panic, pulling my eyes from the muzzle to take her in.

I’d written the girl off as a bubbly teenager when she came into the shop. With her short pink overalls and chipper voice, she exuded innocence. But there was nothing adolescent about the curves hugging her pint-sized figure.

Bubblegum pink hair. Wide grey eyes. So short she barely reached my chest. She was cute—in a frightened rabbit kind of way.

Not usually my type.

“That’s better,” she muttered as my and Vince’s hands hovered in the air. She chewed on that full lower lip again as she considered me, and her brows scrunched in a frown before she whispered, “Now what?”

I pursed my lips to hold in a laugh. Pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to hear that.

“Now you tell us your demands?” I offered, curious where this could go. Did she want money? Valuables? Would she turn the gun on Bruno to rob the store?

This was far more exciting than the day of meetings I’d had planned.

Vince scoffed in disbelief beside me, but I nudged his arm with my raised elbow to shut him up.

“Right,” the girl said under her breath with a nod. I’d never heard of an abductor taking suggestions from their captives before, but I was ready to roll with it. It appeared she was, too. “Yeah, that’s right. I’m the one with the gun, so I’m the one who gets to make the demands.”

Who was this girl?

But when a whole ten seconds passed and little Strawberry Shortcake made no move to tell us why we were held at gunpoint, I wondered how long we’d be here. Vince probably didn’t understand why I was playing with my food instead of getting the gun back, but he knew better than to step in without my say-so. What I didn’t like was how we could all be seen clear as day through the shop windows.

The girl’s eyes darted around the room like a frantic bunny, and she finally spoke. “I need your help.”

My lips twitched. “And pointing a gun at me is your way of getting it?”

“It was my friend’s idea, and I wasn’t going to do it—but then you brushed me off, and I saw your friend’s gun and got desperate,” she rambled before grimacing at Vince. “I’m really sorry I took your gun. I promise I’ll return it when this is all over.”

He made a sound that confirmed he thought this woman was certifiable.

But I couldn’t take my eyes off her. “I guess we should talk terms, then.”

The nervous glances stopped, and her head cocked to the side. “Terms?”

I couldn’t hold back my smile anymore. She was too damn innocent for her own good. “The terms of our help in exchange for not getting shot.”

She tucked a strand of pink hair behind her ear and lifted her chin before returning her second hand to the gun. “Ah, yes. Terms.”

“But first…” I looked over her shoulder at the counter, where Bruno currently stared at the girl in horror. “Bruno, it looks like we’ll have to postpone our chat. Why don’t you give us a minute alone? If that’s all right with you, miss?”

I looked back at the girl, and her lips twisted—but she only paused a moment before nodding. “That sounds reasonable. Bruno, I’m really sorry about this. It won’t take long.”

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Bruno turned to me and braced himself. “She’s a regular here, and I’m sure she means nothing by it. I think we should all just walk away now before there’s any trouble.”

My eyebrow rose. He cared enough about this girl that he worried I’d do something to her?

… Well, I did have a track record.

“It’s okay, Bruno,” the girl answered confidently, but her smile was forced. I wanted to slap a hand over my face when she took her eyes off me and Vince to reassure the shop owner. “I’ve got this handled.”

Bruno mumbled a prayer in Italian and cut a look at me. “Please don’t hurt her.”

I had no intention of doing anything of the sort.

My mind was already busy with much more intriguing options of what to do with her.

While Bruno trudged through a swinging door to the back of the shop, I turned to Vince and lowered my voice. “You should step outside, too. Turn the sign to Closed on your way out.”

The look he sent me proved he thought I’d gone insane. “Are you serious?”

“I’m afraid so.”

He shook his head. “Your funeral.”

“Wait!” Strawberry Shortcake said as soon as Vince took a step. Her eyes narrowed on him, and the gun-wiggling picked up again. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Vince will wait outside,” I said calmly. “He needs to make a few calls, since it looks like we won’t make it to our next meeting.”

She winced. “Oh. I guess that’s… Yeah, that’s okay. You can wait outside, but don’t go too far, okay? And no calling the police!”

Vince stared at her blankly for a long beat before walking out the door—after dutifully turning the sign on the door to say Closed—without another word.

The girl nibbled on her lip again. “I hope he got the message. This could turn messy if the police get involved.”

“I’m sure he got it. Maybe we should move away from the window, though?” I suggested without moving my eyes from her. “I imagine we wouldn’t want someone seeing a weapon and calling the police themselves.”

Her nervous gaze darted from my face to the window, and she nodded haltingly. The gun lowered a few inches before she raised it back to my chest. “Yeah. Good idea. We definitely wouldn’t want that. So… get your butt over on that stool! Right now!”

She waved the weapon again, and I hid a wince. She’s obviously never held one before, and the last thing I needed today was to get accidentally shot by a scared little bunny. My father would never let me live it down.

Conscious of the importance of keeping her at ease, I stepped slowly toward the two stools Bruno kept at his counter. Then I made myself comfortable on one of the too small seats—Bruno may be on to something with wanting enough room for tables—and waited to see what the little bunny would do next.

But she was busy staring at the gun like it was a ghost. “I never wanted it to go this far.”

I stifled a grin.

“Might as well fill me in now.” I glanced at the door to make sure no one was approaching before I gave her my full attention. “I’m listening.”

A small pink tongue darted out to lick her lips as she gathered herself, and my gaze zoned in on the innocent yet undeniably appealing act. The answering pang below my belt didn’t surprise me.

But the one in my chest did.

“I’m sorry about the extreme measures,” she said, actually sounding pretty torn up about it, “but I have to take you hostage for a little while.”

My brows shot up. “Hostage?”

She winced and glanced over her shoulder at the door. The gun wavered in her grip. “Just until this is taken care of. Once you do what I say, you’ll be free to go.”

This was getting better and better.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t hostages usually taken when the abductor needs someone other than the hostage to complete a task? Or when there’s a ransom?” I asked slowly. “The hostage is held as a security measure, but they don’t do the task themselves.”

Her frown deepened. “This really isn’t the time for semantics, Mr. Reed. I’m the one with the gun, so if I say you’re my hostage, then you’re my hostage. Got it?”

Oh, I got it.

“Of course. My apologies. I’m your hostage,” I said, no longer hiding my grin.

And to think I’d thought today would be boring.

not your sweetheart

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking, Tip #4: Don’t let your hostage’s good looks distract you from your mission.

Well, I was in quite the pickle now.

The good news was I finally had Davian Reed’s attention. He was right where I wanted him—with me pointing a gun at his face.

The bad news was I couldn’t seem to remember Gladys going into the details of what to do after this part. Just ask him to promise to make the hooligans return Bear and leave Happy Tails Haven alone?

It couldn’t be that easy.

The even worse news was Davian was incredibly handsome, and I found it more than a little difficult to concentrate with his piercing gaze on me.

And now he probably thought I was a crazy psycho about to shoot him.

I chewed on my lip and weighed my options. We needed to go someplace private to talk this over, but my school housing was out of the question. It’d be stupid to take him there.

“You okay, bunny?” Davian’s eyes narrowed on my face, and a shiver rolled down my spine at his inspection. “You look a little pale. Maybe you should sit down.”

I frowned at his name-calling. “I’m not a bunny.”

The corner of his lips only twitched in answer.

Great. Now my hostage was laughing at me.

I sighed before climbing onto the stool next to him, telling myself I was sitting down because I wanted to and not because he’d suggested it.

But this was just getting more and more complicated, and I wasn’t sure what to do next.

“I think I messed up,” I admitted, frowning at the checkered tile floor.

“How so?”

“I really needed you to listen to me, Mr. Reed,” I said, even though that part was pretty obvious. “So, when I saw the gun under your friend’s jacket, I acted without thinking. But now I’m in over my head. I’m basically a criminal.”

“Call me Davian,” he said, sounding surprisingly agreeable considering the situation. He was so calm, too. Had someone held him at gunpoint before? “And what’s your name, sweetheart?”

My brow furrowed at the endearment. Gladys had told me Davian Reed was a scary monster, but right now, he seemed like a gentleman. He spoke softly, and my father was the only one who’d ever called me sweetheart before. But this man had no right to call me that.

“I’m not your sweetheart. My name is Sadie. Sadie Morris,” I said, then wondered if it was a good idea to tell my hostage my name. But, really, the least I could do was keep things polite after making him fear for his life. “I’m really sorry about this, by the way. But I need your help.”

He ran a hand through his lush dark hair, and my fingers itched to see if it was as soft as it looked. Unfortunately, they were still on the gun’s trigger, so I carefully moved them to clutch the handle instead.

We didn’t need any accidents because I was distracted by my hostage’s hair.

Davian only thought it over for a moment before nodding. “Then I’m happy to help.”

I blinked back at him. “Really? Just like that? You don’t even know what I’m asking you to do yet.”

“You’re obviously desperate, or you wouldn’t be doing this. So, I’ll help. But would you mind putting the gun away, first? I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

I hesitated a beat before shaking my head. “I’m sorry, but my friends warned me about you, and I just can’t take any chances right now. It’s too important.”

He leaned against the counter, comfortable as could be. “Fair enough. Now, what can I help you with, Sadie?”

I took a deep breath and let it out. This was it.

“I’m told you’re a powerful man and you can get things done in this city,” I said, choosing my words carefully.

He nodded curtly. “You’ve been told correctly.”

Hope surged in my chest. Maybe this wasn’t a complete bust.

“Then maybe you really can help me. I’m truly sorry, again, but I’m not afraid to use force if it’s necessary. The stakes are too high.”

Davian’s expression darkened. “What happened?”

The concern in his voice broke the dam holding back my fears, and my face screwed up just thinking about poor Bear. I fought back tears and lowered the gun. “They stole Bear! Those stupid boys took him last night, and I’m really worried about him. He hurt his leg a couple weeks ago, and he needs medication every day, but those little thugs—”

Davian held up a hand that silenced me, and he blinked twice. “Someone stole a bear?”

I sniffled and brushed away a tear that’d escaped down my cheek. “Not a bear. Just Bear. He’s one of the dogs from Happy Tails Haven. You know, the dog shelter next to Al’s Snow Cone Palace.”

There was a long pause before Davian spoke.

“Let me get this straight,” he said slowly, eyeing me like he thought he’d misheard. “You want me to help you… find a missing dog?”

My lower lip wobbled, but I was just as angry at those little thugs as I was worried for Bear. “I want you to make those boys stop vandalizing our shelter! And to get Bear back. That was the last straw. Nobody touches our dogs. Well, not unless an adoption is approved. Or if you want to visit and play with the dogs. Or if you volunteer or work there. But outside those circumstances, nobody touches our dogs.”

I was growing heated at the nerve of those thugs, and Davian reached out—resting his hand on my knee in a move that made my heart flip-flop. The building tension in my limbs melted away, and I couldn’t lie—his touch sent butterflies into flight in my stomach.

“Tell me everything you know about these boys,” he said evenly.

I wiped my wet cheeks and sniffled again. “My coworkers said they’re dangerous and they won’t listen to anyone but the Reed family. They definitely don’t listen to me. I’ve tried talking to the police and showing them the security footage, but all Officer Murdock could offer was an increase in patrols—which did a whole lot of nothing. And now Bear’s been taken. He must be so scared. I always give him two salmon treats a day, and the boys don’t know that. Who knows what they’re feeding him?”

I’d never felt more defeated in my life. Bear counted on me, and I’d let him down.

Davian’s grip tightened on my knee, which did crazy things to my stomach. “You were right to come to me, Sadie.”

I frowned at him, trying to tamp down the hope that sparked. “I was?”

“Yes. I’ll help you.”

The wave of relief made me dizzy, and I almost dropped the gun. But I reminded myself not to trust him so quickly. If Gladys was right, then I’d need more than just Davian’s word.

I’d need his vow.

“Do you promise?” I asked shakily, clutching the gun tighter.

The answering tilt of his lips was far too handsome—which Gladys and Ryan conveniently hadn’t warned me about.

“I promise.” The gruffness in his voice sent an answering shiver down my spine. “You said the Happy House is next to Al’s, so it’s just a short drive away, right?”

“Happy Tails Haven,” I corrected absentmindedly, still amazed he’d agreed so easily. I hadn’t expected the gun approach to work this well. Maybe I’d use it more often. “And yes, it’s nearby.”

“How about I go take care of this right now, then?” Davian asked. “You can come with me to the shelter, so you know I’ve kept my word. I’ll look at the security footage, and if it’s who I think it is, then I know where to find them. We’ll see if your Bear is with them.”

I swiped a trembling hand under my nose. The urge to hug him in gratitude was almost too strong to resist. “I’d really like that.”

“Then it’s done.” He stood and straightened his suit jacket. “I’m parked around the back. Let’s go.”

That brought me up short. He wanted to drive? I caught my lip between my teeth, not so sure anymore.

Davian must’ve sensed my hesitation, because he cocked a brow. “Something wrong?”

I weighed my options before answering honestly. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I should get into a stranger’s car. Can we take mine instead?”

“You’re the one with the gun,” Davian said lightly, and I looked down at my hands in surprise. For a moment, I’d forgotten it was there. “You make the decisions.”

“Right,” I agreed, tightening my grip on the weapon. I hopped off the stool with a nod. “We’ll take my car, then. She’s parked out front.”

daisy the death trap

Davian

Sadie was being far more agreeable now compared to when she first pointed a gun at my chest.

But when she waved the weapon and motioned me toward the door, I signaled for her to wait and called to the back, “Bruno?”

The shop owner stuck his head through the doorway like he’d been plastered against it just waiting for a call, and he let out a breath when his eyes fell on Sadie. My eyebrow rose. Had he expected me to shoot the poor girl in front of his store’s full wall of windows?

… Eh, couldn’t really blame him. I’d done worse.

His wary gaze bounced from me to the girl. “Everything okay out here?”

“All good.” I adjusted the cuff of my dress shirt beneath my jacket. “We’re leaving now.”

“I’m really sorry about the whole gun thing—and for making all this mess,” Sadie told Bruno with a wince. She crouched and quickly collected the scattered flyers into a pile. “I guess we won’t need these anymore, since Davian is helping me. Do you have room for them in your recycling bin?”

Bruno was too busy staring at me in shock to acknowledge her. “You’re helping Sadie with the dog?”

“Don’t act so surprised,” I said dryly, despite having never done anything like this before. I nodded at the gun she’d been fiddling with. “She made a compelling argument.”

Bruno shifted like he wasn’t sure whether to let it go or charge at me with an ice cream scooper, but he settled for questioning the girl again. “Would you like a cone for the road?”

Sadie stood up with the stack of flyers and seemed to seriously consider it before shaking her head. “Thanks, but I’m too worried to eat.”

“It might lift your spirits?” he pushed, and my fingers twitched. She’d already said no.

But when Sadie bit down on her lip again, I bit my tongue. That was another surprise. Davian Reed letting a woman run things?

Unheard of.

But Sadie was already making moon eyes at the ice cream display.

“You’re right. Maybe just one small sample of butterscotch wouldn’t hurt?” she asked with a sheepish smile.

She was too damn cute for her own good.

The big man smiled from ear to ear and dipped a tiny spoon into one of the big containers before passing it over the counter, trading her for the stack of flyers. “Good luck. I hope you get Bear back safely.”

“Me too. I’ll see you later, Bruno. Thanks for the sample!”

Bruno nodded and cleared his throat. “Mr. Reed—”

“We’ll talk later,” I said, cutting off whatever he wanted to say with a sharp look. If he warned me not to hurt this girl again, I might end up grabbing the gun from Sadie and showing her just how afraid of me she should be. “And send me the plans you have for the space next door. I’ll look over them.”

I ushered Sadie out the door while she downed the ice cream with a pleased hum.

Vince was waiting halfway down the block when we stepped outside, and I grumbled under my breath. How was I supposed to explain to him I was willingly being taken hostage? He’d probably call my old man and say I’d lost it.

“Everything’s fine. I’m just going for a little ride with Sadie here.” I winked, touching my hand to the small of her back. My fingers itched to reach lower to the swell of her ass.

“A ride?” Vince stared at me like he didn’t recognize me, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure I did either. I wasn’t usually one to think with my dick.

His gaze strayed to Sadie—who was fumbling with the gun and trying to conceal it in her pink overalls—before narrowing on me. “Boss?”

“Why don’t you head back to the compound?” I suggested. “We shouldn’t be long.”

Sadie mumbled something under her breath about women’s clothing and lack of pockets. She wasn’t even paying attention to us.

Vince’s lips thinned. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m deadly serious. Trust me.”

While I stopped walking when we reached Vince, Sadie kept going. She veered away from us and power-walked over to a yellow Volkswagen Beetle parked at the curb without seeming to care if I—her hostage—was following her or not. I shared a mystified look with Vince before jogging after her.

The closer I got, the more her ride looked like a death trap than a car.

Where were the rims? The bumper? I’d bet good money the paint had faded years ago.

“Why don’t I drive?” I asked. In all honesty, I was ready to insist we take the bus if she was so against riding in my car. Anything but this trash can on wheels. “You have to hold the gun on me, and it isn’t safe to drive with one hand.”

Sadie chewed on her lip again—it was a miracle there was anything left to chew on at this point. “I don’t know… Daisy doesn’t really like other people touching her. She’s picky like that.”

“Daisy?”

Her look made it clear she thought I was slow, then she nodded at her car.

I stared at the beat-up piece of junk. “You named your car Daisy?”

“Why not? It’s a cute name for a cute car.” She patted the top of the car like an old friend. The metal groaned under her touch, and my eye twitched. Sadie frowned. “But I guess you have a point. I really should keep my focus on you, just in case.”

That was fine by me.

I opened the passenger door for her before she could change her mind, and she gave me a surprised smile before ducking inside. Shutting the door after her, I questioned my own sanity while circling the car to the driver’s side.

The driver’s seat was practically kissing the steering wheel. Even after I cranked it all the way back, the space was a tight squeeze. Sadie laughed softly when my thighs brushed the bottom of the wheel, and I wanted to hear her make that sound again.

Yup, I was in trouble.

“Sorry.” She yanked on her seat belt, trying to buckle it one-handed. “I forgot how tall you are. Daisy’s more short-people friendly.”

“I can see that.” I fastened my belt while she fumbled with hers. “Here. Let me.”

I took the seat belt from her and easily buckled it in before pulling the belt tight. Her chest rose as she sucked in a breath, and I couldn’t help but notice how good she looked strapped in.

Then a blush spread across her cheeks, sending all my blood south.

“Thanks,” Sadie whispered as I pulled back.

“Anytime, sweetheart.”

She rolled her eyes before looking out the window. “I’m not your sweetheart.”

I grinned and started up the car. “My mistake.”

gladys does not approve

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking, Tip #5: Wear something with large pockets. Most women’s clothing isn’t made with hostage-taking in mind.

It was a short drive back to the shelter, and Davian parked in an open spot right in front. I’d been worried about someone other than me driving Daisy, but he handled her like a pro.

Part of me was a little miffed she took to him so nicely when it’d taken me months to win her over.

It felt strange walking up to the shelter, knowing Bear wasn’t in there, but at least I had hope we’d find him soon. Davian walked beside me and cleared his throat, then nodded pointedly at the gun I held at my side.

“I don’t mean to overstep, but it might be better to hide the gun while we’re outside?” he suggested. “Wouldn’t want any passersby to ask questions.”

“Right.” I nodded and went to stuff the gun in the front of my overalls again—but Davian’s quick grip around my wrist stopped me.

I stared down at his hand, shocked at how big it looked around my small wrist.

“Did you make sure the safety is on?” he asked, sounding concerned. He let go of my wrist, and I tried to shake off the phantom touch. “Wouldn’t want you accidentally shooting your leg.”

My cheeks flushed at my foolishness, and I turned the gun over in my hand to look for whatever this “safety” thing was. Was it labeled?

Davian stepped even closer, fully invading my personal bubble.

“Allow me.” He held out a hand. Flustered, I placed the gun in his waiting palm without a second thought, and one side of his mouth curled up. His hands moved faster than I could see, and he slid the top back and then forward with a satisfying click. Then he checked a few other settings before holding it out. “Good to go.”

It was impressive, and I made a mental note to look up videos on how to handle a gun once I got home.

“Thanks,” I said, taking the gun back. He was turning out to be quite useful.

I went to slip the weapon back in my overalls, but apparently Davian wasn’t finished pushing the boundaries of acceptable hostage behavior yet. His hand gently covered mine on the gun. “Here, I can help with this, too.”

Frozen in place, I couldn’t get my throat to work as he closed even more of the distance between us.

My nose was close enough to brush the front of his fine suit, but he leaned to the side to get a look around the front of my overalls. His brow furrowed. “Where did you hide it earlier—in your underwear?”

“No!” My head reeled back in alarm. “The pockets are too small, but there’s a little loop of denim here. It sort of fits in it.”

He followed to where I pointed, and my cheeks burned. Could he see my underwear from that angle? Surely the overalls were tight enough at my waist to hide them.

Davian maneuvered the gun into the loop I’d pointed out, and it rested snugly in front of my hip. There was nothing comfortable about it, but the way his fingers brushed the sliver of skin peeking out from under my shirt had me holding my breath.

His hand lingered after he’d hidden the gun. It traced over my overalls and up my side in a torturously slow caress that sent my heart racing before he reached the overall strap at my collarbone.

I didn’t dare breathe. “… Davian?”

He grunted and tugged both straps until my overalls were tight against me. I sucked in a breath, finally working up the nerve to look up at his face.

Davian’s lips tilted up into a devastating smile, and my stomach somersaulted.

“Just making sure it’s secure,” he murmured.

I swallowed, convinced he could hear my heart thundering in my chest with how close we stood.

“How’s that?” His fingers lingered on a strap, and he didn’t make any move to step back.

“Good,” I squeaked out, praying my cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. He threw me off balance. Was it normal to feel butterflies around one’s hostage?

There should be an instruction manual for this.

I took a big step away from Davian. Maybe some space would cool off whatever completely inappropriate reaction I was having to him.

He let his arm drop and cocked a dark brow at me before eyeing the building with a frown. “You said you work here, right?”

“I’m a volunteer.” I crouched to pick up a crumpled fast-food bag from the sidewalk. “My culinary school is on summer break, so I spend most of my time here with the dogs.”

I tossed the trash into a bin, then paused. It probably wasn’t a good idea to give a hostage personal details about myself, especially since I planned to set him free after we got Bear back. What if he held the abduction against me and sought revenge?

“Can you pretend I didn’t just say that, please?” I winced. “I don’t think it was smart to tell you.”

But Davian’s gaze was dead serious when I looked at him. “You can tell me anything, Sadie.”

Yeah, right.

I tried to shake off the stupid weightlessness his words gave me. “Not really. If what Gladys said is true, then you’ll probably hunt me down and slit my throat after I set you free.”

I really hadn’t thought this through before grabbing his friend’s gun.

“There won’t be any throat-slitting,” Davian said, far too calmly, before adding with a small smirk, “It’s not really my style.”

I gulped. Was it too messy? What was his style?

Maybe it was best not to ask.

But it didn’t matter, because Davian walked toward the front of the shelter and studied the graffiti.

He pointed at a section of brick by the window. “Is this the new stuff?”

“Yeah. The green paint is the freshest, and the black was from about a week ago.”

Davian crossed his arms as he took in the broken glass on the windowsill, and his lips thinned. I averted my gaze. He looked even scarier when he wasn’t standing in a cheerful ice cream parlor.

I studied the front of the building, too, trying to spot anything that might help us. When nothing popped out at me aside from a bunch of graffiti penises I did my best to ignore, I let out a breath. “I’m not sure there’s any helpful clues for you here. Should we go inside and watch the security footage?”

He shook his head. “I know who did it.”

“Really?” I asked hopefully. That was easier than I’d thought. “How can you tell?”

“The little shits signed their tag a dozen times.”

I squinted at the green and black spray paint on brick. “Where?”

He pointed at a mess of curly letters and numbers I couldn’t make out. “It’s the Skulls. They’re a newer group with small numbers, so this should be easy.”

I perked up. “Do you know where we can find them?”

Davian’s brow rose. “We won’t be finding anyone. I’ll take care of it.”

“But you said I could come.” I frowned. “I need to bring Bear back. He’s probably so scared, and I promised Mr. Sanders—”

“I’ll bring Bear back to you.” Davian spoke with finality—like he expected that to be the end of the discussion—and I gaped at him.

The door to the shelter swung open before I could argue, making me freeze in place. But it was just Gladys who stepped out onto the sidewalk, with a cigarette in hand, and I let out another breath.

She smiled when she saw me, but then her gaze slid to Davian, and she went pale as a ghost. “What’s going on out here?”

Davian scanned Gladys before easily dismissing her and looking at me.

I held a hand up to calm her like we did when the dogs got nervous. “It’s okay, Gladys. Davian is here to help us.”

Gladys’s eyes widened. “Sadie, come inside right now. I’m sorry, Mr. Reed—”

“You should go back inside, Miss Gladys,” Davian said, but it didn’t really sound like a suggestion, and I winced. Gladys was not easily bossed around.

And in true Gladys form, her timidness vanished and she scoffed in his face. “I’m not leaving Sadie out here with you. Whatever you’re here for, she has nothing to do with it. You better watch—”

“It’s okay, Gladys! I’m the one in control here. Look.” I pulled the gun partway out of my overalls to show her. Her jaw dropped, and I tried to smile reassuringly. “I used your idea, and now Davian has to do what I say. He’ll fix this for us. Don’t worry.”

“Lord above, Sadie Marie! Where in the world did you get a gun?” she cried.

“Shh.” I glanced around to make sure no one had heard her, but the nearest passerby was across the street. “Not so loud. We don’t want someone calling the cops. But I used your advice, and now Davian is going to help me find Bear. See?”

Gladys made a quick sign of the cross and mumbled under her breath before fixing me with a hard look that would normally shake me to my core. “You’ve just signed all our death certificates, girl. You know that, right?”

“Sadie will be fine,” Davian said before I could think of something comforting to say. “And I don’t like to repeat myself. You should go back inside now.”

I shivered at the steel in Davian’s voice. Was that new, or had he always sounded like that?

Gladys jerked back at his cold tone before looking at me helplessly.

I waved off her concern and nodded toward the door. “I promise we’re okay out here. And I’ll get Bear back safe and sound, all right? Please tell Mr. Sanders not to worry.”

“Oh, he’ll be worried, all right. We all will.” Gladys shook her head. She hesitated just a moment longer before turning back to the door and disappearing inside.

As soon as the door shut behind her, I regretted telling her to go. I didn’t want her upset with me. Maybe we should’ve asked her to join us.

“We need to move,” Davian said, pulling me out of my worries. “Let’s go.”

When he moved toward Daisy, I called for him to wait.

“We could take the Dog-Mobile instead, if you want to?” I suggested. “It’ll have more leg room.”

Davian blinked back at me.

“The… Dog-Mobile?” His face pinched, as if it pained him to even say the words.

I pointed at the large blue van parked just around the corner of the block. Three huge dogs—a yellow Labrador, a German shepherd, and a Great Dane—were painted on the side, and their happy faces always made me smile. Happy Tails Haven Dog-Mobile was painted in big yellow letters over their furry heads. “It belongs to the shelter, but if Mr. Sanders says it’s okay, then we can borrow it. He won’t mind.”

Davian eyed the van and cringed before shaking his head a little too quickly for my liking.

“Get in the car, Sadie,” was all he said as he pulled the passenger door open for me.

But I hesitated. It felt wrong to leave things up in the air, and I glanced back at the shelter. What if Gladys called Officer Murdock and things got messy? I didn’t want to go to jail for taking a hostage.

“Maybe I should smooth things over with Gladys first? She seemed worried.”

Davian shook his head. “We need to hurry if you want to get Bear back safely.”

I fiddled with the clasps on my overalls, looking back at the door to the shelter again before sighing and ducking into the passenger side.

It almost felt like Davian was taking me hostage now, but that was just silly.

I was the one with the gun.

who’s the hostage now?

Davian

The cards were stacked in my favor.

Sadie was a nervous chatterbox during the drive out of the city. She babbled on about the shelter and all the dogs and how one in particular—Mr. Woofkins?—was probably missing Bear terribly. I’d never been an animal person, so that made little sense to me.

I suggested listening to the radio, but apparently the car’s sound system hadn’t worked in six years. Sadie mentioned an incident involving peanut butter and her favorite cassette tape, but she left it at that.

Not that I minded listening to Sadie’s nervous rambling. She’d moved from talking about dogs to her culinary school, and she seemed to love baking just as much as she did the furry mutts.

“But you can’t forget to brown the butter,” she said as I pulled onto a country road. Sometime during the last five miles, she’d begun an unprompted lesson on baking cookies. “It’s what gives that nutty flavor that’s so delicious. My instructor always says ‘once you go brown, your cookies will be the talk of the town’—wait a second. We’re not in the city anymore. You think the kids are out here?”

Part of me was surprised she’d finally noticed we’d left the city.

“We’re not going to them yet.”

“What do you mean we’re not…” She sucked in a breath and watched me with wide eyes. “You’re not driving to an abandoned riverbank to kill me and dispose of my body, are you?”

My brows rose. What would she do if I said yes?

“You’re the one with the gun, Sadie. You’re in charge here,” I reminded her. “We’re just going to my place first.”

“Right,” she muttered under her breath. Her hands clutched the seat belt tight enough that her knuckles turned white. “But I don’t remember agreeing to go to your place. Shouldn’t that be a decision for me—the hostage-taker—to make?”

“I need to get supplies and a couple men for backup if we want Bear back without any problems. I’ll need to switch out cars, too.”

And she’d be safe out here, miles from whatever was about to go down with the Skulls. Those kids would listen to me, but nobody was ever happy to have unexpected visitors on their turf.

I didn’t want Sadie anywhere near the action. The way her older friend had looked at me rubbed me the wrong way. Not the terrified part—I always preferred that. But she acted like she’d do anything to tear sweet Sadie away from me, and that just wouldn’t do. The little bunny had grown on me.

Who knew Davian Reed would be attracted to short bakers in pink overalls, pointing a gun at him?

And today had been the most fun I’d had in ages. I couldn’t wait to see where it went next.

Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Sadie happily resumed her baking lesson, and it wasn’t long before we reached the deserted road outside my compound. Twelve-foot walls surrounded the land, and a monster of a concrete building sat a few acres in.

Sadie leaned closer to the windshield. “This is where you live?”

“And work.”

She gaped at it. “Why is it outside the city? Don’t you want to be closer?”

“I like my own space.”

“Lots of it, apparently,” she mumbled as I pulled up to the gate. The guard saw me and opened it from the security box with a nod. Sadie’s voice grew awed. “It looks like a castle.”

My lips twitched, and I tried to look at the main building with a fresh eye as we made our way up the long drive. I’d never thought of it as a castle. It was too dark, and the blueprints were similar to those of military security buildings.

Inside the wall, plenty of forest and land buffered the compound in case of a breach. The main building dominated the rest at four stories high.

It’d cost enough to have it built, but the security was worth every cent.

Before we left the shelter, I’d texted my plan to Vince and was happy to see he’d pulled an SUV around to the front of the building. Two men were packing supplies into the back.

I’d also sent a quick text to Antonio, asking him to get a few food options ready. It was way past lunch, and Sadie must be hungry.

“Whose cars are these?” she asked as I parked in the oversized garage. It had enough room for fifteen vehicles, and there weren’t many free spots.

“A mix of mine and the guys’.”

“The guys?”

“My… employees,” I said before exiting the car.

Sadie’s legs looked a little wobbly as she got out. “Do they live here too?”

“Some make a habit of crashing here. The staff takes up one wing, too.”

“Staff,” she echoed softly. She was still gaping at everything, and it was only the garage. “Gladys wasn’t kidding when she told me your family runs this city, was she?”

The cautious way she asked it made me pause. The last thing I wanted her thinking about was Gladys’s opinion of me.

“We should get inside. There’s no time to waste.” I headed for the door, then held it open for her.

She only hesitated a moment before walking past me. Her awe radiated off her as we passed the kitchen, lounge, and a few other rooms. When we reached the open foyer, Vince was leaning next to the front door with his arms crossed. He was sulking—clearly not pleased to see Sadie with me.

“I thought I saw you driving that piece of junk.” He kicked off the wall. “We could’ve picked you up on the way.”

Sadie gasped. “Daisy is not junk.”

“There was a slight change of plans,” I answered Vince, but kept my gaze on Sadie. I needed her here, and preferably never driving that car ever again. Which meant it was time to lay all our cards on the table, and she wouldn’t be happy about what I said next. “I need to run upstairs and change, then I’ll go get Bear and make sure those kids never mess with the shelter again. We passed the kitchen on the way here, if you want to wait there. My chef put together a few things for you.”

Her brows scrunched together. “We didn’t get to finish our discussion earlier, but I’m coming with you.”

“No. You’re not.”

Vince snorted, and Sadie’s eyes narrowed into slits. She still looked confused, but there was anger brewing, too. “But we made a deal.”

“The deal is to get Bear back,” I reminded her, “and I fully intend to hold up my end. But you’re staying here.”

“You can’t tell me what to do. I’m the one with the gun!” She reached into her overalls, but I’d already nicked it when she walked past me into the house. When she didn’t find the gun, her brow furrowed. She patted down her body before coming up empty, and she looked lost. “I don’t understand. Where’d my gun go?”

My jaw tightened. I didn’t like deceiving her, even if it was better to keep her safe here. Taking me hostage had been cute and all, but not everyone would find it endearing like I did. I wasn’t about to risk her during something as simple as a dog retrieval.

“I’m sorry, Sadie. As much as I enjoyed playing this game with you, we don’t have time for it anymore,” I said. “Stay here, and I’ll be back soon with Bear. Vince will stay with you.”

And my friend didn’t look too happy about that.

“Are you kidding me?” Sadie threw her hands up. “You’re my hostage. You can’t just take over—”

“Look around you.” I pointed around the foyer. She snapped her mouth shut and followed where I pointed, finally noticing a guard standing at the top of the stairs. “You’re at my compound, which is surrounded by twelve-foot walls. There are armed guards watching the gate. Your gun is gone. You don’t get to make the decisions anymore.”

Her lips parted, and the betrayal in her gaze cut straight through my chest. “You tricked me.”

I let the mask I’d perfected years ago slip into place. Even if I wanted to treat her with kid gloves, my men would never let me live it down. So, I showed her what everyone else saw. Cold indifference. “It’s what I do.”

Her big grey eyes widened, and she looked ready to freak out, so I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “I promised I’d get Bear back for you, and I will—but I have to run things my way now. Okay, sweetheart?”

Sadie’s eyes narrowed into a glare so furious it raised the hair on the back of my neck.

“I am not your sweetheart,” she spat with no small amount of hostility.

I fought back a smile. She was a fierce little thing. “I apologize for taking the gun back. But you’re safe here, and soon Bear will be safe, too.”

And hopefully she’d forgive me for this, because I wasn’t ready to let her go just yet.

sadie’s great escape

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage, Tip #6: Beware your hostage turning the tables and taking you hostage. It happens more often than you’d think.

Davian went upstairs to change clothes, and I wanted to scream.

My impromptu hostage plan had just blown up in my face, but I could only blame myself for the turn this had taken.

I was stupid. So stupid. Even though I’d basically forced Davian to help me—at gunpoint, no less—I’d begun to think of us as a team. Partners. It was the two of us against those annoying little teenage thugs.

Clearly, I’d been wrong.

He came down the stairs in dark jeans, a black shirt, and a leather jacket, and my heart flipped over in my chest. He was every bit the dark warrior ready to exact vengeance for me.

It honestly wasn’t fair he looked so attractive when I was angry with him.

“I’ll be back with Bear before you know it,” Davian told me as he took a gun Vince held out. It was larger than the one I’d borrowed earlier, but Davian handled it with just as much expertise as he loaded and inspected it. He motioned to a couple guys outside the open door before facing me. His dark eyes glinted with amusement. “You be good while I’m gone, Sadie.”

I scoffed at the nerve of him and crossed my arms tight against my chest. “I can’t even begin to fathom why you think you have the right to tell me to be anything right now, Davian Reed. You’re nothing but a liar.”

His answering smirk made me want to punch him. “Don’t forget you pointed a gun at me to get what you wanted. I took a less violent approach. But we’ll straighten this out when I get back from keeping my promise to you.”

“You bet we will,” I grumbled.

Davian’s grin only widened. “I’m looking forward to it.”

He followed the other two down the front steps, and Vince closed the door behind them.

I fumed, clenching my fists. How dare he trap me here while Bear was out there all scared and alone. And Davian didn’t know how to soothe Bear—he only liked the salmon treats when he was scared and never allowed strangers to pet him until trust was built.

Now I was left with Davian’s grumpy guard friend, who definitely hated me but was now scrolling through his phone and acting like today was just another day.

“You’re Vince, right?” I asked, keeping my voice casual—but not friendly. As I’d just learned, these men weren’t my friends.

He grunted without looking up from his phone.

I eyed the familiar gun in his waistband and winced. “I see you got your gun back. Sorry about that, by the way. Desperate times, you know?”

His answering silence was deafening.

I cleared my throat. “So, how long have you and Davian been friends?”

He just kept scrolling, and I might as well have been talking to a brick wall.

My eyes narrowed. Was he giving me the silent treatment?

I glanced at the door, growing nervous. For all we knew, the Skulls could have dozens—or even hundreds—of members, but only two men had gone with Davian. “Is that all the backup he’s taking with him? Only two guys?”

Vince finally gave me a sidelong glance. “He won’t even need them.”

The way my stomach twisted into knots was a surprise.

Great. Now I was worried about my ex-hostage who’d turned the tables on me and trapped me here. “You don’t understand. Those boys are cruel. They could hurt Davian.”

Vince’s lips twitched like this amused him. “Trust me. Davian’s a stone-cold killer. He can handle a few kids.”

I wasn’t sure Vince meant the killer part literally, but it did nothing to ease my worries. It was my fault Davian was in this mess, after all, and I’d feel guilty if he got hurt. Even if he had just terminated our fresh crime-fighting partnership and abandoned me in a strange new place.

I also thought of Bear and how alone he must feel. “I should be there. Bear needs a familiar face right now. He’s probably so scared.”

Vince grunted again. “Your dog is fine.”

“How do you know that?”

He sighed and put his phone away before finally looking at me head-on. The man was made of pure muscle, and the urge to flee hit me hard. “He likes all the shit dogs like, right? Squirrels? Birds?”

Thrown by the question, I blinked. “Uh, yes. He loves squirrels.”

“Those wannabe thugs, the Skulls, hang out at an abandoned car wash right by a park. Your dog is probably having the time of his life chasing more squirrels than he can handle right now.”

Hope filled my chest, and I risked fishing for a bit more. “Which park? He’s picky about them—”

“Acresfield. Trust me, he’s happy as a clam. You’ll see him soon.”

I barely refrained from pumping my fist in the air. Did Vince think I was so little of a threat that he didn’t care what information he shared? I knew exactly where that park was—we walked the dogs there all the time—and even if I didn’t know where I was now, my phone could lead me back to the city.

Trying to still look upset instead of showing how happy this news made me, I wrapped my arms around my middle. “Is there somewhere I can go to be alone until Davian brings Bear back?”

Vince didn’t even bat an eye at my poor acting skills. He believed me easily enough and led me up the wide staircase, passed a guard holding another gun at the top, and down the hallway to a tall shiny wooden door. The inside of the building was the complete opposite of the stark outside. There were hardwood floors and plenty of natural light. Intricate carvings covered the door, but I couldn’t make out any distinct shapes.

“You can stay in this guest room.” Vince opened the door and waved me in. I took a hesitant step inside. “I’ll be right out here if you need anything.”

The way he said it sounded more like a threat than an offer, but I needed to get him away from the door for a little. I used the first excuse I could think of, even if it made little sense. “Actually, I could really use a shower since it’ll be a while. Are there any spare clothes I could borrow?”

Thankfully, his glare looked more annoyed than suspicious. “I’ll find something and put it outside the door.”

“Thank you.”

He waited till I walked further into the room before closing the door behind me. A quiet click sounded before footsteps echoed away.

The doorknob didn’t budge when I tried it, and my jaw dropped. The lock was on the outside of the door?

The nerve of these men.

But I didn’t have time to fume about it.

I needed to escape.

I ran over to a window, rushed to unlatch it and let out a sigh of relief when it unlocked without setting off an alarm. I heaved it open and stuck my head out just far enough to see the ground.

It was pretty far down.

Thinking fast, I hurried to the attached bathroom and switched on the tub before skidding back into the bedroom. I flung the comforter off the bed, then stripped off its sheets.

I might love making yummy treats, but crafts had never been my thing. And there was nothing skilled about the knots I used to tie the sheets together.

Racing back over to the window, I looked outside for any of the guards Davian had mentioned—but the coast was clear.

Unless they were hidden?

It was too late to worry about that.

I quickly tied one end of my makeshift rope to the radiator before flinging the rest out the window. The end still hovered a decent height above the grass, but I was confident I could drop the rest of the way without hurting myself.

Hopefully.

Crawling out the window was the easy part, then I shuffled around until my legs dangled awkwardly over the ledge. If there were guards outside, they’d have a great view of my butt from this angle.

I really should’ve thought this through.

But I forced myself to soldier on. With no experience in rappelling, I clung to the rope for dear life. It was slow going down the sheets.

Sweat dripped down my back by the time I’d hobbled down to the end of the blankets.

I glanced down, and the ground looked very far away. Much further than I’d thought it’d be.

“Bear needs me,” I reminded myself, and it was enough to make my fingers unclench from the sheet.

I dropped like a sack of potatoes and landed on the grass with a soft “oof.”

Looking around to make sure no one had seen, I scrambled to my feet and brushed off my overalls before making a dash for the garage—keeping close to the walls. There wasn’t any sign of guards patrolling I could see, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there.

Luck was on my side—Davian hadn’t closed the garage door, and it only took a little hunting to find Daisy’s keys on a row of hooks near the door.

But I paused before getting into her.

What was my plan once I got to the car wash? The gun had given me confidence earlier, but I doubted I could find another one here before someone noticed me.

I cursed Davian for taking my gun. Well… Vince’s gun.

Out of options, I grabbed a broom from a shelving unit and tossed it into the car, then hopped into the driver’s side. An extra leash from the shelter was in the center console, and I stuffed it into my overalls for when we got Bear back.

Daisy was a little loud when I started the ignition.

“Shhh,” I whispered soothingly, praying no one heard her. “You can do this. We can do this.”

She seemed to agree. Backing out of the garage and zooming down the long driveway was a breeze all the way to the large, menacing gate.

There was just one tiny problem.

It didn’t open.

I assumed it’d opened automatically for Davian, but maybe he’d hit a trick sensor or something.

Oh. A call box stood next to my window, and I swallowed a fresh surge of panic before rolling down my window.

Here goes nothing.

“Hello? I’m leaving now. Can you please open the gate?” I asked, then held my breath.

Static crackled before a deep voice came through the call box. “Name?”

My heart thundered in my chest, and I considered lying. What if Davian had warned them not to let me out? Was I a prisoner here? But I spent so long thinking about it that I worried they’d think I was trying to come up with a fake name, so I answered with the truth. “Sadie. Sadie Morris.”

The following silence stretched while I waited for guards to pop out and ambush me.

But then a beep sounded, and the gate began to open.

The burst of relief made my chest ache. I could finally breathe normally again, and I flexed my fingers on the wheel.

“I’m coming, Bear,” I whispered, driving through as soon as the opening was wide enough. I pulled out my phone and quickly looked up directions to Acresfield Park. “Just hang in there, buddy.”

With determination in my heart and butterflies in my stomach, I sped Daisy down the dirt road away from Davian’s compound.

the car wash

Davian

Nothing made me feel older than a bunch of snot-nosed gangbangers thinking they could run shit when their balls had barely dropped.

Sadie had no idea how far below my pay grade this was.

It didn’t help that the kids had chosen one of the worst spots in the city for their headquarters. The foreclosed car wash had a huge overhead garage that took up half the parking lot, but the tiny shack of an office in the middle was falling apart at the seams. A dozen garage openings on both sides of the building allowed way too much visibility, and the boys were just asking to get ambushed.

Malcolm and Shane hung back a few meters while I rapped my fist on the office door.

The muffled voices inside went silent, but I hadn’t made out how many there were. There was no way the small box could fit more than five people comfortably.

“Who is it?” a young voice called through the door, making me sigh.

“Davian Reed,” I called back while signaling my men to retreat to the openings of the garage.

“Reed?” he squeaked before clearing his throat and attempting to lower his voice. “What are you doing here?”

“I just want to chat. There’s been a misunderstanding, but it shouldn’t take long.”

A bunch of shuffling broke out behind the door, and I moved my hand closer to my gun.

“Are you alone?”

My eyes briefly closed. They didn’t even have cameras watching the place? “I have some friends with me. Again, this is only a chat.”

“Okay, well… Back off a bit, man. Take twenty steps back, and we’ll come out.”

… Twenty steps? Did they think we were about to duel?

I sighed again and backed up to the edge of the garage. Sadie would never know the shot to my pride I’d taken just by being here. “All right. I’m back by the entrance.”

The door creaked open until a dark-haired teenager in a red basketball jersey and baggy shorts stepped out. Six more of similar dress and age followed him out, and they fanned out around him.

Not a single one appeared to have a weapon on them, and Malcolm snorted softly behind me.

“Whatchu want?” the leader asked, jutting his chin out. The kid was a mess of gangly limbs, with twigs for arms.

I held in another sigh, but Malcolm and Shane no doubt found this amusing.

“I’ll make this quick. You took a dog from the Happy Tails shelter last night. This is your first and final warning to give the dog back and never go within ten blocks of that shelter again. Understand?”

They all stared back blankly.

But their leader squinted as he gave me a once-over. “Yo, are you really Davian Reed? Old Seb’s son?”

“Is it true Old Seb is missing an eye?” another boy with shockingly red hair asked. “Fessy said it was gouged out during a fight.”

“I never said that,” their leader snapped back.

“I heard he pulled it out himself,” the boy beside him added.

“Why the hell would he do that?”

“The dog,” I repeated with a flat stare. “Where is it?”

Fessy looked around the garage before shrugging. “What dog? We don’t have a dog. You see a dog, Slim?”

“I don’t see no dog. You see a dog, Andre?”

“No dog here. Maybe Mr. Reed needs his eyes checked.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and prayed for patience. This was a favor for Sadie, and she probably wouldn’t want me capping a kid while I was here.

Think of Sadie.

Don’t shoot the kid.

Remember Sadie.

It took effort to force the words out instead of reaching for my gun. “Listen, kid. Trust me when I say it’ll be better for all of us if you just give the dog back. Now.”

Fessy scoffed and looked around at his crew. “What does this old man think he’s gonna do? Count to three and ground us?”

Screw it.

My hand went to the gun tucked into the back of my waistband, but the frantic beeping of a car horn made us all freeze.

Words failed me when a familiar yellow Bug came careening around the block before speeding into the parking lot.

Red clouded my vision, and my hand fell away from the gun. What the hell was Sadie doing here? How’d she gotten out of the compound? Vince was supposed to be watching her.

The car swerved to a sudden stop, and Sadie popped out of the driver’s side with both hands gripping a large broom. I watched—dumbfounded—as she charged toward the garage with her weapon held high and pink hair tousled by the breeze.

“I’m not leaving here without my dog!” she yelled at Fessy and his crew, brandishing the broom. “Where is he?”

A determined scowl pinched her face—more endearing than intimidating—and I swear my goddamn soul floated out of my body.

a girl and her broom

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage, Tip #7: When your ex-hostage inevitably escapes, track them down to let them know you’re still in charge.

It was them—the little troublemakers who’d taken Bear.

My blood boiled. I didn’t see my faithful pooch anywhere in the dirty garage, but that didn’t mean they weren’t holding him prisoner.

Half a dozen members of the gang stood across from Davian and his two men in the garage, and I stormed up to all of them—ready to carry out this rescue mission.

The younger crowd took in my broom and glare before they… doubled over in laughter?

Rude.

Davian just stared at me before slowly shaking his head.

“Sadie, come here,” he ground out through a clenched jaw, crooking a finger at me.

But I was still mad, so that wasn’t happening. Instead, I stayed right where I was and sent him a sharp look to let him know just how badly he’d messed up. “You left me behind.”

“Baby, I’m not joking. Get your ass—”

Done with both his lies and his stupid bossy face, I turned my focus on the troublemakers and held my broom higher. “Where’s my dog?”

The tall one in front with a red basketball jersey squinted at me. “Hey, I remember you. Aren’t you one of the chicks from the shelter?”

He must be their ringleader—and the one I’d need to negotiate Bear’s safe return with. I could do this. I needed to do this. “Yes, and you stole a beloved member of our family.”

He laughed and looked around at his friends. “Just consider him adopted, then. It’s a shelter, ain’t it? I’m helping you out.”

I sucked in a breath at his audacity. Were children not taught manners anymore? “There are protocols for that. Paperwork. You’d never be approved for an adoption in a million years!”

That wiped the smile right off his face.

“Who invited Miss Priss to the party?” Sneering, he crossed his arms. “Fine. I’m willing to deal. What can you offer for your dog?”

It took all my willpower not to smack him upside the head with my broom.

Who did this boy think he was?

“I don’t need to offer you anything,” I said through clenched teeth. “He’s my dog.”

He cocked his head before trailing his gaze down my figure and back up. I shivered in disgust at the blatant leering. “Tell you what? I’ll hand him over if you stick around and party with us tonight. The name’s Fessy, by the way.”

My jaw dropped.

Had a teenager just propositioned me?

“Watch it, kid,” Davian warned evenly before I could get over my shock.

Fessy smirked at Davian. “Can’t blame me for trying. A body like that? I’d smash—”

A loud bang filled the quiet garage like an explosion going off, making all of us jump.

What the—?

Fessy bent forward with a grunt. His brow scrunched in confusion, then pain flashed across his face, and his leg drew everyone’s attention.

Blood gushed from his thigh.

He stared at the wound in shock—I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, either—then screamed loud enough to burst my eardrums.

Which made me scream, too.

And then his friends joined in.

I looked at Davian in alarm, but he just stood there—cool as a cucumber—with a gun pointed right at Fessy.

The broom dropped from my hands and clattered to the floor.

“What the frick? You psycho,” Fessy yelled at Davian. His voice had gone all high-pitched and squeaky, and he clutched his thigh as blood poured down his leg. “You shot me?”

My body swayed as I stared at the growing puddle of blood.

Fessy’s screaming friends moved like they didn’t know whether to help him or scatter, and Davian’s men both pulled out their own guns as my shock kept me frozen.

When the screaming didn’t stop, Davian raised his arm and rapid-fired three shots into the roof of the garage. I flinched at each one. “Shut the hell up.”

Everybody froze, and the only sound in the garage was Fessy’s labored breathing.

Well, my rescue plan had officially gotten out of hand.

migraine

Davian

So, this was what the beginning of a migraine felt like.

“I must be losing my touch, because I keep having to repeat myself today.” I pointed the gun at Fessy’s other leg, losing my patience. “Give us the damn dog, or you’ll find out how many bullets I have left.”

He was still staring at his thigh like he’d never seen blood before, and none of his crew moved to help or pull out their own weapons.

Amateurs.

“The dog,” I bit out on a growl.

Fessy whimpered before yelling at his boys. “You heard him. Get the freaking mutt!”

Four of his crew scattered out the back of the garage. The one left behind hoisted Fessy under the arm and dragged the boy back into their office with lots of screaming from Fessy.

My ears rang.

I tempered my glare before turning to Sadie, but she was too busy gaping at the growing trail of blood on the floor.

Her shock was a wake-up call. She was new to this.

I grunted and holstered the gun before walking over to her, still pissed she’d even shown up. She didn’t notice my approach, and I didn’t stop until I was close enough to brush a strand of hair off her cheek—which I did. “Don’t look at it, sweetheart.”

Her wide gaze snapped to mine before narrowing. “I’m not your sweet—”

“Good, you aren’t in shock.” I smiled wryly. “Care to tell me what the hell you planned to do with a broom?”

She glanced back at the blood before shrugging. “There wasn’t time for a plan. I winged it.”

“Well, don’t do that again.”

She huffed. “Don’t leave me behind again.”

A shiver racked her body, and the distance between us ate at me. I reached out slowly before nudging her to face me and pulling her close. Sadie didn’t even hesitate before burrowing her head into my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her small frame. My hand rubbed up and down her back, her muscles as tense as a loaded spring.

“You shot him,” she whispered, voice muffled against my chest.

My hand paused before trailing back up her overalls. “I did.”

“That gun was really loud.”

“Yes. No doubt it drew some attention. We’ll need to leave as soon as they bring Bear back.”

“You don’t think they just took off?”

That’s exactly what they would do, but Shane and Malcolm had already slipped out the front of the garage to follow them. “I’m giving them thirty more seconds before we get out of here. Fessy won’t like what happens if I need to come back.”

Another shiver rattled through her, and I tightened my hold. I liked the feel of her in my arms a little too much.

“You didn’t even flinch,” she said, her voice small.

“Hm?”

“You shot that kid and didn’t even react,” she muttered against my chest. “It all happened so fast, but you kept a straight face the whole time.”

I traced my thumb along her spine, enjoying her soft intake of breath. “There’s a reason I’m the one you came to for help, Sadie. I handle things.”

She burrowed into my chest just the slightest bit more. “That was really scary.”

“Scaring you is the last thing I want,” I admitted as my hand flattened against her lower back. “Now, are you still mad at me, or are we good?”

She tensed in my arms before pulling back, brow furrowed. “Why wouldn’t I be mad? You tricked me! And you left me behind.”

“I didn’t want you getting mixed up in this. It wasn’t safe.”

“I can handle myself.” She frowned, stepping fully out of my arms. I raised an eyebrow at the discarded broom, and she made a face. “Whatever. It wasn’t your place to decide that for me.”

It was my turn to stare at her. “Sadie, you took me hostage. Are you really upset because I turned the tables?”

Her lips parted, and she blinked like she’d completely forgotten she’d pulled a gun on me just this afternoon. She cleared her throat as her cheeks turned an appealing shade of pink. “Okay, that’s fair. I might be a tiny bit of a hypocrite. But it was different when you left me behind, because I thought we were partners then.”

That was… the last thing I’d expected her to say. “Partners?”

“Yeah.” She shrugged a shoulder. “Partners in crime. Or crime-fighting? One of those. But ignore that. It was silly of me to assume.”

The things that came out of her mouth never ceased to amaze me. This girl thought of us as partners? Her self-preservation instincts really were broken.

It made me want to take advantage.

“No, it wasn’t silly at all.” I stifled a smirk. “Partners it is, then.”

Her answering smile was slow to take, but quickly grew into the sweetest thing I’d ever seen—and my gaze lingered on it. I had the strongest urge to pull her back into my arms and find out what those two irresistible lips tasted like.

But all thoughts of kissing flew out the window when a giant beast sprinted around the corner of the garage—headed straight for us.

Falling back on my reflexes, I shoved Sadie behind me and pulled out my gun.

hellhound

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage, Tip #8: What the world doesn’t prepare you for is the moment when your demands have been met, and you have to let your hostage go. It may be a more emotional moment than you anticipated.

When Davian pushed me behind him and made the clicky sound with his gun again, terror paralyzed me. I imagined another gunshot going off. Another wounded teenager. More blood.

So much blood.

It took all my strength to peek around Davian’s arm to see if Fessy’s crew had returned with weapons, but it was only Bear bounding across the garage with his tongue flopping about.

“Bear!” I beamed. The wave of relief that he was okay made me lightheaded, and I clutched Davian’s arm. But then I saw his gun pointing straight at Bear, and I put two and two together. “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot! That’s Bear.”

Heart lodged in my throat, I jumped in front of Davian and shoved his arm aside. He cursed and pulled me back—right as Bear leapt toward us.

We went down in a tangle of limbs and fur. Davian took the brunt of our fall, and I rewarded him with an accidental elbow to the stomach. He grunted in pain, and I winced under the weight of Bear—who wasted no time before excitedly licking my face.

“Sorry,” I wheezed to Davian through the slobber-kisses, all too aware of our bodies flush against each other.

If it wasn’t for the paw digging into my stomach, I would’ve enjoyed it.

Instead, I got a mouthful of fur as Bear nuzzled my face, and I wrapped my arms around him in the best hug I could manage. Thank god he was safe. Davian’s hands settled on my upper arms and held me still until he could extract himself from underneath me.

“You told me Bear was a dog,” Davian muttered, eyes narrowing into slits as he got to his feet. “Not a hellhound.”

“He’s just a big sweet puppy,” I cooed to the cuddly beast. Bear licked my face again in answer, and I didn’t even care about the slobber.

“We need to leave.” Davian reached for my arm, but Bear growled viciously, making him freeze.

I winced at Davian’s unamused look.

“He takes a little while to warm up to strangers,” I said, hoping to ease the sting of Bear’s rejection. “But he really is the biggest sweetie. You’ll see.”

Bear growled softer after I said that, which wasn’t the best timing. But when he nudged my head, I gave him another hug.

He’d earned all the cuddles he wanted after the day he’d been through.

After kissing his snout, I extracted myself from Bear’s gangly legs and got to my feet. Brushing off the front of my overalls did little to help my rumpled appearance, but it was just dirt and dog hair. I’d live.

I offered Davian my best smile, overcome with gratitude now that Bear was back by my side. “Thank you so much for helping us, Davian. I know I forced you, but this means everything to me.”

“If I didn’t want to help, I wouldn’t have.” His lips twisted with a hint of a smile that turned my knees to jelly, and he checked his watch. “How does a trip to Bruno’s sound? We have time to celebrate Bear’s safe return before he closes.”

“Really?” My lips parted. He wasn’t taking off running? “But you’re not my hostage anymore. You’re… You’re free.”

It hurt to say. I’d grown to enjoy the little time we’d spent together, and it really did feel like we were partners in crime-fighting.

Davian’s brows rose. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily, partner. Come on. My treat.”

I pushed down the flutter in my stomach and glanced back at the run-down office. The kid Davian had shot was still in there. “Shouldn’t we make sure Fessy gets to the hospital? He was bleeding a lot.”

Davian waved off my concern. “It’s better if we aren’t here when the cops show up. They’ll take care of him.”

A scary realization hit me. A bullet from Davian’s gun was in Fessy’s leg. Police could track stuff like that, right? They could in the TV shows. I looked up at Davian. “Will the police come after you?”

He had the nerve to smirk. “They won’t bother me. Any other questions, or should we head to Bruno’s?”

Well, if he insisted. “I can’t say no to ice cream.”

We left the car wash together with Bear walking just behind us and keeping an eye on Davian. I wasn’t sure what’d gotten into him, but maybe he was still feeling Davian out.

When I saw my car parked haphazardly in the lot, I winced. “I’m not sure Bear will fit in Daisy with both of us.”

“Bruno’s place isn’t that far away. We can walk.” Davian tucked his gun into the back of his pants. The move was smooth, as if he’d done it a hundred times before. Maybe a thousand. “But I don’t want your car here when the cops show up. You mind if Malcolm drives her back to your place?”

I hesitated. “She really doesn’t like other people driving her…”

“He’s my best driver, and he’ll take good care of her. I swear.”

The faint wail of sirens made my heart lurch, and I nibbled on my lip. “But how will I get home?”

“Malcolm and Shane can circle back for us after dropping off your car,” he said. “The SUV will easily fit Bear.”

It sounded logical enough. Or maybe I just wanted to spend more time with Davian. “Okay. He can drive Daisy, but please make sure he follows the rules of the road. And watches out for potholes. The city is full of them, and it only takes one for her to spend a month in the shop.”

Davian’s lips thinned. “Great. Keys are in the car?”

I nodded, and he reached for my hand like it was the most natural thing to do. When our palms touched, my heart tripped over itself.

But Bear nudged between us—conveniently knocking Davian’s hand away before growling at it.

Davian grumbled under his breath as he returned Bear’s dark look, and I bit my lip to hide a smile.

The two of them were surprisingly alike.

getting to know you

Davian

The mutt guarded Sadie like he owned her, and it pissed me off.

I couldn’t even hold her fucking hand without him getting in the way. Sadie had pulled a leash out of her overalls, which she hooked to his collar, and he stayed guard between us the whole walk to Bruno’s. I could swear he even sent me a smug look when she scratched between his ears.

I doubted he was even a dog. He was more like a beast-wolf hybrid disguised in brown and black fur with deceivingly innocent eyes. The lolling tongue didn’t fool me.

Bear was trouble.

Since I couldn’t touch Sadie without upsetting her furry bodyguard, I used the walk to learn more about her. Her eyes lit up when she told me more about her culinary school and how she hoped to open a dog treat bakery one day. The shelter was where she spent her free time, and she’d made good friends with the other volunteers. They even went bowling together every Thursday night.

Her life was the polar opposite of mine.

I spent most days working for my father—which usually meant endless back-alley meetings and keeping up with the other players in the area.

Sometimes there were guns involved.

… Most times there was blood involved.

It didn’t sound like Sadie’s day-to-day included much blood, and today was clearly the first time she’d ever held a gun.

But I still couldn’t let her go so easily now that it was all over. I’d already texted my assistant to make a schedule for my men to keep an eye on the shelter. There was always a chance Fessy and his playmates would seek payback. It was expected in our world.

While Sadie called Mr. Sanders to give him the good news about Bear’s rescue, I texted her address to Malcolm with instructions to drive Daisy there.

The walk was otherwise uneventful, with everyone giving us a wide berth on the sidewalk. If Sadie noticed the effort people went to—like choosing to cross the street to avoid walking toward me—she didn’t say anything. But with the way she was beaming at Bear, I doubted she noticed much outside the dog.

When we reached Bruno’s shop, Sadie paused in the doorway.

“We got Bear back!” she announced, her beaming smile in her voice. “Is it okay if he comes inside just this once?”

“Sure, bring the rascal in,” Bruno called back.

The only other customers inside were a woman with her daughters, but the mother quickly ushered them out when she noticed me. I flipped the sign on the door to Closed when it shut behind them.

Sadie and Bear joined Bruno at the counter, where he filled a cup with whipped cream.

“For our returning hero.” He handed it to Sadie. She set the cup on the floor, and Bear went to town.

I took advantage of his distraction and joined Sadie at the counter, where she smiled sheepishly at Bruno. “Sorry again about earlier.”

He waved her off. “Forget about it. Not the first time someone pulled a gun in my shop.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? That… sounds like a problem. And I’m doubly sorry for adding to it.”

“It’s already forgotten. Now, I bet you’ve worked up an appetite getting Bear back,” he said. “What can I get you, Sadie?”

She didn’t even look at the display before ordering. “One scoop of bubblegum, please.”

“You got it. And Mr. Reed?” He plucked a chocolate-dipped cone covered in rainbow sprinkles off the stack. My brows rose when he topped it with a scoop of pink ice cream and more sprinkles.

“Butter pecan. In a cup,” I said. Sadie grimaced at my order, and my brows rose higher. “What?”

She took her cone from Bruno while shaking her head. “It’s nothing. Thanks, Bruno.”

“It’s not nothing. You have a problem with my order,” I said, caught between feeling amused and offended.

She suddenly looked incredibly interested in her treat. “Well… it’s just that butter pecan is such an old-person ice cream flavor, you know?”

I eyed her colorful cone. “But sprinkles are age appropriate?”

She snorted and tipped her cone at me. “Touché.”

When I pulled out my wallet, Bruno waved a hand and grabbed a cup off the stack. “Put that away. Your money is no good here, Mr. Reed.”

Sadie tilted her head, frowning as Bruno scooped out the ice cream. “Why does Bruno call you Mr. Reed?”

I fought back a smile and snuck a few twenties into the tip jar. “It’s my name.”

“But it sounds like you two know each other. You call him Bruno. Shouldn’t he call you Davian?”

She was adorable. “It doesn’t work like that in my world, sweetheart.”

Her eyes narrowed at the nickname, but she didn’t take the bait. I wasn’t sure whether I was pleased or disappointed by that.

“Here you go, Mr. Reed.”

Bruno handed me my cup, and Sadie cleared her throat. “You can call him Davian if you want to.”

Bruno’s eyes widened, and he shot me a nervous look. My lips twitched.

“I mean…” Sadie stumbled when neither of us said anything, and her eyes darted between us. My jaw clenched in an effort to hide my smile. “It was just an idea. It’s silly to keep up formalities when we’re all friends here, right?”

Thoroughly flustered, she bit into her ice cream and got a smear of pink on her nose.

It was impossible for me to resist pushing her, and I stepped closer with a smirk. “You think we’re friends?”

She wiped off her nose and blinked up at me. “Huh?”

“You just said we’re all friends here.”

I watched in amusement as a light flush crept up her neck. I wasn’t usually one to be this interested in a woman, but Sadie was full of surprises. It made me want to see what she’d do next.

“Okay, maybe I jumped the gun a little.” She winced. “But Bruno is my friend, and I thought you and I were getting there. Rescue missions usually bring people closer together, right?”

“I’m not interested in being your friend, Sadie.” I placed my palm on the small of her back, and she gulped.

Her brow furrowed with a frown. “You’re not?”

My gaze dropped to her parted lips. A bit of ice cream had gotten on the lower one, and any restraint I had evaporated. “Not even a little.”

We were close enough she had to crane her neck to look up at me, which I took full advantage of by sliding my hand up to the back of her slim neck and leaning down to claim her lips like I’d been wanting to since she aimed that gun at me—

—only for a sharp tug on my heel to pull us apart before I’d even gotten a taste.

“What the hell—?”

melting the ice cream

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage, Tip #9: Ice cream is a great way to celebrate a successful hostage-taking. If you’re so inclined, your ex-hostage can join you.

Bear’s growl reverberated through the ice cream parlor. One moment Davian’s lips were a breath from mine and I was frozen in place, and the next Bear yanked him away from me. Davian hopped backward on one foot just as Bear viciously ripped his other shoe off.

If I weren’t so horrified by Bear’s sudden obsession with Davian’s footwear, I would’ve collapsed in a laughing fit at the scene.

Bear pranced backward, brandishing the black loafer like a hard-earned war prize before bounding off into the corner.

“Bear, no!” I yelled, pushing past Davian to give chase, but he slung an arm around my front like a steel band. It pulled me to a quick halt.

“Let him go,” Davian said, not sounding the least bit bothered by Bear’s thievery. But the shoe had to be expensive. “He’s distracted now.”

I winced at Bear thrashing around his newfound treasure. Then Davian’s hand slid down to my hip—making my heart jump into my throat—and all thoughts of dogs and fancy footwear evaporated. My back was flush against his firm front.

Oh.

Oh dear.

I squeaked, trying to focus on the issue at hand. My voice was far too high pitched when I got it to work again. “But your shoe…”

But Davian’s hand on my hip was already turning me to face him, and his dark gaze cut off the rest of my protest. A fledgling smirk grew at the corner of his mouth, pulling my attention. It was unfair how attractive the smirk made him. “It’s a small price to pay so I can do this without interruption.”

He leaned in with deliberate slowness—like a predator toying with his prey. Turned out I was into that, because my heart was beating as fast as Bear’s tail wagged during feeding time, and a spike of adrenaline hit.

Davian’s lips met mine—slow and teasing—before molding against them with a hunger that stole my breath.

As I leaned into him, my free hand found his side. I’d never been one to waste ice cream, but the cone dropped from my hand without a second thought as I matched his hungry pace.

The answering rumble deep in his chest left my insides trembling.

Davian barely gave me time to catch up before he cupped the back of my neck and deepened the kiss, igniting flames in my belly. He tasted sweet like vanilla, and I now had zero complaints about his ice cream choice.

Bear’s low growl went ignored. The world faded around us. All I could focus on was giving as much as I got.

Until Bruno tutted behind the counter, breaking our kiss-induced spell. “Careful, kids. You’re melting the ice cream.”

Reality crashed back, and I froze in Davian’s arms. My cheeks flamed as I tried to pull away, but he kept a firm hold on me, unbothered by our audience. His gaze remained glued to my mouth, and when he let go of my neck to trace his thumb over my lower lip, I couldn’t fully suppress a shiver.

That didn’t escape Davian’s notice, and one side of his mouth slanted up. “What are you thinking about?”

My tongue peeked out to wet my lips, and it just barely caught the edge of his thumb. Davian’s eyes flashed, making me smile. Only one thought raced through my mind.

“I’m thinking I want to kiss you again,” I admitted.

His gaze heated in a way that made my toes curl, and Bruno was the last thing on my mind when Davian’s mouth met mine again, in more of a tease than a kiss.

“What are you thinking?” I murmured against his lips.

He trailed slow, lazy kisses to the corner of my mouth, and my heart stuttered.

“I’m thinking I should take you hostage for dinner tomorrow night.”

A laugh escaped me, even as my cheeks heated again, and I pulled back far enough to squint up at him.

“But I thought you said hostages were only taken as a security measure to make someone else do something?” I said, throwing his earlier words back at him.

His answering smirk did funny things to my stomach. “The term’s grown on me.”

Well, then. I cleared my throat before beaming at him. “I think I can pencil getting abducted for dinner into my schedule.”

can’t deny it

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage, Tip #10: There may come a time when your hostage kisses you. Enjoy it. And if your hostage offers you a ride home, it’s only polite to accept. Carpooling is good for the environment.

I couldn’t deny it anymore. I was hot for my hostage.

Davian Reed had helped me rescue Bear. He’d put those teenage thugs in their place. And he’d kissed me like he was desperate for air. If someone had told me yesterday that I’d be making out with my hostage in the middle of an ice cream shop, I would’ve called them crazy.

But that’s life, I guess.

One minute you’re stopping a group of teenage thugs from vandalizing a dog shelter, and the next you’re imagining doing dirty things with the bad-boy mafia prince you held at gunpoint.

… Or maybe I’d accidentally slipped and hit my head on the oven door while baking again, and this was all a concussion-inspired dream.

Either way, I was ready to roll with it as Bear and I climbed into the back of Davian’s dark SUV after finishing the replacement ice cream Bruno had given me. Davian moved to follow me, but no matter how spacious the backseat was, there wasn’t enough room for all three of us to sit across it. Bear lay across two seats, and Davian would fill the space with his presence alone.

“You can sit on my lap,” Davian offered like it was no big deal. Heat washed up my neck at the suggestion as I tried to scooch an unmovable Bear across the seat, and I was sure my cheeks were bright red.

Sit on his lap? Was he crazy?

“That can’t be crash-test approved,” I blurted. It was the first excuse I could think of that didn’t involve my newfound obsession with his lips on mine. “I can sit… somewhere else. Safety first, right?”

But both guys from the car wash were already sitting up front. The back row of the SUV was tucked into the floor and covered by black duffle bags. Bear took up two seats on his own.

There wasn’t anywhere else for me to sit.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” The promise in Davian’s voice rolled a shiver down my spine.

Well.

Screw safety.

I swallowed with a suddenly dry throat. “Okay.”

I hunched over Bear while Davian slid onto the seat, and the large SUV felt impossibly smaller. Was I really about to sit on my hostage’s lap?

His very appealing, muscular lap.

How much I was looking forward to it made me hesitate.

“Sadie?” he asked when I still hadn’t moved. The overhead light dimmed, but the tinted windows did nothing to hide my growing flush.

“Right,” I muttered before shuffling back and perching on the edge of his lap—as close as I could to his knees. Davian’s strong thighs cradled my butt, and I swallowed when his hands settled on my hips.

Then he pulled me back until I was flush against his chest, and my heart somersaulted backward. Every inch of his front pressed against me, like we were spooning.

Hot-hostage overload.

“That’s better,” Davian’s low voice whispered near my ear, making the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Comfortable?”

What a crazy question to ask. I suppressed another shiver. This was simultaneously the safest and most vulnerable I’d ever felt in my life.

Not trusting myself to speak, I nodded and tried to relax against his broad chest. It wasn’t easy with his hold on my hips turning every nerve in my body into a live wire.

Bear’s soft growl filled the SUV, and I absently reached over to scratch between his ears. He gave me something else to focus on. “It’s okay, buddy. You won’t be squished now.”

Bear threw me his signature unimpressed look before going back to gnawing on Davian’s shoe. There was a lot of slobber on the nice leather, and the shoe didn’t look like it’d be cheap to replace. At least Davian hadn’t complained about walking around in his sock, but I felt awful.

“Should we stop by the shelter to drop the dog off first?” the blond guy asked from the driver’s seat. Davian had introduced him as Malcolm and the dark-haired one with glasses as Shane.

I chewed on my lower lip, but I wasn’t ready to let Bear go yet. “He’s had a rough day. He should stay with me tonight. Just to be safe.”

Davian’s chuckle showed he saw right through my lame excuse to keep Bear with me, and he lowered his voice. “I’ve had a rough day, too.”

The thought of Davian staying over made something deep in my belly flutter, but it was too much for my flustered self to handle right now, so I jabbed an elbow into his stomach.

It was met with a satisfying grunt before his chest rumbled with a quiet laugh.

And I liked the feel of his chest against my back… a lot.

“I’m sure you’ll be just fine back at your own place,” I muttered, realizing a new dilemma. I had no idea what to do with my hands. Was I supposed to hold the headrest in front of me? Or Davian’s hands on my hips?

Unsure, I crossed my arms and stared straight ahead—all too aware of everywhere Davian’s body touched mine.

It was a very tight fit.

My plan was to stay as still as humanly possible. But Malcolm had barely taken three turns before we hit a pothole and I bounced on Davian’s lap.

Oof.

My eyes widened.

We hadn’t considered something about this seating arrangement: bouncing while sitting on the lap of a man I had growing feelings for was… not ideal.

I shifted uneasily, and Davian’s hands remained steady on my hips.

But the bumpy ride didn’t completely escape his notice—after several more blocks and potholes, the hard evidence of Davian’s arousal pressed against my backside, and I clenched my thighs together.

“I don’t think we fully thought this plan through,” I said through gritted teeth after another bounce.

His fingers flexed on my hips. “Ignore it.”

A shrill laugh bubbled out of me at how unconcerned he sounded. “Ignore that? Not possible.”

It was like playing a game of Whac-A-Mole with one very persistent mole.

“Then don’t ignore it.” The amusement dripping from his tone made my jaw drop.

Another pothole had me almost airborne, but Davian’s grip tightened, and I only rose an inch before slamming back down against his hardness.

But no amount of whacking could put that mole back in his hole.

I sucked in a sharp breath. And I had zero excuses for what happened next. None. But I’d landed at a new angle, and the heat of him against my center—along with how perfectly we lined up down there—had my hips instinctively circling against him in an impromptu lap dance.

We both froze, and I wanted to die of mortification.

Did I just grind on my hostage’s lap?

Kill me now.

grind on me

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage, Tip #11: Ignore that last tip. Taxis are your friend.

Even Davian didn’t seem to know how to react to me grinding against him, and the longest five seconds of my life passed before his lips brushed my ear—sending a flicker of heat through me.

“Do it again,” he said, and a shiver rolled down my spine at the command.

Face flaming, I did not do it again. He couldn’t be serious. Even with Bear still distracted by the shoe and the men up front keeping their gazes forward, this was completely inappropriate.

And crazy.

“That was an accident,” I whispered, lying through my teeth. “I slipped.”

“Bullshit.” His lips caressed the skin behind my ear with a kiss that went straight to my center. “Do it again, Sadie.”

Holy cupcake, the way he said my name…

It wasn’t fair. Why did Davian’s commanding tone make my skin so hot it felt like I would burst into flames? He had to be joking, though. Right? He didn’t actually want me to grind on his lap while we were riding in a car with his friends and Bear.

That’d be insane.

But the prominent bulge in Davian’s pants convinced me otherwise. Or maybe it brainwashed me. Whatever the reason, my inhibitions lowered until I wasn’t sure I’d had any in the first place.

I experimentally grinded again, and his grip grew impossibly tighter.

Any embarrassment slid away, and my hips repeated the discreet motion. Heat pooled low in my belly, and a glance up front showed the men were oblivious. Bear was still distracted by Davian’s shoe.

Nobody noticed what we were doing, and that sent a whole new sort of thrill through me.

Davian shifted to get a better angle, and he moved me to straddle his thigh. It pushed my center against the firm muscle there, and each circle of my hips against him went straight to my—

“Oh god,” I breathed, clutching the handle above the window.

Davian hit a button on the door, which made a dark screen divider rise between us and the two men in front.

Convenient.

His hands on my hips took over—moving me against him in quick, deliberate circles—and my free hand grabbed the short wall in front of me for support. The angle combined with him taking control had me forgetting to breathe.

If someone had told me this morning that I’d be taking Davian Reed hostage and basically dry humping him in the back of his SUV, I would’ve called them crazy.

But as his lips found my neck and one of his hands slid up toward my breast, I decided pulling a gun on him was the best decision I’d ever made.

Bear disagreed.

A tight ball was forming in my belly—and my grip tightened on the handle—when Bear’s growl cut through the haze, followed by Davian cursing sharply and his hand wrenching back from my breast.

“Wha—?” I blinked at how abruptly he’d stopped.

Until I spotted the culprit. Bear was tugging on the sleeve of Davian’s jacket. He yanked with a snarl, but Davian grabbed Bear by the neck.

“Bear, stop!” I cried, reaching for him, too—just before the SUV jerked to a halt. Without Davian holding me, I flew forward, and my head smacked the screen divider. “Ow.”

The pain made me pull back just as Davian leaned forward, and our heads collided with a painful crack.

Ow. Ow. Ow.

This could not be happening right now.

Davian let out a string of curses and tugged me back onto his lap. “You okay?”

No, I was not okay.

Everything hurt.

My head throbbed, but I managed a weak reply. “If I die, tell Gladys my secret dog treat recipes are hidden under my mattress.”

He grunted. “You’re not dying, but your head took a hard hit.”

A soft groan escaped me. “It sure feels like I’m dying.”

The screen lowered, and Malcolm eyed us in the rearview mirror. “Everything okay back there, boss?”

“Why the heavy foot on the brakes, Malcolm?” Davian asked through a clenched jaw.

I blinked through the pain, clearing my vision. Malcolm’s forehead creased in confusion. “I heard her yell to stop the car, so I stopped.”

Oh god.

“Just drive,” Davian bit out.

His hands returned to my hips, and I twisted to get a better look at his sleeve.

“Is your jacket okay?” I whispered to Davian. I already owed him a new pair of shoes, and I couldn’t afford a jacket on top.

“It’s fine, just wet.” Amusement warmed his voice. Then he grunted. “Your furry bodyguard sure takes his job seriously.”

I winced and rubbed my head where we’d collided. “I think he might be traumatized by the dognapping, but that’s no excuse. I’m sorry.”

Bear really was a good dog—just more protective than I’d thought.

I checked on the furball in question, who was watching me and smiling with his tongue lolling out.

“That was very bad,” I said in a no-nonsense voice.

He dropped his head onto his paws and whined softly, melting my heart. The big, sad puppy-dog eyes—which always got him extra treats at the shelter—just weren’t fair.

I sighed and scratched between his furry ears. “I can’t stay mad at you. But we’ll work on your manners. You’re turning me into a liar with all this misbehaving.”

He snorted his displeasure.

As Malcolm drove us to my apartment, it sank in that I should be mortified about what Davian and I had been doing. I was in the back of an SUV with two strangers sitting on the other side of a thin screen. Bear was lying right next to us. I’d just met Davian today, and he was involved in some bad stuff—yet I was more than happy to grind on him like my life depended on it.

Gladys would have some strong words for me right now.

So why wasn’t I dying of embarrassment?

Maybe delving into a life of crime had loosened my inhibitions.

… Or maybe I’d just liked it too much.

Either way, that couldn’t happen again. So, I scooted up until I was perched on the edge of Davian’s knees—far outside potential grinding distance.

“Sadie,” he said gruffly.

I kept my gaze firmly forward.

But Davian wasn’t having any of that. He reached around until his fingers found my chin and turned me to face him. Those dark eyes studied mine before dropping to my lips.

The hint of hunger in his gaze made my mouth go dry, and I poked my tongue out to wet my lips. Having Davian’s full attention on me was overwhelming.

A forced laugh struggled up my throat. “Maybe I should’ve taken a taxi—”

He captured my lips in a claiming kiss that burned all the way down to the tips of my toes—effectively cutting off any stupid excuse I’d been about to make. Warmth surged in my blood, and I quickly matched his demanding pace. But as soon as my fingers curled into his shirt, he pulled back.

His gaze seared like a brand, making my breath hitch.

“Don’t hide from me,” Davian warned in a low voice. “And no more bullshit about taxis.”

I swallowed.

Maybe I should be annoyed that he gave me the same censoring look I’d used on Bear or that he tried to order me around at all. Instead, I found it… oddly comforting? I relaxed back against him, and my tense muscles loosened.

Davian hummed, and his lips met the side of my head in a kiss.

“Good girl,” he whispered against my temple.

The praise sent an unexpected flutter through my belly, and I rolled my eyes at myself.

Where had that come from?

“I’m not a dog,” I muttered.

But I still rested my head on Davian’s shoulder as his chest rumbled with quiet laughter.

Malcolm must’ve been doing his best to avoid potholes, because the rest of the drive was uneventful. Bear licked his wounds while keeping an eye on Davian, whose thumb traced torturous circles against my hip. But we all made it to my apartment building in one piece without any more mishaps.

And I was still embarrassingly turned on from sitting on my hostage’s lap.

apartment 431

Davian

Watching Sadie grind against my thigh shouldn’t be the hottest thing I’d ever seen, but my blood ran south too quickly to deny it. Even the splitting headache wasn’t enough to kill my hard-on.

But when we pulled up to the apartment building Sadie lived in, it was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head.

The building was a shithole. There was no code or key access at the entrance—anyone could just walk in. The elevator was broken, and we climbed four flights of stairs to her floor while Bear still proudly pranced around with my shoe. Paint peeled off the walls. The stench of urine permeated the halls. By the time we reached her floor, I was ready to throw her over my shoulder and haul ass back to my place.

“This is where you live?” It was a challenge to keep my tone even.

Sadie was unfazed by the crumbling surroundings, and she moved Bear’s leash to her other hand before pulling a key out of her overalls pocket. Her face was still pink from what we’d done in the car, and if I wasn’t so pissed about where she lived, I would’ve kissed her again right here. “Yep, second door on the left. You really didn’t have to walk me up.”

“Yes, I did.” And not just because I wanted to pick up where we’d left off. Malcolm had warned me the building was in bad shape, but I hadn’t expected it to be falling apart.

She unlocked the single flimsy lock—there wasn’t a dead bolt anywhere in sight—and it opened to a decent-sized studio apartment. A double bed covered in too many blankets took up the right side, with a small living area in the middle and a kitchenette to the left. Soft yellows and pinks were everywhere; warm and welcoming.

It was the opposite of my place.

Sadie ushered Bear into the room and unhooked his leash. “You’ll be a hero at the shelter tomorrow, Bear. Mr. Woofkins will be thrilled to have you back.”

The dog dropped my shoe and sniffed around the living space before jumping onto a small yellow couch.

He sure looked at home.

“Why haven’t you adopted Bear?” I picked up the slobber-covered loafer and reluctantly slipped it back on. My sock was soaked through in seconds. “You clearly care for him.”

Sadie eyed my shoe with a grimace. “This is student housing, and they don’t allow pets. I’d get my own place, but it was included in my scholarship. At least I can make up for it by spending all my free time at the shelter, right?”

Before I could decide if that was a rhetorical question, Sadie gasped and looked toward the windowsill. “Oh! I haven’t watered Walter yet today.”

She filled a cup with an inch of water before pouring it over the saddest excuse for a plant I’d ever seen. It might’ve been green at some point, but the whole thing was brown and shriveled up now. “It’s… still alive?”

Sadie looked between me and the poor plant. “I think so? I’ve never been great with plants, but the guy at the garden shop said it was impossible to kill this one.”

I eyed the wilted leaves dubiously. It was definitely possible.

Sadie put out water for Bear, as well as a bowl of dog food she mixed with yogurt.

… Disgusting.

But Bear must disagree, because he jumped down from the couch and attacked the yogurt mush like it was a feast.

A pile of dog food bags caught my eye. Boxes of treats and toys, plus half a dozen dog beds, filled the small dining area. My brows practically climbed into my hairline. “If you can’t have pets, what’s all this for?”

Sadie stood from feeding Bear and followed my gaze. “These are just some things I bought for the shelter. It can’t afford as much after rent doubled a few months ago.”

Out of everything Sadie had said since I’d met her, that surprised me the most. “What do you mean the rent doubled?”

One of her delicate shoulders lifted. “That’s what Mr. Sanders told us. Donations barely cover half the kibble now, so he can’t afford the fun stuff. We do a tennis-ball drive twice a year, but the next one’s not for another few months.”

That wasn’t possible. “Sadie, that block is rent controlled. There’s a limit on how high rent can be raised.”

She frowned. “Mr. Sanders wouldn’t lie to us. And how would you know something like that?”

Because my father owned that block, and I wasn’t looking forward to giving the old bastard a call about it. And now my gut told me not to leave Sadie in this shithole. “How about you stay with me tonight?”

From the way her jaw dropped, one might think I’d proposed. But Sadie coughed before covering it with a smile and sitting on the couch. “I like you, Dav, but I don’t know you well enough for that.” Her gaze dropped to her lap, and she cleared her throat. “What happened in the car was—well, it was—”

“Hot as hell,” I finished for her.

Her cheeks turned an appealing shade of pink, and she cleared her throat again, growing more flustered. “Um, yes. But it’s time for the mole to go back in his hole.”

I stared back at her. Of all the things I’d expected her to say… that wasn’t one of them. “What mole?”

Sadie’s eyes bugged out, and if her cheeks were pink before, they were blazing red now. “Never mind. I just meant it’s really sweet of you to offer, but Bear and I will be just fine here. Right, boy?”

I glanced at the monstrous beast as he finished inhaling his dinner and hopped onto the couch beside her. He rested his head on her lap, but what Sadie had said tripped me up.

No one had ever called me sweet before.

She smothered the dog with pets and kisses, and I swear the furry bastard winked at me.

But watching Sadie cuddling with Bear in her cute apartment—with her pink hair and overalls—just confirmed what I’d realized earlier. This girl wasn’t cut out for my life. She was too good for it. If I were a better man, I’d walk away right now.

Lucky for me, I wasn’t.

“All right, but the offer is always open.” I curled my finger at her. “Now come here.”

Her head cocked to the side in question, but she rose from the couch and padded closer. When she stopped in front of me with big trusting eyes, I reached for her neck and tipped her chin up further.

“You’re a good girl, aren’t you, Sadie?” I asked.

Her eyelids drooped, and she relaxed—almost melting into me. She’d reacted the same way to my words of praise in the car. “Today wasn’t a great example, but I try my best.”

Her neck was soft and fragile under my grip. Too fragile—like the little bunny I’d seen her as when we first met. I stroked my thumb against her skin and leaned down before stopping an inch from her lips. She even smelled like the sweetest temptation. Baked goods and vanilla. Way too sweet for a bastard like me.

And that only made her more attractive.

“Then be a good girl and give me a kiss.”

Sadie’s eyes widened before she placed her hands on my chest and stretched up to meet my lips in a tentative kiss that shouldn’t be this arousing. Her lips were plump and soft and highly addictive.

It was supposed to be a quick goodbye, but when a soft sigh escaped Sadie’s lips, I cupped the back of her head and slid an arm around her waist, deepening the kiss. She melted against me. I could easily get hooked on the sweet way her body surrendered to a kiss. I could also spend all night kissing her.

Tasting her.

Devouring her.

Then the damn dog gave a warning growl from the couch, and Sadie tensed in my arms.

I reluctantly pulled back and kept my voice low, not sparing a look at Bear. “Can we lock him in the bathroom?”

Sadie’s kiss-swollen lips twitched. “I think you already know the answer to that.”

A nice way to say I wasn’t getting chosen over the dog.

Pity.

I held out a hand, palm up. “Let me see your phone, then.”

Sadie pulled her phone out of her overalls and handed it over without hesitation. Her quick trust made something in my chest snap.

The phone had a pink case with a cupcake charm, and the background picture was a group of dogs in a play area. I blinked at the overload of cuteness before adding my number and texting myself.

When I looked back at Sadie, her fingers rested on her lips and a blush had consumed her cheeks as she stared into space.

She had no right to be so damn adorable.

“There, now you have my number,” I said, sliding the phone back into her overalls. Sadie jerked out of her daze and looked back at me. “Text or call me if you want to talk before tomorrow night, okay?”

The way she nodded shouldn’t make my chest expand, but I hid my smile by leaning forward and kissing her forehead. “I’ll pick you up at seven. Be good, sweetheart.”

Sadie grinned widely. “You be good, too.”

That morphed my smile into a smirk as I stepped into the hall.

She hadn’t corrected me this time.

I waited until Sadie locked the door behind me before leaving.

She’d probably gone back to the couch to cuddle with Bear, and a flash of envy gave me pause.

… Since when was I jealous of a dog?

making things right

Davian

I waited until I was outside Sadie’s building before calling Vince. “She lives in a dump. You up to keep watch tonight?”

There was a loaded pause before he answered. “You’re talking about the deranged woman who held you up earlier today and ran from me, right?”

“She’s not deranged. And we’ll have a chat about her giving you the slip, by the way.”

“You can blame that one on Hollis. He wasn’t told not to let her out the gate,” he said.

“She shouldn’t have even made it to the gate.”

“I’m not a babysitter,” he grumbled. “Just have her come here if there’s a problem with her place.”

That’s what I’d wanted to do, but… “She’s not ready for that.”

He scoffed. “Not ready? What the hell kind of game are you playing, Davian?”

“No games.” I didn’t know where this thing with Sadie would go, but it wasn’t a game.

“She’s not cut out for this shit. Forget about her before you—”

“I didn’t call you for dating advice, Vince. I’ll text her address to you. Get your ass over here.”

He huffed. “This is a mistake.”

“If I didn’t have a meeting, I’d do it myself. This is important to me.”

Another pause before Vince groaned. “You owe me, man.”

“I always pay my debts,” I said before hanging up and calling a much less fun number.

“Reed,” my pop answered after the first ring.

“You want to tell me why you hiked the rent on the blocks near Acresfield Park?”

“Davian, my boy.” His tone warmed to one of a proud father. “What’s this about rent?”

“There’s a dog shelter that can’t afford to buy fucking kibble because their rent was doubled.”

He chuckled. “Good. Maybe once they close up shop, we can put a laundromat in there.”

A couple walked past me on the sidewalk, and I gritted my teeth until they were out of hearing range. “Pop, I need you to put the shelter’s rent back to what it was.”

“Do you?” He hummed softly. “Where’s this coming from? Since when do you give two shits about my properties?”

My patience evaporated. “Just fix their rent.”

He barked a laugh. “All right, all right. What’s an old man to do but indulge his son? Give me the name of the place.”

I answered through a clenched jaw. “Happy Tails Haven.”

How embarrassing.

His laughter dissolved into chuckles. “Happy Tails Haven,” he muttered in disbelief. “Okay. Consider it done.”

And now I owed him. This had better be worth it.

“Thanks,” I forced out.

But my father never let things go that easily. “You really don’t want to tell me what caused the sudden bleeding heart?”

“It’s just business.”

“… Business with a place called Happy Tails Haven?”

“I saw a new opportunity.” It wasn’t a lie. Sadie practically screamed opportunity. “Speaking of, do you have any buyers for the empty space next to Bruno’s?”

“No bites yet.”

“Good. He wants to expand, but I told him we’d think about it. He’s asking to tear down the wall.”

My father hummed again. “He’s been good to us, but I don’t see how it’d be a profitable return. We can discuss it when I stop by the compound tomorrow.”

Sebastian Reed would do whatever would make him the most money. He always had. It never mattered how long someone had been loyal.

I hadn’t expected anything less. “See you then.”

“Not so fast, son.” His tone turned glacial. “I’m not known for my indulgence, so think twice before giving me an order again.”

My shoulders stiffened. He wasn’t joking. He’d do his best to make me regret this.

“See you tomorrow,” was all I said before hanging up.

Jaw still clenched, I sent a text ordering my finance guy to make an anonymous donation to Sadie’s shelter. It’d cover the overcharged rent and then some.

Out in the fresh air, I crossed the street to the idling SUV without looking back. If I saw that shithole again, I’d end up staying, but I had business to take care of tonight.

Sadie had my number if she needed me.

someone owes sadie a door

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage, Tip #12: Is it healthy to miss your hostage? Sorry, not a tip. Just curious.

Davian left after giving my forehead a kiss—one so sweet my cheeks were still warm hours later—and making sure I locked the door behind him.

I rolled my eyes at his protectiveness. I knew how to lock a silly door.

When I checked my phone and saw a bunch of texts and missed calls from Gladys, I winced. Hopefully she hadn’t been worrying for hours. I shot her a text to let her know Bear and I were okay and we’d catch up tomorrow at the shelter.

She replied with a few choice words better off not repeated.

Bear and I whipped up a fresh batch of peanut butter treats and watched a wholesome puppy movie. Then I put on my paw print pajamas, and we snuggled together in bed. And all throughout, I couldn’t shake Davian from my thoughts.

He’d kept his promise and rescued Bear.

I bit my lip. After Gladys’s description of the man, Davian was nothing like I’d expected. He was so sweet and protective. Okay, so maybe he’d shot a kid in the leg, but that was to defend me and Bear. Then the way he’d kissed me and what had happened in the SUV…

My whole body heated just thinking about it. What’s gotten into me?

“I’m in trouble,” I whispered against Bear’s fur. “I think I’m falling for my hostage.”

Except Davian wasn’t my hostage anymore, was he?

In fact, we were going on a date tomorrow. The thought made me giddy, and I squeezed Bear tight enough that he snorted.

“Sorry.” I patted his side gently. “Just thinking about Dav—”

A sharp knock on the door silenced me, and Bear’s head snapped up beside me. I frowned, not wanting to get up from under the cozy pile of covers.

But another three knocks sounded—more urgent—and I glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight. Who could possibly be visiting now?

Whoever it was pounded on the door again, and I clung to Bear as his chest rumbled with a low growl.

“Sadie? Open up,” a deep voice I didn’t recognize called through the door. Goose bumps popped up along my arms, and I rubbed Bear’s thick fur.

“Who do you think it is, buddy?” I whispered, wishing Davian were still here. Maybe I should’ve asked him to stay the night.

My cheeks warmed at the thought of what we’d be doing if he were still here, but that wasn’t important right now.

Focus. There’s a creepy stranger at the door.

Bear whined before hopping down from the bed. His lithe body trotted toward the door, head low to the ground. I moved to follow him—when a loud crack echoed through the apartment, and a large man barreled through my broken door.

I froze in shock before recognizing Vince’s broad build and frigid glare.

My brain took a moment to catch up, but Bear had already sprung into action—and he flew across the floor toward Vince with a deafening growl.

“Bear, no!” I cried, jumping after him.

But I was too late.

Bear took Vince down in a single lunge, and they both hit the ground with a painful thud that made me wince.

“Bear, off!” I shouted at the mess of limbs. Thankfully, he listened and got off the large man. I grabbed Bear’s collar and tugged him further back.

Vince cursed and stumbled to his feet, glaring at Bear. “Damn mongrel.”

I scowled. “There’s no need for name-calling. He was just protecting me.”

Vince shouldered past me and marched over to the windows.

“No time for that. Where’s your fire escape?” he asked, checking each window. When he found the right one, he jammed it open and beckoned me over. “Leave everything. You and the dog come with me.”

My jaw dropped. “What are you—?”

“Move it. Now. The Skulls are on their way up here.”

My grip tightened on Bear’s collar, and I blinked back at Vince. There was no way I’d heard him correctly.

“Those teenagers came here?” I asked, shocked.

“They brought friends. Older friends with guns.” He stalked over and caught my arm, yanking me forward. “Move your ass, or I’ll move it for you.”

He was so large he could probably lift me with one hand and not break a sweat.

“Okay, okay,” I muttered as my heart thundered. The thugs were here—at my apartment?

I snatched a leash off the coffee table for Bear, then hurried alongside Vince to the open window. He shoved me toward it with little care, and I scrambled out first, with Bear jumping out after me. Vince followed before shutting the window behind him.

I’d never used the fire escape before. There’d never been a reason to. When I moved to go down the squeaking stairs, my knees wobbled and Bear took the lead. I followed as quickly as I could, with Vince hot on my heels.

The cool night air seeped through my thin pajamas, goose bumps prickling across my skin. I wished we’d had time for me to change into clothes that actually covered my whole butt—plus a bra—but at least the paw print pattern was cute.

The stairs creaked under our weight as I raced down behind Bear, and my heart stayed lodged in my throat until I dropped to the sidewalk in a graceless heap.

Well, we’d made it down all four flights without anyone chasing after us.

That was a good sign.

“Car is across the street. Go.” Vince pulled me up and pushed me forward, not slowing down. Just as we stepped onto the pavement, a yell pulled my attention behind us, but Vince kept me facing forward. He yanked open the back door to another dark SUV, and both Bear and I hopped inside. The door slammed shut behind us.

Vince jumped behind the wheel and peeled away from the curb before I could even get my seat belt on. I struggled with both the buckle and my grasp on reality, but finally the seat belt clicked into place. Bear whined on the seat next to me, crawling closer.

“Well,” I whispered to him as the adrenaline drained out of me and I slumped against the seat. He rested his furry head on my lap, and I scratched behind his ears. “So much for a quiet evening.”

He licked my hand in response.

“Vince?” I called to the front. A dark screen separated us just like in the other SUV, but maybe he could still hear me. “Where are we going?”

Silence was the only answer.

Bear nudged my side until I combed my fingers through the thick fur on his neck.

“We’ll be okay,” I assured him, trying to believe it myself.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about the scary men Vince had said were in my apartment building.

Had they come for Bear… or me?

rat, interrupted

Davian

Lorenzo wasn’t feeling chatty. The middle-aged dry cleaner claimed he would never betray me or my pop, but more than one of my men had caught him sneaking off for secret meetings. I just needed to know which of the groups trying to make a play on our territory he’d buddied up with.

Then there was the money he’d been skimming off the top of our operation at the cleaners.

That was how Lorenzo ended up tied to a chair in a shed I kept hidden in the compound’s forest. He’d been invited—well, dragged—over for a little chat.

Unfortunately, words didn’t sway him.

My fists also made little progress, aside from painting the floor red.

Shane got in a few good hits, too, but our guest remained tight-lipped.

I’d just pulled out my knife to aid the interrogation when Vince called, making me frown. My right-hand man never called just to chat. He was supposed to be having an uneventful night watching Sadie’s apartment. There was no reason to call.

Unless something had gone wrong.

“Give me a minute,” I told Shane, taking a few steps away from the chair before answering the phone. “What happened?”

“I’ve got Sadie with me, and we’re on our way to the compound,” Vince said.

My grip tightened on the knife’s handle. “Repeat that.”

“I’m bringing Sadie back with me now. Apparently, Fessy has older friends. I didn’t get a good look at them, but it wasn’t safe to leave her there.”

Lorenzo’s head lolled to the side with a moan, and I gave him a sharp look to shut up. The acoustics in the shed just made it louder, and it didn’t escape Vince’s notice.

“… You busy, boss?”

“Just finishing up an appointment.” I handed the knife to Shane and signaled for him to take over, then slipped out into the warm night. Two of my men stood guard outside the door, and it clicked closed behind me as my mind reeled. “How’d they have her address? I didn’t see any tails.”

“Hell if I know,” Vince said. “Your girl mentioned the shelter was broken into, and they keep files on all the volunteers. It wouldn’t be hard to get an address.”

My chest had no business swelling at him calling Sadie my girl.

I cleared my throat and shoved whatever possessive reaction that was deep, deep down. “Is she scared?”

Vince snorted. “Seriously, what happened to you? ‘Is she scared?’ Do you hear yourself right now?”

“Piss off.”

“Nah, this is worse than just thinking with your dick. You’re actually worried about her.”

If I couldn’t explain this whole Sadie thing to myself, there was no chance he’d understand. “Answer the question, Vince.”

He grumbled under his breath. “She’s in the back with her dog. The screen’s up, but she wasn’t sobbing hysterically or anything.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before you picked her up?” I asked, trying to ignore the tightness that’d taken up residence in my chest.

“There wasn’t time. They were already in the lobby.”

I glanced at my watch. “What’s your ETA?”

“Twenty minutes.”

“Make it fifteen. Pull up to the front.” I hung up. Pocketing my phone, I pulled the door open to update Shane. “Sadie’s on her way. Finish up here, then use the back door so she doesn’t see you.”

He looked up from Lorenzo in surprise, but nodded curtly.

“It’s not too late to talk,” I added to Lorenzo. One of his eyes was swollen shut, but the other narrowed at me. “Tell us who you’re meeting with, and we can work out the rest.”

“I’m not meeting with anyone,” he spat through the blood caking his face. “You know I wouldn’t do anything against the family, Reed.”

Normally, I’d believe him. But money was missing.

And we had pictures of him at clubs on the other side of town.

I gave Shane a subtle nod before leaving. It’d take at least five minutes to jog through the woods and get back to the house. Then I needed to hop into the shower and change into something not stained with blood before Sadie arrived.

Even though things had gone sideways, my mood lifted.

Turned out my little bunny was spending the night here, after all.

sleepover

Davian

Fifteen minutes after Vince called, I jogged down the front steps—freshly showered and in a change of clothes—to meet the dark SUV pulling to a stop.

The back door flew open, and Sadie stumbled out—pale as a ghost and shivering in a pair of tiny pink pajamas. An instinctual need to hunt down whoever had scared her overwhelmed me.

Bear hopped down after Sadie, sticking close to her hip. I ignored him and strode straight up to her.

“Come here,” I said, trying to sound comforting, but it came out as more of a growl.

Oh well.

I lifted her until her soft body was cradled against my chest. The pajamas barely covered half her ass, but I wasn’t sure she even noticed how much skin was on display.

Sadie’s arms automatically wrapped around my neck, and her cheeks reddened.

“You don’t need to carry me,” she whispered. It grated on my nerves that her voice sounded so small. I needed to know what had happened at her apartment. “I can walk.”

I tightened my grip and started up the stairs. “Just let me. It’s my fault this happened.”

Her brow furrowed. “It’s not your fault—”

“It is, but I’ll make it right.”

Bear must’ve sensed how upset she was, because he followed close on my heels without a single growl. Vince caught up to us at the top of the stairs and opened the hulking front door.

I lowered my voice. “Find whoever is responsible for this.”

He nodded briskly. “I called Malcolm, and he’s on it.”

Not slowing down, I crossed the foyer, with Bear following so closely he rubbed against my leg with each step.

Sadie tucked her head against my neck. Her warm breath tickled my skin.

She didn’t speak while I carried her to the master bedroom at the end of the second floor and set her on my bed. Bear immediately paced across the floor with his nose low, sniffing every inch of the room.

The large bed could swallow Sadie whole, and her bright pink pajamas stood out against the dark covers.

“Vince said it was Fessy’s friends who came to my apartment,” she said, breaking her silence and shifting to sit back against the pillows. She frowned. “Why would they do that?”

My fists clenched. I’d thought it over in the shower. Those boys wouldn’t risk crossing me just to get Bear again, but they’d seen me with Sadie and probably assumed she could be used as leverage over me.

Just like my old man had warned would happen if I ever got close to someone.

Needing to do something, I pulled a blanket over her and gathered the sides closer in around her. I’d never tucked anyone in before, and it was a poor attempt, but Sadie was too distracted to notice.

“Vince and Malcolm are looking into it,” I said. “The Skulls must’ve had eyes on us going to Bruno’s, then followed us. Or they followed Daisy.”

Sadie’s gaze shot up, filled with determination. “I won’t let them take Bear again. They can’t have him.”

Her resolve made my jaw clench. They weren’t coming for Bear, but she didn’t need to know that. She didn’t need to think about the things they might’ve done to her if Vince hadn’t been there. I didn’t want to think about it myself, and I had an iron stomach.

“They won’t. You’re both safe here,” I told her, pulling back and fixing her with the look I usually gave my men when giving orders. She blinked back at me. “Get some sleep. I’ll be downstairs dealing with this.”

“Wait!” she cried, sitting up and undoing my tuck-in job before I’d made it more than three steps.

I raised a brow. “What’s wrong?”

Her gaze dropped to the bed, and she fiddled with the edge of the comforter.

“Do you have to go?” she asked softly.

Her uneasiness made me frown. “Sadie, you’re safe now. Nobody is getting past my men or into this room.”

When she looked up again, tears had gathered in her eyes. “Please stay?”

Well… shit.

Like I could say no to that.

“If that’s what you want,” I said slowly, half-expecting her to change her mind. “I’ll put Vince in charge, then I can stay.”

She nodded eagerly before I’d even finished speaking, so I texted Vince to let him know I’d be up here. As I approached the bed, Sadie’s shoulders visibly relaxed.

Strange. Usually, my presence had the opposite effect on people.

The room must’ve passed Bear’s inspection, because he jumped onto the bed and lay next to Sadie.

Yeah, screw that.

I snapped my fingers and pointed to the floor.

“Off the bed,” I ordered, but he just closed his eyes and rested his head next to Sadie’s. Was he pretending not to hear me? “Down, Bear.”

Again, he didn’t react. This had to be a bad joke.

My jaw clenched, and I forced the question out. “How do you get him off the bed?”

Sadie shifted under the covers and frowned at Bear. “I don’t. He was sleeping with me tonight.”

I stamped down the flash of envy, wanting to deck myself for it. I would not be jealous of a dog.

Not again.

“He’s not sleeping with us, Sadie. I won’t share my bed with a dog.”

Not to mention he was on my side.

“Why not?” She turned her big grey eyes up to me, which wasn’t fair at all. “He had a scary night, too, and there’s plenty of room for all of us.”

Plenty of room? The beast took up half the bed with the way he was spread out. But he sealed the deal by giving Sadie’s cheek a small lick, which made her smile, and I cursed under my breath.

This was happening.

So, I slipped off my shoes before drawing back the covers and sliding into the other—smaller—side next to Sadie with my clothes still on.

Gathering Sadie in my arms, I pulled her against my chest and placed a kiss on top of her head. “Close your eyes, sweetheart.”

She wiggled around, resting a timid hand against my stomach and her cheek against my chest with a sigh.

“I don’t know if I can sleep. If Vince hadn’t been there…” A shiver racked her body, and I tightened my hold. Bear whined low in his throat and inched even closer to Sadie, giving her head a nudge. She reached behind her and scratched his fur before freezing. “Wait. Why was Vince there?”

I’d been hoping she’d overlook that. “It was a precaution, and it paid off.”

Technically the truth.

Once that sank in, she let out a pained groan. “Oh no. Does that mean I’ll have to thank him for breaking down my door?”

I went still. Vince hadn’t mentioned anything about that. “He did what?”

Sadie pulled back from Bear and burrowed into my chest like she wanted to make a home there. My chest threatened to rumble with satisfaction. She could make a home wherever she wanted.

Her soft sigh broke through whatever strange reaction I was having. “I guess I didn’t answer it fast enough, but I’m not used to visitors banging on my door late at night. And I didn’t recognize his voice.”

Vince hadn’t mentioned he’d forced his way in. It had worked out well for us tonight that Sadie didn’t have a dead bolt.

But she was right. If Vince hadn’t been there and the Skulls had realized she didn’t have a dead bolt, things could’ve gone much differently.

“Try to sleep,” I told her. “If you have any nightmares, I’ll be right here. You and Bear are safe.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, then snuggled impossibly closer before sighing. “Good night, Dav.”

My arms tightened around her, and shock thrummed through me at how content I was to simply hold her for a while.

While this wasn’t how I’d imagined having Sadie in my bed—and she was wearing more clothes than I’d prefer—I wasn’t complaining.

The dog I could’ve done without, though.

why are you naked??

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage, Tip #13: Nothing can prepare you for the first time you wake up in your hostage’s bed, but proper morning-after etiquette demands you define the current hostage situation.

Running water pulled me out of a restful sleep I didn’t want to leave.

Or maybe the mouthful of dog hair woke me.

I spat it out and rubbed a hand over my tongue. “Bleh! Bear. This is so gross.”

The furry menace lifted his head from the pillow and cocked it—oblivious to my rude awakening.

It took me a moment to realize we were alone in the bed.

The very nice and very large bed, with the most luxurious sheets I’d ever lain on. Davian’s bedroom was bigger than my whole studio apartment, but the decorations were noticeably lacking. Everything was dark and imposing, from the sheets to the four-poster bed to the curtains framing French doors along one wall. But the room suited Davian.

The man I’d spent all night cuddled up against.

My fluttering stomach betrayed how happy that made me.

The running water I’d heard was coming from a door across from the bed—a bathroom door.

An open bathroom door.

I focused on swallowing. It had to be Davian in there—this was his room, after all, and he wasn’t in the bed anymore.

My tongue turned as dry as a desert as that sank in.

He was naked in there.

Showering.

With the door wide open.

I flipped around and buried my face in Bear’s thick fur, trying to push the thoughts of a naked and wet Davian out of my mind. Bear took the opportunity to lick my hair.

“Fresh cupcakes and buttercream icing.” I listed a few of my favorite things to distract myself. “Taking Bear to the dog park. Dog toy sales. Why isn’t this working?”

The water shut off, and I lasted a full ten seconds before my willpower evaporated and I opened one eye to peek at the bathroom.

Davian appeared in the doorway, naked save for a fluffy white towel slung low on his hips. The man oozed power and danger from every pore, making breathing difficult for me.

I should’ve played it cool and looked away—like the sight of his defined and glistening bare chest was no big deal to me. As if all the beautifully sculpted muscles and golden skin had zero effect.

Instead, my mouth filled with an alarming amount of saliva—just like the dogs’ did when I pulled out the kibble—and I was seconds from leaving a puddle of drool on Davian’s pillow.

His lithe body leaned against the doorjamb while his dark gaze watched me like a hawk eyeing its prey.

I swallowed and dug my fingers into Bear’s fur, making him snort. My other eye popped open, and I mustered a small smile. “Good morning.”

It sounded more like a croak than a greeting.

The corner of Davian’s mouth tilted up. “Morning, sweetheart.”

I huffed at the nickname. He still hadn’t let that go.

“I’m not your sweetheart,” I reminded him, voice scratchy.

Davian prowled closer and leaned against the bedpost with both arms crossed over his very naked—and very wet—chest. I kept my gaze firmly focused on his eyes instead of the towel hanging dangerously low on his hips.

His gaze swept over my face. “You okay?”

“I think so.” But it was impossible to focus on the question when he was still this naked. I cleared my throat. “Aren’t you going to get dressed?”

A single dark brow arched in question. “Are you in a rush?”

“No, but you’re…” Was it possible to spontaneously combust from blushing? “You’re just standing there naked!”

Davian’s lips twitched. “And?”

A drop of water clinging to a wet lock of his hair chose that moment to freefall—nose-diving onto his shoulder and sliding down the hard planes of his chest. I gulped. “And… And it’s distracting.”

I would’ve been mortified at the breathiness of my voice if I weren’t so entranced by the droplet of water disappearing beneath his towel.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to distract my guest.” His gaze dipped and took in my own outfit before turning molten. “But I’d argue what you sleep in is far more distracting.”

Glancing down at my skimpy paw print pajamas and very noticeable lack of a bra, I yanked up the blanket to cover myself with a squeak, my face flaming. “I didn’t know I’d be sleeping over when I put these on.”

Davian’s answering smirk could stop traffic. “It wasn’t a complaint.”

My skin was at dangerous risk of combusting, and the lingering heat in his gaze did things to my stomach that should be illegal. Thankfully, he broke the spell by pushing off the bedpost and disappearing into a walk-in closet.

But his towel dropped to the floor just before he stepped out of sight, and I whipped my gaze up to the ceiling after catching a glimpse of more skin. This wasn’t fair. My ex-hostage and his perfect butt had no business making my skin hot all over.

Bear took the opportunity to ask for more cuddles, and I indulged him by massaging his neck.

“You’re such a good boy,” I crooned, giving him a kiss.

Davian rejoined us not long after, fully dressed in an impressive dark suit. He leaned against the dresser and slipped on a fancy black shoe, but his gaze was fixed on me. “Now answer honestly. How are you feeling?”

I puffed out a breath, but my heart thudded in my chest—he cared enough to really want to know.

“Last night was pretty scary,” I admitted. It couldn’t hurt to be honest about that. Bear nudged his snout against my hip until I scratched between his ears.

Davian glanced around the room before leaning around the dresser and looking underneath it. “You’re safe here. My men are taking care of it.”

“Thank you. I really do appreciate it.” When he bent down and peeked under the bed, I grew curious. “What are you looking for?”

He straightened with a frown. “My other shoe.”

… Uh-oh.

I slanted a look at Bear lying next to me, who quickly closed his eyes and rested his head on his front paws.

My eyes narrowed.

“You’re not fooling anybody,” I whispered to the trickster.

I stuck a hand under the pillow next to Bear and pulled out a wet loafer that matched the one on Davian’s foot.

Well, minus the new teeth marks.

I reminded Bear how bad it was to steal shoes, then handed the victim over to Davian. “I’m really sorry…”

He blinked down at the shoe before shooting Bear a dark look that would’ve made me pee myself, but Bear simply stared right back at him.

My ears burned at the few choice words Davian muttered as he slipped the well-loved shoe on.

“Shane is replacing the lock on your door now… and the door,” he told me, ignoring the shoe thief. “It doesn’t look like they messed with anything in your apartment.”

My stomach sank. If they hadn’t stolen anything… “That means they were definitely there for me or Bear, right? Or both of us.”

“They’re not getting either of you,” he said, as if it were that simple. “Shane will keep an eye on the place in case they stop by again. Text him whatever you want him to bring you from the apartment.”

He handed over his phone with a text conversation open. I listed off a few things to pick up: a change of clothes, fresh underwear, yogurt, dog food, Bear’s prescription on the kitchen counter, and Walter the plant.

After typing a quick thank you, I passed the phone back to a waiting Davian. He read over what I’d sent with a frown, then typed out another message.

“Did I say something wrong?” I asked.

He slid the phone into his pocket. “No. But I’m not letting him go through your underwear drawer.”

My cheeks warmed. “Dav, I need a fresh pair.”

“Then I’ll stop by later and grab you some.”

“But it’s just underwear.” I straightened. Besides, the thought of him going through my underwear drawer wasn’t any more appealing than Shane doing it. “You don’t have to make a special trip if Shane will already be there—”

“Not up for debate, sweetheart,” Davian quipped. I gaped as he slid a fancy watch onto his wrist. “I’m heading out for a couple hours, but Antonio will make breakfast whenever you’re hungry.”

I shifted, and the blanket pooled around my waist. “Wait. You’re leaving?”

“I have work.”

“Oh. Right. Of course.” I looked around for a clock but found none. “What time is it? I should get to the shelter.”

Davian paused while straightening the cuff of his jacket. “That’s not a good idea until this situation is cleared up.”

I frowned. “But I’m on the schedule for today. Gladys is expecting me.”

“There were men at your apartment last night, Sadie,” he reminded me, as if I could forget. “They’ll show up at your work, too.”

I patted down my pajamas, but I hadn’t grabbed my phone when we’d fled the apartment. It wasn’t like I even had pockets or a bra to put it in. “Then I need to warn her. My phone is still at the apartment. Can I borrow yours?”

Davian already had his phone out and was tapping the screen. “I’ll take care of it.”

“But you don’t know the number—”

“Hello, Emily,” he said into the phone, and my words died on my tongue. Emily was our receptionist at Happy Tails Haven. “Let your boss know Sadie Morris won’t be coming in to volunteer today.”

I scrambled forward, lunging for the phone before he could hang up. “Give me that!”

Davian raised a brow and let me take the phone.

“Emily?” I asked, hoping he hadn’t scared her into hanging up.

“Yes, this is Emily with Happy Tails Haven. How may I help you?” She sounded uncertain.

“Hey, it’s Sadie. Sorry about that. And I’m really sorry for the last-minute notice, but I can’t make it in for my shift.”

“Oh, no problem, Sadie. I’ll let the others know.” She paused, and I could practically hear her brain working. “… Who was that man?”

I hesitated. How was I supposed to explain what had happened yesterday without sounding like a complete lunatic? I didn’t want to worry them either.

I gave it my best shot.

“Oh, him? Nobody important or scary or anything like that. Just a normal dude.” Davian arched a brow, and I forced a smile that felt more like a grimace. “Tell Gladys not to worry, okay? I’ll be back before she knows it. And call this number if you notice any sketchy guys hanging around the shelter, please.”

“Sketchy guys…?” Another weighted pause had me wondering if I’d overshared before Emily sighed. “Sure thing, Sadie. I hope everything’s okay.”

“It’s peachy. See you later!”

Guilt crept in as soon as I hung up, and I fell back on the bed with a groan, closing my eyes. “I feel awful. I should at least stop by the shelter to let Gladys know I’m safe. Hearing it secondhand from Emily will just worry her more.”

The bed dipped on either side of my head, startling my eyes open. Davian’s arms caged me in.

“You’re not leaving the compound until those men are found, Sadie.” He leaned down until his face hovered just above mine. A wicked smirk flashed. “But if you can’t agree to that, another option is for me to stay and make sure you don’t even leave my bed.”

His words sent a shiver rolling down my spine, and I swallowed. “That sounds like a threat.”

“More of a promise,” he whispered before his voice turned to liquid steel. “Things changed when those men came to your apartment last night. Now we do things my way.”

I blinked up at him, gauging if he was serious.

He was.

Apparently, Davian was a bossypants.

That didn’t really fly with me, but I could play along. For now.

I hummed. “You’re really used to getting your way, aren’t you?”

“Undoubtedly. Now, I need to go tie up some loose ends from yesterday. Have fun here. Explore the grounds with Bear. Do what you want.” He closed the distance to place a far too sweet kiss on my forehead. “I’ll be back for lunch.”

He pulled back, and my eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You mean I’m allowed to wander around? The guards won’t stop me?”

“You’re not a prisoner, Sadie.” He chuckled. “You’re my guest.”

I hesitated. Was this a mind game? Make me feel like I was safe here and had power over my own actions? Maybe all this talk about hostages had messed with me.

“A guest who can’t leave, though?” I asked, wanting to clarify.

“Not until we handle the men who came after you,” he answered. “It’s a safety measure for both you and Bear. But the place is yours to use as you please, and I’ll pick up your phone when I stop by the apartment.”

So, it was more like an even split between prisoner and guest. I could work with that.

For now, I reminded myself.

“Okay, it’s a deal.” I held up a single finger. “I’ll play your hostage—excuse me, guest—on one condition.”

Davian’s eyes lit with amusement. “This isn’t a negotiation.”

“It is now.” I raised my finger higher. “I’ll stay here if a couple of your men go to the shelter today to protect the other dogs and staff.”

Davian didn’t even take time to consider it before nodding. “Deal.”

I frowned at the quick agreement. Had I just willingly become a pseudo prisoner?

“And I’ll need to call Emily again to warn her they’ll be there, or she might think they’re the sketchy guys I mentioned.” I chewed on my lip. “No offense to your guys.”

“None taken.”

Davian let me borrow his phone again, and after my short call with a very confused Emily, he left to do whatever mafia princes did.

I padded over to the large French doors, which opened to a small balcony overlooking the back of the compound. The day was bright, the sun warm on my skin, and Davian’s ridiculously nice pool looked all too inviting.

I sighed. Despite Davian’s warning that I couldn’t leave, I didn’t feel like a prisoner. Maybe that made me delusional, but it wasn’t like I wanted to put us at unnecessary risk when a threat still loomed. For now, Bear was safe.

The rest could wait.

Sunlight glinted off the surface of the pool, beckoning me to come out and play. I looked at Bear—who was watching me from the bed with his head cocked to the side—before placing my hands on my hips with a smile. “You know what, buddy? I think we’re overdue for a vacation. Let’s take the day off and enjoy ourselves a little. Carpe diem, right?”

He wagged his tail in agreement.

just keep swimming

Davian

For the first time in years, my mind wasn’t on the job.

My men had spent weeks looking into our latest loyalty problem, and they’d brought in Lorenzo last night. The rat had been stealing money and could’ve shared secrets with rival families, but I’d ditched questioning him to go comfort a scared girl.

And today, instead of cleaning out the filth or getting revenge, I was thumbing through a collection of pink lace panties and bras with cartoon cupcakes. For such a sweet girl, Sadie’s underwear drawer was… intriguing.

It was the right decision not to let Shane paw around in it.

After grabbing a handful of the skimpier options and a few colorful bras, I left Sadie’s apartment and spent the morning handling family business in the city. Boring meetings. Illicit deals.

More than once, my mind wandered from work, thinking about a certain pair of frightened bunny eyes looking at me over the barrel of a gun.

Sadie was like a potent drug I should be weaning myself off—and quickly—but where was the fun in that? If there was a problem with doing something that brought a shred of sunshine into my life, then I’d handle the problem.

When it became clear no more work was getting done, I cut my last meeting short and drove back to the compound. Antonio must’ve known I was coming, because he had a tray of sandwiches and fruit already prepared in the kitchen.

“A tray?” I asked the chef, a talented man who I’d lured here from a restaurant in Bologna. With more grey in his hair than my old man, Antonio was the most respected member of the compound’s staff—mostly because he oversaw the food and was very skilled with knives. But this tray of fruit cut into bite-sized pieces was above and beyond what Antonio usually did for me. My brow rose. “That’s new.”

“Vince tells me you have a lady visitor out in the pool.” He waved a knife at the spread. He was already bustling around the two large islands in the kitchen, working on dinner prep and paying little attention to me. “Take the tray and eat outside with her.”

I blinked up from the strawberries in surprise. “Sadie’s swimming?”

She hadn’t brought a suit with her, and I hadn’t thought to grab one. Though from what I knew of her, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was swimming in her pajamas.

Antonio shrugged and plucked a tomato from the bowl. “That’s what Vince said. I wouldn’t know, because I’ve been in here all day, slaving away and feeding all your men, who have pits for stomachs.”

His complaining was all for show. He loved feeding the troops. “Are we expecting more guests? This is too much food for me and Sadie.”

“She didn’t come in here for breakfast,” he said, making me frown. “So, I added extra for your girl.”

There it was again. Someone calling Sadie my girl.

I didn’t bother correcting him, because as far as I was concerned, she’d be mine soon enough. Plus, I liked the little kick in my chest when someone said it. “Appreciate it, Tony.”

He shooed me out of the kitchen, insisting he needed to get started on dinner, so I took the tray and followed my new lead on where to find Sadie.

Outside, my suit turned into a heat magnet for the summer sun before I’d made it halfway across the patio.

My steps slowed as I got closer to the pool and Sadie’s shock of pink hair popped out of the water next to a huge inflatable alligator. A pair of goggles covered half her face, while a yellow snorkel stuck out of her mouth.

I came up short.

Where had she found a snorkel?

“Davian!” she called when she spotted me—at least I was pretty sure she said my name. It came out garbled around the snorkel, which she spat out before giving me the sweetest smile. “Your pool is amazing.”

Leaving the tray of food on one of the tables, I slid off my suit jacket and took in the crystal-clear water of the rectangular pool. How long had it been since I’d gone swimming? A couple years, at least. “This must be the first time I’ve seen someone snorkel in it.”

“Malcolm showed me where all the pool stuff is. I wanted to try the flippers, but they were too big for my feet.” She kicked a foot out of the water with a splash, wiggling her toes. “Bear loves the inflatable alligator. He kept trying to get it to play with him.”

My lips curved, and I looked around the yard for her furry friend, but he was nowhere in sight. “Where’s your beast now? I thought he’d be out here guarding you.”

Sadie rolled her eyes behind the goggles. “Bear’s not a beast. He’s a German shepherd.”

“No German shepherd is that big.”

Her smile softened, and she swam to the side of the pool nearest me. She slipped off the goggles and set them aside, then rested her arms on the pool’s edge. “He swam for a bit, but then he took off after a squirrel. I think he’s having fun with all the land you have.” She saw the lunch tray, and her eyes lit up. “You brought food?”

“Antonio made lunch.” I walked closer to the pool. Strands of wet pink hair clung to Sadie’s neck, and her smile was infectious. “Hungry?”

“Starving.” She used a hand to block the sun and squinted up at me. “Is there any new information on what happened last night?”

My smile dropped. I would deal with whoever Fessy’s mystery friends were, but it was probably for the best she didn’t know what I had planned for them. “Not yet. Vince and Malcolm are still looking into it.”

When Sadie swam to the pool stairs and climbed out, my brain ground to a halt. She hadn’t worn her pajamas to the pool, after all. But in the absence of a swimsuit, she’d borrowed one of my undershirts.

A white undershirt.

How was I supposed to string two thoughts together while she was soaking wet and wearing that?

“Interesting choice of swim clothes,” I said through a rapidly drying throat.

Sadie glanced down in surprise, as if she hadn’t realized she was wearing a see-through shirt with very, very little underneath. Pink crested her cheeks before she shrugged. “Sorry I didn’t ask first, but is it okay I borrowed your shirt? It was the best I could do since I didn’t have a swimsuit.”

I didn’t mind at all—not one bit—but the urge to touch her was maddening.

On any other woman I knew, the shirt would’ve been a calculated move. An attempt at seduction. A play to get the heir to Westport’s underground into bed—and help their own standing. But unless Sadie was secretly some strategic mastermind, all she wanted to do was swim, and I needed to stop this train of thought before I pounced on her.

But with how little the shirt covered, I couldn’t resist prodding the oblivious bunny just a little. “I take it you didn’t have a bra, either?”

She looked down again, and her cheeks turned crimson. “Oh my.”

She pinched the front of the shirt and pulled it away from her body—but it only stuck right back to her like a second skin. And like a fucking teenager, I almost swallowed my tongue as I forced my gaze up to the sunny sky overhead.

This girl was going to kill me.

“I don’t sleep in a bra,” she said with a nervous laugh, which I was already all too aware of after last night. She cleared her throat. “And to be fair, I thought I’d be alone out here.”

Needing to cover her up, I blindly grabbed a towel off the stack and held it open with my eyes still on the sky. “Come here.”

I couldn’t believe I was doing this. Since when had I become such a gentleman?

She walked straight into my arms and let me wrap the towel around her.

“Thank you,” Sadie whispered, pushing up on her tiptoes and tugging on my arm until I leaned down enough for her to press a warm kiss against my cheek.

Luckily, the towel made it easier to focus on getting Sadie fed, even though her perfectly shaped breasts was seared into my brain forever.

“If I knew you liked the water so much, I would’ve brought a swimsuit from your place.” I reached for her hand and led her toward the table.

She squeezed my hand and smiled down at it. “It’s fine, really. I haven’t been swimming in ages, and your pool is so cool. I’ve never seen one with a waterfall before.”

I took a seat and pulled her toward my lap.

She scrunched her nose, eyeing my dress slacks. “But I’m all wet.”

“I can see that,” I said, unable to resist a smirk. “Sit.”

Eyes narrowing, she eased sideways onto my lap. Grateful to Antonio for cutting all the fruit, I picked a piece of strawberry off the plate. When Sadie moved to get one for herself, I lifted it to her mouth. “Here.”

Her eyes narrowed further, but she let me feed her a few pieces of fruit. The intimacy of the simple act was new. Sitting on the back patio in the middle of the day and feeding a woman was far from typical for me, but I could easily get used to it. Sadie smelled of chlorine mixed with sunshine, and it made me want to take a dip in the pool, too.

Maybe I would after lunch.

My guest watched me closely while I fed her a medley of things from the tray.

“Why are you doing all this, Dav?” she asked after a bite of sandwich. Her head cocked to the side, and she fiddled with a corner of her towel.

“Feeding you?” I asked, not hiding my amusement.

“Not just that. But also taking on my enemies and letting me stay here and… and being so nice to me?”

I fed her another slice of strawberry before answering. “I thought it was obvious.”

She slowly shook her head.

“I’ve never met anyone like you, Sadie.” I settled my hands on her inviting hips. “Not many have the guts to point a gun at me.”

Mostly because they knew what I’d do to them if they tried.

She didn’t see it for the compliment it was, and her face flushed with indignation. “But I’m not normally like that!”

“Yes, you are.” I fought back a smile. “You went up against the Skulls with nothing more than a broom. You’re staying at a compound filled with armed men, and instead of hiding in the corner, you took over my pool.”

A round of playful barks sounded from the forest. Bear must’ve found his squirrel.

“It’s refreshing,” I continued. “I’m used to being around people who fear me or say whatever they think I want to hear. You do neither of those things.”

She shook her head. “That’s not completely true. I was terrified when I first saw you at Bruno’s.”

“Were you?” My lips twitched. “Could’ve fooled me when you aimed Vince’s piece at me.”

“It was before that,” she said dismissively, looking over my shoulder and tilting her head in thought. She waved one hand in the air. “This aura of menace and danger oozed from you—”

I snorted. “Oozed?”

“And this instinct in my bones told me to run far away.” She tightened the towel around herself. “But then I remembered my friend’s advice. And when I grabbed Vince’s gun, this wave of adrenaline came over me. I think it canceled out the fear.”

“And that fear didn’t come back after the adrenaline faded?”

“By then, you were already helping me.” She shrugged. “We were kind of stuck together.”

My lips twitched again. “Lucky me.”

Sadie shook her head with a sheepish grin. “I’m just sorry it had to come at the cost of Bear slobbering all over your shoes.”

It was hard to hold a grudge against the mutt when he was the reason Sadie had tumbled into my life, gun blazing.

“That’s a small price to pay for what I get in return, especially when every minute I spend with you just makes me crave more. More of your sweetness. More of your surprises. More of these delicious lips.” I ran the pad of my thumb over the plump lower one, and her breath stuttered. “Have I mentioned how addictive you are?”

Sadie’s eyes grew comically wide, and she went stiff as a board.

“Too much too soon?” I whispered, smiling wryly and dropping my thumb from her lip. “Maybe I shouldn’t have shared that for at least a few more abductions, but I’m not one to stall.”

Not when I found something I wanted, at least.

“No,” she whispered. She lowered her gaze, and her fists clenched around the towel. “No, I’m glad you told me. And to be completely honest… I think I like you, too, Dav.”

The way she said it like she was admitting a grave sin made it impossible not to tease her, and I squeezed her hip. “Careful. You sound like you wish you didn’t.”

Sadie shifted on my lap and seemed to brace herself, even as she refused to meet my eyes. “It’s complicated. My friends warned me about you and your father and all that stuff. Something about you being his right-hand man?”

I leaned back in my chair, watching her closely. “Does that bother you?”

“Well, it’s not exactly ideal.” Her brow puckered adorably. “On the other hand, you rescued Bear. You’ve kept us safe. You opened your home to us.” She sighed softly as her shoulders slumped. “And let’s face it. I borrowed a gun and abducted you, so I’m not exactly innocent here. I guess I’m part of the criminal life now, too.”

That pulled an unexpected laugh out of me. She didn’t think she was innocent? “Sadie, you’re no criminal.”

“I am, but maybe it’s a good thing? Because I can’t deny I do feel a, um, well—” She cleared her throat, and her fingers fiddled with one of the buttons on my dress shirt. “A physical attraction… to you.”

The delightful blush creeping up her cheeks had me grinning like an idiot. “Is that right?”

Sadie’s gaze rose to my mouth, making my grin widen.

“And like I said,” she whispered, “there might be some feelings involved, too.”

That warmth hit me in the chest again, snapping like a damn rubber band.

“Join the club, sweetheart,” I murmured, wrapping my hand around the back of her slim neck and drawing her closer. When our noses brushed, a raw, stabbing hunger overran the last of my patience. “Now open those pretty lips and let me taste you.”

Sadie shivered under my grip but readily parted her lips, and I took full advantage by slanting my mouth over hers.

She tasted like fucking sunshine.

just stop kissing

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle, Tip #14: Don’t feel ashamed for making out with your hostage. Own it.

Davian Reed did not mess around when it came to kissing. He went straight for the kill, raking his fingers through my wet hair and pulling me flush against his front—making goose bumps spread like wildfire across my skin. His lips melded to mine and took complete control.

Not that I was complaining.

When he deepened the kiss with a hunger that stole my breath, the sparks I’d felt since we met roared into an inferno. I dropped the towel from my shoulders and straddled him with little care about what I was—or wasn’t—wearing. All that mattered was getting closer. Feeling the hard muscles of his chest against the softness of mine. I sank into the kiss with everything I had.

I couldn’t get enough.

The way his free hand moved up my waist with only a thin, wet T-shirt between us made my brain short-circuit.

“Oh wow,” I breathed against his lips as his palm grazed the side of my breast. The small gasp that left my throat probably should’ve been embarrassing, but I was too turned on to care.

Davian’s lips curved against mine. “Definitely wow.”

A smirk warmed his voice, and I shifted until I was pressed against his arousal.

He muttered a curse and slid both hands down my body until they cupped my butt.

It only snowballed from there.

Roaming hands. Hungry kisses. Battling tongues.

But with everything he gave me, I only grew greedier for more—just like the dogs at the shelter when we pulled out the kibble.

When Davian reached for the hem of my shirt, his knuckles grazed the bare skin of my stomach like live wires. Not caring we were out in the open on the patio, I let him peel the wet shirt up my stomach and over both breasts—even raising my arms to help him get it off quicker. Once it was free, he tossed the shirt aside, and it hit the patio with a wet slap.

Davian took a moment just to look at me—to really look at me—with a dark gaze that appreciated just as much as it devoured. Straddling his lap in nothing more than a slip of panties and with water dripping from my hair, I’d never felt more beautiful. The sun was warm on my back, but it didn’t stop me from shivering beneath his attention.

He looked at me like I was some dog-rescuing goddess known for baking the best cookies in the tri-state area. Like he wanted nothing more than to worship me and my baking prowess.

“You are…” Leaving one hand on my hip, Davian slowly slid the other up my side. I held my breath as he cupped my breast. His thumb circled the stiff peak, making me arch into his touch. “Exquisite.”

I swallowed.

Well, I’d never been called that before.

Exquisite.

It had a nice ring to it.

“And you’re overdressed,” I said, not surprised when my voice came out husky.

Davian grinned up at me.

But I was determined to fix our clothing imbalance, and I pulled his dress shirt out of his pants with a yank. My fingers greedily found the warm, hard skin of his stomach.

He was quite exquisite himself.

And it wasn’t just his looks that made Davian irresistible. It was the ever-present smirk in his eyes. The way he expertly handled a gun. How he could command a room just by walking into it. Even now—lounging like he sat on a golden throne instead of a patio chair, Davian looked like a man who got what he wanted.

And right now, he wanted me.

That reminder was as intoxicating as it was mind-boggling, and the air between us crackled.

Davian helped me by undoing his top few buttons and shrugging out of his shirt and undershirt, then we collided again in a storm of lips and tongue and teeth. He pulled me flush against him, like he didn’t want to leave even a sliver of space between us. I couldn’t get close enough to him, either, even as I clung to his shoulders and deepened the kiss.

And when his hand slid up my thigh, reaching between my legs, I trembled with anticipation.

The pad of his thumb brushed the thin fabric, making me jerk against the heat of his body, before he found the spot where I wanted him. Quick, tight circles with just my underwear between us turned my brain to mush, and I broke our kiss.

“Oh.”

Davian’s answering grin was just as maddening as his touch. “Oh?”

My eyelids fluttered as I tried to think of something to say that consisted of more than one syllable, and I wet my lips. “This wasn’t what I expected when you brought out lunch.”

“Me neither.” He raised a brow. “Do you want me to slow down?”

His thumb slowed to lazy, torturous circles.

“Don’t you dare,” I growled, digging my blunt nails into his shoulders.

Davian only chuckled. “You sound about as threatening as a kitten.”

His chuckle morphed into a groan when he pushed the slip of fabric aside and nothing separated his fingers from me. “So wet.”

His appreciative murmur made my neck grow hot, and I dropped my forehead onto his shoulder. Was it normal to be this turned on by my hostage? Was being too wet a thing? My reflex was to make excuses, even as my hips moved against him.

“I was swimming,” I muttered defensively, as if that explained the arousal his fingers slid through. All it did was pull a gruff laugh from Davian.

“Sadie, Sadie.” Soft laughter tickled my ear, and the teasing in his voice undid me as much as his touch did. “No, I think this is all for me. Feel how slick you are and tell me again it’s from the pool.”

I huffed, unsure why I’d even tried to lie. It wasn’t like I couldn’t feel the very prominent evidence of his own arousal underneath me.

“Go on.” Davian shifted his legs to spread my thighs further apart, until I needed to sit up for balance. When he looked up at me, a wicked gleam entered his eyes. He wet his lips, which twitched with the beginnings of a smirk. “Touch yourself.”

If he kept looking at me like that, I’d do anything he wanted me to.

He pulled his hand back, and I barely stopped myself from whining at the loss.

While he watched, I let my hand drop from his shoulder before cautiously trailing it up my thigh. Every inch of my body warmed under his gaze and from the sun shining down on us. I would’ve rather been reaching for his belt buckle, but the way Davian’s eyes tracked my hand like a hawk while he lounged in the chair with the grace of a lazy predator kept me focused on the task at hand.

Or as focused as I could be when all I wanted was for him to touch me again.

Too worked up to even think about making it look seductive, I reached between my legs until I could feel just how wet I was.

Turned out, the answer was very wet.

Like a maybe-I-should-be-embarrassed-about-this amount of wetness.

But since there was no arguing with the evidence, I cleared my throat. “Okay, fine… Not all of it’s from the pool.”

Davian’s gaze was riveted to my fingers.

“Now, was that so hard to admit?” he asked with a low voice, but the unmistakable ego in it made my brows rise.

My hostage was gloating about turning me on?

Okay, two could play that game.

More aroused than I could ever remember being in my life, I eased a finger inside myself while Davian watched. His grip on my ass tightened, and he swore under his breath.

The unwavering focus in his gaze sent a shiver rolling down my spine—a cool whisper even the heat of the sun couldn’t fight.

Who knew touching myself while he watched would be such a turn-on? I was learning a lot about myself today.

“If you’re trying to kill me, it’s working,” Davian ground out as I drew my finger back through the gathered wetness.

He watched me touch myself with that same hunger in his eyes. It made my skin hot all over, especially when I could see the restraint in how his arm muscles bunched.

It wasn’t much longer before Davian snapped—his hand wrapping around my neck and tugging me down into a bruising kiss.

Holy cupcake, he could kiss.

He pulled back just enough that I could feel the tilt of his lips against mine. “My turn.”

A steel grip around my wrist drew my hand away, and he skillfully replaced my finger with his thicker one.

I swallowed at the delicious stretch.

Once I adjusted to his finger, he added another, and I held his shoulders for balance so I wouldn’t do something silly like fall off the chair.

With his palm grinding against me and me already panting like I’d just run a marathon, it didn’t take long for my body to feel like it was about to combust. Especially when Davian trailed kisses down to my neck, where his teeth scraped soft skin.

This close, I could smell his hair.

It smelled nice.

Like peppermint.

“Dav—” I gasped. My body tightened like a loaded spring, my grip digging into his shoulders as I clenched around his fingers.

“That’s it,” he said against my neck as he worked me. The attention his lips gave my skin made me want to do all sorts of dirty things to him. “Go on, Sadie. I want to hear what you sound like when you come on my fingers.”

His words alone almost pushed me over the edge, and maybe they would’ve… if the patio door hadn’t banged open like the starting gate at a horse race and spooked us both.

Davian stiffened with one arm wrapped around my back and his fingers lodged inside me, and I jerked my head up. An equally surprised Vince gaped at us from the back entrance to the house.

The very open, very public house. One that had guards patrolling the grounds. Grounds I was currently getting naked with my hostage on.

I’d somehow forgotten Davian and I weren’t the only two people in existence.

Which was unfortunate, because with Vince’s arrival, what was sure to be the hottest orgasm of my life came to a sudden, staggering halt.

“Son of a dog biscuit,” I whispered.

caught wet-handed

Davian

I was going to kill someone before the day was over.

Maybe more than one.

Touching Sadie was like drowning and coming up for air simultaneously. I meant what I’d said about her being addictive, but I hadn’t expected to get hooked.

Then Vince had to show his ugly mug and interrupt us before I could get her off.

Sadie froze and whispered something about biscuits, then squeaked when I leaned down and scooped her towel off the ground—tightening my grip around her waist so she wouldn’t tumble to the floor. Her arms looped around my neck to hold on, and the move pressed her naked breasts to my chest.

That would’ve been a lot more enjoyable if Vince weren’t still here.

I straightened and glared at my second-in-command while wrapping the towel around Sadie’s exposed body. “What the hell, Vince?”

“Seriously?” His jaw dropped, and he jabbed a finger at us. “You’re yelling at me when you’re the ones screwing in broad daylight? This place has a hundred bloody rooms. Find one with a lock.”

He wasn’t wrong, but Sadie had a gift for making me lose my damn mind.

“Or you can get lost,” I shot back.

He didn’t move—too busy staring at me like he’d never seen me before. “You do remember this is the chick who held you at gunpoint yesterday, right?”

“Hey, those were extenuating circumstances!” Sadie pulled back far enough to wrap the towel around her front. She clung to it with both hands, blushing furiously. “I’m not proud of what I did, but Davian was kind enough to forgive me.”

We both stared at her. She thought I was kind?

This girl was single-handedly wrecking the reputation I’d spent years building.

Vince shook off his surprise first, looking unimpressed. “And I’m sure you mounting him at the first opportunity had nothing to do with earning that forgiveness?”

“Vince,” I snapped over Sadie’s gasp. He had no business baiting her.

But Vince never knew when to shut up.

“It’s just convenient your mongrel goes missing, and now you’re shacking up with Reed here,” he taunted Sadie, crossing his arms. “Almost like you planned this.”

I snorted at his ridiculousness, while Sadie stiffened on my lap with a scowl.

“What did I tell you about calling Bear names?” She moved to jump off my lap, but I pulled her back down.

I didn’t need Sadie starting a brawl with Vince.

“He won’t do it again,” I promised her, keeping my hands on her hips in case she tried to launch herself at him again. I eyed my oldest friend. He wouldn’t still be out here unless something was wrong. “What happened?”

He glowered at Sadie before answering. “You’re needed inside.”

“Something you can’t take care of?”

That was new.

He sent a meaningful glance at Sadie before clearing his throat. “The rat problem is worse than we thought.”

The towel bunched in my fist.

Lorenzo.

“You guys have rats here?” Sadie perked up, oblivious to the double meaning. “Have you looked into getting a cat? We used to have mice at the shelter. The dogs were scared of them, so we brought in a cat to hunt the mice. Cleared up the problem in a day.”

Some of my frustration melted into amusement at that visual. “You let a cat loose in a dog shelter? That must’ve gone over well.”

“Oh, the dogs loved Artemis.” She frowned. “A little too much, actually. They mistook her for a squeaky toy too many times, so we couldn’t keep her long term.”

She reached underneath the towel, adjusting her panties, and I swallowed a groan. All talk of cats was forgotten.

“I’ll meet you inside,” I told Vince, not taking my eyes off Sadie.

Her gaze met mine in disbelief as the door shut behind Vince.

“You’re leaving?” She squirmed on my lap. I tightened my grip on her hips to hold her still. “Now?”

The slight whine in her voice made me grin.

“I’m sorry.” Apologies were rare and usually tasted like sandpaper on my tongue, but I meant this one. “I’ll make it up to you later.”

Her eyes dropped to my mouth, cheeks reddening. “Deal.”

“There’s something I need to take care of. I won’t be long.” I stood and set her on her feet. Her flushed face and kiss-swollen lips filled me with satisfaction, and I pressed a kiss to her forehead. I would’ve rather placed a claiming one to her lips, but lingering wasn’t an option. “Don’t have too much fun without me.”

Then, not one to waste a good meal, I took the fingers that’d been inside her and held Sadie’s gaze as I sucked the taste of her from them.

That was a mistake. The moment my tongue got a taste, I wanted to spread her out on the table and feast.

Sadie squeaked, her eyes growing comically wide.

Her reaction made it far too tempting to stay, so I turned away before I ended up blowing off work for the rest of the day.

I made it three steps before a splash echoed behind me, and I looked over my shoulder. Sadie’s head popped out of the deep end of the pool. Her hands wiped the water from her face.

She smiled sheepishly. “I needed to cool off.”

Her smile almost melted my frustration at Vince interrupting us.

Almost.

Sadie’s towel lay forgotten by the edge of the pool. Her shoulders bobbed above the surface, and water lapped the top of her breasts.

Not taking my eyes off her, I allowed myself a brief moment to fantasize about strangling Vince for barging out here when he had.

It was safer than fantasizing about what I wanted to do to Sadie.

But now I had to go clean up Lorenzo’s mess while Sadie swam naked in my pool, and the prospect of eradicating this “rat problem” with my bare hands was more appealing by the minute.

I turned to leave before she could mistake my annoyance as directed at her.

“Put the shirt back on, Sadie,” I called over my shoulder, earning a laugh from her.

Each step back to the house was a test of my crumbling willpower.

laundry tips

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle, Tip #15: In the event you’re a voluntary hostage at your ex-hostage’s mafia fortress, I recommend taking time to explore the layout and befriend the staff. Who knows when it might come in handy?

I was in deeper trouble than I’d thought.

Sharing a couple kisses in an ice cream parlor?

Those could be excused as celebration of a successful rescue mission.

Grinding on my hostage’s lap in the backseat of an SUV?

Still easily written off as temporary insanity.

Getting hot and heavy on the highly visible patio of his backyard where any passerby or foreign satellite could see us?

There was only one possible explanation: I’d been possessed by a horny, mafia prince-obsessed demon who wouldn’t rest until they got what they wanted.

And they wanted Davian.

… I wanted Davian.

Which had led to me putting on a show in the backyard, and all because my hostage-turned-partner-turned-avenger-slash-jailor made me lose all rational thought.

A quick dip in the pool did little to cool off the spark Davian had ignited. Even an hour later, I still couldn’t get him and his talented fingers off my mind when I slipped into the pink cupcake-patterned bra and underwear he’d picked up for me. With how we’d left things, I was afraid I’d jump him as soon as he got back from dealing with his rat problem.

Not that jumping him would be a bad thing. I’d told the truth about not wanting to deny the attraction.

The problem was I needed to stop trying to jump him in public.

Besides, I had bigger problems to focus on than hostage-humping. The bag of clothes Shane had thrown together from my apartment was… Well, it was puzzling, to put it nicely. It also explained why most of the men here only wore black—they had no fashion sense whatsoever.

I wasn’t sure why he thought I’d need a raincoat when the forecast was sunny skies all week. And snow boots? Maybe he knew something I didn’t.

Only two things Shane had packed for me matched into an actual outfit appropriate for hot weather, and I slipped into the pink skirt and white sleeveless top.

“How do I look?” I asked Bear, twirling so he could get the full picture. He stared back at me before standing and revealing the black loafer he’d been lying on.

Davian’s loafer.

When I scowled, he dipped his head and nudged the shoe closer to me. Slobber dripped down the heel. “Bear! You need to stop taking Davian’s shoes. This isn’t okay.”

Snatching up the shoe and giving Bear a very stern “No!”, I tucked it behind a fake plant in the corner of Davian’s room. I wanted a chance to explain before he saw it.

“That was the last time, okay?” I frowned at Bear. “No more shoes. None. But if you behave, I’ll pick up some toys for you later.”

He looked back at me with those big, sad puppy dog eyes that melted my heart.

“Don’t you dare try to get out of this by playing on my emotions,” I warned him, purposefully turning away so I couldn’t be swayed.

Now, what else was left to get ready before spending a day at the headquarters of a mafia operation?

I’d already put Walter—my sad-looking plant whose droopy leaves had stopped being green a long time ago—next to the window so he’d get some sunlight. My phone was dead, so I plugged it in to charge. Bear had taken his medicine like a champ, and he wouldn’t need another dose until tomorrow.

After folding the rest of my clothes, I wiped my palms on my skirt with a satisfied nod. I was as prepared as I could be.

But Bear was still pouting.

“What if I made a specially baked treat just for you?” I asked, wanting to cheer him up. “Would you stop mauling Davian’s footwear then?”

Bear’s head cocked at the word treat.

I clapped my hands. “Treat it is. Let’s go find the kitchen! Come on, boy.”

I was doubly pleased with the idea since I also wanted to bake cupcakes to thank Davian and his men for helping rescue Bear. Davian had said to do what I wanted today, and hopefully that meant I could use his kitchen.

“We’ll need to check what baking equipment and ingredients he has,” I told Bear as we ventured down the main staircase. “Keep your paws crossed, because I really don’t want to ask Vince for a ride to the store.”

Especially since the last time I’d seen the grumpy guard, I’d been topless and straddling his boss while said boss’s fingers were inside me.

Part of me was still peeved at Vince for not waiting just one more minute before interrupting us.

But mostly, I was embarrassed.

We reached the bottom of the giant staircase right as a door opened across the foyer and two guys emerged from a dark stairwell.

When my feet touched the foyer floor and Bear hopped down beside me, all four of us froze. The men straightened and quickly shut the door behind them.

My eyes narrowed.

That wasn’t fishy at all.

Like Davian, both of them were dark-haired, well-built, wearing dark suits, and gave nothing away with their expressions.

It was kind of spooky.

But unlike the hostage who’d wormed his way into my thoughts, these men had blatant wine stains down the fronts of their dress shirts.

It didn’t shock me that Davian’s men were day drinkers, but they didn’t need to be slobs about it.

“You should really get those under cold water before the wine sets,” I said, trying to be helpful. I had my fair share of experience with stains from culinary school and the shelter.

The men only stared back at me blankly, and I adjusted my grip on the banister.

“Your shirts,” I clarified, gesturing at the blotches of dark red. “Wine stains aren’t fun to… They aren’t fun to…”

I glanced at the stains again—belatedly realizing they looked more like splatters than spills—and my throat tightened.

“Oh. Oh.” My stomach churned, and I rested a hand over it as my voice came out strangled. “That’s not wine, is it?”

They exchanged a wordless glance but didn’t answer, and I cleared my throat—fighting to keep my face straight. From the way one of them flinched, I hadn’t succeeded.

I tried again. “Um, hypothetically, if the stuff on your clothes is what I think it is—and I’m not saying it is—then you’ll want to run it under cold water as soon as you can. Vinegar will help get it out. Blot, though—don’t scrub.”

The guys shared another look, then the one who’d flinched glanced down at his shirt and shrugged. “We usually just throw out anything that gets blood on it. It’s easier.”

The other one jabbed an elbow into his friend’s side and sent me a smile that looked more like a grimace. “But thanks for the tip.”

The grimacing one tugged on his friend’s arm, and they rushed off like they couldn’t get away fast enough.

As soon as they disappeared, I loosened my grip on the banister and let out a shaky breath.

“What a waste of perfectly fine clothes,” I muttered to Bear, shaking my head. But we had other things to worry about. Mysterious bloodstains weren’t on my agenda today, so I put my hands on my hips and studied the many doors around the room. Davian’s foyer alone was bigger than my whole apartment. “Any chance you remember the way to the kitchen, boy?”

Bear only stared up at me with his tongue out, panting and happily waiting for me to do something.

With a sigh, I walked to the nearest door. “Okay, let’s see what’s behind door number one.”

Door number one led to a giant office with rows of bookshelves along one wall, a large desk, and a long table dominating the center that could seat at least twenty people.

The room was dark and ominous and sent a chill down my spine.

Definitely not a kitchen.

Carefully backing into the foyer and closing the door as quietly as possible, I let out a breath and moved to the next door.

Door number two led to another dark room with couches and a pool table. Another bust.

We skipped the door those men had come out of—I was pretty sure it went down to a basement I had no desire to explore—and wandered through the only open doorway.

It led to a living room area with a handful of corridors sprouting from it.

After eleven more doors, four corridors, and a few more run-ins with stoic men who didn’t return my greetings but had no problem stealing perturbed glances at me and Bear, we found a swinging door that opened into the most gorgeous kitchen I’d ever laid eyes on.

It belonged in a magazine.

Natural light filled the room. The vast counter space was a baker’s dream, and there weren’t just one, but two industrial ovens!

I salivated at the sight.

Two giant islands with granite countertops played a starring role in the middle of the space—one with a large sink. An older man stood at the second one, dicing a few dozen onions from a bucket, and he looked up as soon as we cleared the doorway.

A scowl twisted below the man’s bushy grey mustache, and he pointed his very large chef’s knife straight at us. “Dai! No animals in the kitchen! Out!”

I jumped at the bark in his tone and grabbed Bear’s collar.

“Sorry, sorry!” I stumbled backward and pulled Bear with me through the swinging door.

Back in the hallway, I barely stopped myself from slamming straight into the last person I wanted to see after what happened out on the patio.

“Vince!” I caught myself and held tighter to Bear’s collar, trying to ignore the way my cheeks burned.

If his scowl was anything to go by, he wasn’t thrilled to see me either. “What do you want?”

Boy, he really had the death-glare thing down pat. I could imagine those teenage thugs shaking in their fancy sneakers if Vince looked at them like this.

My legs might’ve trembled a bit.

“Bear’s not allowed in the kitchen,” I forced myself to say, shifting my weight under his glare. “Is it okay if he wanders the house freely for a little? Or maybe he can hang out with you?”

Vince glanced down at Bear, and his lip curled up in a sneer. “No. I don’t like dogs.”

I blinked. Well, at least he was honest. “Oh. Okay, sorry. I’ll just put him in the backyard, if that’s all right?”

Vince was too busy glaring to answer. So, I turned and pulled Bear down the hallway. I might’ve picked up my pace into an awkward half jog, half trot because the sooner we got away from Vince, the sooner I could stop thinking about how he’d seen me naked.

“Wait.” Vince walked up beside us, easily keeping pace as his eyes narrowed. “Why were you in the kitchen?”

I faltered a step, not understanding his suspicion. Was I not allowed to eat food now?

“I want to bake some dog treats for Bear and the shelter,” I said, deciding not to share my plan to make cupcakes for everyone. I couldn’t trust him not to tattle to Davian and ruin the surprise. “Davian said to make myself at home.”

Vince’s frown deepened. “Antonio doesn’t like animals in the kitchen.”

“I just learned that,” I said with a wince. “But it’s okay if I put Bear outside, right?”

If possible, his judging eyes narrowed further. “By himself?”

“Well, yes. He’ll have fun chasing squirrels.”

Vince was a big guy—like football player big, and not one of the skinny ones who ran fast—and he loomed over both of us. That was why I had to choke down a laugh when he looked down at Bear like he was sizing him up.

But then he seemed to come to a decision, because he nodded.

“Fine. I’ll take your dog outside and watch him,” he declared, as if he were granting me a boon.

While I wasn’t one to complain, he’d sure changed his tune quickly. “Really? I thought you didn’t like—”

“Follow me, dog,” Vince ordered, walking off in the opposite direction without waiting for Bear—who panted happily and looked up at me.

I shrugged.

“Go play with the scary man, Bear.” I gave him a good scratch behind his ear before patting his rump. He took off down the hall. “Thank you, Vince! Have fun, boys.”

I reached the kitchen door before Vince’s startled yelp made me pause.

“Don’t lick me!”

I stifled a laugh with my palm and ducked back into the kitchen. At least it sounded like Bear was warming up to Vince.

Now, if only I could get him to stop stealing Davian’s shoes.

too sweet for a mafia prince?

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle, Tip #16: Baking breaks should be mandatory for all hostages.

Walking into the kitchen again was just as magical as the first time, and I even teared up a little at the beautiful sight.

Or maybe that was from the onions.

Regardless, I was starstruck by how immaculate the huge space was—and my fingers itched to inspect the ovens—but since he wasn’t yelling at me now, I tried to focus on the chef currently dicing onions in the center of it all.

Antonio wore his age well, with smile lines on his face and a full head of greying hair. But his dark eyes held the same cold distrust the other men around here eyed me with, and his arms had more muscle than I would’ve expected from a chef.

Did Davian exclusively hire men who were equal parts intimidating and ridiculously attractive? His compound could make a mafia-men calendar women would buy in droves.

“Sorry about that.” I walked up to the kitchen island he was working at. “Bear’s outside now. Do you mind if I keep you company in here?”

Antonio looked up from the onions long enough to glower at me, and I gulped.

“That depends,” he said, voice gruff. “Can you stay quiet?”

The question made me hesitate. I’d never been very good at that.

“I can try,” I hedged. “You can put me to work, too. I’m happy to help.”

“Do you have any cooking experience?” he asked shortly.

I leaned against the counter and nodded. “Lots. I’m in culinary school in the city. Baking is my favorite, though I’m learning all of it.”

He grunted. “I already have a system. But if you’re bored, you can hang out in here.”

“Thanks.” Propping both elbows on the counter and resting my chin on my hands, I watched him work through the onions with enviable speed and accuracy. “I’m Sadie, by the way. And you’re Antonio?”

The knife paused, and both his thick grey eyebrows rose. “The boss told you about me?”

“Well, he didn’t say you were an actual chef. I was picturing one of his scary guards slicing up fruit for our lunch earlier.” I snickered at that imagery. “Speaking of, thank you for the food. It was delicious.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, a warm blush crept up my neck. Fruit wasn’t the only thing I’d feasted on at lunch, and Davian was quite tasty himself.

Antonio grunted before resuming his fancy knife work. “Next time, make sure to stop in for breakfast. That’s delicious, too.”

My blush deepened. He thought there’d be a next time? “Oh. I don’t know if I’ll be staying over again. These were extenuating circumstances.”

He spared me a glance without slowing his chopping. “You’re with the boss, no?”

“With him?” A nervous laugh clawed its way up my throat, and I stood straighter. “Like—together? I mean, we haven’t made anything official, if that’s what you’re asking. Things got a little complicated after I— Well, yesterday I sort of took Vince’s gun and— Um, actually, the details don’t really matter.”

Well, that was enough talking for me.

A frown creased Antonio’s forehead. “The men talk. They say you’re together.”

My eyes widened. What kind of Nosy Nellies did Davian work with? Word got around here faster than at Gladys’s book club, and those ladies could out-gossip anyone.

“Uh, I don’t know about that. But we did kiss. A few times, actually.” Thinking about the patio caused my whole face to radiate heat, and I discreetly fanned myself. “He’s a good kisser.”

Antonio’s brows inched up in disbelief before he threw his head back with a deep, full belly laugh that made me jump. I watched in fascination—while hoping he wasn’t laughing at me—until he calmed down enough to chop again.

“You’re too sweet, dolcezza.” He shook his head as a few more chuckles escaped.

I had no idea what that word meant, but I really hoped it wasn’t anything bad.

“You’re just being nice,” I said, though I couldn’t help grinning. I was ridiculously pleased he wasn’t scowling at me anymore.

“No, no. You are,” he insisted. “When I heard the boss had a lady friend staying over, that was news enough on its own. But I didn’t expect her to be sweet.”

My brain latched on to his mention of lady friends. What kind of girls did Davian usually date?

Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Don’t ask.

I cleared my throat and traced a circle over the granite countertop, trying my best to sound nonchalant. “Are Dav’s… er, lady friends not usually sweet?”

Antonio shrugged and slid the diced onions into a large bowl. “Don’t know.”

I frowned. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

“Not much time to entertain lady friends here when the boss works as much as he does.” He cocked a brow, looking at me. “Another reason I was surprised to hear about you.”

Oh. It was getting warm in here.

“But that doesn’t change that this is no place for a sweet girl.” Antonio’s frown returned. He studied me for a long moment before pointing his knife at me. “Do yourself a favor, dolcezza. Go back to your culinary school and forget all about the boss.”

His candor struck me speechless—was it normal for employees to warn girls off their bosses?—but I recovered quickly and lifted my chin. “I appreciate your concern, Antonio, but I can take care of myself. I’ve done fine so far.”

Aside from the parts where Davian had used the hostage-reverse card on me and the thugs had shown up at my apartment, I thought I’d handled everything quite admirably.

“I’m sure you have.” Antonio pulled out another onion and started dicing. “But you’ve barely scratched the surface of what goes on here. And girls like you belong with nice boys. Boys who appreciate you and have time for you.”

I frowned, getting a little annoyed with Antonio—especially since Davian seemed to appreciate me just fine. “To be honest, you don’t know me and you’re making a lot of assumptions. Did those Nosy Nellies even tell you how Davian and I met?”

His eyebrow crept higher, and the knife paused in its chopping. “No, they didn’t.”

I crossed my arms and lifted my chin, doing my best to look intimidating. “I stole Vince’s gun and took Davian as my hostage in Bruno’s ice cream shop. I’m basically a criminal myself.”

Boom.

Except… it wasn’t the mic drop moment I’d been hoping for. Instead, Antonio’s lips twitched like he was trying not to laugh again, seemingly unimpressed with my budding rap sheet.

“My mistake. I shouldn’t have judged so quickly.” He bent his head in apology and cleared his throat. “May I ask what prompted the whole hostage situation?”

“Well.” I shifted my weight. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought that up. But he needed to understand I wasn’t as sweet as he thought I was. “One of the shelter dogs was taken from Happy Tails Haven, and I needed help getting him back. It was time sensitive.”

He blinked slowly. “So, you chose Davian Reed to help you?”

“Yes. He has a reputation.”

Antonio’s bafflement only grew. “… For rescuing dogs?”

“For getting things done,” I corrected, pursing my lips.

Antonio’s mouth opened and closed, and there was a long pause before he returned to his chopping. “… Indeed he does. Now, care to share why you really came down to my kitchen? I know it wasn’t to visit an old man like me.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. His tone had warmed since I first arrived, but I still felt like I’d overstayed my welcome.

“Well, I was hoping to bake a few things, but I can come back later.” I eased back from the counter and tried not to send a longing glance at the ovens. “I didn’t expect anyone to be here.”

Antonio’s brows rose. “You want to bake?”

I shrugged. “Yeah. Just some cupcakes to thank Davian for his help.”

All chopping halted, and he looked at me like I was an alien visiting from another planet—which didn’t feel too far off.

It took a beat before he spoke again, brows pulled together. “… You want to bake cupcakes for the boss?”

I shifted my weight. Did Davian host seminars to train his men on how to stare someone down? They were all really good at making me squirm.

“And dog treats for Bear,” I added, hoping I wasn’t overstepping. Maybe the idea of letting me use his kitchen didn’t sit well with Antonio. I couldn’t blame him. Kitchens were sacred. “He picked up a bad habit recently, and I’m not opposed to using bribery to fix it. You know how dogs are.”

I actually had no idea if he knew how dogs were, but his stare was unnerving.

Antonio finally blinked—thank god—before rubbing a hand over his thick mustache. A long moment passed before he nodded. “All right, then. We’ll share the kitchen. You can bake your treats.”

It was my turn to stare.

“Really?” I asked, surprised he’d changed his tune. Should that make me suspicious? “I mean, are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”

“Nonsense.” He gestured to the mostly empty island. “I’m just prepping dinner. You can use as much space as you need, and I won’t mention any more about you and the boss.”

The tightness in my shoulders eased. “That sounds great. Thank you, Antonio.”

“Don’t mention it. Now, we have the staples for baking,” he said, “but the store can deliver whatever else you need. Come. I’ll show you the inventory.”

Not needing to be told twice, I followed him into a beautiful walk-in pantry with a skip in my step.

Turned out, “the staples” equated to “every single baking ingredient I could ever dream of having,” and I almost fainted at the top-of-the-line stand mixers Antonio proudly showed off. Not even my school shelled out the money for those babies.

And he had two.

Antonio smirked when I gushed over them.

“They’re one of the great perks of working here,” he admitted, patting one of the mixers lovingly.

I was tempted to ask if he was open to hiring a sous-chef.

He left me to explore the pantry—which was bigger than the entire kitchen area of my apartment—while he prepped dinner, and all the choices I needed to make overwhelmed me.

“Do you know what Dav’s favorite flavor and color are?” I called to Antonio as I inspected all the food coloring options. There were dozens; Antonio sure knew how to hook a girl up.

“I can’t say I’ve seen the boss eat many sweets or talk about a favorite color, but he wears a lot of black.”

I scrunched my nose. There was nothing cheery about black icing, and it didn’t do any favors to your teeth. “Maybe I’ll just do flowers.”

It took six trips to carry all the supplies I needed out to the kitchen, and my smile widened with each one.

If this was how Davian normally treated his prisoner-slash-guests, then I might never leave.

fetch

Davian

Few things were sweeter than the squeal of a rat as it thrashed in my grasp.

Now that I’d tasted Sadie, she topped the sweetness chart by a mile, but listening to Lorenzo sing about every way he’d betrayed me was its own symphony worth savoring.

And, boy, did he sing.

What I hadn’t expected was for Zain Ali to be on the other side of Lorenzo’s secret meetings. Zain’s old man had barely been in the ground a month, and his son should be grieving—not making territory plays.

We’d known the Ali family for years, since they carved out a nice slice of territory in the north side of the city. Zain’s pop had gotten along fine with mine, and they’d had an alliance that benefited both of them, but Zain was a young buck whose appetite had always been bigger than his stomach. Without a father figure to rein in his hotheadedness, the new head of the family was bound to make a move.

And I was the lucky one who got to deal with him.

“Pull Dante in on this,” I told Malcolm as we backtracked through the woods, leaving Lorenzo behind in the shed with Shane. “We’re cleaning house and going after Ali.”

Malcolm glanced my way. “What should I say if Old Seb calls?”

My jaw clenched, and I rubbed it. My pop’s stinginess was causing problems, which was just the tip of the iceberg. Lorenzo wouldn’t look elsewhere without a reason, and he claimed Zain had made a better offer. But loyalty meant everything in this city; money alone wasn’t enough for men to stray.

It didn’t add up.

“Tell him it’s business as usual,” I said, leaving it at that.

Malcolm didn’t bat an eye at leaving Seb out of the loop, but he’d always been more loyal to me.

He nodded and took off down a side path to the security building, while I headed for the pool near the main house.

If I was lucky, Sadie could still be swimming.

As soon as I reached the tree line, a happy bark and an odd sight stopped me in my tracks.

I had to be hallucinating, because there was no way Vince was playing fetch with a dog.

But after blinking twice, I could still see Sadie’s giant hellhound running full speed with a stick in his mouth toward my second-in-command.

Baffling me further, Vince easily took the stick from Bear and flung it back across the lawn.

Bear took off like a bullet, chasing after it, while I slowly approached Vince.

“What the hell am I looking at?” I asked him, still not convinced he was willingly playing fetch.

He crossed his arms, and for the first time in my memory, I could swear big bad Vince was pouting.

“Your girl stuck me with dog-watching duty,” he grumbled.

At the mention of Sadie, I looked across the yard to the pool, but there were no signs of any naked pint-sized hostage-taking bakers snorkeling in it.

Pity.

“I thought you worked for me,” I said, amused. We both watched the dog thrash the stick around instead of running back. “Since when do you answer to Sadie?”

He sent me an unimpressed side-eye. “Have you finished cracking Lorenzo yet?”

“Just did. Not who I expected,” I admitted. Part of me hoped we were wrong, but all the proof was there. “Zain Ali got to him.”

Vince’s brows shot up. “No shit? Zain’s already making plays? That was fast.”

It was. Too fast, even.

“Acting this soon means he’s not thinking straight.” I slipped both hands into my pockets.

“All the better for us. He’ll make mistakes.” Vince scowled at the dog, who’d come back and plopped on the grass at his feet. Bear happily gnawed on the stick. “What’s the play?”

“We need to remind Zain why it’s a bad idea to target us.” I wasn’t too concerned. We’d nip this in the bud, and the kid would learn. Part of the job was keeping the ankle-biters in line. “What doesn’t sit right with me is how easily Lorenzo let himself be paid off. Zain can’t protect him from us.”

Vince grunted. “Maybe he didn’t think he’d get caught?”

“Or he wasn’t alone.” I glanced at the security building, frowning. “Have you heard any of the guys complain about pay?”

Vince shook his head. “Nothing. Not even a whisper.”

Lorenzo swore he was the only one working with Zain, but I’d let him spend more time in the shed before I believed that. He’d hold out as long as possible to not snitch on a friend.

“Keep an eye on Seb for me,” I told Vince. “He’s been more unpredictable than usual lately.”

“You got it, boss.” He pulled out his phone and typed something. “Who are you sending to watch Zain?”

“Malcolm’s putting a team together now. They’ll head out this evening.”

Which brought us to the other topic I needed to pull Vince in on. The Ali family was dangerous, and it only made sense to convince Sadie to stick around a little longer.

For her own safety, of course.

What I hadn’t expected was how pleased I was to have another excuse to keep her around.

… Even if it meant putting up with her shoe-stealing best friend, too.

I frowned at the beast in question, who’d stopped gnawing on his stick and was eyeing my shoes with more focus than I’d like. A thick strand of drool stretched down from his muzzle.

“Don’t even think about it,” I warned, earning a whine from him before he went back to chomping on his stick. I eyed Vince; he wouldn’t like this. “With the Skulls’ friends knowing Sadie’s address and Ali sniffing around, it’ll be safest for her to stay here until I clear these problems up.”

He glanced up from his phone. “Will it now? I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”

“What did I say about sticking your nose into this?”

That got me an unamused stare.

He sighed, shaking his head. “Fine. I’ll have Maria make up a guest room for her.”

That he even thought there was a possibility Sadie would need her own room was almost amusing.

Except it wasn’t.

At all.

“No need.” I smiled tightly. “She’ll stay with me.”

He did a double take, acting like I’d just told him we’d be requiring all the men to wear tutus and tiaras moving forward. “You can’t be serious.”

“This isn’t something I’d joke about.” I couldn’t believe he was acting like this was some new thing. “She already stayed with me last night.”

Vince’s mouth opened and closed like a damn fish.

“Are you…? Why would you…? Okay, I give up.” Vince’s eyes flashed—and I got the impression he was seriously thinking about swinging at me—before he threw his hands up, startling Bear into dropping his stick. “What is it about this girl? She held you at gunpoint yesterday, man. She pointed a literal loaded gun at you. Is this some kink I don’t know about? Did she blackmail you? Because I just don’t get it.”

I eyed the vein bulging on his forehead. He’d clearly been holding that in for a while.

“It doesn’t matter if you get it or not,” I said, holding his glare. This wasn’t up for debate. “She stays with me. It’s that simple.”

He snorted. “That’s great and all, but how do you plan to explain her to Old Seb?”

Telling my father about Sadie was not on the agenda. “I don’t. I plan to keep her as far away from him as possible.”

“If he sees how serious you seem to be about her, he won’t like it,” Vince warned. “Not to mention, it’ll break poor Daniella’s little heart.”

I muttered a few choice words under my breath. That was a name I hadn’t heard in a while.

“Daniella has nothing to do with this,” I said, not wanting to touch that can of worms. “It’s time Seb realizes that.”

“Come on. Would allying with the Vitales really be so bad? Seb would’ve had you two hitched ages ago if you’d agreed to it.”

“If he wants the alliance so badly, he can marry her himself,” I said. “I have no plans to, and Daniella wants no part of it, either.”

He flicked a bug off his arm, shrugging. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”

For a brief selfish moment, I wished Vince weren’t so good at keeping his ear to the ground. “What’ve you heard?”

“Just that she’s waiting for you to change your mind. Maybe if you actually talked to her—”

“Talking would give the wrong impression.” Few things traveled between territories faster than gossip, and I didn’t need rumors spreading. “Next time you see them, let Gio’s people know it isn’t happening.”

With a grunt, Vince crouched to get the stick Bear had left on the ground.

“Let me get this straight, because it sounds like you’ve lost your mind.” He stood and pointed the stick at me. “You’re seriously going to turn down an alliance with Gio Vitale because of some doe-eyed baker who wears pink overalls?”

My fingers flexed. He needed to get over his problem with Sadie. Fast.

“I know what I’m doing.” I looked toward the house. “Where is she, anyway?”

It wasn’t like Sadie to pawn her dog off on Vince. I would’ve expected her to be out here, too.

“In the kitchen with Antonio,” he said. “That’s why I’m watching this guy.”

Bear took that as his cue to lie down and roll over onto his back, presenting his belly and panting with his tongue out. It was… sort of cute, I guess.

When he wasn’t growling at me or annihilating my shoes, I could almost see why Sadie called him sweet.

Almost.

But since we’d finished discussing business, I headed for the house. “I’ll be inside if you need me.”

I’d only made it a couple steps before Vince called my name. I looked back at him, eyebrow raised, and he nodded at my shirt.

“If you don’t want your new squeeze asking questions, you might want to change your shirt before you go running off to find her,” he said with a knowing look.

I glanced down, belatedly noticing the blood splatter. I wasn’t sure when that happened during the interrogation, but it was bound to freak Sadie out.

“Good call, but she’s not a squeeze.”

“Of course not,” Vince said, deadpan. His shoulders slumped. “Just… be careful, man.”

I flashed a smile that lacked any humor. You didn’t get where I was by being reckless. “I’m always careful.”

He rolled his eyes before launching the stick halfway across the yard, and Bear scrambled up onto his paws to chase after it in a huge blur of black and brown fur.

I shook my head at the unlikely pair before heading toward the house.

“Have fun playing fetch with your new friend,” I called over my shoulder.

He grunted. “I am not friends with a dog.”

baking me crazy

Davian

The day only grew stranger when I tracked Sadie down after a quick shower and changing into a clean suit.

For starters, music blared from the kitchen from all the way upstairs. It was a bright and catchy pop song I wouldn’t have expected Antonio to listen to in a million years.

I paused outside the kitchen door before shaking my head and opening it.

The sight inside stopped me in my tracks.

Antonio’s kitchen had been turned into a baking wonderland—every inch of available counter space filled with trays of cookies and cupcakes.

There was enough to feed an entire football team and then some. It was like nothing I’d ever seen before, especially not in this kitchen.

The overwhelming scents of cinnamon and vanilla hit me like a truck.

But what really caught my eye was the cute little baker currently squeezing a tube of pink icing over a tray of cupcakes—while singing and dancing along to the song.

Sadie’s hips swayed in a way I could watch for the rest of the afternoon, and her voice—while not exactly on-key—made up for any lack of skill with its enthusiasm.

Even Antonio was bobbing his head to the beat as he moved cookies from one tray to another grid-like one, and I could swear my chef gave a brief shake of his hips.

That was enough to make me stare, but Sadie’s outfit took the cake. She’d traded in my undershirt for a new top and an intriguingly short skirt. White powder covered her clothes where I’d just had blood splattered on mine, and I wanted to lick off the dollop of pink icing smeared across her cheek.

For someone who’d narrowly escaped an attack last night, she seemed to be making the best of this whole ordeal instead of cowering in the corner.

That shouldn’t make my chest tighten as much as it did.

Antonio noticed my arrival first, and he dropped his spatula in surprise—making Sadie’s singing cut off. She glanced at him in concern before spotting me, and the grin that spread across her face was far too infectious.

I hadn’t anticipated how good it would feel to be greeted by a smile like that. It got my legs working again, and I stopped across the island from her.

“Hey, you’re back,” she called over the music, lowering the tube of icing as her grin doubled in size. “We’ve been baking!”

I raised a brow at the trays of cookies and cupcakes covering every inch of counter space. “I can see that.”

Antonio reached under the counter, and the music quieted.

“Are you hungry?” The look in Sadie’s eyes practically radiated hope. “I made cupcakes to thank you for all your help. You know, with Bear and everything.”

I paused, sure I’d misheard her. … She’d baked for me?

That damn warmth flared up in my chest again—foreign and wholly unwelcome—and I made a mental note to call my doctor. It must be a bad case of heartburn.

The crazier part was it didn’t even cross my mind to say no. I wasn’t a fan of baked goods, but she’d clearly worked hard on these.

It wouldn’t kill me to eat one.

“Sure.” I eyed the tray of cookies in front of me. Half already had icing, from detailed art to simple decorations. Not wanting anything excessive, I selected a smaller star that had squiggles of yellow icing and lifted it to my mouth.

That was a mistake.

“Dav, no!” Sadie cried just as I bit into it. Her eyes grew comically wide, making me freeze with half the cookie in my mouth.

Maybe she wanted to warn me it was too hot to eat, but the temperature was fine. It was the flavor that gave me pause.

What kind of cookie tasted like feet?

I almost spat it out by reflex, but I didn’t want to hurt Sadie’s feelings after she’d spent hours baking in here. She was already staring at me in horror as I chewed and fought to muster a smile.

“It’s… good,” I forced out, trying not to choke on the bite I now fully regretted taking. For a cookie, there was nothing sweet about it. Instead, I could swear it was made with old cheese. I held back a grimace with every ounce of my resolve and managed to swallow. Pure willpower stopped me from gagging. I cleared my throat. “Very good.”

The lie hurt, but how was I supposed to tell her it tasted awful? Sadie only gaped at me while pink icing continued to stream out of her bag onto the counter.

Then, the biggest smile spread across her face before she doubled over in peals of laughter.

I frowned. It’d been a long time since someone had laughed at my expense.

Even Antonio watched on with stunned amusement.

“Something funny, sweetheart?” I asked Sadie evenly, setting the rest of the cookie back on the tray and wiping the crumbs off my hands. It wasn’t worth trying to choke down the rest. The aftertaste alone made me want to chug a bottle of scotch.

It took Sadie longer than I thought necessary to pull herself together—and she struggled to catch her breath—but she eventually straightened with a flushed face and tears in her eyes.

“You just lied to spare my feelings. That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me,” she managed to get out, beaming at me. A crazed giggle spilled out as she wiped the tears. “And now you think I’m a terrible baker!”

She broke into another cackling fit, and I looked between the cookie and her, not understanding. My frown only deepened. “Mind filling me in?”

But she was too overcome with laughter to answer. When she finally straightened again, it was with pursed lips and a side-eye at the tray I’d taken the cookie from. I’d never felt more out of the loop.

“I’m afraid that wasn’t a cookie, Dav,” she said delicately. Her lips twitched like she was fighting a smile, wide eyes sparkling with amusement. But there was sympathy there, too. “… It was a dog treat.”

Every muscle in my body locked, and the crumbs turned to ash in my mouth.

A dog treat?

That didn’t make any sense. I couldn’t fathom why anyone would bother to bake something for dogs. They’d eat trash at the bottom of a dumpster if they could reach it.

She’d even taken the time to decorate it with icing, like some gourmet cookie you’d find in a fancy bakery.

Dogs didn’t care about decorations.

What was wrong with the world?

I cut a look at Antonio, but he only nodded gravely and cast a wary glance between me and Sadie. Then the craziest thing happened. My chef—the man who had been loyal to me for years, who’d moved here from Bologna for me, and who had known this girl for less than a day—took a small protective step toward Sadie’s side of the counter.

As if he were prepared to step in if I attacked her.

I was getting really tired of people assuming I would hurt Sadie.

“Boss,” he began warily, bracing himself next to her. “It wasn’t her fault—”

“You’re saying I ate something made for a dog?” I asked Sadie, managing to keep my voice level as I ignored Antonio.

Her smile turned uncertain before slowly fading. But I didn’t want it to go away.

“Oh, you’ll pay for that,” I promised her.

Sadie tensed, reminding me of the nervous bunny I’d met at Bruno’s, and I felt a sudden urge to chase her.

The thought must’ve shown on my face, because she tiptoed around the far side of the island, eyeing me warily.

“Okay, now wait a second.” She held her hands palms out like she didn’t mean any harm. The bag of icing hung limply from one hand. “You can’t blame me. I made them for the shelter, and it’s not my fault you ate one.”

I eased around the other side of the island, and she quickly mirrored my steps. “Yes it is. You made it look so good, then it tasted like shit.”

Sadie sucked in a breath, brows pinching in a frown. “It’s cheese and chickpeas, and you said you liked it!”

… Chickpeas?

I regretted not spitting it out.

“I lied.”

When she widened the gap between us, I changed direction to cut her off. Sadie switched direction, too, hugging the counter as she picked up her pace until she was jogging around the island. “There’s nothing wrong with humans eating homemade dog treats! They’re perfectly safe. Nutritious, even. I would never feed Bear anything I wouldn’t eat myself!”

Her voice got squeakier with each word, breathing growing shallow.

I easily matched her pace, and Antonio stepped back to let me pass.

Sadie’s eyes bulged at my pursuit, and she skidded to a stop, facing me head-on. She lifted the bag of icing, aiming the nozzle at me like a weapon that’d ward me off—just like she’d done with Vince’s piece at Bruno’s. “Stop right there!”

I stopped across from her, finding it hard not to laugh at the sight.

“What do you think that’ll do against me?” I asked, cocking a brow at the absurdity of her plan. “Are you going to take me hostage with a bag of icing?”

Sadie only raised the bag and wiggled it threateningly—as if that would heighten the intimidation factor. “Consider it a warning. But we can still work this out. How about a cupcake as a peace offering?”

Yeah, I wasn’t interested in cupcakes. There was something far more appetizing on my mind.

Because in this moment—with Sadie covered in flour and poised to run, with icing smeared across her cheek—I wanted her even more than I had out on the patio.

But even more than that, I was surprised to realize I was… having fun?

That was new.

Not that I should be surprised. Wasn’t this why I’d wanted to keep Sadie around in the first place? She didn’t watch her words around me. She’d aimed a gun at my chest, taken me hostage, and run straight into a gang’s headquarters to save a dog with only a broom for a weapon and no regard for her personal well-being.

She even laughed at me.

It made me want to see what else she’d do.

I took a slow step toward her, and Sadie audibly swallowed as she clutched the bag in a white-knuckled grip.

“Dav…” she whispered, a slight tremor entering her voice. “You’re scaring me a little.”

But there was something in her eyes. A glint I recognized from the patio.

She liked this.

“Only a little?” I taunted softly as her hackles rose. My fingers flexed at my sides. “That won’t do.”

I sprang before she could respond, sprinting around the side of the island and earning a squeal as she took off in the opposite direction. It crossed my mind to hold back and make the chase last longer, but Sadie was unexpectedly quick.

And I had no intention of letting her get away.

caught

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle, Tip #17: It’s natural to feel fear when your hostage is hunting you. Arousal is less common, but we don’t kink shame in this guide.

I was going to die today.

My heart hammered against my rib cage like a spooked rabbit’s as I banked left around the kitchen island, and I had serious concerns about my blood pressure. All because my ex-hostage had taken it upon himself to chase me around the kitchen with the single-minded focus of exacting revenge for a perfectly honest mistake.

I already knew what my obituary would say: Sadie Morris. Beloved friend of humans and furry companions alike. Future award-winning baker. A promising life cut short when she suffered a spontaneous heart attack after accidentally feeding a dog treat to Westport’s resident mafia prince. No throat slitting required.

And it wasn’t even my fault he’d eaten the dang treat!

The worst part of all this? Discovering something inside me actually liked being chased.

It liked it a lot.

When Davian had stalked around the island with the lethal grace of a predator, receptors in my brain I hadn’t even known were there lit up like a Christmas tree. His grin was downright wolfish, and it shouldn’t have excited me as much as it did.

Then he lunged, which made me squeal before bolting in the opposite direction.

But I didn’t stand a chance.

We flew through the kitchen like bats out of hell, weaving between the islands and looping around the table. My heart threatened to burst out of my chest as I raced back to where we’d started, aiming for the nearest door and darting past Antonio—who I was pretty sure tried to help me by sticking out his foot as soon as I passed by. But Davian easily cleared it, closing more of the distance between us.

“Wait!” I cried when he got too close for comfort, blood surging in my veins. I jerked out of his reach and tightened my grip on the piping bag, but he was right about it being useless as a weapon. I needed a different strategy. “Time out—”

Davian only laughed before his arm hooked around my waist like a steel band, and he pulled me flush against his front—knocking the air out of my lungs.

I wheezed and grabbed his arm, but Davian made it even harder for me to breathe when he tucked his face into the crook of my neck, and he growled—actually growled—against my skin.

It made my toes curl, especially when his lips trailed up my neck and nipped my earlobe.

“I’m taking you back to bed,” he murmured against my ear.

An unintelligible squeak escaped my throat, and I was pretty sure my brain broke as he hauled me over his shoulder in one smooth motion.

“Dav!” I laughed, planting my hand on his lower back to catch myself. His grip on my thigh kept me from tumbling to the floor, but that didn’t stop me from clutching his suit jacket when he started walking.

I really hoped Antonio hadn’t heard what Davian said.

I also hoped my skirt hadn’t flipped up and flashed the poor chef.

But Davian’s hand was dangerously high on the back of my bare thigh, and it made worrying about anything else difficult—until I saw the trays of cupcakes that hadn’t been frosted yet.

“Wait!” I cried through my laughter, grabbing a cupcake off the counter we passed. “I need to finish icing these.”

Davian stopped midstep, then dutifully turned and carried me back to my station. He set me back on solid ground but didn’t go far. Instead of stepping away, he pressed his front against my back, and both his palms flattened against the counter to cage me.

I swallowed and placed the cupcake down. This felt nice.

Once I could breathe normally again, I patted Davian’s forearm. “Good boy.”

He leaned down far enough to kiss the skin beneath my ear, followed by another soft growl. “Finish your cupcakes.”

Both the command and the kiss sent a delightful rush of blood to my cheeks, and I cleared my throat.

I was still grinning as I carefully piped pink daisy petals onto a cupcake, despite Davian’s looming presence tempting me to rush the job.

“This is what I made for you.” I finished the last petal and held up the completed masterpiece to Davian. “It’s a thank-you for helping me.”

He bent over my shoulder, took a large bite of the cupcake, then hummed.

“It’s good.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “But you taste better.”

A bolt of lightning shot up my spine at his words. He was giving me the same look as when he sucked his fingers clean out on the patio. My face burned hotter than a preheated oven, because that was definitely louder than a whisper.

Had he forgotten we weren’t alone?

I elbowed him in the stomach. “Davian.”

He grunted quietly, but his lips curved against my cheek before he placed a lingering kiss there.

A throat cleared behind us, making me wince.

“That’s my cue to make myself scarce,” Antonio announced, shuffling around us and heading for an exit. I shrank back into Davian’s arms to hide, but Antonio paused at the door and caught my eye. One bushy brow rose. “Forget what I said earlier. You’re welcome in my kitchen any time, dolcezza.”

I sent him a soft smile, having grown fond of the chef during our baking marathon. “Thanks, Antonio.”

Davian’s hands settled on my hips just as the door swung shut, and I gulped.

Now we were alone.

“Do I want to know what that was about?” He rubbed my hips. “Or why my chef is calling you pet names?”

“Just kitchen talk.” I smiled, refocusing on my piping. I had a feeling Davian wouldn’t appreciate it if I told him Antonio had warned me to run far, far away from here. “Speaking of kitchens, did you know you have the most gorgeous one I’ve ever laid eyes on?”

He rested his chin on the top of my head, watching me decorate. “It’s just a kitchen, Sadie.”

“No way. It’s so much more than that!” Pausing in the middle of piping a pink daisy, I tilted my head back against his chest to peer up at him. His square jaw looked even more appealing from this angle, and I had the strangest urge to bite it. “Your stand mixers alone cost over three months’ worth of my school stipends. Each.”

“Sounds like I need to lower Tony’s appliance budget,” he said dryly.

“What? No! Don’t do that,” I backtracked, wishing I hadn’t said anything. I didn’t want to cause any trouble for Antonio. “It’s a good thing. I got to use both mixers at the same time. Do you have any idea how big of a turn-on that is?”

Davian’s hands stilled on my hips. “You’re telling me you were in here getting turned on with my chef?”

… Oops.

Setting the piping bag down, I turned in his arms to face him. I had to stretch up on my tiptoes to wrap my arms around his neck, and he let me tug his head down.

“Maybe we should focus on the part about me being turned on now?” I asked, drawing him closer to my lips.

“Because of some mixers,” he said flatly, though his fingers dug into the skin of my hips as our lips brushed.

I hummed. “Yes, because of your beautiful, magnificent twelve-speed and self-cleaning mixers.”

Just thinking about them again made my voice all husky, and Davian’s eyes darkened.

But, like a tease, he only pressed a fleeting kiss to the corner of my mouth before peppering a trail along my jaw to my ear. I hung on tight as my back arched to get closer to him.

“Oh,” I whispered when he took my earlobe into his mouth. Suddenly, I couldn’t think—let alone talk—anymore. I needed to change the subject before things got carried away in the middle of Antonio’s sacred space.

I cleared my throat and used all my willpower not to jump up and wrap my legs around his waist. “Is everything, um, okay with your rat infestation? Antonio said they haven’t gotten into the kitchen, so that’s a good sign.”

Davian stilled with my earlobe between his teeth, and he nibbled once more before pulling back. A dark brow rose. “You want to talk about that right now?”

No, but… “Infestations are no joke.”

“It’s being handled.” As he spoke, his fingers slid under the hem of my top, and the graze of his calluses against my skin made my heart skip a beat. Any worries of rats or infestations flew out the window. “But another matter still needs to be resolved.”

My gaze dropped to his mouth. “Oh?”

His lips curved into a rakish grin. “I believe I owe you after we were interrupted on the patio earlier.”

Flashes of me straddling him in nothing more than a slip of underwear bombarded me, and I ducked my head against Davian’s chest to hide the blush spreading like wildfire.

“Oh, now you’re shy?” he asked with a chuckle, his own voice growing husky. “You shouldn’t be. I’ve thought about little else since then.”

If human beings were liquefiable, I’d be a puddle on the floor.

“You know what? I can finish icing these later,” I said. The way his thumbs skimmed the skin above my waistline made thinking impossible, let alone focusing enough to decorate cupcakes. Was everything about this man designed to scramble my insides? I still had the mouthwatering image of his sculpted butt seared into my brain. “You mentioned bed?”

His grip on my waist tightened, and he lifted me into the air for the second time today. But this was a much shorter flight before Davian deposited me onto the counter.

“Change of plans.” He squeezed my waist. “Stay right here.”

I blinked as he stepped back, but he didn’t go far. Davian took the two large trays of dog treats on the counter behind me and stacked them onto other cookie trays.

Without another word, he walked to the nearest door to the hallway and…

Flipped the lock?

My fingers curled around the edge of the counter, and I swallowed to wet a suddenly dry throat. “What are you doing?”

He flicked another lock, which sent a flutter of butterflies into flight in my stomach. “I’m making sure we don’t get interrupted again.”

My blood pressure skyrocketed. He moved down the wall to another door and locked it, then crossed the room to bolt another.

How many doors did this place have? By the fourth one, I had the counter’s edge in a death grip and was squeezing my thighs together before he’d even laid a finger on me.

When the last lock clicked into place, Davian faced me with that same predatory gleam from earlier in his eyes.

I gulped as anticipation shivered down my spine, which made one side of his mouth curve up.

Like I said—be it from a heart attack or spontaneously combusting from the hunger in his gaze, I was going to die today.

davian’s treat

Davian

I wanted to savor everything about this moment.

The sudden stillness in the room. The anticipation coursing through my veins. The girl.

Sadie sat perched on the edge of the kitchen island, wide eyed with a white-knuckled grip on the counter, watching me approach.

She wore the trapped bunny look well.

It made me want to take my time. Make her sweat it out a little longer. But we’d been interrupted earlier, and I wasn’t sure I had the patience to draw this out. When I reached her, it was as natural as breathing to ease her knees apart and settle into the space between her legs. Sadie had to tilt her head back to hold my gaze.

“You locked all the doors,” she whispered.

I bit back a grin at her stating the obvious and stroked my hands up her bare thighs, wanting to touch more of her. All of her. It shouldn’t be possible for skin to be this soft. “Every last one.”

Sadie glanced down and raised her brows before looking back at me.

“But what about bed?” she asked, her voice dropping to a throaty whisper that made my fingers flex against her thighs.

I leaned closer, all my focus on her full, alluring lips. “Bed can wait.”

She audibly swallowed, and my patience snapped like a twig. I teased her lips with a slow, coaxing kiss, but it didn’t take much coaxing before she wrapped her arms around my neck and tugged me closer.

She tasted even more sugary sweet than earlier, clearly having sampled the cupcakes while she baked. I grasped the back of her neck and deepened the kiss, taking my time exploring every inch of her.

Sadie’s lips tasted like the sweetest salvation, and I would’ve been happy to drown in them for the rest of the afternoon. But I had much bigger plans for her, and that reminder gave me the strength to pull back and let go of her neck.

“Lie back, Sadie,” I said, giving her hips a squeeze.

Her tongue peeked out to wet her kiss-swollen lips as her eyes flitted nervously around the room. “Are you serious? Here? Now?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more serious. Lie back.”

“But— You— What—?” She stumbled over the words, and I cut off her stammering with a quick press of my lips to hers.

“Lie back,” I murmured against her lips.

With one last searching look to make sure I wasn’t joking, Sadie slowly dropped her arms from around my neck and reclined on the cleared counter. Even as she let her body relax, she kept her head tilted to watch me.

My lips twitched, and I rubbed my thumbs over the sliver of silky skin between her top and skirt. “That’s a good girl.”

She huffed a soft laugh, narrowing her eyes. “You’ve said that before, but I’m not a dog, Dav.”

“I just think you deserve all the praise.” I reached down and slowly inched the skirt up her smooth thighs. A slight hitch in her breath was music to my ears. “And it doesn’t sound like you’re complaining.”

The way her throat constricted with another gulp made me grin.

“Nope. No complaints at all,” she croaked. Her hooded eyes followed my progress as I inched her skirt higher.

“Good,” I said, my own voice deepening as I pushed her skirt up to her hips and immediately recognized the dark purple scrap of lace from her underwear drawer. I hooked my thumbs under the sides. “Lift your hips for me, sweetheart.”

Sadie’s chest rose and fell with a measured breath, and I watched closely as the decision played out on her face.

“This is so unsanitary,” she mumbled before dropping her head back and pushing her hips up in silent permission. She squeezed her eyes shut, as if unwilling to witness the removal of her underwear.

I took my time easing it over her butt and along her thighs. Over her knees and to her ankles. Bending down, I pulled the garment off her bare feet and tucked it into the inner pocket of my suit. She could have it back later.

Maybe.

Sadie’s breathing picked up, and I grinned before placing a slow kiss on the inside of her knee and settling that leg over my shoulder. After doing the same to her other leg, I slid her ass to the edge of the counter and took a moment to admire the sight.

“Just like I said earlier.” I ran an appreciative thumb over her exposed lips and glanced up at Sadie watching me. “Exquisite.”

A strangled choke left her throat, and she dropped her head back again. “I’m dead. I died. This must be the afterlife.”

Swallowing a laugh, I placed one more kiss on her soft thigh before getting to work between her legs.

She tasted divine.

I watched Sadie like a hawk, studying what she liked and learning her tells. What made her arch her back. Which touches made her breath hitch. When something felt really good, she would murmur nonsensical words of encouragement and grab my hair.

For such a small woman, she sure had an iron grip.

I teased her until she couldn’t take it anymore—until she resorted to pleading—and I loved every second. How her legs locked around my head. Her cries. The little moans my tongue pulled from her throat. The babbling nonsense. She gave me everything I asked of her and then some, making my cock strain against my slacks, demanding to join in the fun.

From the way Sadie’s fingers clung to my hair—even tugging a few strands free—and pulled me against her, she was enjoying herself, too.

I could spend all day between her thighs.

When her climax hit, she threw her head back and bucked against me until I banded an arm over her hips to hold her down. My name left her lips in a cry I wanted to hear again and again and again—even as her grip temporarily blinded me.

I slowed my attention, easing her down until she melted against the counter and her warm, awestruck gaze collided with mine. She looked at me with a sweet hunger and appreciation that had nothing to do with who I was or what I could do in this city, but everything to do with what I could do to her.

That simple look sent a raw, primal urge coursing through me so intensely, I couldn’t fully bite back a groan.

And in that moment—on a kitchen island, surrounded by pink cupcakes and disgusting chickpea dog treats—I knew I was in trouble.

Because I didn’t just want my little hostage-taker to stick around until this mess with the Skulls was cleaned up.

I wanted her to stay for good.

a very good girl

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle, Tip #18: Sometimes, the hostage lifestyle has perks. Really, really good perks.

Lying on a kitchen counter with my ex-hostage’s head between my thighs hadn’t been on my agenda for the day, but I could be flexible when a good opportunity presented itself.

Especially when Davian’s tongue proved to be quite a contender for my favorite thing about him. He was good at this. Like, my-toes-were-at-risk-of-being-permanently-curled good.

The horny demon was very happy.

Surrounded by cupcakes, a pair of unexpectedly erotic stand mixers, and with Davian easing me down from an earth-shattering high, I wasn’t convinced I hadn’t died from an orgasm-induced heart attack, after all.

“Wow,” I mouthed to the ceiling before nudging Davian’s head back when it became too much. He drew back and ran his tongue over his lips in a way that made me want to lick them, too. There was an arrogant tilt to his lips, but I couldn’t blame him for gloating this time. He knew exactly what he’d done.

And I fully intended to make him feel as good as he’d just made me feel.

If only I had the strength to sit up.

Davian took pity on me and guided my legs off his shoulders before standing and hauling my boneless body up to rest against his front. He was solid and warm, and I could get used to leaning against him.

His lips found the spot where my shoulder met my neck, and he placed a lingering kiss that warmed me from the inside out. The following kisses he trailed up to my ear threatened to turn me into a puddle of goo.

Then his lips brushed the skin behind my ear in the softest of kisses, and he whispered, “Good girl.”

Oh my.

Unable to help myself, I visibly preened at the term this time. Apparently, I was no better than the dogs at the shelter.

Davian shifted to kiss my temple with a chuckle. “You really are a good girl, aren’t you?”

“Minus the part where I abducted you? I’m a very good girl.” I licked my dry lips and pulled back until I could loop my arms around his neck. I tried for a cheeky smile, but it probably just looked satisfied. “And for the record, you can lay me out on a counter and do that again whenever you want.”

His smirk widened. “Be careful making promises you don’t intend to keep.”

“Oh, no. I fully mean that.” I hummed and ran my fingers through the hair above the nape of his neck, admiring how soft it was. “If these are the consequences of feeding you dog treats, then I should do it more often.”

I squealed at Davian’s answering growl, and he moved to lift me up.

“Wait!” I laughed, pushing his hands away. In a flash, I reached for his belt and tugged him closer, needing to get my hands on him. I looked up at Davian from under my lashes and wet my lips. “It’s my turn.”

He humored me and went still, letting me do as I pleased. But it wasn’t long after I yanked his shirt free of his slacks that one of his hands found its way into my hair, gripping it. His other hand slid under my top, eliciting a shiver as I worked his belt buckle open. I could still feel the phantom touch of those same fingers underneath my skirt.

I wanted to feel them there again.

But now wasn’t the time for that. Focus.

Davian’s grip on my hair tilted my head back until he could steal a kiss—one so thorough and claiming it left me dizzy. He kissed me like he’d been waiting to for years, only further fueling my desperation to touch him. To wrap my hand around him. To put my mouth on him.

My fingers reached the button on his pants when a faint vibration made me pause.

I pulled back from the kiss and looked down, convinced I was imagining things.

But I wasn’t hallucinating; the bulge in Davian’s pants was definitely buzzing.

That was new.

I blinked at his zipper. “Uh, I’ve never had this happen before. … Are you vibrating?”

Davian’s chest rumbled with a laugh, and he slid his hand out from under my top to reach into his pocket. “That’s my phone.”

Oh. Duh.

“Right. Of course,” I muttered, shaking my head. Kissing him had turned my logical thinking to mush. “That makes a lot more sense than where my brain went.”

The fingers Davian had in my hair gave my scalp a soft scratch, and my eyelids lowered in bliss.

“It’s the front gate.” He frowned. I bit my lip as he put the phone to his ear. “Make it quick.”

While he was busy, I took the initiative by loosening his tie and undoing the top three buttons of his sleek dress shirt. My lips found his smooth chest, and I took my time kissing and licking every inch of exposed skin. It was a mouthwatering exploration.

There was a pause on the line before a man’s faint response. “You asked for a heads-up when your father arrived. He’s here.”

My tongue froze against Davian’s chest.

His father?

“Send him to my office.” Davian hung up.

I pulled back to look up at him and drew my tongue back into my mouth, not sure what to do.

“Your father’s here?” I asked.

He pocketed his phone with a sigh and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Afraid so. Give me two minutes to tell him to get lost, then I’ll make sure we don’t get interrupted again.”

“What? You can’t just send him away!” I gaped at him. “He’s your father.”

“He’s an asshole,” Davian said shortly. His face was grim. “Do me a favor and wait in here until he’s gone? Your friend Gladys was right about my old man. He’s dangerous.”

I straightened up and wet my lips, a little miffed. “I can hold my own.”

A small smile cracked through. “Yes, I’ve learned you’re quite lethal with a broom. That doesn’t mean I want you anywhere near him.”

Well, I guess it was a little soon to be meeting the parents. And I’d just taken the man’s son hostage yesterday. That’d be a little difficult to explain.

“Fair enough,” I conceded.

Davian used his hold on my hair to pull me closer and steal another kiss—one I was more than happy to return. The unhurried way he ended the kiss only made me want to deepen it.

“Don’t move. I won’t be long.” He pulled back and redid his belt buckle. I allowed myself a moment to mourn the loss.

“Wait!” I grabbed for his tie before he could get too far. Davian went still and cocked a brow. “Don’t you need to, you know, wash up first?”

His lips flirted with a smirk. “I wasn’t planning to.”

My face warmed. “Please wash your mouth! You can’t go see your father like that.”

He laughed but thankfully moved over to the island with the sink. While he washed up, I hopped off the counter and walked the perimeter of the kitchen, unlocking all the doors.

“What are you doing?” Davian’s eyes followed my trek around the room.

“I don’t want people to assume things because the doors are locked,” I explained, flipping another lock.

Davian breathed out a laugh. “They already know what we were doing, Sadie.”

I paused at the last door and pivoted to him. “What do you mean they know? Did you tell people?”

“No, but the walls aren’t soundproof.” His eyes lit with amusement as he flicked the water off his fingers. “And you aren’t quiet.”

“Dav!” Scandalized, I closed the distance between us and went to thump him on the arm, but he caught my hand and pulled me in for another quick kiss with a laugh.

“What? It wasn’t a complaint. Far from it,” he murmured against my lips before stealing another kiss. “Wait here.”

Like the good girl I supposedly was now, I watched Davian stride to the door and waited until it swung shut behind him before jumping into action.

I did my own cleaning at the sink, then raided the cabinet underneath for a good cleaning spray. Armed with that and a dishcloth, I thoroughly cleaned the counter I’d just been splayed out on.

Even after disinfecting it, I wasn’t sure I could ever look Antonio in the eye after what we’d done in his sacred cooking area.

Not even a minute later, the door swung open again.

“That was fast.” I scrubbed harder at a stubborn spot before looking up. “I thought you’d—”

The dishcloth dropped from my hand.

It was not Davian in the doorway.

The man was closer to my father’s age, though he had none of my father’s warmth.

A single dark eye—a black patch covered the other—landed on me with an iciness that chilled me all the way down to my bones. He wasn’t Davian, but the similarities in their features were unmistakable. He had the same lush dark hair as my ex-hostage—with a few streaks of grey mixed in.

The same strong jawline.

Same aura of danger radiating from him, which made my chest tighten.

There was no doubt in my mind this man was Sebastian Reed.

Every cell in my body screamed at me to run as fast as I could in the opposite direction.

But my feet were glued to the floor.

pretty little thing

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle, Tip #19: There may come a day when you meet your hostage’s family. My advice? … Run.

After the instinct to run failed, my first—and completely inappropriate—thought was if this man’s genetics were Davian’s future, then he had a promising one.

Sebastian Reed was an attractive man. His dark suit looked expensive, and he had the same athletic build as Davian. A lot of the same things as Davian.

Minus the villainous eye patch, of course.

Why hadn’t Davian warned me his father had an eye patch? That was something you gave someone a heads-up about, so they wouldn’t be caught staring.

My second thought was I might pee myself if this scary man walked any closer to me.

Luckily, he came to a halt a few feet inside the door as soon as he noticed me, and the eyebrow over his missing eye rose. I tried not to stare at the patch.

I failed.

“You’re not Antonio,” he said in a deep voice that raised the little hairs on my arms.

I opened and closed my mouth, unsure I should say anything. Davian hadn’t wanted me to meet his father, but he was right here. It’d be weirder if I didn’t speak.

“Nope,” I answered, pleased when my voice came out steady despite feeling shaken to my very core. I swallowed and shook my head. “Not Antonio.”

The other brow joined its friend.

He took a step closer, then another, and the sharp echo of his loafers on the hardwood floor made my heart skip a much-needed beat. I picked the dishcloth up for something to focus on and glanced around the counter, unsure where to look.

But not looking at the scary man seemed more dangerous, so I peeked up at Davian’s father again as he stopped right next to me.

The biting frost in his eye sucked all the warmth from the room, raising goose bumps along my arms.

His gaze dragged down my body in a leer like slime against my skin, and I really wished Davian hadn’t taken my underwear with him. Even with my skirt covering everything important down there, I was too exposed under his father’s eye.

I cleared my throat as his scrutiny carried on, feeling totally violated.

“Can I help you with something?” I asked when the silence grew impossible to ignore.

Mr. Reed’s head tilted to the side, his gaze focusing closely on my legs.

“I have no doubt you could, though I’m still trying to figure something out.” His eye darted back up to mine. “What are you doing here?”

The question was innocent enough, but the weight behind it made me swallow a fresh rush of nerves.

Davian hadn’t warned me his father was such a creep.

“I’m baking cupcakes,” I answered evenly, waving at the dozens of trays filled with baked goods. “And, um, dog treats. You probably don’t want to eat any of those, but would you like a cupcake?”

I didn’t want to give him one of my prized confections, but the least I could do was be polite. So, I held out one of the cupcakes that’d finished cooling and was decorated with a pink daisy.

He hummed noncommittally—not looking too impressed by the selection. “No, but I would love to know how you know my son.”

… Uh-oh.

That seemed like the last question I should be answering. There was a reason Davian had warned me about his father.

Maybe if I played dumb, he’d leave me alone.

“Your son?” I asked, but my voice came out too high-pitched to fool anyone.

Mr. Reed’s lips formed a thin line before he answered. “Davian Reed. The man whose kitchen you’re currently using.”

“Oh. Of course. That son.” I fiddled with the cupcake, hoping the blush rising to my cheeks wasn’t too noticeable. “Well, Dav helped me with something yesterday, and I’m just baking some cupcakes to thank him.”

His eye widened in disbelief. “… Dav?”

“Davian,” I corrected quickly, the metaphorical ice weakening beneath my feet. “Sorry.”

Instead of speaking, Mr. Reed stepped behind me, and I stilled, not daring to move. What was he doing? Who randomly walks behind people? It was another reminder I had no business being alone with this man. I thought about making a run for it to find Davian—if I could remember how to get back to his office.

Mr. Reed’s shoes went silent as he stopped on my other side—close enough for his suit to brush my shoulder. Way too close. “And what exactly did my son help you with?”

If he was trying to intimidate me, it was working. I angled myself to better keep him in my sights. “One of the dogs from the shelter I work at was taken, and Dav—er, Davian—helped me get him back.”

I coughed to cover my slip, not that it helped anything.

He hummed again. “What’s the name of the shelter?”

My brows pulled together. Did it matter? He sure asked a lot of questions.

“It’s, uh, Happy Tails Haven,” I said.

With a sigh, he clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed the kitchen. “Of course it is. That explains a lot.”

I blinked back at him. Had I missed something important? “… It does?”

His answering chuckle grated against my nerves.

“It does. I can even see why my son helped you. You’re a pretty little thing,” he said, and it took a lot of effort not to gag. His single eye took in the trays of cupcakes littering the counters, and he shook his head. “And here I was, thinking he finally decided on a pastry chef for the wedding.”

I wasn’t sure this conversation could get any stranger.

“Oh, um, no. I’m not a pastry chef.” Not yet, I added silently. But the way he worded that rubbed me the wrong way. The wedding? “I’m sorry, what wedding are you referring to?”

The predatory smile he flashed made him look more sharklike than human. “Why, Davian’s, of course.”

It didn’t click at first, and I stared at Davian’s father like he’d spoken a foreign language. I had to repeat the words in my head before they made any sense. Then the cupcake in my hand tumbled to the floor, and my heart dropped into my stomach like a stone.

A pastry chef for Davian’s wedding.

Davian’s wedding.

… Davian was getting married?

Oh, heck no.

the m-word

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out, Tip #20: No matter how talented his tongue is, do NOT fall for your hostage.

I tried my best not to jump to conclusions or freak out.

I failed miserably.

A whole flurry of emotions surged, and I was torn between denial and a sting of betrayal that made me dizzy.

Not that Davian’s father gave me much time to process the bomb he’d just dropped.

“That must make you the mistress I heard about,” he continued, cocking his head to the side as that single eye scrutinized me again. “I wasn’t expecting pink hair. That’s… colorful.”

I almost threw up. Mistress?

Oh god.

“I’m not a mistress,” I corrected him, clenching my hands into fists to hide their shaking.

I couldn’t be. Davian would’ve told me if he was already involved with someone. He would’ve mentioned he was freaking engaged.

… Wouldn’t he?

Unless that was the real reason for not wanting me to meet his father. I couldn’t think of a single reason you would introduce a mistress to your family.

But there were plenty of reasons to hide one.

My stomach heaved involuntarily, and I placed a hand over it. This couldn’t be happening.

Mr. Reed’s brows rose. “Unless I’ve been misinformed? … But my son didn’t meet me at the door like he usually does, and I somehow doubt baking gives the kind of glow you’re sporting.”

The innuendo made my cheeks uncomfortably hot. Sebastian Reed’s manners rivaled those of the teenage thugs.

I schooled my face into what I hoped was an expressionless mask—but felt more like a pained grimace—determined to keep my cool. The last thing I needed was to lose it on Davian’s father. Gladys and Ryan had warned me what he was capable of, and even Davian said he was dangerous.

“You have been misinformed, actually, because Davian’s not getting married,” I told him as calmly but firmly as possible.

He wasn’t.

I refused to believe it.

Denial was a much more appealing option until I could hear the words straight from Davian’s mouth.

I needed to go find him. “Excuse me. I should go—”

“Not so fast.” Mr. Reed was beside me before I could blink, grabbing my arm and surprising the crap out of me. I froze, gaping at where his fingers dug into my skin. “There’s no need to be dramatic. I just want to know more about the woman who made my boy’s eyes wander.”

He was close—way too close—and my heart hammered against my rib cage with enough force to hurt. I tried to yank my arm back, but his grip didn’t budge.

“There’s been a misunderstanding,” I forced through clenched teeth, fighting to stay calm. But it was difficult when he was holding my freaking arm. “Let’s go find Davian, and he’ll clear this up. He’ll tell you he isn’t getting married.”

Or I’d look like an idiot for falling for an engaged man.

“We’re not going anywhere.” He let out a chuckle more menacing than amused and stepped even closer—boxing me in against the counter. The cinnamon in his aftershave overwhelmed my senses, making me scrunch my nose. “You’re going to tell me what you want from my son.”

I cringed away from him as much as his hold allowed.

Should I scream for help? Will anyone hear me?

No, I needed to handle this myself. Ignoring his question, I scoured the counter for anything to defend myself with, but the only thing within reach was my piping bag. What could I even do with it—squirt icing into the man’s one good eye? Like Davian had said, it wasn’t much of a weapon.

If only I still had Vince’s gun.

I’d have to give politeness a chance instead. “Please let go of me.”

Mr. Reed very noticeably did not let go. If anything, he leaned in until the unbearable heat of his breath crawled down my neck, making me shudder.

“What are you after?” he pressed. “Money? Information? Did someone send you here to seduce Davian?”

I swallowed what would’ve been a hysterical laugh. He was clearly a very paranoid man, because I was the last person anyone would send on a seduction mission.

“I’m not after anything,” I said, attempting to reason with him while leaning further from his stale breath. My gaze dropped to the counter, and I focused on breathing. “I already told you; Davian was just helping me get one of the shelter’s dogs back. That’s all.”

“Yes, the missing dog,” he said dryly. “Was that really the best sob story you could think of?”

I winced. Of course he didn’t believe what had happened to Bear.

I opened my mouth to plead with him again, when another voice cut through the tension—a voice so low and terrifying, it made the little hairs on my arms stick straight up.

“Let her go.”

let her go

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out, Tip #21: Don’t underestimate mafia staff. Chefs have extensive knife training.

My head shot up, and I sagged in relief—Antonio stood on the other side of Mr. Reed. He glared at the man holding my arm with a fury I never would’ve expected from him. Cold and unforgiving, it hit me with a fresh spike of fear, even though it wasn’t directed at me. He held none of his earlier warmth, but I didn’t care—I’d never been happier to see someone.

“Antonio!” I cried. “Thank goodness—”

The grip on my arm tightened enough to make me stifle a cry, and Sebastian shifted to look over his shoulder. “Nice of you to join us, Tony.”

The chef’s hard expression didn’t waver. “If you’d like to keep your hand attached to your body, I suggest you remove it from the boss’s girl.”

The cold warning sent a chill skittering down my spine. I tried to pull away again, but Mr. Reed’s grip was ironclad.

“Relax,” he drawled. “I’m just getting to know your little helper.”

“Let the girl go, Sebastian,” Antonio repeated. His deceptive calm—like a predator who knew he’d cornered his prey—made my heart skip a beat when it wasn’t even targeted at me. “You know what I can do with a blade.”

Sebastian chuckled before carelessly pushing me away and holding up his hands. “Someone’s touchy today. Who pissed in your pesto?”

I staggered a few steps back, then darted around the corner of the island and tugged on my top to straighten it.

As Davian’s father stepped back, I sucked in a breath. Antonio held a four-inch knife to Mr. Reed’s side with an ease that told me his knife skills extended beyond the kitchen.

This clearly wasn’t the first time he’d held a blade on someone.

Antonio’s gaze flicked to me, narrowing. “You good, dolcezza?”

My arm throbbed in time with my heartbeat, but I rubbed it and forced a shaky nod. “Yes. Thank you.”

He refocused on Mr. Reed. “The boss is waiting for you in his office.”

It wasn’t a suggestion, and Mr. Reed didn’t miss that either. Amusement danced in his dark eye.

“Careful, Tony,” he warned softly. “You’re getting too big for your britches if you think you can pull a knife on me with no consequences.”

“Davian wouldn’t like what you were doing. I work for him.”

I blanched at the show of defiance, but Mr. Reed actually smiled, tight and calculating. “And who does Davian work for?”

The answering silence was deafening.

“Who does he work for, Tony?” he repeated in that same dangerous tone, but Antonio stayed stone-faced.

That was when I saw the knife Mr. Reed held a hair’s width from Antonio’s side, and I jerked back—when had he drawn that?

“Please don’t hurt him,” I squeaked, searching the countertops for anything that’d do more damage than the piping bag. Where did Antonio keep his knives?

Mr. Reed snorted, but he kept his focus on Antonio. “Look at her defending the help. The surprises keep on coming.”

I ran to the other counter and grabbed one of the empty baking sheets—it might give us time to run if I walloped him over the head with it—when Antonio caught my eye. He shook his head in a swift, subtle jerk I almost missed, but that stopped me in my tracks. It didn’t escape Mr. Reed’s notice either, and his smile widened.

“Interesting. You know, loyal men are a dying breed in this city.” He flipped his knife up in the air—making me gasp—before deftly catching it. “I won’t complain when I see one, but it’s not too late to rethink where that loyalty lies.”

Antonio stared him down with the same deadpan look. “I’m good.”

Mr. Reed’s smile dropped, and the longest ten seconds of my life passed in a tense silence before he threw his head back with a booming laugh. His shoulders shook with the force, and I flinched.

Things only got stranger when the laughter faded to hollow chuckles, and he tapped the flat of his blade against Antonio’s bulbous nose.

Antonio stood still as a statue.

“You get funnier with age, Tony. I wish I could stay and chat, but I’m late for a meeting with my son.” Just as quickly as he’d come, Davian’s father strode to the door with heavy footfalls. I hesitantly set the baking sheet down and dared to let out a relieved breath, before he paused in the doorway and his single eye landed on me. “As for you, we’ll revisit this soon. I’m looking forward to it.”

The moment the door swung shut behind him, Antonio whirled on me so quickly I stumbled backward.

“If that man ever corners you like this again, you run in the opposite direction,” he warned, face grim. “You hear me?”

The raw intensity in his voice made me gulp, but all I could focus on was the impressive knife he’d been holding wasn’t in his hand anymore. I hadn’t seen him put it away.

I blinked twice. “Where did your knife go?”

“Sadie,” he pressed. “You run, yes?”

“Yes, I’ll run. Thank you,” I said, beyond grateful he’d come back when he had. But I frowned, because he’d left earlier to give me and Davian privacy. “What made you come back here?”

Antonio’s bushy mustache twitched. “The boss texted me to help you finish your baking.”

Ten minutes ago, fluttering would’ve filled my stomach at how thoughtful that was of Davian.

Now, it soured instead.

“Speaking of ‘the boss,’” I said carefully, brushing off the front of my skirt. Antonio would know more about what Mr. Reed had said, but my stomach twisted into knots just thinking about how to ask him. Putting on a brave face, I lifted my chin and ripped the Band-Aid off. “Is Davian getting married?”

That wiped the grimness from his face, locking a blank stare into its place. Antonio looked away, and the pause before he answered spoke volumes. “That’s none of my business.”

My heart sank. Well, that did nothing to ease my fears.

“You warned me to leave earlier,” I reminded him. “But then you changed your mind and told me to stay. Why would you do that if he’s engaged?”

He lifted a shoulder, then let it drop. “I think you’re good for the boss. I’ve never seen him like he is with you. He’s… happy.”

“Happy with his mistress?” I whispered, blinking back the tears that welled. This sort of information wasn’t something you kept from someone. It was just cruel.

Antonio grunted. “I told you. I don’t concern myself with those rumors.” He pulled a towel off the waistband of his apron and wiped his hands. “This is a discussion to have with the boss. Not me.”

He was right. Talking to Davian was exactly what I needed to do, but confronting him while his creepy father was here sounded about as pleasant as cleaning up dog vomit at the shelter.

I’d rather not.

Especially if what his father said was true. Then I wasn’t sure if I wanted to throw a stand mixer at Davian’s head or burst into tears.

So far, the tears were winning, and the last thing I needed was to cry in front of Antonio.

I had a feeling he didn’t handle weepy girls very well.

I blurted out the first excuse I could think of. “I should go check on Bear.” Brushing past Antonio, I headed for the door. “He’s been outside a long time.”

I made it across the room before remembering the state of the kitchen, and I backtracked with a wince. “Sorry about the mess. I’ll clean this up first.”

He waved me off, already wiping down the counter with his towel. “Don’t worry about it. I can take care of this. You just check on your dog, then go talk to the boss.”

Bitterness filled my mouth even thinking about it. “Thanks again, Antonio.”

I slipped into the hallway and was halfway to the back door before I realized checking on Bear wasn’t just some made-up excuse to get away from Antonio’s scrutiny.

I really needed to see a friendly furry face right now.

the shed

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out, Tip #22: When the guy you’re falling for is in the mafia, be prepared to see some scary stuff.

Walking across the sprawling grounds of a mafia compound surrounded by twelve-foot walls was surprisingly introspective.

Tranquil, even.

The lawn was lush and green and smelled freshly mowed. Birds sang from the trees. A light breeze teased my hair, whipping pink strands into my face, which I absently brushed away. I could see myself spending afternoons out here exploring the grounds with Bear.

When I wasn’t on the verge of a mental breakdown, at least.

Instead of looking for Bear, I should be marching up to Davian’s office and demanding answers from the man himself.

But I was afraid.

Afraid of seeing his father again.

Afraid of Davian saying he was engaged. That I was the other woman.

Or maybe I was afraid he wasn’t engaged, because then I’d be forced to face how my feelings for him had grown stronger than I’d thought.

To my mortification, tears welled in my eyes, and I swiped them away. I would not cry.

Not yet.

But what I’d told Davian out by the pool was the truth. I wasn’t just hot for my hostage.

I cared about him.

Stupid, foolish feelings.

Why couldn’t I have fallen for Bruno and spent my days hanging out in his ice cream shop? Or I could’ve asked Mr. Sanders to be my sugar daddy—despite him being woefully sugarless and only attracted to men.

Instead, I had to fall for my hostage and make things a bazillion times more complicated.

“Bear?” I called into the forest when I reached the tree line. The woods stretched further than I could see, seemingly endless from this angle. Just how many acres did Davian live on? “Come here, boy!”

Only a few chirping birds answered, and I glanced over my shoulder at the empty grounds. Despite the warm summer day, it was spooky all alone out here.

I took a deep breath and ventured into the woods.

With a canopy of trees blocking the sun from beating down on me, the temperature cooled quickly as I trekked through the forest. I crossed my arms against the chill and kept calling Bear’s name.

I’d been walking for a few minutes before I heard a response, but it sounded nothing like my furry friend’s bark. I turned in the direction of the noise, listening closely and walking toward it. “Bear?”

Another muffled sound answered, and I rushed forward—forcing my way through the brush and some plant with pointy little thorns before stumbling into a clearing.

In front of me, an old wooden shed sat in a small grove of trees. It was surrounded by overgrown brush and looked too sturdy to be abandoned, but the middle of the woods seemed like an odd place to keep a shed.

“Hello?” I called, slowing as I approached it. “Is anyone here?”

A faint voice came from inside. “Help me, please…”

I sucked in a breath. It was a man’s voice—hoarse and threadbare. He must’ve been yelling for help for a long time.

I ran over to the shed, heart thundering against my rib cage.

“Sir?” I called through the door, grasping the handle. “Are you stuck in there?”

The door didn’t move when I pulled, which made sense when I spotted a large silver padlock keeping it shut. My heart stuttered a few beats. The door getting jammed and trapping him inside would be one thing, but there was no way this man had accidentally locked himself inside with a padlock.

Someone had put him there.

“Yes, please let me out!” he cried, making me flinch. I could feel his desperation through the door. “Or he’ll kill me.”

My jaw dropped. “Someone’s going to kill you?”

Not on my watch. That decided it, and I went into panicked fixing mode.

“Hold on, sir,” I told him, grasping the padlock with both hands and trying to jiggle it free. It didn’t budge. “I’ll get you out!”

A broken sob echoed from inside.

“Thank you, thank you,” he mumbled before more crying took over.

I pulled harder on the lock, but it was too sturdy. I scoured the ground for anything I could bash it open with. A large rock underneath one tree caught my eye, and I ran over.

“This could work,” I whispered, scooping it up with both hands and running back to the shed.

“Are you still there?” the man called, before breaking into a coughing fit. “Please, please help—”

“I’m here,” I assured him as I lifted the rock high over my head, then hesitated. “There’s a lock, and I’m going to force it open. You should stand back, just in case I knock the door in.”

Turned out, I was woefully overestimating my strength.

I brought the rock down with all my might, and it harmlessly glanced off the lock—but not before pinching my finger between them. “Ow!”

My finger throbbed in agony, and I bit my lip to hold back a string of completely inappropriate curses. I cradled the rock in one arm so I could shake my finger out. When the shaking didn’t help, I popped it into my mouth to ease the pain.

It tasted horrible—like dirt and a bitter metallic tang that made my face scrunch up. “Blech!”

I was so focused on the pain that I didn’t realize someone had snuck up behind me until they spoke.

“Sadie?” Vince asked, startling me into dropping the rock and spinning to face him. His gaze dropped to the fallen rock, then up to the shed, before narrowing. “What are you doing out here?”

I drew my pulsing finger out of my mouth and picked the rock back up. “Vince, there’s a man locked in this shed! Help me get him out.”

Instead of rushing to the rescue and breaking down the door like he’d done at my apartment, Vince glanced at the shed with cold indifference.

“Sadie,” he repeated slowly, making no move to help me. “Put the rock down.”

“Don’t listen to him!” the man yelled. “You need to help me. I can’t breathe in here.”

“But—” My eyes darted between the shed and Vince’s stoic face, and a sinking feeling filled my stomach. I wet my lips and lowered my voice. “Did you know he was here?”

One of Vince’s thick brows arched. “Who do you think put him there?”

Shock stole the air from my lungs, leaving me breathless as my mind played catch-up.

“You’re keeping this man locked in there on purpose?” I gaped at him. “Why would you do that? It sounds like he’s injured.”

The man in the shed whimpered pitifully in agreement.

“Please,” he begged. “Reed won’t let me live after this. I’m a dead man.”

Davian wouldn’t let him live? My eyes widened in horror, but Vince’s stony expression didn’t even flicker.

This was the stuff of nightmares.

“You shouldn’t be out here,” he said to me, ignoring the man. “Come back to the house with me.”

He stepped closer and went to grab my arm, but I dodged out of his reach.

“No.” I turned from Vince and refocused on the shed. “This is wrong. I’m getting this man out.”

I bashed my rock against the lock.

Nothing.

Vince snorted behind me. “You don’t even know what he did.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I hit the lock again. “If he did something wrong, then we can report him to the police.”

“You mean the same police who helped you get your dog back from the Skulls?” Vince shot back. “Oh, wait. Or did they ignore you and you had to come to us for help?”

I paused, snapping my mouth shut. It was true—Officer Murdock hadn’t been much help when Bear was taken. Even before that, he’d dismissed all our concerns about the teenage thugs.

“The police don’t do shit in this town,” Vince continued. “That’s why families like Davian’s exist.”

I focused on hitting the lock again. “It’s still not up to you to decide whether a man lives or dies.”

He chuckled like I’d said something cute. “No one’s going to kill him.”

“Liar!” the man wailed, before a fresh round of sobs took over.

I brought the rock down on the padlock again. And again.

… It didn’t even scuff the metal.

After a dozen more futile tries that left me panting and growing more desperate, Vince heaved a sigh. “It won’t work. That lock is top of the line. Only a key can open it. You’re just wearing yourself out.”

But I didn’t give up. This man was counting on me. If anything, I swung the rock harder, and it… didn’t even make a dent.

Sheesh.

“That’s enough,” Vince said gruffly. He plucked the rock out of my hands and tossed it aside before I could stop him, then wrapped his giant mitt around my arm.

“What the—?”

He dragged me toward the edge of the clearing, and I fought with everything I had against his hold. He didn’t budge.

“Stop! We can’t just leave him—”

Vince yanked me forward, making me stumble. “Either start walking, or I’ll carry you over my shoulder all the way back to the house.”

His glower showed he meant it, and I had a sudden vision of him carrying me kicking and screaming all the way back to the house like a misbehaving toddler.

So, I started walking.

But I made sure to give him the deadliest glare I could muster while cradling my bruised finger.

It hurt.

“Wait!” the man in the shed yelled after us. “Don’t leave me—”

“Shut up, Lorenzo,” Vince snapped back at him. “We’ll talk later.”

The shed went silent, and I stared over my shoulder at it as Vince pulled me through the trees.

“What will happen to him? To Lorenzo?” I whispered as the shed fell out of sight.

“That’s for Davian to decide,” he answered shortly.

That sounded ominous, and unease swelled in my gut, but my curiosity got the better of me. “Why is he even in there?”

Once I’d stopped fighting him, Vince dropped my arm and grunted. “You didn’t think the rat problem was actual rodents, did you?”

Surprise made me trip over my own feet, and Vince grabbed my arm again—this time to keep me upright. “I— What?”

“Don’t look so shocked,” he said dryly before dropping my arm and looking forward again. “You know who Davian is.”

“Do I?” A shrill laugh escaped me, but he made a good point. Gladys and Ryan had warned me all about the Reed family. The whole reason I’d taken Davian hostage was because people were afraid of him. He was the only one those teenage thugs would listen to.

I just hadn’t known why until he shot Fessy. And now there was a man in a shed.

The need to sit down overwhelmed me, and only the fact I wasn’t wearing any underwear stopped me from plopping on the dirty forest floor right here.

“There’s a big difference between knowing and seeing,” I muttered. “And I only just learned I’m apparently a mistress, so that’s doing great things for my sanity.”

Vince didn’t say anything at first, and when I worked up the nerve to look at him, he was frowning. “What do you mean you’re a mistress?”

The whole Davian-getting-married thing felt almost laughable now compared to locking men in sheds, but it still hurt.

… And now I had a chance to get answers from Davian’s right-hand man. Vince could tell me what was going on.

“Davian’s father told me he’s engaged,” I said stiffly, watching Vince closely for a reaction.

He only stared at me like I’d grown a second head, which was oddly comforting. If Davian was getting married, surely Vince would know.

“You spoke to Old Seb?” he asked slowly, narrowing his eyes. “Ignore him. Davian doesn’t see Daniella like that—”

“Daniella?” I stopped dead in my tracks and clutched Vince’s arm. She had a name? Of course she did. Bitterness filled my mouth. “Who the heck is Daniella?”

Vince’s face twisted in a grimace—he definitely regretted letting that one slip—but it was too late to take the name back.

I wanted to laugh, but I was afraid it would come out as a sob instead.

This just kept getting better and better.

a prized cow

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out, Tip #23: When everything feels like it’s falling apart, know it can always get worse.

“Who’s Daniella?” I repeated through gritted teeth, fighting a losing battle to keep my composure.

Vince stared down at my hand on his arm in silence, and I gingerly pulled it back to my side.

He made sure to heave a large sigh like he was granting me some huge favor by answering me. “You don’t come from this world, but families like the Reeds thrive on alliances. Daniella’s father has a nice slice of territory up north, and he offered her to Davian for an alliance years ago.”

My jaw dropped.

“‘Offered her’? What, like she’s a prized cow or something?” I shook my head, because nothing about that computed in my brain. Who in their right mind offered their daughters to men in the mafia? But that didn’t stop my stomach from filling with dread, and my throat tightened uncomfortably. “Did he accept?”

“Not yet, but everyone expects him to cave eventually.” Vince shrugged. “It’s what’s best for the families.”

My heart stuttered. If Davian was so quick to help me and Bear—who were strangers to him yesterday—I could only imagine the lengths he’d go for his family.

And now I felt dirty.

I’d just done all that stuff with Davian, and he was as good as promised to another. My stomach warred between cramping and throwing up.

Another thought made me lightheaded, and I walked to the nearest tree to rest my palm against it.

“Does she love him?” I asked, bracing myself for the answer as I glanced at Vince.

I wasn’t sure if that would make it better or worse, but from the bewildered look he gave me, it was the last thing he’d expected me to ask.

“Love has nothing to do with it.” The corners of his mouth turned down. “That isn’t expected in our world. Those two have barely said three sentences to each other. But even if it doesn’t work out with Daniella, there’s at least a dozen other qualified women for Davian to choose from who would happily take her place.”

“A dozen?” I echoed, voice squeaky.

He crossed his arms and looked anywhere but at me. “Listen, kid. I know this is hard to hear, but Davian needs a strong woman who brings something to the table and will stand by his side. Not some clueless girl who bakes dog cookies and wears pink overalls.”

Unwelcome tears stung my eyes. “I’m not clueless.”

“Saying that just proves my point,” he muttered dryly. “I’m giving it to you straight because you deserve that much. You’re a nice distraction for him while his pop is still in charge.” His gaze flicked down my figure. “A sweet thing he can play with before he officially takes over the family business, but he’ll never stay with a girl like you long-term. It’s suicide in this world.”

A distraction. Something to play with? Now I definitely felt sick. And maybe a little weepy.

But I was also angry.

Angry at Vince for so easily dismissing what Davian and I had. At myself for falling so hard. And at Davian for not telling me he had a line of mafia princesses just waiting for a chance at him.

The anger clogged my throat, and I couldn’t speak.

Vince rubbed the back of his neck. “It sounds cruel, but it’s the truth. Are you even that surprised? You met him yesterday.”

“Right,” I whispered. It was a fair point. It seemed crazy to care this much about someone after a couple days, but nothing about how Davian and I had met was normal. Could my strong feelings for him have anything to do with him being my hostage?

Maybe reverse Stockholm syndrome was a thing.

“It’s nothing personal,” Vince added. “My job is to keep Davian alive. Right now, you’re the biggest threat to him.”

I scoffed. “Now you’re just being ridiculous.”

“Am I? Yesterday, Davian was untouchable. Our enemies had nothing on him. Nothing.” He huffed a laugh that lacked any humor. “Then you waltz in with your pink overalls and dog cookies, and it’s like an answer to their fucking prayers. You’re an easy target to be used against him.”

That stung. “I would never do anything to hurt Dav.”

“And I’m sure you believe that.” He looked in what I guessed was the direction of the house. We were still deep enough in the woods that all I could see were trees. “But others will try to get to him through you. You need to understand you’re putting him in danger just by being in his life.”

I frowned. “Do you want him to be alone, then?”

His gaze only grew more unimpressed. “I told you. He deserves a partner who can protect herself. One who’s just as capable as he is—and who can get a stupid dog back without his help. Someone like Daniella.”

How dare he.

“Who says I can’t protect myself?” I asked, lifting my chin. “I did just fine when I took Davian hostage.”

He snorted. “If you believe you were in control for even one second at Bruno’s, then you’re even more naïve than I thought.”

I was getting really sick of Vince pointing out every single flaw he saw in me.

“Forget it,” I muttered, shaking my head and marching down the path. His opinion didn’t matter. Davian was the one I needed to talk to.

Vince easily matched my stride. “Where are you going?”

“Davian’s office,” I answered shortly. At least, I hoped I was headed in that direction. It was impossible to see anything through these trees, and my sense of direction had never been great. “Then I’m leaving. If I’m just a plaything, then I’d rather spend my time at the shelter with the people and dogs who actually enjoy my company.”

I’d barely gotten the words out before Vince snatched my arm in a tight hold and veered to the right, manhandling me in a new direction. “Yeah, that’s not happening. Come with me.”

“What the— Hey!” I gaped at his grip on my arm, having déjà vu to the other times I’d been grabbed today. “Seriously?”

I tugged against his hold, but it didn’t budge, and all I could do was thump my fist uselessly against his arm as he dragged me wherever he wanted.

Where the heck was a broom when I needed one?

manhandled (again)

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out, Tip #24: Prior to dabbling in the life of organized crime, I highly recommend investing in self-defense lessons. You won’t always have a broom nearby.

“I’m getting really tired of being manhandled today!” I declared as Vince dragged me through the woods.

“Quit whining,” he snapped before pulling me straight into the branch of a tall shrubbery, which smacked me in the face. I spluttered when something fuzzy got into my mouth. “You can’t storm into that office while Seb’s here. We need you to stay out of sight until he’s gone.”

Plucking a rogue leaf off my tongue, I glared up at him. “Are you planning to lock me in a shed, too?”

“Of course not. You can stay in Davian’s room until Seb takes off, then I’ll send the boss up to talk to you.”

“Or—”

“It’s not up for discussion,” he growled, yanking me with enough force to make me stumble. I didn’t stand a chance against his mountain of muscle, so I resigned myself to my fate with a sigh.

Vince was a man of few words during the forced march to Davian’s room. He didn’t say anything until I asked where Bear was—and even then, he only spoke long enough to tell me Bear had bolted after a squirrel.

Then all I got was the cold shoulder.

He hauled me the whole way back to the house, even after I promised not to run off if he let me walk on my own. When we passed different guards, he’d nod to them, and they’d carry on as if Vince dragging a woman through the compound against her will was a perfectly normal mafia practice.

That was more than a little disturbing.

But the longer we walked, the larger the rain cloud looming over me and the more sluggish my steps. That hot flash of anger I’d clung to was fizzling out, replaced by a sadness usually reserved for when Bruno was out of bubblegum ice cream.

It didn’t help that thinking about ice cream gave me a sudden craving for the tasty treat. Maybe a bowl would ease the sting of Vince’s words.

Vince refused to release me until we reached Davian’s room, and then he couldn’t shove me through the doorway fast enough. But the glare he pinned me with guaranteed I didn’t go far.

“If you’re thinking about running again, don’t,” he warned. “I hid all the car keys, and the walls are too high to climb. The guards won’t hurt you, but you won’t make it to the gate this time without a dozen of them stopping you. You’re not leaving again.”

I rubbed my arm with a frown. “I thought you wanted me gone. Shouldn’t you be helping me out the door?”

The corner of his mouth lifted in a tight smile. “My job is to keep Davian safe. So, until he realizes what a terrible idea you are, keeping you here is the safest choice for both of you.”

Well, he sure knew how to make a girl feel special.

Vince moved to close the door, but I grabbed it just before it could shut.

“Wait.” I bit my lip. “Um… I’m sorry to ask, but is there any chance you could get me something to drown my sorrows? I’ll reimburse you for it.”

I really wasn’t trying to be dramatic, but it’d been a rough afternoon. I wasn’t opposed to numbing the pain a little.

For the first time since I met him, Vince actually looked at me with a hint of understanding. Maybe even a dash of sympathy—or pity—as he pushed the door open further. “Sure. What’s your poison?”

I sniffled. Bubblegum was for when I was already happy. I needed a comfort flavor for wallowing. “Mint chocolate chip, please.”

“Mint chocolate… Hold on. You aren’t talking about liquor?” He stared at me for a long moment—brow furrowed and mouth agape—before shaking his head. “I can check, but we don’t usually stock ice cream.”

My heart sank. “Great. That’s just great.” I was beyond keeping control of my emotions at this point, and my face crumpled before I could stop it. This was it. The straw that broke my proverbial camel’s back. I choked on a sob. “Could this day get any worse?”

Vince’s eyes widened in alarm.

“Shit. Don’t cry,” he blurted, fishing out his phone. “I’ll send someone out for it, okay? Just don’t cry.”

That cut off my surge of panic, and I drew in a shaky breath. Maybe I was overreacting… just a little.

“Thank you,” I whispered as he sent off a text. This definitely wasn’t one of my finest moments. “I’m sorry. I swear I’m not usually so emotional, but the stress of this whole hostage thing must be getting to me. The life of crime takes a toll, as I’m sure you know.”

Vince looked up from his phone and stared at me for a long beat.

“Uh, yeah. Don’t worry about it,” he said slowly, stepping back into the hallway. “There’s a store down the road. Shane is heading there now. Why don’t you just try to relax until Davian finishes with Seb? Take a bath or something. I’ll make sure a bowl of mint chocolate chip is here by the time you finish.”

Surprisingly, his pitiful attempt at sounding comforting made me feel a little better.

“That’s very kind of you. Thanks.” I dropped my hand from the door, embarrassed by my near meltdown. “I take back most of the mean things I thought about you while you were dragging me here.”

Not all of them, but the especially nasty ones like how I wished he’d lose all his taste buds so he could never enjoy good buttercream icing again. I wouldn’t usually wish that on my worst enemy.

“Don’t mention it.” He inched back like he wanted to be anywhere but here. I didn’t blame him. “Just hang out here until Davian shows up.”

I popped my head out the doorway after him. There was one more thing I needed to say.

“Vince?” I called softly to his back. He pulled to a stop, looking back at me, and I wet my lips. “I really am sorry I took your gun.”

He snorted, and his lips flirted with the beginnings of a smile.

“Water under the bridge.” He paused. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out with Reed.”

He said it like things already hadn’t worked out, which gave me pause. Was it over before we even had a chance to start?

Maybe I was fooling myself.

But Vince was the last person who’d be sorry about it, and I rolled my eyes even as a reluctant smile tugged at my lips. “No you’re not.”

His wide shoulders rose in a shrug. “Guilty. But you’re sweet, and sweet is a weakness in this life. Davian doesn’t need weaknesses.”

My smile faded. Antonio had said the same thing. “You’re such a jerk.”

“Did you expect me to be anything else?” He arched a brow. “I’ve got to check on something, but want me to bring the dog back inside?”

The question pulled at my heartstrings, and I had to fight down the urge to shout yes. Even though I wanted Bear’s cuddles more than anything, it’d be selfish of me.

“No thank you.” I dropped my gaze to the spotless hardwood floor. No matter how much I craved comfort, Bear was better off having fun with his new squirrel friend. “I don’t want him to see me like this.”

“… Right,” Vince said before taking off down the stairs like he couldn’t leave fast enough.

I sighed and slipped back into Davian’s room. The moment the door clicked shut, I wanted to yank it back open. I’d never been very good at sitting around and waiting. It made my skin itchy.

And now, I felt… lost.

One thing I knew for certain was my welcome at Davian’s compound wasn’t feeling so warm anymore.

I wanted to be back at Happy Tails Haven with the dogs, who didn’t care how strong I was.

Back with my friends, who would never call me a distraction.

I wanted to go home.

A soft buzzing sounded from the dresser, and I padded over to where my phone was charging. It vibrated with an incoming call, and the weight pushing down on my chest eased at the familiar name that flashed across the screen.

Gladys.

phone-a-friend

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out, Tip #25: There may come a time when you want to leave the hostage lifestyle. If that’s the case, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s not for everyone.

I’d never answered a phone call faster in my life. “Gladys?”

“Finally!” she cried loud enough that I yanked the phone away from my ear. “Where have you been, Sadie Marie? I’ve been calling you all day.”

“It’s a long story.” To my surprise, tears welled in my eyes. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed her voice. “And I don’t think you’ll believe even half of it, but I’m so glad you called. I could really use some advice.”

“You need more than advice, you foolish girl!” She huffed. “What are you doing hanging around Davian Reed? And how did you get a gun? Have you lost your damned mind?”

I hung my head, placing a hand over both my eyes. “Oh, Gladys. It’s all messed up. I don’t even know where to begin, but I think I’m in over my head here.”

She snorted a laugh. “You think? Well, it’s a good thing Ryan and I are parked outside the fortress Reed is keeping you in, then.”

My heart burst with a mix of relief and alarm as my head shot up, and I looked at the window. “You’re here?”

“Of course we’re here,” she said. “Emily said you sounded off when you called. Then those scary men showed up and took over the shelter, and we knew something was up. We drove the Dog-Mobile here as soon as we could.”

“Wait.” I walked toward the balcony doors and peeked outside. “What do you mean they took over the shelter?”

“One of the scowling ones said they were there for security, but we all know that’s just a cover. No good can come from having the mafia lurking around. They’re scaring off all our visitors.”

The tension eased from my shoulders. “No, no, Gladys. I asked Davian to send his men to the shelter as a favor, because of those teenage thugs. It’s a safety precaution.”

A long pause made me worried our call had dropped, before Gladys cleared her throat. “… You’re saying Reed did you a favor?”

She didn’t need to sound so shocked by it.

“He did. And I know you’ve heard rumors, but Davian’s not the terrible, scary puppy-murderer you warned me about,” I explained, then chewed on my lower lip. “Well, not completely. It might look bad, but he helped me get Bear back—”

“Sadie.” She talked over me, speaking slowly and deliberately. “If you try to tell me the big bad mafia boss is secretly some misunderstood angel, I’ll throw up the leftover egg salad sandwich I ate for lunch. That nest of vipers is the last place you belong, and we’re here to bust you out.”

The swell of relief that filled my chest made my knees a little unsteady, and I leaned against the balcony door.

My friends had come for me.

Right when I needed them, they’d shown up.

The rush of emotion was unexpected—and a lot to handle—but I was just happy Gladys couldn’t see me when I wiped my eyes. “Thank you. Truly. But how did you even find me?”

“That part was easy. We stopped by your apartment, but you weren’t there, and a shady young man was replacing the door—I can’t wait to hear your explanation for that, by the way. He refused to speak to us. So, I told the ladies in my book club what happened, and they asked around. You know how extensive our network is. They tracked down Reed’s place without any trouble,” Gladys explained, leaving me speechless. Her book club really didn’t mess around. “Ryan and I have been staked out in front of his dark fortress all day, trying to get in touch with you.”

Sniffling back the rest of my tears, I tried to rein in my excitement before we got ahead of ourselves. Vince had warned me it would be impossible to leave the compound again without him allowing it.

“They’re not actually keeping me here against my will,” I said to Gladys. Well, not exactly. I wasn’t sure how to explain the whole voluntary prisoner-slash-guest thing to her. “But I do think I’ve overstayed my welcome. And I miss you guys.”

“Good. That means they haven’t completely brainwashed you yet,” she said, making me roll my eyes. “We need to move quickly. Do you have free movement in there?”

“I do, but…” I bit my lip, because she wouldn’t like what I said next. “There’s something important I should do before we leave. I need to talk to Davian—”

“Absolutely not! Don’t you dare approach him. It’s too risky,” she warned. “He could stop you from leaving.”

“We don’t know that.” I squeezed my eyes shut. I needed to handle this delicately. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but he’s really not the monster people make him out to be. I’ve gotten to know him—”

“Sadie, stop talking. It’s not worth the risk, and we need to move now. How can we get you out?”

I huffed a sigh. But if I was honest, maybe I was a little relieved I could push off my talk with Davian.

I could always call him later.

Or email.

Or maybe it was time to bring telegrams back into fashion.

… Or maybe he’d take one look at the line of mafia princesses waiting for him and forget I ever existed.

I quickly shut down that train of thought.

“It won’t be easy. They won’t let me just waltz out the gate.” Not again, at least. I paced over to Davian’s bed and placed a hand on the soft sheets as an idea formed. A risky idea. “Does the Dog-Mobile still have that ladder from when we had to get Honey off the roof?”

A golden retriever we’d briefly housed at the shelter had proven quite the escape artist.

“I like where you’re going with this.” Gladys hummed softly. “Yes, the ladder’s here.”

“Can you drive to the eastern wall of the compound in six minutes?” I asked. At least, I hoped that direction was east. My heart did a sideways flip as what we were about to do sank in. “Around the area that lines up with the house. I need to find Bear, then I’ll meet you there. I’m just not sure what to do about the guards.”

“We have that part covered,” she said. “I’ll distract them while Ryan gets you out.”

The menace in her voice made me hesitate. “How exactly are you planning to distract them?”

“Don’t you worry about that,” she said, sounding even more sinister. “Do you want me to call the police for backup, just in case?”

I pressed my lips together, remembering how Davian hadn’t batted an eye at the car wash when the police were on their way. He wasn’t afraid of them. “I don’t think they’ll do anything to help us. We’re on our own.”

“Roger that. Ryan will meet you at the eastern wall. Six minutes.”

Just six minutes, and then I was out of here.

… So, why wasn’t I happier about it?

Leaving felt wrong. Dirty. Davian had dropped everything to help me. He’d opened his home to me and Bear. He’d made me see stars in the kitchen. Now, I was about to disappear without so much as a thank-you or goodbye.

But Vince’s cruel words rang in my head, and I clenched my jaw—pushing any second-guessing deep, deep down.

This was for the best.

“You’re a lifesaver,” I told Gladys as I pulled the top sheet off Davian’s bed. It was time to get to work. I could overthink everything later. “Thank you, Gladys.”

She snorted. “What are friends for if not to help each other break out of heavily guarded mafia fortresses?”

… Well, I couldn’t argue with that.

But I gulped as I stripped the fitted sheet off Davian’s bed. Was I really going to try escaping from his compound two days in a row?

My arms prickled with goose bumps just thinking about it.

Vince had called me weak, but he was in for a rude awakening. I didn’t need to hide out here like some helpless damsel.

I could return to my life and protect myself.

sadie’s great escape 2.0

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping, Tip #26: Not all escape plans are created equal.

My only regret as I hustled out to the balcony with an armful of tied-together sheets was I hadn’t waited for Vince to return with that ice cream before I escaped.

And also that I hadn’t confronted Davian.

But it was just too risky to chance.

Instead, I scribbled out a quick note explaining things as best I could and left it on his dresser like a coward.

I turned on the bath to buy myself more time when Vince returned—fully regretting not getting the chance to soak in Davian’s beautiful tub.

Cargo space was limited, so I stuffed my phone into my bra and grabbed my plant, Walter, before making my way down the makeshift blanket rope I’d knotted together.

It was slower going than yesterday. With my heart in my throat and my ankles clamped around the rope, I descended at snail speed.

It wasn’t until I was halfway down and a breeze hit that I realized I hadn’t grabbed a fresh pair of underwear. But it was too late to turn around—plus, I didn’t have the upper body strength to go back up my little escape route.

“Commando it is,” I whispered as I inched down the rope, breathing shallowly.

My heart threatened to burst out of my chest from the adrenaline coursing through my body. I was down to three minutes until Ryan would be at the eastern wall, and I still needed to track down Bear in Davian’s ginormous backyard. There was no time for dillydallying.

When I reached the bottom of my blanket rope, the grass looked even further away than last time. But I squeezed my eyes shut and forced my fingers to unclench before dropping through the air like a dead weight.

“Oof,” I huffed upon landing on the hard ground, silently apologizing to my poor butt.

Scrambling to my feet, I tucked Walter under my arm and headed in the direction I really, really hoped was east.

I kept my eyes peeled for Bear along the way, praying he hadn’t ventured too deep into the woods.

Luck was on my side, because while hurrying across the patio, I ran right into a chair and knocked it over. Not exactly ideal—and my elbow throbbed in pain from the hit—but when I stopped to pick the chair back up, a familiar brown and black lump caught my eye. Bear was lying on the patio in a sunny spot, stretched out on his side.

Even as relief weakened my knees, I paused for a moment to stare. I’d been getting leered at by Davian’s father and freaking out over mafia princesses, while Bear was out here… sunbathing?

That was so not fair.

“Bear!” I whisper-shouted, running to him. “I’m so happy to see you.”

Bear lifted his head—tail thumping happily against the ground—and revealed a familiar piece of footwear with chew marks all over it, which he’d been using as a pillow.

Oh no.

“Where did you even get that from?” I moaned, shaking my head in exasperation—though I had to admit, part of me was impressed by his dedication to pilfering Davian’s shoes.

Bear’s tongue lolled out, and he looked far too pleased with himself.

I couldn’t stop my heart from melting. He really was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.

But we needed to focus.

Checking the doors to the back of the house and the areas near us, I still didn’t spot any guards around. Fingers crossed it stayed that way.

“Let’s go, boy,” I commanded, beckoning Bear to follow as I took off toward the wall. “Come!”

Luckily, Bear jumped up and followed me like the good boy he was.

Not so luckily, he brought his recently acquired footwear prize with him.

It was a rough jog to the wall. Walter was heavier than I’d expected for such a slim plant, and Bear stayed glued so close to my hip that he tripped me twice. He must’ve noticed something was up.

Dogs were intuitive like that.

At the wall, I almost collapsed in relief—and from physical exertion—when I saw the top of a ladder peeking up from the other side before Ryan’s full head of blond hair popped into sight.

“Ryan!” I waved, trying to stay quiet as I herded Bear over. “Thank you so much for coming.”

He smiled and heaved himself up to straddle the wall. “We’ll always have your back, Sadie. Now, hurry up!”

“I am hurrying.” Couldn’t he hear me wheezing? “You have no idea how much cardio it took to even get this far. I’m not built for this.”

Ryan wasted no time showing why he was the most valued dog food carrier at the shelter. His bulging arms lifted the ladder over the wall in one smooth move that made my mouth drop open, before he let it drop to lean against our side.

He waved me up. “Get your butt up here.”

“Wait. Take Walter first!” I insisted before tossing the plant up to Ryan.

But my aim had never been great, and the pot smashed into the stone wall with a scary crack before Walter dropped back to the ground in a sad freefall.

I winced and crouched to pick him up. “Sorry, buddy.”

He’d lost a few droopy brown leaves during his ill-fated journey, but he didn’t look too worse for wear. Well… aside from the large crack in his pot.

“Here,” Ryan called down, waving me to the ladder and bending lower himself. “Carry it up to me.”

After darting up the first few rungs, I handed Walter over to Ryan just as a sharp whistle filled the air, followed by an explosion in the sky. I jerked at the loud boom—almost falling off the ladder—and Bear barked below us before Ryan shushed him.

I gaped up at a plume of white smoke exploding in the sky. Another whistle and bang quickly followed, with flashes of red, and more smoke appeared in front of Davian’s compound. But there was no way she would…

My mouth opened and closed. “Did Gladys really just—?”

“Yep,” Ryan said flatly. Not one to get distracted, he balanced Walter on the wall and beckoned me up. “Keep moving. We still need to swing around and pick her up.”

I stared blankly at him. Fireworks were Gladys’s idea of a distraction?

I prayed Davian’s men didn’t find her.

Another boom sounded, and I scampered up the rest of the rungs.

We needed to get out of here now.

When I reached the top of the ladder, Ryan froze as he got a good look at me. “What’s that on your face?”

Alarmed, I clapped my hand to my cheek—finding a glob of hardened icing from earlier. “Oh. It’s just icing. I was baking.”

His brows knit. “Reed lets his captives bake?”

I wiped at my cheek, but the icing was caked on. Only a loose chunk flaked free. “I was more of a guest than a captive.”

Sort of.

A sharp bark was Bear’s way of letting us know we were dawdling, and I looked down to where he stood at the bottom of the ladder. His head cocked to the side—with that dang shoe at his feet—and I gasped.

“Oh my gosh. I don’t know how to get Bear over the wall,” I said, starting to freak out. “He can’t climb a ladder!”

Ryan’s hand rested on my shoulder. “I’ll get him, but let’s get you to the ground first. Think you can hop down from here?”

I hoisted myself up onto the wall beside him and glanced down at the grass outside Davian’s compound. The Dog-Mobile idled a couple yards away—too far to jump onto the roof. But I’d dropped from higher up twice in the last two days, so I nodded. “Absolutely.”

“Just remember to roll when you hit the ground to lessen the impact.”

… Roll? I scrunched my nose. Was he saying there were secret tricks to falling without hurting oneself?

I owed my butt another apology. “You couldn’t have told me that yesterday?”

Ryan stared blankly, clearly questioning my sanity.

“Scratch that,” he said, as if he suddenly didn’t trust me to roll properly. “Grip my wrist, and I’ll lower you as far as I can.”

That did sound like a better plan.

He held out his arm, and I wrapped both hands around his wrist. With a deep, calming breath, I swung my legs over the wall and hung from his hold.

Ryan gently lowered me as much as he could, and I braced myself for the landing before letting go—but it was a surprisingly soft drop to the ground.

“Catch!” Ryan called down to me. I spun just in time to catch Walter.

“I’ll be right back with Bear,” he assured me before disappearing over the wall.

I shifted my weight at the bottom of the wall and glanced around nervously, silently urging them to hurry. For all we knew, Davian’s men could pop out of the bushes and tase us at any moment.

Then Ryan surfaced above the wall again, looking like a seasoned firefighter with Bear slung around both his broad shoulders. Lugging extra-large bags of dog food around all day really had paid off for him.

Given his slumped posture, Bear was… less than pleased about the circumstances.

Ryan leapt down—earning a yip from Bear—and landed in a low crouch, absorbing the impact like a pro.

I wasn’t jealous at all.

The relief that all three of us had made it over the wall without alerting any guards made me lightheaded. “You’re the best, Ryan. Thank you.”

He put Bear back down on his paws, earning a snort from our furry friend. “Hold your applause until we pick up Gladys. Come on.”

But the souvenir in Bear’s mouth would be a problem.

“Wait!” I walked up to him and got a strong grip on the shoe. “I’m sorry, but you can’t bring this with you. It belongs to Dav.”

After a little wrestling, I tossed the shoe back over the wall.

My aim was true this time, and it sailed over in a beautiful arc.

Bear sniffed the grass around the Dog-Mobile, already forgetting all about the shoe.

“What about the ladder?” I asked Ryan.

“Leave it.” He ushered me and Bear forward. “No time. Get in the van.”

The double back doors were open, and I heaved myself in before Bear jumped up behind me.

Ryan slammed the doors after us. There weren’t actual seats in the back of the Dog-Mobile, so I crawled over some blankets on the floor and around the large crate for transporting dogs, before settling in behind the driver and passenger seats. Bear plopped next to me—probably thinking we were going on some adventure—and I stuck Walter in the center console.

Ryan climbed into the driver’s seat and wasted no time giving the van gas. We tore across the grass, making me cling to Bear for balance.

One sharp turn later, Ryan hit the brakes and sent me and Bear lurching forward.

“Get in,” Ryan called as he flung the driver’s door open. He dove over the center console, landing clumsily in the passenger seat.

Gladys hopped behind the wheel and shifted back into drive. She stomped on the gas, and we took off down the road.

“I feel so alive!” She let out a hoot of laughter that made Bear bark in answer. “Good to see you, too, Bear. Sadie, you back there, girl?”

“I’m here!” We picked up speed and I clutched Bear. With no seat belts in the back area, I just held on for the ride.

“Are you okay? Any injuries?”

“No, I’m fine.” I absently rubbed my bruised elbow. They didn’t need to know about the minor incident with the patio chair. Or the shed’s lock earlier. Or that my butt had broken my falls twice now. “Where did you get those fireworks from?”

“Leftovers from Happy Tails’ Fourth of July party. Pretty explosive, right?”

Explosive, indeed.

“Did any of them see you?” Ryan asked as Gladys’s sharp turn lifted two of the van’s wheels off the road for a heart-stopping second. Bear leaned into me, and I rubbed his neck.

“Not a chance. I hid in the trees. The igniter had a nice range, and those men didn’t know what hit ’em,” Gladys said, bursting with pride. “See any tails?”

I looked over my shoulder, but I was no help without windows back here.

“No one behind us,” Ryan reported. “What’s the plan? We should probably regroup and switch cars when we get to the shelter.”

The shelter.

Uh-oh.

I cleared my throat, keeping ahold of Bear’s collar as we zoomed down the dirt road. “About that. There’s something I maybe should’ve mentioned before we did this. It might change our destination.”

“Spit it out, Sadie,” Gladys ordered.

I hunched my shoulders, bracing myself. “It’s just… I don’t think Davian will react very well to me escaping again.”

“Again?” she squawked, loud enough to make me wince. The van lurched forward with renewed gusto, and Ryan fumbled with his seat belt. “What do you mean ‘again’?”

A nervous laugh bubbled up. “Well, you see, I might’ve snuck out yesterday, too.”

Gladys rattled off an impressive string of curses that made me blush, and I covered Bear’s ears until she pulled herself together.

“Say no more, child,” she said through clenched teeth as her hands tightened on the wheel. “We’ll make sure that scoundrel doesn’t find you.”

Ryan finally got his seat belt to buckle. “Does that mean we can’t go back to the shelter?”

I chewed on my lip and glanced anxiously at the rear doors. “Probably not. I have a feeling Dav’s men will just take me back to his place if we show up there.”

Gladys muttered a prayer under her breath, and the van sped up even more.

I clung to Bear to keep us both steady on the bumpy ride, putting him close enough to sniff out the icing still caked to my cheek. His tongue gave it a big lick.

“Bear!” I laughed as another lick quickly followed, but his determination to clean every last trace of icing off my cheek was a comfort I really needed right now. Another laugh broke free as he knocked me over in his enthusiasm. “You’re such a goofball.”

I rubbed his neck and embraced his affection, because it turned out escaping Davian’s compound didn’t feel quite as freeing as I’d thought it would.

Instead, a hole formed in my chest and stretched wider with each mile we drove away.

again?

Davian

Earlier…

Today would go down in history as the day Davian Reed—infamous heir to Westport’s underground—died of blue balls. What a way to go. I could already hear my father making fun of me for it during my eulogy.

If I didn’t strangle him first for interrupting my time with Sadie in the kitchen.

He leaned back in one of the leather chairs on the other side of my desk now, rambling on about work and all the problems that needed to be dealt with. A new gambling den had popped up downtown, cutting into our profits, and he wanted me to take care of it.

I grew bored with the visit quickly.

My gaze strayed to the top drawer of my desk, where I’d hidden Sadie’s lace underwear for safe keeping. I’d told Sadie I’d only be gone a couple minutes, but nothing I’d done or said had convinced my father to leave yet.

I was debating telling him there was an emergency when he changed the subject. “Word on the street is you pissed off Zain Ali.”

That pulled my attention away from the drawer.

“Come again?” I asked. Zain was the one poaching men from us, not the other way around. I had the proof in a shed in my backyard. “I haven’t done shit to Ali.”

The brow over Seb’s eye patch rose. “Ah, so you didn’t shoot his brother in the leg before stealing the kid’s dog yesterday?”

Closing my eyes, I cursed under my breath. It wasn’t often my father said things that surprised me. “Fessy is Zain Ali’s brother?”

“An illegitimate one.” He twirled one of my pens around his finger. “Hashim got one of his mistresses pregnant. Fessy was kept a secret, but Hashim wanted the boys to know each other.”

This had to be a joke. “How did you find out?”

The pen-twirling came to a stop, and he smirked. “His wife wasn’t as happy about it. She made a lot of noise after she buried the bastard.”

Then it was likely Zain and his men who’d shown up at Sadie’s apartment. Based on what I knew about the hotheaded, trigger-happy Ali heir, nothing good could come of that. “Why would Fessy start his own crew with the Skulls if he already had family connections?”

“I never said the boys liked each other, but that doesn’t mean Zain wants anyone messing with his blood.” Seb tossed the pen onto my desk with a sigh. “Just tell me you didn’t blow up our decades-long truce with the Ali family over a damn dog, Davian.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was bullshit. “There’s more to the story, but it’s not his dog.”

“I don’t care whose goddamn dog it is.” His gaze hardened. “I don’t need Zain shitting in my backyard right now. Handle this.”

I bit back a retort. Zain had started poking around Lorenzo long before I shot Fessy. More was going on here.

“I’m already handling it,” I said instead.

Along with a dozen other messes my father had made.

“Are you?” Seb practically growled. His fatherly façade vanished as he leaned forward. “Zain is threatening war because you shot his little brother, and this is how you handle things? By baking cupcakes and getting your dick wet?”

The room went still, and I replayed his words.

There was no way my father could know Sadie was here. Not unless one of my men had told him—or he’d heard it from the same person who’d told him about Fessy.

The smile that slid across his face was anything but warm. “Yes, I met your charity case in the kitchen. Garishly pink hair? Big buggy eyes? Surprisingly nice legs for how short she is.” He leaned back in the chair, looking bored. “At least now I know why you were suddenly so interested in that damn dog shelter.”

I picked up the pen he’d been playing with, making an effort to keep my voice level. Unaffected. “You talked to Sadie?”

“Sadie,” he echoed with deliberate slowness, as if tasting each syllable. He grunted. “Pretty name. But I taught you better than this. If you want to roll around with a pretty girl, go to the clubs. Don’t bring strays home.”

My fingers tightened around the pen, adjusting my grip. “What did you say to her?”

He only leaned back further in the chair. Amusement flashed in his eye. “Look at you. I heard you were taken with her, but I didn’t want to believe it. Are you really getting worked up over a skirt?”

A sharp knock on the door barely stopped me from gouging my father’s other eye out.

I slipped the pen into my pocket and stood, grateful for the distraction as I strode to the door.

Antonio’s frowning face greeted me. He didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “Has the girl talked to you yet?”

I already regretted not going for Seb’s eye. “No. What happened?”

He glanced over my shoulder with a grimace. “She was supposed to come find you. Just talk to her soon. She was pretty upset.”

“In a second,” I said through a tight jaw. Turning back to my father’s smug face, I thought about all the ways he could’ve upset Sadie. There were too many to count. “What did you do?”

He had the gall to laugh. “You’ll have to be more specific, son.”

My steps were measured as I approached his chair. “Pop. What did you do to her?”

“Relax.” He waved a hand, dismissing me. “It’s nothing to get worked up over. I barely touched the girl.”

I had him yanked up from the chair and shoved against the bookcase before I knew I was doing it. The books rattled on their shelves as I pinned him by his throat, getting up close.

“You touched her?” I pressed, not recognizing the venom in my voice.

My father’s amusement only grew.

“Careful, Davian,” he rasped, wrapping a hand around my wrist. “You’re showing your cards.”

I pushed harder, cutting off his air. “If you so much as laid a finger on her—”

“He told her about Daniella,” Antonio said behind me.

My blood ran cold. I hadn’t heard that name in ages, and now it’d come up twice today.

“What’s there to tell?” I scowled, easing up on his windpipe just enough that he could answer. “I’m not going through with your bullshit marriage scheme.”

“Well, it’d be good for business if you did,” Seb said, voice hoarse under my hold. “Daniella isn’t so bad. A couple surgeries will fix that nose right up.”

My scowl deepened in disgust, but we didn’t have time for this. Sadie was prone to freaking out, and the longer it took me to find her, the higher the chance she’d convince herself never to speak to me again.

“Don’t go anywhere. I’m not done with you,” I told Seb, shoving him roughly before letting go.

I rounded on the door, and Antonio fell into step behind me.

“Leaving so soon?” my father called. “You haven’t even poured me a scotch yet.”

“Get your own damn scotch,” I said before swinging the door shut behind us.

“He knew about Sadie before he came over,” I said to Antonio, lowering my voice. “Someone’s relaying my moves to my old man. Find out who.”

He nodded curtly. “I’m on it.”

As he disappeared down the hallway, I headed for the backyard to start my search for Sadie—just as Vince rounded the corner with a bowl in his hand.

The contents drew me to a stop. “What the hell are you doing with a bowl of ice cream?”

He glanced down at it with a shrug. “Sadie asked for some. Apparently, I’m an errand boy now.”

“I’ll take it to her. Where is she?”

“Up in your room.” He handed over the bowl, and his gaze strayed to the door behind me. “What did Seb want?”

“Nothing good,” I said, walking past him. “I’ll fill you in later, but this is time sensitive.”

He grunted, and I took the stairs two at a time up to my room.

From the hallway I could hear the water running for the tub, and a plan began to form—this talk could go a lot better if we were both naked during it.

But all thoughts of hopping into a bath with Sadie vanished when I walked into my room and found the sheets stripped off the bed. The balcony doors were wide open, and a blanket was tied to the railing.

I didn’t need to check the bathroom to know the tub was empty.

“Vince!” I yelled, setting the bowl aside and striding to the balcony. Sadie had made a sad excuse for a rope out of our sheets. I leaned over the railing, but there was no sign of any pink-haired bakers or slobbering beasts in the open area of the grounds.

Vince burst through the door moments later with his gun drawn. “What happened?”

Cursing under my breath, I stormed back inside.

Other than her clothes, Sadie’s things were gone. Her phone wasn’t on the charger. Even that stupid dead plant she’d insisted on bringing here was gone.

But the piece of paper on the dresser hadn’t been there earlier. I picked up the hastily scrawled note.

Dav,

Sorry to run off like this. I’ve really enjoyed our time together, but I think it’s time for me to get back to my life. Thank you for not holding the whole hostage thing against me.

If things were different, I would’ve loved to have that dinner with you.

Your hostage-taker hostage friend partner sweetheart I’m not sure what to write here Thank you for everything,

Sadie

P.S. I’m also sorry for leaving the bath running (again), and I promise to reimburse you for the water bill.

I carefully folded the note and set it on my dresser, barely clinging to the last shred of my patience.

“Again?” I asked evenly, slowly rounding on Vince. “You lost her again?”

He’d been off fetching ice cream for Sadie instead of watching her.

Vince stared at the note like he couldn’t believe it was real before answering through a clenched jaw. “That girl is surprisingly duplicitous.”

“You keep underestimating her,” I said, already dialing the guard at the front gate.

A quick chat with Hollis let me know no one had left the premises.

“She couldn’t have gotten far. Have Enzo look through the outdoor camera footage while everyone checks the buildings and grounds. Be on the lookout for any hiding spots,” I told Hollis, before remembering something important. “Tell Enzo not to go back further than half an hour on the footage.”

I’d been so wrapped up in Sadie earlier, I’d forgotten about the security cameras facing the patio.

That was out of character for me.

Hanging up, I turned to Vince. “Find the dog. Sadie won’t leave without him.”

He scowled but pulled out his phone. “I’ll call in Shane and Malcolm to—”

A series of loud explosions erupted through the open balcony doors. Both of us reached for our guns and ran toward the noise.

The heavy scent of smoke came next, followed by quiet.

I shared a look with Vince. “What the hell was that?”

noooooooo

Davian

A soft whizzing sounded before another set of explosions filled the sky, making me and Vince both hug the wall.

“Are we under attack?” I asked in disbelief.

This day couldn’t get any stranger.

Vince shifted along the wall, creeping closer to the balcony doors. “No, it looks like… It looks like someone’s setting off fireworks?”

“At this hour?” It was still daylight.

He shrugged and eased back from the door. “It’s summer. Might be some kids messing around.”

I had my head of security on speakerphone by the time the next round of explosions went off. “What’s happening out there?”

“Fireworks on the west side,” Dante answered grimly. “Twenty feet from the property.”

“Who?”

“No sign of the culprits, but my team is on it. The explosives were set off at long range. Remote detonator.”

I frowned at the folded note on my dresser. The timing didn’t sit well. Sadie was hiding somewhere in the compound, and now there were fireworks. “Has Enzo made any progress on that footage?”

“He’s scrubbing it now.”

“Send him to my office. I want to see it.” I hung up and headed for the door, calling over my shoulder to Vince. “Come with me. We need to find Sadie.”

He snorted. “You’re acting like professionals are after her. It’s just some kids looking for trouble.”

“Things have changed,” I said, but there wasn’t time to get into it now. “Long story short, Zain Ali is Fessy’s brother. He was the one at Sadie’s apartment last night.”

Vince’s jaw dropped before he snapped it shut.

“Shit,” he muttered, voicing my thoughts as he jogged after me. “Well, that’s a curveball.”

“A big one. He’s planning something, and we need to get ahead of it.”

He grunted. “I’ll see if Malcolm’s put that team together.”

When we reached my office, I was surprised to find my father still there. I’d half expected him to be petty enough to leave after I told him not to.

“Davian.” Seb turned from the window, and I shoved back a wave of annoyance at his smirk. “Now that you’ve calmed down, I’ll set up a dinner with Gio and Dani—”

“Not now.” I moved to stand behind Enzo taking a seat at my computer. He pulled up a screen with four different camera angles and swapped through the feeds. “Any luck?”

He straightened his black-rimmed glasses and tapped a few keys. “I found her exit point.”

“Exit point?” There it was again—the pesky snapping in my chest. “She made it out?”

His fingers froze on the keyboard, and he glanced up at me. “Not too long ago, and Dante’s patching the hole in security now. It won’t happen again.”

I rested both palms on the desk and leaned forward. “Show me.”

He hit play while Seb joined us on Enzo’s other side, and the top two cameras showed different angles of Sadie climbing down the same escape blanket-rope she’d used yesterday.

We watched in tense silence as she dropped to the ground on her ass, though Vince may have stifled a laugh behind me.

Sadie scurried across the yard like a squirrel, with that dead plant of hers in tow. She stayed out in the open—not even bothering to hug the walls or try to stay hidden. Not that it mattered, since my security had somehow missed all this.

The more footage Enzo played, the less I believed what I was seeing. Sadie’s sneaking skills were… questionable, at best. Her hand-eye coordination was even worse. When she found Bear napping by the pool, she ran straight into a patio chair and tripped over it. Soil from her plant went flying, but she straightened the chair before taking off with Bear in a half canter, half limp.

I shouldn’t have found it so damn endearing.

She headed to the eastern perimeter, where a guy I’d never seen before was waiting with a ladder propped against the wall. I leaned in, unable to stop myself from sizing him up. If possible, this guy was even larger than Vince. “Who the hell is he?”

And just how long had Sadie been planning this?

“I think he’s from the shelter.” Enzo zoomed in on the feed as the guy beckoned Sadie up to him. “Dante is pulling up files on all the volunteers.”

One of her friends, then. I told myself not to care. That it was stupid to want to kill someone just because they were helping Sadie get away from me.

But there was something about watching the girl I’d begun to think of as mine canter-slash-limp toward another man that made me see red.

I watched the feed like a hawk—just as Sadie chucked her dead plant at the stone wall. Vince couldn’t stifle a snort this time when it fell to the grass, and neither could my father.

“That’s the woman who caught your eye?” he asked me dryly. “I thought I raised you better than this.”

The urge to grab a pen returned with a vengeance. “You should take a walk, Pop.”

He grumbled a few choice words but didn’t budge.

After some bumbling, Sadie made it over the wall, with her friend lugging Bear after her. Enzo switched to a camera angle on the other side of the wall, and Seb grunted in disgust. “What is that godawful eyesore?”

I recognized what Sadie referred to as the Dog-Mobile immediately, and my fingers flexed against the desk. “It’s a van from the dog shelter.”

But instead of getting into the van, Sadie went over to Bear and wrestled something from his mouth. She tossed whatever it was back over the wall—before everyone piled into the van.

They zoomed across the property, where Sadie’s elderly friend, Gladys, darted out of the trees and hopped into the Dog-Mobile. I watched in disbelief as they sped off without anyone from my team chasing them.

They’d even made it look easy.

“They’re heading back toward the city.” Enzo swapped to another feed that showed the back of the van.

I straightened up and checked my watch. “No one saw this happening in real time? The ladder? The van? Nothing?”

Enzo wouldn’t meet my eyes. “We don’t actively monitor the perimeter walls, so it was only caught on camera. By the time the motion detector alerted us to the activity, the team was on the west side, dealing with those fireworks.”

“Great.” We’d gotten outplayed by Sadie and her friends—who, I assumed, all lacked any experience with rescue operations. If this weren’t proving Vince’s assumptions about Sadie wrong, I would be more embarrassed for my security team.

Shaking his head, my father pulled out a pack of cigarettes. “This is a ridiculous waste of time. I’m stepping out for a smoke.”

I waved him off. I had more important things to deal with now.

“Dante is working to track the van down,” Enzo said as Seb slipped out the door. “Unless you want to see the footage again, I can go help him.”

“Go,” I ordered. “And send someone to find what Sadie threw over that wall. Thanks, Enzo.”

While he rushed off, I turned to Vince. “Send Malcolm and Shane after that van. Now.”

Instead of pulling out his phone, Vince scratched the back of his neck, hesitating. “Or… maybe it’s best to just let the girl go if she doesn’t want to be here.”

I stared at him. Was he making a joke? “Why wouldn’t she want to be here? The last time I saw Sadie, she was happy.”

I liked to think I’d had something to do with that, too.

He cleared his throat and looked out the window. “Well, women are fickle. She must’ve changed her mind.”

… Changed her mind?

Vince sounded nothing like himself. I studied him closely—the stubborn tilt to his jaw, his crossed arms, and how he didn’t seem the least bit worried Sadie was out there with Zain searching for her—until it hit me.

My father wasn’t the last one Sadie had spoken to before leaving.

Vince was.

And now he wouldn’t even look at me.

It’d been a long time since I felt dread like this.

“What did you do?” I murmured.

“Huh?” He coughed into his fist, glancing at me in alarm. “I didn’t do shit—”

“Tell me exactly what you said to her, Vince.” I took measured steps closer to him, but my last shred of patience was dangerously close to snapping. “You know I’m not engaged. You know I’ve never been involved with Daniella. Tell me you told Sadie that.”

His jaw clenched. “The only thing I know is you don’t need some helpless, naïve baker at your side.”

“You mean the girl who lifted a gun off you?” His hypocrisy made me scoff, and I pointed at the window. “And who just escaped from under your nose a second goddamn time? Don’t tell me what I need when you’re the one who needs to stop underestimating her.”

Vince’s face twisted into a scowl. “Can’t you see Seb and I are trying to protect you? Look around you. You’ve known this girl for a day, and she’s already made you soft.”

Seb and I.

Another piece of the puzzle clicked into place, and I shook my head. I couldn’t believe it. Didn’t want to. “My pop knew about Sadie before he came over. Tell me you’re not the one who let that slip.”

I wanted to be wrong, but the guilt was written all over Vince’s face—especially when he refused to look me in the eye.

“Seriously? You fucking snitched on me?”

“It was supposed to be harmless,” he muttered. “I thought he’d just tell you to cut her loose.”

“While Zain is searching for her?” Vince was the closest thing I had to a brother, but my fingers itched to choke him. “I shot the man’s family. What do you think he’ll do to Sadie if he gets his hands on her?”

His lips thinned. “I didn’t know he was involved then.”

My laugh lacked any humor, and I pulled out my phone before scrolling to the latest addition to my contacts. “Get out of my sight.”

“We’re just worried about you,” he said. When I turned away, he grabbed my arm. “Hey. I’ll make this right, okay? I’ll help you find her—”

“You’ve helped enough,” I said coldly, shrugging him off and striding away. If I stayed, I’d take a swing at him, and my priority was to get Sadie back before anything worse happened. I’d deal with him later. “I’m not kidding, Vince. If I see you again before I get her back, you better pray my gun jams.”

a van with a plan

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping, Tip #27: In the inevitable scenario where you’re on the run from your ex-hostage-turned-hostage-taker, rely on trusted friends for help.

“We have a plan, right?” I called up to Gladys, shifting as Bear leaned into my side. I was growing twitchier the further we drove from Davian’s compound. “Where are we going?”

“Away from those crazy murderers,” she shot back. “I’ve got a full tank of gas and a lead foot. We’re driving as far as we can in the opposite direction of that cursed place.”

I rubbed Bear’s neck as the van rumbled along, earning a nudge against my head from him. “They’re really not as scary as you think.”

“Oh, they are. The Reeds are bad news, Sadie. Murder. Secrets. Shady dealings at all hours of the night.” She listed off the allegations like a grocery list. “You don’t know who you’ve gotten involved with.”

“I might have some idea,” I muttered, thinking of the man in the shed.

“It’s even worse than I thought.” She took a sharp turn that made me careen into Bear’s furry face, and he sneezed on me. “My book club dug around and found more dirt on that Sebastian. He’s put six different family-owned places out of business this summer. It wasn’t just Haven’s rent that doubled.”

Well, that wasn’t good. But my curiosity got the better of me, and I squeezed my eyes shut before asking the other thing I’d been wondering since Davian’s father had ambushed me. “Just curious, but did your book club mention if Davian is seeing anyone?”

Gladys scoffed. “Why would I ask about that? We’ve got bigger fish to fry than speculating about some crime lord’s love life.”

“Right. Of course.” I felt silly for even bringing it up. “Forget I asked.”

“Sadie’s right, though. We need a plan,” Ryan said, pulling us back on track. He frowned at me from the passenger seat. “We can’t go to the cops, since they’re under the Reeds’ thumbs. Did Davian mention what he had planned? Was he threatening to hurt you?”

Gladys barked a laugh. “He was clearly playing with his food. Reed may want to keep Sadie around for his own amusement, but I won’t let him toy with her life.”

“It wasn’t like that!” A strangled protest left my throat, and I struggled to find the words to explain something that still felt like a fever dream. “A lot has happened since yesterday. Davian helped me, and he was so understanding about the whole gun thing. After we got Bear back, some thugs showed up at my apartment for retaliation, but then Vince saved me. Dav even let Bear and me stay at his place last night—”

“You stayed with him overnight?” Gladys’s voice grew exponentially pitchy, and she conveniently ignored the rest of what I’d said. “Sadie Marie Morris, you better not be telling me you’re sleeping with criminals you barely know now.”

“He’s not a crim—” I cut myself off, realizing how much of a lie it would be. Of course Davian was a criminal. I’d seen him shoot someone. Guards carrying weapons swarmed his estate—which I assumed was built on blood money and the bones of those who’d crossed him. He locked men in sheds. “Oh my god. I almost slept with a criminal!”

“Almost?” she asked sharply. “You mean you didn’t sleep with him?”

“Not exactly. We got interrupted.” Thinking about the patio and kitchen had my cheeks heating, and I loosened my grip on Bear. “But we did… other stuff.”

Gladys muttered a string of prayers from the front while Ryan grabbed his throat and pretended to gag. But I was shocked at myself. The girl I’d been a few days ago never would’ve even considered having dinner with a guy like Davian—let alone fantasizing about doing dirty things to him.

“What have I become?” I whispered. Shacking up with a criminal. Doing unsanitary things in a baking environment. This wasn’t like me. “I’m not even wearing any underwear!”

Gladys slammed on the gas pedal, making the Dog-Mobile groan as it fought to keep up with her demands. We were definitely pushing the van’s limits today. “No underwear? What could you possibly have been doing back there that you lost your knickers?”

“I’d rather not hear the answer to that,” Ryan muttered, rubbing his throat.

Gladys didn’t even try to hide her disgust as she scowled. “I thought he didn’t want you to leave because he wants revenge for that stunt you pulled with the gun. But you’re saying that man is sweet on you?”

She didn’t need to sound so shocked by it.

I huffed. “It might be hard to believe, but there are men on this planet who find me attractive—”

“I’m not questioning your attractiveness, you silly girl. I’m questioning who Davian Reed thinks he is to get involved with a kindhearted girl like you. That bastard has even less shame than I thought.”

Bear leaned into me as the van hit a bump, and I rubbed his chest. “Well, it doesn’t matter anymore. I might’ve misjudged our connection.”

Vince’s warnings haunted me, seeping into my thoughts like poison.

You’re a distraction. A sweet thing he can play with.

Gladys sighed. “You say that now, but I swear, child. You better not have magical lady bits that make him come after you.”

“Don’t be silly, Gladys.” My doctor once told me all vaginas were unique, but I doubted she meant some were actually magical. I figured she’d spotted something weird about mine and wanted to make me feel better. “We just need to hide out for a little, and I’m sure Davian Reed will forget all about me.”

After all, he had a whole line of fully qualified mafia princesses just waiting for him to choose one of them.

I huffed and rolled my eyes toward the van’s ceiling. Stop thinking about the princesses.

“We can’t afford to take any chances.” Gladys tightened her grip on the wheel. “In fact, we shouldn’t even stay in the States. Ryan, pull up directions to Mexico.”

He frowned. “Isn’t Canada closer?”

“Guys, I don’t think we need to leave the country—” My phone vibrated inside my bra, making me snap my mouth shut. Keeping one hand on Bear’s collar as we took a wide turn, I dug out my phone and checked who was calling.

The name on the screen made my eyes bug out.

“Oh god.” I jolted forward, and Bear’s ears pricked up. “Davian’s calling me. What do I do?”

“Don’t answer it!” Gladys jerked the van into a hard right turn. Ryan and I both clung to the nearest thing we could reach, and a can of wet dog food rolled across the floor at my feet. Bear watched it with interest. “Better yet, toss your phone out the window. He could be tracking you.”

“What?” I squeaked. “He’s not tracking me. Why would you say something like that?”

“Because he held you captive at his house,” she said, as if it should’ve been obvious. “He probably put a tracking app on your phone.”

“But I was there voluntarily.” I grimaced. “Well, mostly voluntarily.”

My phone wouldn’t stop ringing, and I frowned, narrowing my eyes at it. Davian wouldn’t put a tracker on my phone.

… Would he?

“You should answer it,” Ryan said after another ring. “Wouldn’t it be better to resolve this now, with your words, than for him to track you down later?”

I chewed on my lip.

He had a point.

I gulped, staring at Davian’s name. What would I even say to him?

A warm, wet tongue found my cheek, and my face scrunched as Bear licked it.

“Do you think I should answer it, too, boy?” I asked him.

His head cocked to the side, tongue lolling out. That was a yes if I’d ever seen one.

It was just a phone call. I could do that. Maybe closure would be a good thing.

“Right. Okay. I can do this,” I chanted under my breath. “I will do this.”

My thumb hovered over the button to accept the call, and I squeezed my eyes shut before pressing it.

meringue

Davian

The day had gone to hell.

Less than an hour ago, I’d had my head between Sadie’s thighs in the kitchen and thought I’d been showing her a good time. But apparently not good enough, because now I was back in said kitchen while she’d run off like she couldn’t get away from me fast enough.

I’d never felt a bigger blow to my ego.

To rub salt in the wound, it took six rings until Sadie answered her phone, then a painfully long pause before she finally spoke. “… Hello?”

I paced across the empty kitchen, forcing myself to sound calm when all I wanted was to order her to get her ass back here before Zain found her. “Where the hell are you going, Sadie?”

Her soft gasp showed my effort to stay calm might’ve failed, and another pause followed. “Um, I can’t tell you that.”

“Can you tell me why you took off after leaving nothing more than a note?” I asked just as Vince stepped through the swinging door behind me.

He must be calling my bluff about shooting him, because he just leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, watching me coolly. When he raised a brow, I almost did pull my gun.

Sadie gulped. “I’m sorry, Dav. I know I should’ve talked to you first. I just…” A voice yelled something unintelligible in the background, and Sadie quickly shushed them. “I sort of had a wakeup call about how different our lives are, and I thought it’d be better for us to go our separate ways now. You know, before things got messy.”

All right, so she was nervous and maybe a little scared. I could work with that. “Tell me more about this wakeup call.”

The frantic blaring of a car horn mixed with some colorful cursing made Sadie raise her voice.

“Well, Vince explained how things work in your world,” she said. “I know I’m just a distraction for you and you couldn’t be with someone like me seriously.”

I cut a glare at Vince, whose head jerked back.

“What?” he mouthed, totally clueless.

“You’re not a distraction,” I told Sadie, raising my voice so Vince got the message, too. His face twisted in a grimace. “Now, turn the damn van around.”

She sucked in a breath. “How do you know I’m in a van?”

“I’ll tell you as soon as you get back here.”

It was worth a shot.

“I can’t do that. I’m nobody’s mistress, Dav,” Sadie said, her voice growing stronger. “I won’t be a mistress.”

I was going to strangle my father for lying to her. “Good thing I’m not fucking engaged, then.”

There was another pause on Sadie’s end of the call, and I could just picture her biting that full lower lip of hers. “… You’re not?”

“My old man lied. There’s no engagement. No wedding. I’ve never even touched Daniella.”

“… But what about the line of mafia princesses waiting for you to choose one of them?” she asked, still sounding suspicious.

Of all the things I’d expected her to say… “What the hell are you talking about? What princesses?”

Vince made a choking sound, like he was coughing up a hairball.

“Vince told me you have a dozen of them willing to marry you to strengthen… alliance stuff or something like that,” Sadie said, stumbling over the words. “You know. Mafia things.”

My former best friend conveniently avoided my glare, and my fingers flexed against the countertop. Turned out, I was going to kill my father and my right-hand man all in one day.

“If there’s any hope for alliances, it’s one-sided. I’m not interested in any,” I told Sadie. “You’re the only one I’m involved with. The only one I want to be involved with.”

“Oh.” Her voice brightened considerably. “Well, that’s good news.”

“Glad we cleared it up. Now, come back here so we can talk the rest of this out.”

Her answering silence lasted long enough I thought the call might’ve dropped.

“Sadie?” I asked, turning my back to Vince and lowering my voice. I was willing to beg if that was what it took, but it wasn’t something I needed him overhearing. “Come back.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she whispered before clearing her throat. “These feelings we have for each other were so sudden, and the way we met was very… unique. But it doesn’t mean we should entertain this. I mean, how do we know we didn’t just get whisked away by the unexpected passion of a hostage situation?”

My jaw threatened to crack with how tightly I clenched it. “Whisked?”

“Yeah, whisked. Like… Like we’re a bowl of egg whites trying to be meringue, you know?”

No, apparently, I didn’t know.

Sadie sighed quietly. “It’s a lovely thought, but we’re not egg whites, Dav. And we’ll never be meringue.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it—wondering if I’d had a stroke—before putting it back. “Say that again in English.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” she said. “The last couple days have been like a fairy tale—well, one involving an alarming amount of blood. And instead of a princess in a tower, there was a man locked in a shed. But some time apart will give us a better perspective. For all we know, our feelings are the result of Stockholm and reverse Stockholm syndrome.”

I closed my eyes. This girl would be the death of me.

“I don’t care about syndromes or whatever the hell meringue is. I’m not playing around,” I said, fighting to keep my voice even. “I need you back here, where you’ll be safe. The Skulls’ friends know about the shelter and your apartment. Let me take care of them, then you can go wherever you want.”

I’d send Shane or Malcolm with her for security, but technically she could go anywhere.

“It’s so sweet of you to care, but I’ll be fine,” she said softly, before her voice strengthened. “Despite what Vince thinks, I can protect myself.”

Her determination to prove herself made me scowl. What the hell did Vince say to her?

Sadie cleared her throat again. “By the way, you didn’t happen to put a tracking app on my phone, did you?”

“No, but I should’ve.”

“Davian!”

I grunted. “Will you at least go to the shelter so my guys can keep you safe?”

Another pause. “That depends. Will they take me back to your compound if I do that?”

I hadn’t not considered that option, so I couldn’t lie to her. “This is the safest place for you right now.”

She heaved another sigh—heavier than the last one.

“That’s what I thought,” she whispered. “No, I’m not going to the shelter.”

I leaned over the counter, not recognizing my own voice when it dropped to a rasp. “You’re killing me here, sweetheart.”

Yelling sounded on her end of the call, and Sadie’s voice turned muffled. “I’m sorry, Dav, but I can’t be your sweetheart right now. I need to go.”

“Don’t hang—”

Click.

A string of curses flew from my mouth, and I had half a mind to launch my phone at the wall. But I couldn’t risk Sadie not being able to reach me.

Which left me standing in the middle of the kitchen, glaring at my phone like an idiot.

Vince was doing a piss-poor job of hiding a smirk as his shoulders shook, and I sneered at him. “What are you laughing at?”

He coughed into his fist and kicked off the wall. “Nothing. I just feel like I’m witnessing history. Never thought I’d see the day you lose your cool over a woman.”

I shook my head, but I couldn’t argue. It was true. “I told you to stay out of my sight.”

His smirk only widened. “I won’t apologize for looking out for you, because that girl will only bring you trouble. But I’m here to make things right. What’s the plan?”

“Get word to our team at the shelter in case she goes there anyway.” I pocketed my phone and headed for the garage. “Any word from Malcolm and Shane?”

“They’re on the road but haven’t found the van yet,” he said, following me. “Where are you going?”

I pulled out my gun and checked the clip. “To get Sadie.”

For once, Vince held his tongue and didn’t try to stop me.

Smart man.

He followed me to the mudroom, where I kept an extra pair of shoes for quick departures.

Except I paused in the doorway, because my shoes weren’t here. Instead, a brown stick covered in chew marks sat in their place.

A flicker of rage sparked in my chest as my eyes fell shut, and I took a deep breath.

That fucking hellhound.

you can run, but you can’t…

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping, Tip #28: Choose your escape vehicle wisely. Bulky vans that max out at 42 mph and lack proper safety harnesses might not be the ideal choice for quick getaways.

Well, that could’ve gone better.

I set my phone on the van floor with shaking fingers and patted Bear’s chest, wishing I could erase that embarrassing phone call from my memory.

“What was that about a man locked in a shed?” Gladys asked from the front. She’d slowed down considerably while I’d taken Davian’s call—especially after a taco truck had cut her off.

I winced. “It’s a long story.”

“I want to know more about the meringue metaphor,” Ryan said. “What were you smoking when you came up with that?”

I rubbed my eyes with a sigh. “I don’t know. It made sense in my head.”

The following silence as we drove grew way too awkward before Gladys finally broke it. “You weren’t kidding about that bastard being sweet on you, were you?”

To my embarrassment, tears welled in my eyes, and I fought to blink them back. “It doesn’t matter now.”

“But I thought you said Reed would forget all about you.” Ryan turned in his seat to frown at me. “If that’s true, why was he just begging you to come back?”

“He wasn’t begging,” I said, defensive of Davian. “And he’ll get over it.”

“Wait a second.” Ryan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Is that why Reed gave all that money to the shelter yesterday—because he wants to sleep with you?”

I blinked back at him, not following. “… What money?”

“He donated a small fortune! Mr. Sanders was over the moon about it, and he almost threw out his hip again. There was even a new security system included in the donation. Updated cameras and everything.”

“We’re one of those high-tech establishments now,” Gladys chimed in, though she lacked any of Ryan’s excitement. “But it’s all hogwash, in my opinion. A man like him wouldn’t donate without wanting something in return.”

“And you think he wants Sadie?” Ryan asked.

I was too busy reeling from the donation news to process what they were saying. None of this made any sense. “You’re saying Davian did all that? Davian Reed?”

Ryan shrugged. “The donation was anonymous, but you know how big of a mouth Brenda has. The whole place knew who the donor was before we fed the dogs breakfast. Mr. Sanders got a notice the rent went back to normal, too. I’m guessing Reed had something to do with that?”

When all I could do was gape, Bear butted his head against mine in concern. I petted him distractedly.

I’d mentioned the shelter’s rent problem to Davian once in passing, and he’d fixed it right away.

But why hadn’t he told me?

“Don’t go getting all weepy, child,” Gladys warned me as she passed another car. “You’re no corner girl. He can’t buy you, and I’m offended he’d even try.”

“He’s not buying anyone, Gladys.” Ryan’s ever-calm persona returned as he faced the windshield again. “Maybe he just likes dogs.”

A fist wrapped around my heart and tugged, throwing me off balance and constricting my throat.

“He doesn’t like dogs,” I whispered, sinking my fingers into Bear’s fur. I had to clear my throat before I could speak again. “You said Davian donated the money yesterday?”

“Yep. Last night.”

“Right before you shacked up with him,” Gladys added with a grumble. “Convenient timing.”

I caught my lower lip between my teeth. “But we didn’t do anything more than kissing until today.”

It occurred to me I was probably oversharing, but that had to mean something.

“Then he must’ve been planning ahead to get in your pants,” Gladys said grimly. “Slick mafia scum.”

“But Dav didn’t even tell me he donated money! How could it be some master seduction plan if I didn’t know?” I groaned and dropped my head back. “You couldn’t have mentioned the donation before I gave Davian a lecture on meringue and reverse Stockholm syndrome?”

“To be fair, no one saw that lecture coming,” Ryan said. “And it’s Davian Reed. We thought he had evil intentions with the money.”

“It’s a donation.”

“Yeah, and he’s in the mafia,” Gladys snapped, mimicking my tone. “Something you seem to keep forgetting. There’s no way he did that out of the goodness of his heart.”

I couldn’t believe this was happening.

Had I really just rambled on about egg whites after all Davian had done was help me? Who cared if we weren’t meringue. Egg whites were just as good in other forms. We could be an omelette. Or a nice soufflé.

“I should call him,” I decided, reaching for my phone.

Gladys jerked the van sideways, sending my phone flying across the back and out of reach. “So help me, child, if you pick up that phone—”

“Guys, be quiet!” Ryan waved a hand to silence us, but his attention was on the passenger-side mirror. “I think we’ve got a tail.”

I snapped my mouth shut, both Bear and I sitting up straighter. We hadn’t made it back to the city yet, and the road was mostly empty.

“Is it Reed?” Gladys asked as she pushed the Dog-Mobile faster. “He sure caught up fast.”

I swallowed and pulled Bear closer. Maybe Davian did have a tracking app on my phone, after all.

Without windows in the back of the van, I closed my eyes and clung to Bear. “What does the car look like?”

“It’s two dark SUVs.” Ryan’s voice grew grim. “They’re closing the gap.”

Davian’s men drove SUVs. Oh god, what if he was angry I hung up on him? Had I screwed everything up?

“I’m so sorry, you guys,” I cried. It was my fault they were at risk now, but I was pretty sure Davian wouldn’t hurt my friends. Well, as sure as I could be after finding that man in the shed. For all I knew, the compound had individual sheds ready for each of us. “I never should’ve pulled you into my mess.”

“Shut your mouth, Sadie Marie,” Gladys snapped. She swerved to the right. “This is what friends are for.”

“They’re boxing us in from both sides.” Ryan looked back and forth through the windows. “Should we surrender?”

“Over my dead body,” Gladys declared. “Hold on to your hats, kids. We’re not going down without a fight.”

She floored it, and I grabbed Bear and the side door as the van shot forward.

But the Dog-Mobile wasn’t built to outrun the mafia—or even go above forty miles per hour on a good day—and it made a terrible grinding before slowing in a series of short jerks as it fought to keep going.

I winced at one final choking gurgle before the engine sputtered to a stop, and we all sat in stunned silence as both SUVs shot past us.

“Blast it!” Gladys smacked the steering wheel. “You gosh-darned piece of—”

I covered Bear’s ears again at her string of curses. “Gladys!”

“They’re coming back,” Ryan blurted, pointing out the windshield.

Gladys turned the key in the ignition, but the Dog-Mobile only gave a few sad coughs without starting up again.

I rose to my knees in time to see both SUVs circle back to us and park out of my sight. Doors slammed behind the Dog-Mobile.

“Sadie, they’re approaching the back of the van,” Ryan warned me. He moved Walter from the center console to the dashboard and beckoned me over. “Climb up here with us.”

It was too late for that. “I’m not leaving Bear, but it’s okay. I’ll explain everything to Davian. He won’t hurt us.”

I was glad my voice sounded more confident than I felt.

Bear lowered his head and growled toward the back of the van, and I gripped his collar. “It’s okay, boy.”

I hated lying to him.

Bear moved in front of me just as voices spoke on the other side of the doors. One of the handles jiggled.

I swallowed and braced myself to face the cold, calculating eyes of my ex-hostage.

But when the doors swung open and let in beams of sunlight, the guy leering down at me wasn’t Davian Reed.

Not even close.

stranger danger

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping, Tip #29: Remember that tip about self-defense lessons? Yeah, get enrolled now, because the moment you realize you need them, it’ll be too late…

When we locked eyes and an arrogant smirk spread across the stranger’s face, my first instinct was to throw up.

Only the thought of being covered in my own vomit prevented me from hurling up all the cupcakes I’d scarfed down at Davian’s.

The man even reminded me of Davian. Tall, dark, and dangerous, but I was surprised to see he didn’t look much older than me.

It was the entourage of scary older men in dark clothes, flanking him, that made me dig my fingers into Bear’s fur.

The predatory way they all watched me made me feel like a cornered rabbit—and not in the fun and arousing way Davian did.

As if he could sense danger in the air, Bear lowered himself in front of me with a soft, rumbling growl. His head stayed low to the van’s floor, and the fur on his back stood up. Just now, he reminded me more of a wolf than a dog.

“Well, if it isn’t Davian Reed’s little girlfriend.” The guy in charge ignored Bear and looked over what he could see of me behind my bodyguard. He frowned, raising his voice. “You sure this is the right girl, bro?”

To my shock, the “bro” who limped into view around the Dog-Mobile’s doors was none other than Fessy from the car wash. He hobbled forward on a pair of crutches, and the bulky white bandage wrapped around his thigh made me wince.

When he looked at me, his nose wrinkled like he smelled something bad. “Yeah, that’s her. That’s the chick Reed was kissing on.”

But the longer the other guy looked at me, the bigger the furrow in his brow. “… You’re sure?”

His skepticism—as if he couldn’t believe Davian would go for someone like me—stung, but I was still trying to comprehend what was happening right now.

“Fessy?” I wet my dry lips and laid a comforting hand on Bear’s rump. “What are you doing here?”

“You know these scoundrels, Sadie?” Gladys whispered behind me.

“He’s the one who took Bear!” I pointed at Fessy’s smug face. I didn’t know the other guy, but I doubted he was friendly if he was hanging out with a teenage gang leader. “And his gang vandalized the shelter.”

Fessy scowled at me and hobbled closer on his crutches—earning a loud warning growl from Bear—before the ringleader planted a hand on his chest to stop him.

“You’re sure this is the girl?” he repeated in a low voice.

“Positive, Zain.” Fessy lifted his chin. His beady little eyes glared daggers at me. “Reed shot me because of her crazy ass. She’s the one we want.”

My heart skipped a much-needed beat. “What do you mean you want me?”

“Listen, we don’t want any trouble,” Ryan said slowly. He placed a calming hand on my shoulder, but I did not feel calmed. “Why doesn’t everyone just take a moment to breathe, then we can talk this out?”

A smirk curled Zain’s lips, and my stomach twisted. I’d mistaken his look for leering earlier, but it was something more covetous than that. Which somehow was even creepier to be on the receiving end of.

He cocked a brow at Ryan. “If your friend didn’t want trouble, then she shouldn’t have messed with my brother.”

… Brother?

“Wait. You two are related?” I asked, looking back and forth between them. They both had the same thick brows and dark hair. But where Fessy was a gangly teenager, Zain had filled out into a man. He had scruff on his jaw and wore a dark suit, while Fessy was still sporting a baggy basketball jersey three sizes too big.

But they’d teamed up, chased down the Dog-Mobile to find me, and brought a group of scary men with guns along for the ride.

This was not good.

“Blood was spilled, and I won’t let an attack on my family go unanswered,” Zain continued, ignoring my question. “Reed’s gotta pay for what he did.”

Okay, this wasn’t just not good. It was bad. Very bad. And I needed to salvage it before things got even worse.

“All we wanted was to get Bear back and to stop the Skulls from messing with Happy Tails Haven,” I explained, trying to keep my voice calm and reasonable. But I was really starting to freak out a bit. “I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, and I’m sure Davian is sorry—”

A sharp laugh from Zain made me snap my lips shut. His lackeys snickered, and a sour taste filled my mouth.

“Reed has never been sorry in his life, but that’s about to change,” Zain drawled. His eyes flicked to me again and went cold. “Grab her.”

“Whoa!” I gasped, scooting back on my butt and knocking into the center console. “Wait a second now—”

Bear’s growl reverberated through the van.

A lot happened at once, and my brain struggled to keep up in all the chaos. Two of the scary men jumped into the back of the van just as Ryan grabbed my arms, pulling me back. But more men opened the front doors and swiftly overtook Gladys and Ryan.

Then Bear lunged at our attackers.

“Bear, no!” I scrambled after him, worried he’d get hurt. “Don’t do that, boy. Come here!”

But the joke was on me, because from his victim’s pained yelp, Bear was winning.

I was torn between scolding him and cheering him on.

The other henchman grabbed my ankle, and I desperately kicked to shake him off—earning a grunt when my foot connected with his shoulder.

Once again, I really wished I’d remembered to put on a fresh pair of underwear as my skirt flew up with the kick.

“Stupid dog,” Fessy yelled, and I looked up just as he lifted a crutch and swung at Bear.

“Don’t hurt him,” I cried, using one hand to hold down my skirt as I kicked again—aiming for my attacker’s face.

My heel connected with a satisfying crunch, and he jerked back with a howl.

Only for two other scowling goons to take his place.

I huffed. This was not how I’d imagined things going when I left Davian’s place.

“Hang in there, Sadie!” Gladys yelled just as the men grabbed my ankles and dragged me out of the van.

“Gladys! Ryan!” I yelled. Giving up on maintaining any modesty, I flailed with everything I had against their steel grips. It did nothing. But while it might be too late for me, my friends still had a chance. “Run for it!”

“Like hell we’ll leave you,” Gladys called back, followed by a loud thump. “Get your grubby little paws off me, you ruffian!”

In the midst of the mayhem, I looked toward the road for help as the goons pulled me to my feet—but the SUVs blocked any passing cars from sight.

Bear leapt to my rescue, latching on to the arm of one of the men holding me and thrashing with a vicious snarl. The man cursed and shoved Bear off him.

Bear planted himself between the two guys holding me and the SUVs, and the goons hesitated. They could tell Bear had no intention of letting them take me past him.

“What are you waiting for? Get her in the car,” Zain ordered from behind Bear.

I used their hesitation to struggle against my captors, even if getting free felt impossible. The one on my left grunted. “But the dog…”

Bear snarled and jumped forward with a warning nip, making the men yank me backward with them.

“Just shoot the damn thing,” Zain snapped, pulling a gun out of his waistband.

Terror stole my breath, and I stopped struggling.

Shoot Bear?

“Stop. Don’t hurt him!” I gasped out, going limp in the men’s holds. “I’ll go with you, okay? Just let Bear and my friends go, and I’ll go with you. Please.”

Zain snorted and barely spared me a glance.

“Who said we need your permission?” he asked. When he raised the gun at Bear’s snarling form, my heart dropped into my stomach. “You’re going with us whether you cooperate or not.”

“Please!” I cried as tears blurred my vision. The urge to throw up reared its ugly head again, but I swallowed it. “Don’t shoot. Please don’t shoot him. I’ll do anything. I promise, just don’t shoot.”

Zain’s head tilted to one side as he watched Bear. And for one terrifying, paralyzing moment, I thought he would pull the trigger.

Until Fessy limped forward and stopped beside his brother. “You’re not really gonna shoot the dog, are you?”

Zain rolled his eyes. “What do you care?”

“I don’t,” Fessy backtracked quickly. He balanced on one crutch and scratched the back of his head. “… But he’s just a dog.”

“He’s not ‘just’ anything,” I protested through my tears. “He’s Bear, and he’s my best friend—”

“Holy shit. Fine.” Zain lowered the weapon and jerked his chin impatiently in my direction. “You have ten seconds to control your animal, or I’ll shut him up myself.”

The two men holding my arms loosened their grips until I could break free, and I ran up to Bear just as he darted past me to jump on one of the goons. His teeth latched on to an arm, sinking into skin and earning a howl of pain that gave me a heart attack.

“Bear, stop!” I yelled over the man’s screams, terrified Zain would decide to shoot now.

Bear let go immediately, backing off his victim and standing guard between me and the men who’d held me. He kept growling, eyes never leaving the one he’d singled out.

I was just relieved he’d listened to me. Now, I needed to make sure he kept listening and didn’t give Zain any reasons to shoot.

“It’s okay, Bear,” I cooed to him, easing around to his side. “It’s okay. Sit.”

He obeyed again, plopping his butt down but not letting up on his growls. I fell to my knees at his side and wrapped my arms around him in a big hug.

He wasn’t feeling the love at first and tried to wiggle free, but I tightened my hold. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”

I kept repeating it over and over, until the force of his growling slowly faded, leaving just a light rumbling from his chest.

“Thank you for protecting me,” I whispered, combing my fingers through his fur to calm him.

“Sadie Marie, don’t do this,” Gladys called to me. “You can’t go with those men.”

I took my focus off Bear long enough to see men pulling Gladys and Ryan around the side of the van. It took three of them to drag Ryan, even though he wasn’t putting up a fight.

Swallowing, I raised my voice. “What else am I supposed to do?”

She didn’t have an answer for that.

Neither did I.

When Bear whined into my ear, I squeezed him even tighter. “I need you to be a good boy and stay with Ryan and Gladys now, okay? Stay.”

Gladys spoke up again—telling me not to go—but I focused on Bear.

“Take care of them, okay? They need you now,” I whispered. I needed him, too. But more than that, I needed Bear and my friends safe. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to them because of me. I allowed myself one more Bear-hug and pressed a big kiss to the side of his snout. “I’ll be right back.”

When I pulled away, his big sad puppy-dog eyes cracked my heart straight down the middle, and I swallowed a sob.

“See? Nice and calm. You’re such a good boy, Bear,” I murmured through a tight throat, unable to resist scratching between his ears one more time. “I love you so much.”

“That’s enough.” Zain grabbed my arm and yanked me back from Bear, making me grit my teeth. “Get in the car.”

I stood on shaky legs and forced myself to turn away as even more tears escaped. I could feel Bear’s confusion as I walked away with the scary men.

His soft whine almost broke me, and I stumbled a step before Zain pushed me forward.

Fessy balanced on one of his crutches and opened the back door for me, but I paused in front of it to squint up at Zain. “You promise you won’t hurt them?”

His thick eyebrow rose. “You’re the only one we need. Your friends are free to go.”

I gave a short nod. It wasn’t a promise, but it’d have to do.

Bear’s whine morphed into barking, and I squeezed my eyes shut to stop myself from looking back. I didn’t want him to see me cry. It would only confuse him more.

So, I grasped the door handle with a trembling hand and moved to climb in.

“But to make sure you behave during the drive…” Zain trailed off behind me. “Sweet dreams, cupcake.”

I had a second to frown—and shudder at the unwelcome pet name—before pain exploded behind my eyes.

I dropped like a sack of potatoes as everything went dark.

above average

Davian

The damn hellhound hadn’t just stolen my shoes from the mudroom—he’d gotten into the entire collection. Every last pair in my closet was missing, and I had no idea where the hell he’d hidden them all.

“When did he even have time to do this?” I asked Vince. If it weren’t slowing me down from getting Sadie back, I might’ve been impressed. “I thought you were watching him.”

“I’m not a pet sitter.” His nostrils flared. “And that dog is a menace. I took my eyes off him for a second outside, and he got into Tony’s garden.”

I couldn’t imagine the chef would be happy about that.

But thanks to the beast’s antics I ended up borrowing a pair of Vince’s boots.

… Which led to a new problem we hadn’t foreseen, and I made it five steps into the garage before pain shot through me like my toes were being severed from my body. “How am I just now learning you have tiny feet?”

“My feet aren’t tiny, you ass.” He scowled at the boots. “They’re above average.”

“I can’t feel my toes.” I tried wiggling them, but his spare boots packed them in tighter than sardines. “What size are these?”

Vince grumbled something about ungrateful bastards and clown feet before storming ahead to the nearest SUV, and it was the closest I’d come to smiling since Sadie had run off.

But there wasn’t time for ribbing him, even if he did have shockingly petite feet.

We climbed into the front of the SUV, and I started making calls while Vince took the main road back toward the city.

I tried Sadie four more times. No answer.

It was difficult not to take it personally.

I called my men at the shelter, too—but there was no sign of her. Sadie’s landlord said he’d keep an eye out for her, and Bruno promised to call me if she showed up at his place. What was supposed to be a quick chat with Mr. Sanders to see if he’d outfitted the Dog-Mobile with a tracking device was hijacked by his undying gratitude for my donation.

“No, I never saw the point in GPS tracking. Sounds like just another way for the government to keep tabs on all of us,” he answered gruffly. “Though now, with the sizeable donation you made, I don’t see why we couldn’t make that happen. The new security system was installed today, and one of your fellas walked me through all the features. Spiffy stuff, never seen any technology like it.”

“Back to my other question. Has Sadie called—”

“I just can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for Happy Tails Haven,” Mr. Sanders continued, gushing more undeserved praise. “I don’t care what anyone else says about you, Mr. Reed. You’re a good man. A decent man. You’ve changed these dogs’ lives. Hell, as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. My reputation would never recover from helping Sadie.

“Don’t mention it,” I said, keeping my tone brusque. “Have you heard from Sadie at all today?”

“No, no. Is something wrong?” He finally sounded concerned. “She was supposed to bring Bear back this morning. The rest of us had a surprise party planned to celebrate their return, but then Gladys and Ryan disappeared. I can check the new cameras—”

“Just call me at this number if you hear from her,” I said before hanging up.

I was texting Enzo to see if he could hack Sadie’s cell carrier to track her down when Malcom’s name flashed across the screen.

I’d never been happier to answer a call. “Tell me you found her.”

“We caught up to the van,” he answered shortly.

The worry that’d had my chest in a chokehold since Sadie left finally loosened its grip, and I could breathe again. “Good. Send me your location, and we’ll meet you—”

“Wait.” Malcolm cleared his throat. “Boss, we found the van… but your girl wasn’t in it.”

how many times can one be taken hostage?

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping Being Taken Hostage (Again), Tip #30: Avoid being taken hostage yourself at all costs. (I can’t seem to master this one yet.)

Karma had found me. What was that saying?

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Well, apparently that applied to hostage-taking.

And if there was one place I never expected to wake up in my life, it would be tied to a chair in a small bedroom that looked like it’d been abandoned midrenovation.

I wasn’t in much better shape myself. My head throbbed after being knocked out, and leftover tear tracks dried on my cheeks. I didn’t even want to know what my hair looked like.

And my company was… less than ideal.

Zain and Fessy stood together in the corner, whispering with quick hand gestures, but at least the other goons were nowhere in sight.

Blinking against the bright light from a lamp pointed toward me, I used the time while they were distracted to scope out my surroundings.

The room itself left a lot to be desired.

An entire wall of drywall was missing, leaving exposed and frayed wires. The wall across from it had clearly been mauled by a sledgehammer. Most of the carpet had been ripped up, and my upper lip curled at the dirty futon in the corner with a raggedy blanket and a bunch of rusty nails sprinkled on top. Both windows were covered by dark bedsheets.

As I eyed the ropes tying my wrists to the armrests and felt others wrapped around my ankles, it slowly sank in that my current predicament was exactly what Vince had warned me about—that I’d be used against Davian. And I couldn’t help feeling embarrassed by how I’d reacted before Zain had rudely hit me over the head. A crying, blubbering mess was the exact opposite of the woman Vince said Davian needed at his side, but seeing Zain point a gun at Bear had really frightened me. It felt warranted to cry a little.

But now, I needed to be brave.

Luckily, neither of the boys had noticed I was awake yet, so after being creeped out by the room, I used the opportunity to eavesdrop.

“Reed shot you over this girl, so she must mean something to him,” Zain was telling his brother. “This is our payday.”

Fessy didn’t look so sure, and he shifted his weight to lean on one of his crutches. “Yeah, but what if he retaliates?”

“Then we’ll handle it. No one messes with our family. Not even the Reeds. We’ve got a chance to get what we’ve been owed for years now.”

Or maybe my time would be better spent distracting them from their evil plotting.

“Why is there a bathtub in here?” I side-eyed a large grey-stained tub across from the futon. “Nothing about this place looks up to code.”

Fessy’s head snapped in my direction. “She’s awake.”

“No shit,” Zain muttered. He walked over and kicked the chair leg my right ankle was tied to, making my heart jump as I clung to the armrests. He wore the same no-nonsense look Gladys used with the dogs when they misbehaved. “Tell me exactly who you are to Reed.”

“What?” Instinct told me to deny any involvement. “I’m no one. I barely even know Davian.”

“She’s lying.” Fessy scowled, hobbling over to stand behind his brother. “He shot me because of her.”

“I only just met him yesterday,” I said, which was the truth.

“So, you just met him, but you were hanging out at his place today?” Fessy’s brows rose. “That was fast.”

“Well, it’s a bit of a complicated story.” I frowned. “Wait. How did you know I was at his place? And you knew I was in the Dog-Mobile before you chased us, too!”

A proud smirk curled Zain’s lips. “I don’t reveal my sources.”

My eyes widened. Sources? Could one of Davian’s men have betrayed him?

My mind went to Vince first, but I didn’t think he would do that. He’d been keeping me at the compound so Davian would be safe.

Unless it was all an act.

“Listen.” I tried to sound professional even as the ropes around my wrists and ankles were cutting into my circulation. “I don’t want any trouble. All I wanted was my dog back. I’m sure if we put our differences aside and speak from our hearts, we can work this out without involving Davian.”

Zain only sneered. “I’m done listening to her. Find some duct tape for her mouth.”

“Wait!” I pulled against the bindings, even though it was useless. “Time out. Can you please not do that? I’m not great at breathing through my nose if my mouth is covered. It’s like I have to actively think about it, and it feels like I’m getting less air—”

“Stop talking,” Fessy snapped at me, and I smacked my lips shut. “How the hell does Reed put up with all your yapping?”

“Shut up, both of you.” Zain raked his fingers through his hair and glared at me. “All you need to do is sit there and be quiet when we call Reed. Can you do that?”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, not sure I actually could. “I’ll try, but will you at least tell me what you want from him so badly that it was worth taking me hostage?”

I’d be a hypocrite to judge anyone using this tactic to get what they wanted, but at least rescuing Bear had been a noble cause.

“We just want the territory that’s rightfully ours,” he answered, eyes hardening. “Reed pigeonholed our family to the north side. My dad might not have been man enough to take him on and get the rest of our territory back, but that changes now.”

I sighed.

“You want to trade me for land?” I asked doubtfully, then shook my head. The lack of forethought in their plan was almost embarrassing. “I’m sorry to burst your bubble, boys, but I think you’re severely overestimating my worth to Davian. You might want to lower your ask to something more reasonable.”

An idea sparked, and I perked up. “How about a beautiful twelve-speed and self-cleaning stand mixer?”

They stared for a full beat before sharing a silent look.

“A stand mixer?” Fessy echoed flatly.

I nodded so quickly my poor head screamed in pain. “Davian already has two in his kitchen. I’m sure his chef would part with one if it meant my life would be spared.”

Actually, I wasn’t so sure Antonio would do that. If the mixers had been mine, these boys would have to pry them out of my cold, dead hands.

They both only stared at me, which made me feel the need to fill the silence. “I mentioned the mixers were self-cleaning, right? That’s usually a strong selling point.”

Another long, uncomfortable pause passed before Zain turned his back to me and strode to the door. “I need to work with Nasir to set up a call with Reed. Stay here and watch her, Fes.”

Fessy hobbled after him. “You’re leaving me alone with her? But she’s crazy—”

“She’s tied to a chair and completely helpless. I’ve got bigger things to worry about than babysitting some chick.” He stopped in the doorway long enough to pin his brother with a look. “Don’t screw this up, kid.”

The door clicked shut behind Zain before Fessy could get another word in.

Things only got worse from there. Refusing to look at me again, Fessy muttered a few choice curses at the door before propping himself up next to the table with the lamp and burying his nose in his phone. It was quiet and uneventful with him ignoring my existence, so I counted the seconds in my head while waiting awkwardly for something to happen.

Six minutes passed, and… nothing.

Who knew being a hostage could be so boring?

I tapped my toes against the floor and wished for the umpteenth time today that I had put underwear on before leaving Davian’s room.

“Where are we, anyway?” I asked when I couldn’t tolerate the silence anymore.

He glanced up from his phone. “Nowhere Reed knows about, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I would hope he doesn’t know about a place like this,” I muttered, eyeing the bathtub again with a sigh. “You know, none of this would’ve happened if you hadn’t committed a crime and abducted Bear.”

He slammed his phone down next to the lamp with a scowl. “It’s a shelter. Isn’t the whole purpose to get the dogs adopted? Who cares if we skipped the paperwork?”

“I do.” I straightened my spine as my voice went squeaky with frustration. “I care. All adopters are screened to verify they can responsibly care for their new family member. Plus, there’s an adoption fee you definitely didn’t pay when you broke the lock on the door and abducted Bear.”

That only made him roll his eyes. “You need to chill. It’s not that big of a deal.”

I huffed at his ignorance. “It’s a big deal to me. I just don’t understand why you can’t go through the proper channels. They exist to protect you just as much as the dogs.”

“I am this close to finding that duct tape and risking your weird-ass breathing issues if you don’t shut—”

But Fessy never got to finish his threat, because Zain chose that moment to burst back through the door with a knife in his hand and murder in his eyes.

who are you calling an old woman?

Davian

Vince barreled the SUV down the passing lane while I replayed Malcolm’s words in my head. The phone threatened to snap in my grip as the last of my patience vanished. “What do you mean Sadie isn’t in the van?”

Malcolm cleared his throat. “The old woman says—”

“Old woman?” a furious voice screeched in the background, making my ear ring. “This old woman rescued Sadie from your evil den of criminals. And now her being kidnapped is your own damn fault!”

A familiar lethal calm settled over me, and the same cold focus that took over before a kill coursed through my veins.

“Kidnapped?” I asked softly.

The question was deceivingly calm, and Vince straightened at the wheel, putting more pressure on the gas.

There was a weighted pause before Malcolm answered. “That’s what she says.”

… Kidnapped.

It sounded wrong. “Tell me what else Gladys said.”

“That two dark SUVs ran them off the road, and a group of men took Sadie. They heard the names Zain and Fessy, and the physical descriptions match what we know.”

My free hand balled into a fist, and the SUV suddenly felt too small. I needed to pace—to get my hands on Ali.

How the hell had he found her?

“She says they went north,” Malcolm added while more squawking sounded in the background. “Shane already went ahead to scope out Zain’s headquarters, but I hung back to help Sadie’s friends get their van started again. They’ll give me a ride to meet up with Shane.”

Great, so now Gladys and the guy with the big muscles who’d helped Sadie get away from me were going to come along. Just what we needed.

“Vince and I will head in Shane’s direction. Call me with any new information.” I hung up.

I was at a loss. Feeling this powerless was new and unsettling. I didn’t know where Sadie was—or if she was hurt or scared or freaking out.

Well, it was highly likely she was freaking out.

But all I knew for certain was she was in the hands of my enemy, and that made me more than a little pissed.

“Head north,” I told Vince, pocketing my phone. “Ali has her.”

He didn’t hesitate before pulling an illegal U-turn, making me brace against the door. “That quick?”

“Fessy’s involved, too.” Nothing about this abduction sat well. Zain had to have known Sadie was in that van ahead of time, and that meant someone had told him.

Someone who didn’t want Sadie sticking around.

I watched Vince closely. “Did you do this?”

“What? No.” He jerked the wheel before straightening out. A vein bulged on his forehead. “Hell no. My plan was to keep her inside the compound so she wouldn’t put you at risk. This is the opposite of what I wanted.”

Some of my tension eased, but if it wasn’t Vince, then who? Lorenzo hadn’t known about Sadie.

It was possible Ali’s men had been watching the shelter and followed the van to the compound. I liked that answer better than the possibility we had another rat.

“There’s more going on here. Something I’m missing.” Being out of the loop frustrated me to no end, but I needed to focus on getting Sadie back now. “We need to find out what we’re walking into. You know that family best. Who can we get to inside Ali’s camp?”

His thumb tapped the wheel. “Maybe Nasir. He’s got five kids and is up to his ears in debt.”

I tried to place the name. “The tech guy?”

Vince nodded. “He’s smart. If any of Ali’s guys will see reason, it’s him.”

Hopefully, my reputation hadn’t fallen too far yet and Vince was right about Nasir’s smarts helping him see the benefits of betraying Ali and helping us—the main benefit that he’d get to live.

“Reach out to him,” I said. “Tell him the sooner this goes down, the smoother things will go for everyone involved. Promise him whatever he wants. Cash. Protection. Whatever. Just get the location of where Zain took her and a head count of his men and weapons.”

“On it.” He steered with one hand, pulling up a number on his phone. He held it to his ear for two seconds before cursing. “Straight to voicemail. I’ll keep trying.”

I flipped my phone over in my hand and glared out the window. What else was I missing? What could I be doing?

And what was Zain doing to Sadie?

“We should’ve heard from Ali by now.” I shifted my glare down to my phone—which noticeably was not ringing. “He has her, so why hasn’t he called yet?”

“They could be on the move. I’m sure she’s fine and he’ll be in contact soon,” Vince said, taking pity on me. “What’s the point of kidnapping Sadie if they don’t use her for leverage?”

If nothing else, his attempt to reassure me was amusing. “Since when do you sugarcoat the truth?”

“… Maybe she’s not as bad as I thought,” he admitted, even if it sounded like the words were being dragged out of him. He grimaced. “It takes talent to give me the slip twice.”

“Yeah, we’re still going to talk about that later.”

“I screwed up. Won’t happen again.” He shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, though. I still think you two are a horrible idea.”

I had nothing to say to that. Maybe we were a horrible idea. Sadie herself thought our lives were too different to give this a serious shot.

And Vince claimed I didn’t need a helpless baker by my side—that she’d just be a weakness.

But I recalled how Sadie had brandished that ridiculous broom at the car wash, and how her eyes had flashed when I tricked her into staying at the compound. How she’d pointed that gun at my chest with determination, even as her hands trembled.

There was nothing weak about her.

As if on cue, my phone buzzed with an incoming text—and for one gravity-defying moment, that damn warmth in my chest thought it’d be from Sadie.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

Join this link in 5 minutes if you want your girlfriend to live.

Not Sadie, then, I thought dryly as my earlier flicker of rage grew into something hotter. Angrier.

I read the text again before forwarding the link to Enzo to look into.

“Change of plans,” I said through a clenched jaw. “Drive to our nearest safe house. Anywhere within five minutes of here.”

Vince glanced over and lowered his phone. “What happened?”

“Ali sent me a link to a video call.” All our safe houses were equipped with computer equipment. If I could get it set up in time, Enzo might be able to track their location. “The punk said to join it in five minutes if I want Sadie to live. I’m going to remove his head from his body.”

I’d meant it as an offhand comment—while also a fact—but Vince adjusted his one-handed grip on the wheel and gave me another side-eye. “You need to cool it. If you show up on that call like this, they’ll know she means something to you. But if Ali thinks you don’t care, he’ll be less likely to hurt her. In fact, you should let me talk to him instead—”

“I’m taking the call. That’s not negotiable.”

He pursed his lips, staring straight ahead at the road. “Then humor me for a minute. The goal is to get Sadie back safely. What’s the best way to accomplish that?”

“Easy. I’ll just tell Ali what I’ll do to him if he doesn’t hand her over.”

Vince’s fingers twitched, like he was fighting the urge to face-palm. “If you go in guns blazing, you’ll spook him.”

“I’m not an idiot. I know how I need to play this.” When he looked doubtful, I raised a brow. “I won’t let him see anything I don’t want him to.”

Vince still didn’t seem convinced, but I wasn’t so heated that I couldn’t see reason. The best move was to play it cool on the call and make them believe Sadie meant nothing to me, then explain to her later why I’d had to bluff. With the mask I’d spent years perfecting, it’d be child’s play.

… Unless Zain had touched her. Then all bets were off.

anything but that

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping Being Taken Hostage (Again), Tip #31: Just because YOU are opposed to torturing your hostages doesn’t mean all hostage-takers are. It helps to keep in mind you’re more useful to them alive.

At least, I hope that helps.

One second, Fessy had been threatening to smother me with duct tape. Then the next, Zain stormed into the room like a crazed barbarian out for blood.

He charged at me without a moment of hesitation, and I saw my short—yet joyful and love-filled—life flash before my eyes as I braced myself against the chair.

When he reached me, he grabbed my jaw tight enough that I whimpered—jerking my chin until I was looking into his furious gaze.

But it was the knife he wielded that stole my breath.

Fessy hastily tottered over on his crutches. “Bro, what the heck are you doing?”

Zain ignored him and kept a firm grip on my jaw as he lifted the knife toward my chest.

Oh no.

This was taking a turn from very bad to potentially catastrophic.

“Oh god. Oh god. Oh god,” I chanted as he moved the weapon closer to my breast. My heart pounded against my rib cage hard enough that my head swam. This was my worst fear coming to life. “Please don’t cut off my nipples!”

The sharp blade froze a hair’s breadth from the fabric of my shirt, and Zain’s dark gaze flicked up to mine. “… What?”

Each breath felt like it was ripped out of me.

“I have a phobia of someone cutting off my nipples and eyelids. Please, anything but that!” I cried, trying to suck in my chest while pulling harder against the stubborn ropes around my wrists—but the knots were impressively tight. If the Ali brothers hadn’t already chosen a life of crime, their knot-tying skills would’ve given them a leg up as Boy Scouts. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. You want my peanut butter dog treat recipe? It’s yours. Code to the shelter’s medicine supply? Eight-Four-Nine-Zero-Two. Just please don’t chop off my—”

“Stop. Talking.” He swiped downward, and the knife sliced through the front of my shirt like butter, making me stiffen with an undignified squeak. The ruined shirt gaped open, leaving only one final barrier between me and these hooligans—my pink demi bra with cartoon cupcakes.

At least Davian had chosen a cute one.

“I’m making sure you’re not wired, you moron,” Zain grumbled, acting like I was the one pushing the boundaries of acceptable hostage-situation behavior. “Something that should’ve been done before loading you into the car.”

The last bit was barked at Fessy, whose brows pulled together. “No one told me to do that.”

My chest heaved with uneven breaths, but relief had me slumping back in the chair as Zain let go of my jaw.

My nipples were safe.

“Oh. Okay.” Though I wasn’t sure why he thought I’d be wearing a wire. Did Zain think I was a spy going undercover to infiltrate Davian’s compound? I mustered a shaky smile, all too aware how much skin was on display now. “See? No wire here. Just a cute bra I got on sale at that boutique downtown that has the pink churro stand out front. Best churros in the city.”

When Zain’s only response was a twitch of his left eyebrow, I looked down again at my bra and all the cleavage on display, then swallowed. “But, um… if it’s all right with you, I’d prefer to keep my bra on. It’s embarrassing enough that I’m not wearing any underwear.”

Zain’s continued blank stare warned me—once again—that it was time to shut up.

He glanced down at my lap before frowning at Fessy. “You’re positive this is the girl Reed’s screwing?”

“Hey, we are not screwing.” My cheeks must’ve been bright scarlet as I shifted in the seat. “I mean, sure, there were some close calls… Not that my sex life is any of your business.”

But Fessy ignored me and nodded. “It’s her. They were all over each other. He even came to my headquarters to get the mutt back for her.”

“Could everyone please stop calling Bear names?” I muttered.

A quick rapping on the door made all three of us stiffen before a stout middle-aged man poked his head inside. His gaze went straight to Zain, not even acknowledging me tied to a chair in the middle of the room. “I sent the link to Reed. The call starts in a few minutes.”

I perked up. A call with Davian sounded promising. He would know what to do.

“Good work, Nasir. Get everything set up,” Zain ordered. “And there was no wire under her shirt. Could something fit inside a bra?”

Nasir finally acknowledged my existence. He eyed my bra with a measuring look that wasn’t at all leering, while rubbing a hand over his thick beard. “It’s possible, depending on how sophisticated Reed’s bugs are.”

The other two followed his lead and stared at my bra, lingering a little longer than necessary.

But no way was I letting them take off any more of my clothes.

“Hey. Buddy.” I snapped my fingers at Zain, grateful to have at least that much movement with my wrists tied. “This is getting weird. Let’s all just keep the rest of our clothes on, okay? You can play your little fetish games later—”

“It’s not a fetish game, you freak.” Zain’s withering glare and the tension in his shoulders told me he regretted not getting that duct tape. “It’s payback.”

He jabbed a finger at me—bringing the knife blade dangerously close to my chest again—and I squeaked in fright, sucking in my torso as best I could.

“Are you serious?” Zain’s nostrils flared. “I didn’t even touch you.”

I shuddered, leaning as far from him as I could with my bindings. “I’m sorry, but I can’t stop thinking about you cutting off my nipples. Whatever happens, can you just promise you won’t do that? Anything but that.”

When Zain only stared down at me, Fessy coughed lightly. “It’s a really dumb move to tell us your weaknesses.”

“I don’t care! I’m already freaking out at the possibility. Please promise?”

The brothers exchanged a glance, which led to Fessy shrugging.

“Fine. Whatever,” Zain muttered, lowering his weapon. “We promise not to cut off your nipples.”

Exhaling, I slouched against the chair. “Thank you. That’s all I ask.”

He frowned, seeming to regret agreeing so quickly.

“But that doesn’t mean we won’t do other things if you and Reed don’t cooperate,” he warned, voice guttural, his patience thinning. “Painful things.”

My answering nod was grim as my heartbeat returned to a normal rate. “I understand.”

“C’mon, Zain. We won’t actually hurt her, will we?” Fessy looked between both of us, fingertips rapidly tapping his thigh. “Reed shot me just for talking to her. Imagine what he’ll do if we—”

“Shut up!” Zain rounded on his brother, shoving a finger into his face—sans knife this time, I noted. “Question me in front of her again, and she won’t be the only one worried about chopped-off nipples.”

“Dude—”

“Either get on board or get out, Fes.”

Fessy chose to get on board, and he slowly retreated to the corner to lick his wounds.

To distract myself, I watched as Nasir lugged a folding card table and a laptop into the room. He set them up in front of my torture chair and hooked up a few other devices to the computer.

“Well, this looks official,” I muttered, eyeing the fancy equipment.

Once the laptop was open and facing me, Nasir held out a long, thin handheld device to Zain. “Use this to check her for a wire.”

Zain wordlessly took the wand and waved it in front of my bra like a seasoned magician. When the device didn’t beep, Zain returned the wand to Nasir without another word.

No apology. No offer to reimburse me for the ruined shirt. Nothing.

I blinked at his back, thoroughly unamused. “… You couldn’t have done that before destroying one of my favorite shirts?”

Zain was no longer acknowledging my existence, instead watching as Nasir hunched over the laptop and typed a stream of commands before straightening. “You’re good to go, boss. It’ll start as soon as Reed joins the call.”

“And there’s no way Reed can trace it?” Zain asked, giving me a sliver of hope. Was Davian capable of something like that?

“None,” Nasir confirmed, making me slump back against the chair. “The signal is encrypted.”

“Good. Go wait out in the hallway.”

While Zain got into place beside me, I eyed the laptop. A little rectangle in the corner of the screen showed Zain fussing with his hair, Fessy hiding in the corner, and me sitting half-naked and tied to a chair.

Turned out, I’d been right about not wanting to know what my hair looked like.

“You keep your mouth shut and let us do all the talking,” Zain warned me while straightening his sleeves. “Understood?”

Like the good girl Davian claimed I was, I pressed my lips together and nodded obediently. Whatever got me out of here alive.

“Bro, wait.” Fessy waved a hand in my direction. “It’s a video call. We can’t join with her shirt ripped like that.”

I glanced down at my exposed cleavage, silently agreeing. It wasn’t anything Davian hadn’t seen before, but I didn’t usually make a habit of publicly prancing around in my underwear.

Or lack thereof.

Zain mumbled a few choice words under his breath and looked over the room. He zeroed in on the futon and snapped his fingers. “Grab that blanket. Hurry.”

I watched in horror as Fessy grabbed a nasty tattered brown blanket and shook off the rusty nails that’d been on top before limping over to me.

But I didn’t want that horror show anywhere near my delicate skin. “Wait, maybe there’s a clean shirt I could borrow instead—”

“Remember the duct tape,” he hissed, and I snapped my mouth shut again.

Fessy draped the blanket over my front just in time for the laptop to ding, and it couldn’t have been a closer call if he’d tried.

Because Davian’s handsome face had popped up on the screen—stealing all our attention and making me forget all about the itchy blanket when his glacial gaze collided with mine.

I gulped.

He did not look happy.

mine

Davian

My hit list had grown exponentially as the day progressed. My father. Vince. And now, the Ali brothers.

Vince had given me a few unnecessary warnings to remain calm while we’d set up the safe house’s computer equipment. Now, he sat across from me at the old desk with a scowl and a phone to his ear, still trying to get ahold of Nasir.

But it must be amateur hour in Zain’s slice of the city, because he and Fessy looked like they’d been caught with their hands in the cookie jar when I joined the video call.

I didn’t allow my gaze to linger on where Sadie sat, but she didn’t seem too upset.

Fessy scrambled off to stand in a corner, while Zain straightened next to Sadie. “Reed.”

I cocked a brow and waited for him to continue.

A lengthy, awkward pause settled in before he lifted his chin. “Well, I see you were smart enough to join the call. Good.”

He had no idea what he was doing.

“Can we pick up the pace here, Ali?” I leaned back in my chair and checked my watch, knowing it would piss him off more than anything. “I’ve got other things to do. You interrupted my schedule and demanded I join. I joined. Let’s move it along.”

His dark eyes flashed, but he didn’t take the bait.

“Didn’t think you’d be in such a hurry,” he said instead, gesturing toward Sadie. “Not even going to check in on your girl here? Say something to her?”

I could feel Vince’s glare boring a hole into my head. “What do you expect me to say? You abducted a woman I met twenty-four hours ago. I barely know her name.”

He scoffed. “Cut the crap. Fessy saw you with her, and you cared enough to join this call.”

I made a show of sighing and looking at Sadie—but the sight of her stopped me cold.

She was staring straight at the camera and blinking like a maniac.

A flurry of quick blinks. Then five slow. More quick ones.

My brows pulled together in a frown.

I couldn’t tell if she was having a seizure or trying to blink back tears, and I had to stop myself from asking her if she was all right.

Luckily, I wasn’t the only one to notice her sudden tic.

Zain clapped his hands in front of her face. “What the hell is wrong with your eyes?”

Sadie immediately stopped blinking. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“You’re blinking like a spaz.”

“Oh. Um, I think something flew into them,” she lied through her teeth. When Zain eyed her doubtfully, she looked up at him with her big, innocent eyes, which didn’t fool any of us. “Don’t worry. I’m not trying to get any coded messages to Davian or anything like that, if that’s what you’re worried about. I don’t even know Morse code.”

Vince stifled a snort, and I wanted to hit my forehead against the desk. Coded messages?

What the hell.

When Zain only stared at her, Sadie slowly faced the camera again. After a pause, she quickly blinked twice.

“You’re doing it again!” He scowled. “Stop it.”

She immediately stopped. I wasn’t sure what she was even trying to say to me, but a new distraction stopped me from thinking about it too hard.

“What’s that brown thing on top of you?” I asked. It looked like they’d covered her with an old tarp.

Sadie glanced down at it and cleared her throat.

“Oh. It’s a little chilly in here, so the boys gave me a blanket,” she answered brightly. Only her head was moving, and my unease grew. “It was very hospitable of them.”

This time, I was the one staring. Had she just shown gratitude toward her captors?

“Let’s cut to the chase, Reed.” Zain stepped closer to Sadie and spun a blade around his fingers before deftly catching it. “How much is her pretty face worth to you?”

My eyebrow rose. “You want money?”

“Just answer the question,” he shot back. “What are you willing to offer to get her back?”

Like I said. Amateur hour.

“That’s not how this works, and I don’t have time for games.” My thumb tapped the armrest. “You have the hostage. You make the demands. State your price, or we’re done here.”

I’d said something similar to Sadie at Bruno’s ice cream shop, but it’d been almost playful then. There was nothing lenient about my tone now.

Zain took it in stride, even if he did grit his teeth and give me a look that told me he’d love nothing more than to see me dead. “I want everything from Rex’s border all the way to downtown. The territory’s rightfully ours.”

I chuckled. I couldn’t help it. The boy wasn’t just delusional—he’d lost his damn mind. Over half that area was mine, and I wasn’t giving him even a single square foot. “Yours? According to who?”

“Our father—”

My laughter abruptly cut off. “Your father was a drunk who gambled away anything he could get his hands on. My old man helped him out by buying the properties off him instead of taking them. What makes you think I’ll ever give them back?”

He grabbed Sadie’s shoulder and brought the blade he’d been flashing closer to her—earning a squeak from her. “If you want your little girlfriend to live, you will.”

My eyes narrowed at his hand touching her. From behind the laptop screen, Vince was giving me hand signals to stay calm, but he didn’t need to remind me.

I knew what was at stake.

… My mouth just didn’t seem to get the memo.

“I’ll give you a chance to do yourself a favor here, Ali,” I said flatly, ignoring Vince’s pantomiming. “Take your hand off her.”

“Davian,” Vince hissed, but I was too focused on Zain’s hand to listen to him.

Unfortunately, the older Ali brother wasn’t feeling very smart today. Instead of listening, he tightened his fingers on Sadie’s shoulder—making Sadie wince. He was just lucky the blanket separated his grubby paw from her. “You don’t get to make any demands here—”

But I was done playing around. “Unless you want me to remove your head from your body, get your goddamn hand off her. Now.”

Vince sighed, but the order spooked Zain into letting go of Sadie—knocking the blanket off her front so it dropped to her lap.

It felt like I’d been punched in the gut.

Underneath the blanket, Sadie’s wrists were tied to the chair’s armrests. But it wasn’t the ropes that made me see red. It was her torn shirt gaping open and showing the tops of her breasts popping out of the silly cartoon bra I’d picked up for her.

Nobody moved for a long moment.

“What happened to your shirt, Sadie?” I asked, not recognizing the chill in my own voice.

Sadie glanced down and chuckled a little hysterically. “Oh, that? Um, there was a little scuffle earlier. My shirt got ripped. You know how these things go. Not a big deal.”

She was lying. The tear was too clean-cut to be a rip.

And Zain was holding a blade in his left hand.

“You cut her shirt?” I asked evenly, but my voice no longer sounded like it belonged to me.

“I’ll do a lot more than that,” he threatened, raising his voice and grabbing her again. “You don’t have any leverage here, Reed. Either agree to our terms, or—or I’ll cut her nipples off!”

Sadie sucked in a breath and stared up at him in betrayal. “Seriously, Zain? That’s the one thing you promised not to do!”

My mind shut down. I must’ve misheard him, because I could swear he’d just threatened her nipples.

“The hell did you just say?” I bit out. Any last traces of my façade shattered, and my chair legs screeched against the hardwood floor as I stood and loomed over the laptop.

I wanted nothing more than to reach through the screen and wrap my fingers around the little bastard’s scrawny neck.

Vince waved his hands at me, but I focused on Zain jabbing his blade toward the camera. “You heard me. I’ll chop them—”

“Let’s get one thing straight, Ali. I’m going to kill you. That’s a done deal.” The words left me in a growl, and I didn’t even try to cover it up. “But if you dare lay a single dirty finger on what’s mine, I’ll fuck you up in ways you can’t even fathom. There won’t be anything quick about it. I’ll take my time—probably even enjoy it a little—and when I’m finally through with you, your own mother won’t recognize what’s left. Understand me?”

Vince face-palmed in my peripheral vision before stepping away, but it didn’t matter I’d shown my hand. I was done playing games with kids who didn’t even belong at the table.

When Zain turned pale as a ghost, satisfaction filled my chest.

He wouldn’t be a problem.

Instead of waiting for him to get ahold of himself, I looked at Sadie—who stared wide-eyed at the screen.

Forcing myself to sound calm, I asked her what I’d been wanting to know since before the call started. “Are you hurt?”

Her lips parted, but only a squeak came out. Instead of speaking, she shook her head rapidly.

“Sadie, are you hurt?” I repeated gruffly. “I need you to answer me out loud, sweetheart.”

She visibly swallowed before trying again.

“Um, no,” she croaked. “No. I’m not hurt.”

It wasn’t enough. Even if she wasn’t harmed, she was still practically naked and tied to a chair in enemy territory.

And as much as I wanted to rip into Zain for treating her like this—for even thinking taking her from me was a good idea in the first place—reassuring Sadie was more important.

“I know why you ran,” I told her, ignoring the other two in the room, along with Vince. These words were for Sadie. “You were scared. Scared of what you were feeling or what it meant. So, you ran away with your tail between your legs.”

I’d never thought I’d use a dog metaphor in my life, but I’d never thought I’d get so attached to a pint-sized baker with pink hair who’d taken me hostage, either. And it felt like the right call when Sadie’s face softened.

I flexed my fingers at my sides before flattening my hands on the desk. “And that’s all right. I don’t blame you. I know my life can be scary.”

My gaze dropped to her wrists bound to the chair, and I paused. This was a perfect example of why she was right to run as far from me as she could.

Too bad I wouldn’t let her.

“But you’re not a distraction. You’re the furthest thing from a mistress.” My eyes flicked back up to hers, and I stopped caring who was listening as I laid it all out on the table. “And we may not be meringue, but don’t let that fool you, because you are mine. The moment you pointed that gun at my chest, you became mine. That isn’t something you can just run away from.”

Sadie’s eyes were bugging out of her head. And for the first time since I met her, she seemed truly speechless as she gaped back at me.

I glanced away from her long enough to see Vince hang up his phone and give me a thumbs-up—accompanied by a disapproving glare.

But I got the message. We had Nasir.

When I refocused on Sadie, she had that cornered bunny look again. I couldn’t resist giving her one last reassurance. “Sit tight. I’m coming for you.”

All three of them stared in stunned silence as I hit the button to end the call.

We already had what we needed, and there was no point in staying to chat.

I had a partner in crime to bring home.

smitten kitten

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping Being Taken Hostage (Again), Tip #32: There are no convenient times to realize you’ve fallen for your hostage. Even so, during a hostage-negotiation call might be one of the worst.

No one ever warned me hostage-negotiation calls could be such a turn-on.

It made me wish my wrists were untied, because I really needed to fan myself.

Zain and Fessy were both still gaping at the laptop screen—where Davian had just finished threatening their lives and staking a claim on me that left me reeling.

There was a loaded pause as Davian’s words sank in, and I felt compelled to break the silence.

I just had no idea how to play this. It wasn’t every day a mafia boss called me his.

“Caveman much?” I laughed nervously before clearing my throat. “Such an unattractive quality.”

That was a lie.

I actually didn’t mind Davian staking a claim on me. Not at all.

In fact, I think I liked it a lot—as did the horny demon.

No one would make a big declaration like that for a mistress or a sidepiece.

Davian had just promised to make a man’s death unimaginably painful if he so much as laid a finger on me.

With how my body was reacting to that promise as I squirmed in the seat I’d been tied to, it really wasn’t a good time to be pantyless.

He’d declared just how much he wanted me instead of a strong mafia princess.

And I couldn’t lie—I was smitten with him, too.

… How inconvenient was that?

I shook my head to clear it, determined to focus on my current hostage predicament instead of the man who made my chest feel as warm as a batch of freshly baked cupcakes.

Zain and Fessy both ignored me, but the older Ali brother stopped gaping at the laptop long enough to pace across the room. He mumbled a string of curses under his breath that any sailor would be proud of and ran a flustered hand through his hair.

“Shit, shit, shit,” Zain chanted, striding past me to the other side of the room. Gone was any hint of confidence. “What the hell are we supposed to do now?”

Fessy’s gaze finally left the screen, following his brother. “I thought you had a plan.”

“You heard that asshole. He’s going to kill me, Fes!” Zain strode past me again, both hands raking through his hair now. “Do you think that was part of my plan?”

I snorted softly. So much for all their “nobody messes with our family” talk earlier.

“And so much for promises,” I grumbled, frowning at Zain’s back. He’d sure been quick to use my nipples as a bargaining chip. “I don’t know why I ever expected you to have integrity, but I am very disappointed you went back on your word.”

“Shut up,” he snapped, not even sparing me a glance.

Fessy’s crutch clicked against the floor as he limped closer. “Bro, you did promise her.”

“I know what I said! Screw you both. You have no idea how stressful this is.” He picked up his pace, shooting daggers at Fessy. “You two think you could’ve done better?”

I sniffed delicately before mumbling, “Well, I wouldn’t have gone against my word.”

“I wasn’t going to cut off your nipples, you mouthy bitch! It’s called bluffing.”

In the blink of an eye, Zain slammed the laptop shut and launched it across the room, making me and Fessy both duck. It flew straight into the lamp—shattering glass across the floor as I cowered.

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was Zain’s panting breaths.

Until he turned his attention to me and bared his teeth.

“You,” he growled, striding closer. “This is all your fault.”

“Me?” I squeaked. Now that was just crazy talk. “Hey, I didn’t kidnap myself, buddy.”

But Zain was too busy snarling and grabbing a handful of my hair to see reason.

“Bro, wait!” Fessy limped over to us just as Zain yanked my head back. “We can’t touch her.”

Zain let out a low chuckle that raised the hair on the back of my neck.

This wasn’t good.

“You heard Reed. I’m a dead man anyway.” His grip on my hair tightened, quickly going from uncomfortable to a searing pain that made me cry out. He sneered down his nose at me. “Might as well mess up his girl first.”

Fessy leaned closer, lowering his voice. “We can still get out of this. Let’s just leave now. Get a head start.”

“It’s Reed. There are no head starts. He’ll find us.”

“Then let’s give her back and hope he lets us go.”

“It’s too late for that,” Zain muttered with a shake of his head. Mercifully, he released my hair to resume his pacing. But then my scalp stung, and I couldn’t even rub it to make it feel better. Being tied up sucked. “He knows where we are somehow. Our only chance is to stay here and make a stand.”

The color drained from Fessy’s face. “… Make a stand?”

“Reed just showed us his cards, but we still have one ace left to play. As long as we have his ho, he can’t touch us.”

It took me a moment to realize he was referring to me, and I blinked. I’d never been called someone’s ho before.

Not really a fan.

And I didn’t really like where this was headed, so it felt like a good time to throw in my two cents. “Or, you could let me go? It would be a sign of good faith to Davian. I can ask him to leave you both alone.”

Zain pulled to a stop, staring at me. “How stupid are you? You can’t just ask Reed to do something.”

“Sure I can.” I lifted my chin. “I asked him to help me get Bear back when Fessy stole him, and he did.”

To be fair, I’d held Davian at gunpoint to make him comply, but these boys didn’t need to know that little detail.

“We don’t have time for games. I need to get everyone armed and ready.” Zain strode to the door, flicking his hand at the shattered glass littering the floor as an afterthought. “Find a broom and clean that up, Fes. We don’t need her getting cut and Reed blaming it on us.”

Fessy grumbled under his breath, and his brother paused after opening the door.

“Where the hell did Nasir go?” Zain looked up and down the hallway, frowning. He rattled off another stream of curses before slamming the door shut behind him.

Fessy gave me a dark look before leaving, too—I assumed to go get a broom. Though looking at the state of this room, I doubted they even kept one in the house.

I spent the time he was gone to try loosening the knots holding me captive, itching to get free.

But ten minutes later, Fessy limped back into the room with a dustpan and broom in tow, while I’d made zero progress on the bindings. He balanced on one crutch, using his other hand to half-heartedly sweep the broom.

The glass slid from side to side across the floor, but nowhere near the dustpan he’d set down.

Now that it was just Fessy and me in the room, I grew hopeful as he did a poor job of sweeping. He might’ve stolen Bear and spray-painted penises on the shelter walls, but at least he hadn’t cut my shirt or knocked me out like Zain had.

There was a chance he’d listen to reason.

“Fessy, could you please loosen these ropes a little?” I asked, stretching my fingers to get more blood flow to them. The only thing these guys seemed afraid of was Davian, and maybe I could use that to my advantage. It was worth a shot. “They’re cutting into my skin, and I don’t think Davian will like that very much.”

He ignored me and kept sweeping.

I sighed. “Look. I’m trying to help you guys. Like you said, Davian shot you over a distasteful comment you made about me. Imagine what he’ll do if he shows up and sees markings on my wrists.”

Fessy finally looked up, his lips twisted into a scowl. “Distasteful? I said I’d bone you. That’s a compliment.”

It was my turn to stare.

“Regardless,” I said, ignoring his comment. At least I had his attention now. “If Davian sees I’m comfortable and you treated me well, it could work in your favor. I’ll even put in a good word for you and Zain.”

He only snorted and went back to sweeping. “You heard that call. Nothing you say to Reed can save us now.”

“That’s not true. Davian is reasonable.” I tried to think of ways to reassure him, and luckily, I remembered Lorenzo. “I’m sure he would at least lock you in a shed for a few days before doing anything drastic. That would give me time to remind him how well you treated me and that you’re sorry.”

Fessy’s face twisted in horror. “Lock me in a shed? What the hell?”

Oh. Right. That wasn’t exactly normal.

“Yeah, okay. I can see where that might not be very reassuring.” I racked my brain for something else. “But I would bring you cupcakes? Homemade ones.”

Shaking his head, he returned his focus to his poor excuse for sweeping. My eye twitched as I watched him. None of the broken glass had made it into the dustpan yet. He was just pushing it around while he tried to keep his balance.

Unable to help myself, I offered a little advice. “I’m sorry, and I promise I’m not criticizing your technique, but it really would be easier if you sweep everything in one direction into a pile. Then all you need to do is transfer the pile to the dustpan.”

Instead of being grateful, Fessy went still as a statue—until his nostrils flared as if I’d just called his mother a harlot.

Sensing danger ahead, I shut my mouth.

Fessy’s shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath, then he resumed sweeping as if I hadn’t said anything.

He also ignored my advice about sweeping into a pile.

Shards of glass skittered across the floor with each lazy sweep of his broom—which only seemed to annoy Fessy more. He growled before bending awkwardly and sweeping with his hand.

That was a horrible idea.

He hissed sharply, and I sucked in a breath as blood dripped from his hand. “Are you okay?”

Fessy stood, shaking his hand. “It’s just a cut.”

My head spun at the sight of blood, and I fought down a wave of nausea. “This room is a hotbed for infections. I’d get that washed and dressed as soon as you can. Wouldn’t want to lose your finger over a broken lamp—”

He threw the broom down, making me flinch. “Do you ever shut up?”

I flexed my wrists against the tight bindings before muttering, “I’m just trying to help.”

He looked between his bleeding hand and the shattered glass. “You want to help? Then get off your ass and clean this up yourself.”

I watched in growing disbelief as Fessy grabbed a large shard of glass off the floor before hobbling over to me. He used the jagged piece to cut through each of my bindings—and just like that, I was free.

I was still processing it when Fessy held the pointy piece of glass up to my face. “But don’t get any ideas. Reed or no Reed, I’ll stab you if you even think of trying anything.”

I swallowed and rubbed my newly freed wrists. “Understood.”

The first thing I did after getting to my feet was hold my ruined shirt together to cover all the cleavage on display—not that it helped much—before picking up the broom.

I swept carefully at the slowest pace I thought I could get away with, giving myself time to brainstorm what to do. Using another shard of glass to stab Fessy was out of the question—I didn’t have the stomach for that. Plus, he’d already suffered enough from getting shot.

But thanks to the limp slowing him down, there was a chance I could beat him to the door and escape.

Or it’d be even easier if he left me alone in here.

I glanced at Fessy, who was pressing his bloody hand against the bandage on his thigh.

I jumped on the opening. “You really should get that cut cleaned. Infections aren’t something to take lightly.”

“Whatever,” he mumbled. But a second later, he looked at the door and made a face. “Just sweep all this up by the time I get back. And don’t get cut on that glass.”

“You got it,” I assured him, even though I had no intention of following his orders.

Keeping the glass shard pointed my way, he hobbled out the door on one crutch.

The moment the door swung shut behind him, I ran up and grabbed the handle—right as Fessy clicked a lock into place from the other side.

I gasped and jiggled the doorknob, but it didn’t budge.

I couldn’t believe it. Why did all these mafia bedroom doors lock from the outside? That had to be against a dozen fire-safety regulations.

Circling the perimeter of the room didn’t help. The windows were boarded up, and the door was solid when I tested ramming my shoulder into it. No amount of twisting or pulling on the doorknob budged it, and I huffed.

I was stuck. The realization made me look back at the chair in the middle of the room.

Davian had told me to sit tight because he was coming for me.

… But screw that.

I stood just off to the side of the door as a plan began to form. Swinging the broom up so its bristles were above my shoulder, I adjusted my grip on the handle to hold it like a weapon. A steadying breath was the only thing that kept my heart rate from taking off like a scared rabbit’s as I waited for my opening.

Vince had called me a weakness. A distraction. He said I’d never survive in their world.

I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when I proved him wrong.

on the hunt

Davian

After ending the call, my gaze shot up to Vince. “We got Nasir?”

His eyes narrowed, and the look he gave me screamed paternal disappointment.

“Can we talk about that hot mess first?” he asked flatly, pointing at the laptop.

“Nasir,” I repeated.

He huffed. “I’ve got the address. He said there’s fifteen men, including both Alis, and they’re all armed. I sent the location to Malcolm and Shane, and Dante is putting a team together at the compound. It’s an eight-minute drive from here. They’ll meet us there.”

“You trust his intel?”

Vince lifted a shoulder. “Lying would be a bigger risk for him than turning, and he said it’s been a shit show since Zain took over. I trust him on this.”

Standing up, I checked my gun and reholstered it. “Good. Let’s go.”

Vince went quiet—acting like I’d personally harmed him as we headed out of the safe house. I could swear he even pouted.

Until he climbed into the driver’s seat, and I got in next to him.

After starting the car, he paused with his hand on the gearshift. “I just thought the plan was to pretend—”

“I know what the plan was.” Pulling up the group chat Vince had texted everyone through, I sent a quick follow-up with more instructions and told them all to move their asses. “That was before he touched her.”

Seeing Zain put his hands on Sadie—let alone cut her shirt—had decimated my rational thinking. It worked in our favor that he was too scared of me to hurt her now, but he was still enough of a loose cannon that retrieving Sadie wouldn’t be as clear cut as I’d like.

Vince shifted into reverse and peeled out of the driveway. “You don’t even want to know what Nasir asked for?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

I’d give Nasir whatever he wanted if it meant getting Sadie back.

Vince snorted. “Well, he didn’t want anything more than letting him and his family live. That’s how bad it is in Ali’s camp. Nasir worked under Zain’s father since he was a kid, but he’s ready to jump ship at the slightest sign of trouble with the son.”

From the messy way Zain had handled that call, I didn’t blame Nasir. I wouldn’t want to work for a hotheaded punk who abducted women and tried to strong-arm more powerful families either. “Do all Zain’s men feel that way?”

“There’s a mix,” he said as we flew down the road. “But I’d put money on there being less than fifteen men when we get there.”

I sent another order to the group. “Let’s plan for more. He has plenty of time to call in reinforcements.”

“Yeah, if only some jackass hadn’t told him to expect us,” Vince muttered dryly.

I fought back a smile. Not my brightest moment, but…

“I didn’t want Sadie to worry,” I said, before giving in to the urge to grin. “Besides, I’ve always liked a challenge.”

Vince shook his head, but it was the truth. And there was something different about tonight. I could feel it in my veins the closer we got to where Zain had taken her.

I’d grown numb to this life over the years. The killing and cruelty had lost their thrill a while ago. It was just another day at the office.

But not anymore. Like a fog had lifted, my blood sang for violence.

That motherfucker would die by my hands, and I had no intention of making it quick.

It took eleven minutes to assemble a team and meet up at Sadie’s location.

Eleven minutes too long. The suburban street didn’t pack in houses like sardines like the city did, and Zain’s large safe house loomed at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac. Cars filled the driveway and the shutters weren’t level, but the place was otherwise nondescript.

Malcolm parked the Dog-Mobile down the street and hidden around a corner, where Bear and Sadie’s friends would be safe. The last thing our operation needed was them getting involved—even if they had proven quite the rescue team.

We had six SUVs lining the curb further down the street, hidden from sight of the safe house. I spent another precious three minutes going over our plan with everyone and passing out earpieces, then we split up into teams of three. We traveled through backyards, jumping chain-link fences and slinking through the brush before finding our positions around the perimeter of the house.

Vince, Malcolm, and I crouched near the garage. With the element of surprise gone, we were counting on stealth and accuracy. That meant no mistakes.

I checked in with our sniper, who’d found a spot on the roof of a neighboring house. “Dante, any intel for us?”

“Windows are boarded up, and I can’t get a read on any heat signatures.” His deep voice came back crystal clear through my earpiece. “Strongly advise going in with weapons hot.”

“Copy. Keep us updated if you see any runners.” I turned to Vince and Malcolm. “Shoot anything that moves and doesn’t have pink hair.”

Vince’s lips formed a thin, unamused line. “Davian.”

“And no negotiating with Ali until I get eyes on Sadie,” I added.

Touching my earpiece again, I made sure the other teams were in position and ready before giving the order. “Move in.”

We crept toward the front porch, where Vince smashed through the door with a single well-placed kick. He led the way inside with a ballistic shield.

Chaos erupted inside. Shouts and gunshots. Men leaning around corners to return fire.

Malcolm and I shadowed Vince, covering him as another crash sounded from the back of the house—followed by more gunfire.

I emptied two bullets into bodies before we cleared the foyer. We kept forward, hugging the wall, and Vince took down another one in the next room.

Through the chaos, I didn’t see any sign of Zain or his brother.

“One down in the kitchen,” Shane called through my earpiece. “Kitchen cleared.”

“Three down up front,” Vince responded. “Foyer and study cleared.”

“Heard. Heading downstairs,” Shane said.

I signaled across the foyer. “Next room.”

A flash to our left drew my attention, and I swung my gun over.

“Vince,” I hissed, not taking my eyes off the spot. “Ten o’clock.”

“Got you covered,” he muttered, shifting to stand behind me.

I crept closer. It was Fessy fleeing through a ransacked dining room. He limped between fallen furniture and stacks of boxes.

I didn’t see any sign of a weapon on him.

With a burst of speed, I snagged the little punk’s collar before he could get away and hauled him up until his gobsmacked face was close enough that I was breathing on him.

He gasped for air and clawed at my wrist.

“Where is she?” I ground out, his eyes widening in terror.

He trembled in my grip like he was on the verge of pissing himself.

“We didn’t touch her!” Fessy cried, kicking me in his desperation to get free. His feet bounced harmlessly off my legs. “She’s locked in a room upstairs, and she’s fine. I swear. I’ll take you to her. Just don’t hurt me.”

Vince and Malcolm shifted past us to clear the next room, and I pressed the barrel of my gun under Fessy’s chin.

“Which room?” I asked with a calm I didn’t feel. “Is she alone?”

Fessy’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly, right as a high-pitched scream pierced the air above us.

My blood turned to ice in my veins.

Sadie.

I flung Fessy aside like a rag doll and ran for the stairs.

a girl and her broom (sadie’s version)

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping Being Taken Hostage (Again), Tip #33: Anything can be a weapon if you’re desperate enough.

Patience wasn’t really my thing.

I just wasn’t good at waiting, and I never had been. My baking instructor once claimed my biggest nemesis was an oven that hadn’t finished preheating yet. When I was six, my parents started the tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve because I just couldn’t fall asleep knowing they’d be waiting for me the next morning. When it came to training at the shelter, most of the dogs were better at sitting still than I was.

But waiting in a musty, mold-infested room when I knew Davian was on his way had to take the cake for testing my patience.

I adjusted my grip on the broom handle for the dozenth time since Fessy left, and I tried to hype myself up to escape. I wasn’t feeling quite as brave now that it was my life on the line instead of Bear’s.

Muffled yelling traveled through the door, followed by loud bangs that made me jump. I placed a hand over my heart and forced myself to take a deep breath.

Hostage situations really weren’t good for my blood pressure.

Then I tried the door handle again, in case by some fluke it magically wasn’t locked anymore. As luck would have it, the door actually opened!

I wasn’t sure who was more surprised as it swung open—me or the wide-eyed Nasir holding the other end of the knob.

He recovered first and reached for me. “You—”

“Ahh!” With a startled war cry, I moved on instinct and whacked him over the head with my broom.

“Jesus!” He swatted the broom away like it was a harmless fly, scowling at me. “Watch it! I’m trying to help you.”

I raised the broom for another swing but paused with it over my head. “… You are?”

“The sooner you leave, the better off we all are,” he bit out, rubbing his head. He jabbed a finger at the open doorway with a glare. “Reed is downstairs. Go all the way down this hallway, take a left, then a right, and then you’ll see the stairs.”

I hesitated. It sounded too good to be true. But I carefully slid past him and poked my head into a deserted hallway. Huh. He might be telling the truth.

The best I could do was offer him a sheepish smile. “Oh. Thank you, Nasir.”

He only rubbed at his temple and let his eyes fall shut. “Just get out of here.”

The man looked in desperate need of an aspirin, and I wished I had my travel first-aid kit on hand for him.

But there was no time to waste.

Following Nasir’s helpful instructions, I ran down the hallway like my heels were on fire. When I reached the end, I skidded left around the corner.

Halfway down the next hallway, a large man exited the doorway and blocked my path.

Not looking surprised to see me, he sneered and grabbed my shoulder. “Not so fast, Pinky.”

Screaming bloody murder, I swung the broom with everything I had.

“Don’t.” I thwacked the goon’s head, making him let go of me. “Touch.” Another swat to his face. “Me!” One more whack sent the scary man crumpling to the floor.

When he moved to get up, I threw in a few more bonks to his head for good measure.

The last one flattened him like a pancake, leaving him groaning facedown on the floor, and I hesitated with my broom raised instead of running away. It took a second to sink in that he wasn’t getting back up.

Guilt pooled in my stomach. Had I actually hurt him badly enough to incapacitate him?

I must’ve not known my own strength.

“I’m sorry for the extreme measures, but you have to understand how stressful this whole situation is for me,” I panted. When the goon still didn’t move, I lowered my broom to hip height. “… Are you okay?”

No answer from him. I prodded his back with the end of my broom to check, but he didn’t appear to be conscious anymore.

“Well. I hope you use this as a sign to rethink your life choices when you wake up,” I whispered, cautiously backing away from his prone body. The last thing I needed was for him to only be pretending to be down and then spring up in a surprise attack.

“Sadie.”

I jumped a foot into the air in fright as another attacker snuck up behind me from around the corner. But my instincts didn’t fail me, and I swung my broom around in a beautiful arc—only for a strong grip to stop it dead in its tracks.

“What did I tell you about using brooms as weapons?” the man murmured, amused, in a low voice my veins found more addictive than a sugar high.

My gaze shot up to meet his dark one, and my knees threatened to buckle in relief at who stood in front of me. “Dav?”

I didn’t even care my voice was wobbly, because he was here.

He was here, and he was okay, and he was looking at me like I was the best part of his day.

Davian released the broom and scooped me into his arms at the same time I jumped to throw mine around his shoulders. His embrace had an air of desperation I felt in my bones.

I was so happy to see him.

Burying my face in his neck, I clung on as tightly as I could and breathed him in.

Peppermint.

I really did love his shampoo.

“Clear those rooms. I’ll take this side,” Davian said to someone else. His voice was all business now, and the arms around my waist tightened. “Meet back at the stairs.”

I was vaguely aware of us moving, but all I could do was hold on to Davian and the broom. It wasn’t until a door clicked shut and Davian set me back on my feet that I left the safe haven of his neck.

We were in a different room than where I’d been kept, and this one was completely bare.

I reluctantly let Davian pull back, and he placed both hands on my shoulders as he looked me over with a frown.

I shifted my weight under the inspection. It definitely wasn’t my cutest hour, and I hoped he didn’t judge my hair too harshly.

“Did those boys hurt you?” he asked, and I fought back a shiver when I recalled exactly what he’d promised to do to Zain if he so much as touched me. Davian’s gaze flicked up to mine and narrowed. “Sadie?”

Using my free hand to clasp the front halves of my shirt together—because standing in front of Davian in my bra had thoughts entering my brain that were completely inappropriate for a hostage rescue—I shook my head. “No, they were very well-behaved after the call.”

Minus Zain’s little temper tantrum.

“Good. Now, come here.” Davian shrugged out of his suit jacket, and I stepped closer so he could drape it over my shoulders. He helped guide my arms through the sleeves while I juggled the broom between my hands.

His jacket was large and cozy, and I was never going to take it off.

Davian standing in front of me still felt so surreal. I wanted to know how he was feeling and if he really forgave me for that mess of a call when I was in the Dog-Mobile. “Dav, listen. I’m sorry about earlier—”

“Later.” He made quick work of buttoning the front of the jacket, then squeezed my shoulders and gave me another once-over. His sharp nod of approval made my stomach somersault. “We need to move. Come with me.”

He cracked the door open behind him and looked out into the hallway.

“Wait! Davian, listen for a second. Please. I need to say this.” I grabbed his arm. He glanced over his shoulder before easing the door shut. I had his full attention, and I wet my lips. “You were right. I ran because I was scared. And that meringue metaphor wasn’t fair to you. I’ve had time to think about it, and I actually think we’d make a great soufflé—”

Davian reached for my face—his hands cupping my cheeks—officially breaking my concentration and making the words die on my tongue.

“Sadie,” he said patiently as he held my gaze. “I promise I want to hear everything you’re saying right now, but my men are dealing with live fire downstairs so I can get you out. We’ve got to go. Now.”

“Right. Of course.” Silly me. Now was obviously not the time to blurt all my feelings. I gripped my broom with a determined nod to let him know I meant business. “Yes. Let’s do this thing.”

Davian’s lips twitched, and he pried one of my hands off the broom to hold it in his. “Stay close to me.”

“Happily,” I whispered as he led the way, pulling me along behind him.

But a glint of metal in his other hand stopped me short as we reached the door—which made Davian pull to a stop, too.

I swallowed, staring at the gun in horror. Memories of Fessy being shot bombarded me. “You’re not going to shoot anyone again, are you?”

Davian opened his mouth, then caught my look and closed it. A beat passed before he answered slowly. “Only if I have to.”

That did little to reassure me, but it was better than nothing, so I nodded.

Davian studied my face, then pulled me through the doorway, but we didn’t make it far before reaching the slumped goon I’d taken down.

He still hadn’t moved.

“I’m not sure why he’s still unconscious,” I whispered with a wince. “I didn’t think I hit him that hard.”

Davian looked my way with a raised brow. “You did this?”

I shrugged modestly. “I’ve heard I’m quite lethal with a broom.”

I wasn’t about to tell him I’d only meant to scare the man off and not flatten him like a pancake. It seemed cooler to own it.

The wicked grin that spread across Davian’s lips made my heart pump just a little bit faster. “Good girl.”

My stomach had no business filling with butterflies at the praise, and I ducked my head to hide my answering blush.

Geez. I needed to get ahold of myself.

Davian pulled out a zip tie and let go of my hand to restrain the man’s wrists behind his back. Then he tugged me down the hallway, where more muffled yells and bangs traveled from downstairs as we reached the next fork in the road.

“Stay behind me,” Davian ordered, voice low. I squeezed his hand in answer.

We took a right, just like Nasir had said.

At first glance, the hallway was empty.

… Until it wasn’t.

We barely made it two steps before another man in dark clothes with a thick beard barreled down the short hallway toward us, and I had no idea where he came from. Davian acted fast, raising his gun, and I sucked in a breath as fear paralyzed me.

My gasp wasn’t lost on him, and for a terrifying fleeting moment, Davian lowered the gun as his gaze snapped to me.

Then our attacker drew his own gun from behind his back, and my heart dropped into my stomach at how badly I’d screwed up asking Davian not to shoot anyone.

Son of a dog biscuit.

“No!” I shouted, leaping forward and swinging my broom at the goon just as a loud bang deafened me.

Time slowed to a crawl. I’d been aiming for his face, but the broom sailed down in an arc that hit his hand—very effectively knocking the gun right out of his grip.

Davian swooped in, taking over with a fist to the man’s face before following it up with another hit.

Panic surged in my veins, and I frantically checked Davian and myself for any bullet wounds. Maybe adrenaline stopped me from feeling it. But there was no sign of blood on either of us.

Forcing myself to stay focused on the task at hand, I held my broom at the ready—just in case Davian needed some backup.

But he seemed to be doing just fine on his own as he grabbed the man’s short ponytail and smashed his head against the wall—making his body slump to the floor and go still.

That was when I saw the blood pooling beneath the goon’s thigh.

Davian had shot him.

My stomach protested violently, and I took deep breaths to fight off the nausea.

Davian pulled out another zip tie and quickly restrained the unconscious man while looking up at me. “You okay?”

My ears rang at the simple question. I placed a hand over my stomach and inhaled deeply through my nose—focusing on not puking—then exhaled through my mouth.

It was easier if I kept my eyes on Davian instead of the blood. “I think so.” I gulped. “Is he… alive?”

“Yeah. He’ll be fine.” Davian’s lips twitched, dangerously close to a smile. He nodded toward my broom. “That was a nice hit.”

I laughed nervously but kept my mouth shut about it. Davian didn’t need to know I’d been aiming for the man’s face.

“I’m sorry,” I said as my laughter faded. Guilt settled heavily in my stomach. “I didn’t know he had a gun, and it was my fault you almost didn’t shoot.”

Davian straightened and approached me, a quick touch of his hand to my hip turning me away from the bleeding man. “Don’t be sorry. We still took care of him.”

That we had. A wave of relief at both of us being okay made me giddy, and I twirled the broom in my hand—almost accidentally smacking myself in the face. “You know, with your scary mafia badassery and my broom skills, we make a pretty good team.”

Davian tried his best to keep a straight face, but he couldn’t hide the laughter gleaming in his eyes. “We do, but what happened to staying behind me?”

I stopped my broom-twirling and shrugged innocently. “I wanted to help.”

Davian shook his head, and a smile finally slipped through. “I shouldn’t have expected anything less.”

My hand back in his, he pulled me toward the stairs.

“Ten down!” Vince’s deep voice boomed from the level below us, startling me enough to almost drop my broom. “Main level is clear, Reed.”

“Two down up here. Malcolm is checking the rest.” Davian’s grip tightened on my hand, and he cocked a brow at me. “You ready to get out of here?”

My nod was nothing short of enthusiastic. “Yes, please.”

I wanted to get out of here more than anything.

All I could think about was getting back to Bear and my friends, finding some fresh underwear, and going to Bruno’s with Davian to celebrate another successful rescue.

I was officially over this whole hostage thing.

you missed

Davian

As far as rescue operations went, it’d been a smooth one—until we reached the staircase and I needed to convince Sadie to leave her broom upstairs. She was surprisingly possessive of the wooden stick.

I tried again. “You won’t need it down there. It’ll just get in the way.”

“But what if we get ambushed?” She let go of my hand to tuck a strand of pink hair behind her ear and wiggled the large cleaning tool at me for emphasis. “I can’t whack them with my broom if I don’t have a broom.”

It was difficult to argue with that logic.

It was also difficult to take Sadie seriously when my jacket swallowed her whole, her hair was endearingly disheveled, and she was clinging to a dusty old broom like it was her hard-earned war prize.

But I tried again, because this wasn’t up for debate.

“If any ambushing happens, then I’ll take care of it. And Malcolm will have our backs.” Right on time, Malcolm approached soundlessly behind Sadie, and I met his gaze. “All good?”

He dipped his chin, giving Sadie and her broom a curious look. “I found Nasir, but he’s staying put until this is all over. The other rooms were empty. The two men you took down are still out.”

“Good. Let’s meet up with Vince.” My earpiece had been quiet since Vince gave us the all clear, which was a good sign. The commotion downstairs had died down.

But there was still one issue—the state I’d left the foyer in.

I doubted Sadie would react well to dead bodies.

“Come here.” I crooked a finger at her. She readily stepped forward, but her brows pulled together when I gripped her waist. “I’m carrying you to the door. It’ll be quick.”

That didn’t help any of her confusion. “But I can walk.”

“Sadie. Please.”

She didn’t look happy about it, but she obliged, stepping even closer with her broom and resting a hand on my shoulder. I went to lift her, but Sadie squeaked—bracing her arm to stop me.

“Wait!” She glanced over her shoulder at Malcolm before leaning closer to me until her lips brushed my ear. It was a welcome distraction. “Um… You don’t happen to still have my underwear in your pocket, do you? I’d rather not flash everyone again.”

A choking sputter escaped me, and my hands froze on her waist. … Again?

I’d forgotten her underwear was back at the compound, and now she’d been kept captive by the Ali brothers without it.

That itch to wring Zain’s neck returned with a vengeance.

Forcing myself to focus on the present and not how much I’d like to murder him, I placed a kiss on Sadie’s temple. “I left it in my office, but I’ll find you some as soon as we get out of here.”

The tension eased from her shoulders, and she smiled sheepishly. “Thank you.”

But she still hadn’t let go of the freaking broom. “And Malcolm will carry the broom for you. Deal?”

Sadie’s lips twisted, but she reluctantly handed it over to him. “Deal.”

I didn’t miss the flat stare Malcolm shot me over her shoulder.

Sadie stepped into my arms without hesitation, and I picked her up—dropping one hand to hold her skirt against her ass when she wrapped her legs around my waist.

Like always, she felt good in my arms.

Remembering what we were about to walk into, I nudged her face toward my shoulder. “Close your eyes and keep them shut.”

“Why?” Sadie whispered, but dutifully closed her eyes.

“I don’t want you to see this.” I tucked her face into the crook of my neck and turned to the steps.

She audibly gulped and clung tighter to my shoulders.

We descended the stairs with Malcolm shadowing us. It was all business when we reached the foyer. I wove through the bodies littering the floor, while my men roamed the area—talking and packing up cases of weapons.

Vince was stationed near the front door, with a dirty little street thug squirming in his grasp.

Fessy held up both hands as I approached. His face was as pale as a ghost, while he shook like a leaf.

“See?” he called, pointing a quivering finger at the girl in my arms. “I told you she’s fine.”

“Is that Fessy?” Sadie asked against my neck, voice muffled. She tried to lift her head, but I held it down—earning a soft huff from her. “Davian.”

I quickly dismissed Fessy, instead focusing on Vince. “Any sign of Zain?”

“Shane has him. Caught him trying to sneak out the back,” he answered. “No one else gave us trouble.”

I shifted Sadie in my arms. It’d been almost too easy, but what could I expect from a kid who’d just gotten the keys to his dad’s kingdom?

“Good. Finish up here, then meet outside,” I said.

I needed to get Sadie somewhere safe before I dealt with Zain.

Vince opened the door for us, and I walked to the nearest SUV. Malcolm veered off to do his own recon of the property, leaving Sadie and me alone except for a handful of my men loading the vehicles.

I set her on her feet next to the SUV. “You can open your eyes.”

She blinked them open, quickly spotting the other men. “You brought all these guys with you?”

“Most are still inside taking care of Ali’s men, so we can talk now. You were explaining why you ran off without talking to me first?”

Her head jerked back to me, brows shooting up. “You want to talk about that now?”

“You wanted to talk about it when we were still upstairs,” I reminded her, amused. “Now you’re safe, and we’re mostly alone. And I’m very interested in knowing what else you were going to say.”

I remembered something about a soufflé.

“Oh. Right.” Sadie leaned back with a wince before sighing. “Well, I was saying you were right about me being scared. And I really wanted to talk to you first—honestly—but then your father kinda freaked me out, and then that man in the shed said you were going to kill him, and that definitely freaked me out—”

“Man in the shed?” I asked, eyes narrowing. She’d mentioned that on the phone, but I hadn’t gotten the details.

Even though only a few of my men were in the cul-de-sac, Sadie looked to both sides before leaning closer to me.

“Lorenzo,” she whispered.

“Oh. Him.” I frowned. How the hell did she know his name?

She hesitated, squinting at me. “… Are you really going to kill him?”

“No.” My frown deepened. “I have no reason to kill him.”

Not yet, at least. He still had some worth to us.

Sadie let out a breath. One she’d clearly been holding in.

“That’s a relief. But what happened with Zain is exactly what Vince warned me about. Why it’s risky for anything to happen between us,” she continued, dropping her gaze. “Zain used me against you, and I was so worried about you getting hurt that I almost didn’t want you to come save me.”

I could only stare at her. She’d been tied to a chair, with a man cutting her shirt off, and she’d been worried about me?

I couldn’t remember the last time someone had been worried about me. Ever.

It made the urge to touch her even stronger, and I couldn’t resist stepping closer to slide a hand around the nape of her neck. “I’ll always come for you, Sadie.”

Her nose scrunched, and she still wouldn’t look at me. “You shouldn’t have to.”

“Says who? If it were the other way around, I have no doubt you’d come for me, too.” Tucking my thumb under her chin, I tilted it up so she had to look at me. My lips twitched. “Probably with your Happy Tails crew and broom in tow.”

That pulled a small reluctant smile out of her. “I would, Dav. I would come for you, too.”

My chest didn’t snap like I’d come to expect around her. Instead, it cracked wide open. “Then let’s get one thing straight. I don’t give a shit about Vince’s opinion of us. He has no say in who I date.”

“That’s what I said!” she cried, before biting her lip. Her gaze turned shy. “Wait… Does that mean you still want to date me?”

A smirk slipped through. “Sweetheart, maybe you didn’t hear me on that call, but I want to do a lot more than date you.”

My candor was worth it when her eyes lit up.

“Good,” she whispered, cheeks turning that appealing shade of pink. “That’s good. Really good, actually, because the feeling is definitely mutual.”

Stifling a laugh, I pressed my lips to her forehead and lingered there. I hadn’t wanted to stop touching her since I rescued her.

“Hey.” Sadie frowned up at me as I drew back. “You missed.”

I raised a brow, and her frown morphed into a sweet smile before she reached for my neck. She tugged me down to kiss her lips, and I took full advantage—deepening the kiss and pulling her into my arms.

It was only natural to ease her backward until her ass met the bumper of the SUV. Lifting her and holding her against the trunk was the next logical move—if only to get better access to those sweet, delectable lips.

She clung to me, pulling me closer and demanding more, which I was only happy to give as a fierce hunger gripped me.

Sadie might’ve seemed harmless at first look, but in reality, she was a whole different brand of trouble than I was used to. Unexpected, unpredictable, and straight up intoxicating. It was so easy to get lost in her—which had led to a few oversights on my part.

One example being I was so distracted kissing her, I almost didn’t hear the hundred-plus-pound beast sprinting flat out down the street, straight toward us.

party crashers

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping Being Taken Hostage (Again), Tip #34: Celebratory kisses are an underrated perk of being rescued by your ex-hostage.

The horny demon had won again.

At least, that’s how I explained finding myself pressed up against an SUV with Davian Reed’s tongue down my throat.

I couldn’t recall why I’d ever thought this was a bad idea.

I was even two seconds away from unbuttoning the suit jacket I’d borrowed from him, when Davian broke the kiss without any warning.

It was just in time for a giant furball to come flying in our direction—only to be stopped by Davian grabbing him by the scruff of his neck.

“Not this time, hellhound,” Davian grumbled, surprisingly hostile considering he was talking to a dog.

But I was thrilled.

“Bear!” I beamed. The poor boy looked so confused, standing frozen on his hind legs where Davian still held him. “Oh, I’m so happy to see you.”

I threw my arms around him with a laugh. Bear’s tail was putting in overtime with how fast it wagged, and he fought against Davian’s hold in his efforts to lick every inch of my face. I couldn’t stop giggling as I gave him a healthy rubdown. “I love you, too, buddy.”

And he wasn’t alone.

Over Bear’s shoulder, the Dog-Mobile raced toward us. Relief made my knees wobble.

My friends were here, and they were okay.

“Good boy,” I cooed to Bear, blinking back tears. Davian finally loosened his hold enough to let Bear paw at me excitedly.

The Dog-Mobile screeched to a stop in front of us, with both Ryan and Gladys popping out seconds later.

“Sadie Marie Morris!” my elderly friend belted, marching up to us with a scowl. “I should call your mother on you, you foolish girl.”

“Gladys, you’re okay!” I urged Bear down and pulled her into a hug before giving Ryan one, too. Bear whined, so I crouched and wrapped him in another hug, which he gladly accepted. “I was so worried about you three.”

“You were worried? We weren’t the ones who got abducted.” Her scowl deepened, and she wiggled a boney finger in my face. “Don’t you ever sacrifice yourself like that again. You hear me?”

A throat cleared, and I froze with my arms around Bear before risking a peek at Davian.

With his hands in the pockets of his slacks, he raised a dark brow at me. “This is news to me. What does she mean you sacrificed yourself?”

Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I shrugged and patted Bear’s head. “Well, Zain threatened to hurt Bear, and no way could I let that happen. So, I went with them. But it wasn’t a sacrifice! I knew you would help me.”

“Of course I would.” The look he gave me said we would be talking about this later. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he sent a flat look at Gladys and Ryan. “You were supposed to wait around the corner on the next street until we came to get you.”

Gladys blinked innocently. “We were just making sure you didn’t bungle getting Sadie back.”

Uh-oh.

I forced out a nervous laugh at Gladys’s sudden bravery. What had happened to the woman who was shaking in her boots when she saw Davian? I almost missed her.

“She doesn’t mean that,” I told Davian.

“Of course I do,” Gladys snapped, frowning at him. “And can you blame us? After you missed me and Ryan busting Sadie out of your dark lair, we had some doubts about your reputation.”

“Gladys,” I hissed when a scary look crossed Davian’s face. “Please stop baiting him. There’s no need for that.”

This was turning into a nightmare. Why couldn’t my friends and Davian just get along?

Gladys rounded on me instead. “You’re right. I should be checking on you. What happened? What’d that dirty scoundrel do to you? Should we take you to the hospital?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Nothing a nice bubble bath and baking marathon won’t fix,” I assured her. But Davian was quiet behind me, and I could feel a heavy, uncomfortable tension that hadn’t been there earlier. The need to break it was overwhelming, and I tried to think of anything funny to share. “And it wasn’t all bad. I even learned something new about myself today—I don’t hold up very well under torture.”

I laughed, but it quickly trailed off when no one else joined in.

And I didn’t need to see Gladys gaping over my shoulder to know Davian had gone deathly still behind me.

“Torture?” he echoed softly.

… Oops. Heat crept up my cheeks at how badly I’d misjudged this going.

“Oh. Well, I mean, not literal torture.” I faced him, and any ill-timed nervous laughter died when his eyes darkened. I gulped. “Zain threatened to chop off my nipples, but it was all talk. He didn’t actually do it. Clearly.”

If the way his eyes iced over was anything to go by, that did nothing to reassure Davian.

“That’s what he said? I thought I misheard.” He looked toward the house with that predatory chill that made me shake in my boots. “I’ll kill him.”

He said it so casually my jaw dropped.

“What?” I straightened in alarm, just as Bear sneezed. “No, you won’t.”

Davian’s voice was the epitome of calm. “I will.”

I was less calm. “No. You won’t.”

He faced me, raising a brow.

If the tension was uncomfortable before, now it turned suffocating, and Ryan cleared his throat. “Maybe we should give you two a minute—”

Gladys cut him off as her nostrils flared. “We’re not going anywhere. I want to see this Zain character. If he thinks he can take our friend and threaten her goodies, then I need to set him straight.”

“No, no, no! There’s no need for that. It turned out to be a misunderstanding,” I said, not wanting to start anything. Zain had been bluffing about any nipple-chopping, after all. But, from a glance at Davian’s lethal expression, it would be better to stop talking about my nipples altogether. “Regardless, I was just trying to lighten the mood. It didn’t work. Can we talk about something else now?”

“Smooth save,” Ryan muttered under his breath, earning a sharp look from me.

“Don’t sell yourself short, Sadie.” Gladys frowned. “I’m sure you held your own and told him where he could shove his threats.”

Oh boy. I wished I deserved even a smidgen of the faith she had in me.

“Actually, I couldn’t spill my secrets fast enough,” I admitted with a wince. Pursing my lips, I forced myself to face Davian. It was important for him to hear this. “Everything poured out. I would’ve told Zain anything he asked. All my secrets, and yours, too. So, maybe Vince had a point. This makes me a liability to you.”

The curve to Davian’s lips surprised me, and I could swear he looked amused when he closed the distance between us and raised a hand to cup my cheek. “How about you let me worry about liabilities?”

“But—”

His thumb pressed against my lips, cutting off any protest.

“I’ve always liked a challenge,” he murmured, lips twitching. “So, if anyone is stupid enough to try to take you from me again—which I won’t allow to happen—tell them anything they want to know. All my secrets.”

Well, then.

His thumb stopped me from biting my lip, so I pressed my lips against the pad of his thumb instead, giving it a little kiss. Something in Davian’s gaze flashed, and he pulled his thumb away just in time to replace it with his lips.

It wasn’t a sweet kiss like his touch had been, but it wasn’t hot and passionate like when he pinned me against the SUV either.

This one was hard and fast—earning a snort of displeasure from Bear—but it lingered long after it ended. It was a kiss that tingled all the way down to the tips of my toes. A claiming kiss.

I blinked in surprise when he ended it, but Davian didn’t go far. In fact, he pulled me into his arms, and I gladly made myself at home.

Gladys let out a low whistle. “I heard every word he said with my own ears, and I still don’t believe it happened. Who knew Davian Reed was sappy as hell?”

“Gladys,” Ryan hissed. “Give them some privacy.”

My shoulders shook with sudden laughter when I saw Ryan had turned his back to us, and I scratched between Bear’s ears where he’d glued himself to my hip.

A faint wailing drew my attention, and I looked around Davian. More of his men were leaving the house and making their way to different SUVs. They moved like a well-oiled machine, working together and packing up the vehicles.

But the sound wasn’t coming from them.

It grew louder—much louder, and my heart skipped a beat.

Sirens.

I glanced over my shoulder. A dozen cop cars took a sharp turn and sped down the street toward us with their sirens blaring.

Bear leaned against my hip, growling low at the oncoming motorcade.

I went utterly still in Davian’s arms, all sorts of horrible scenarios running rampant in my imagination. “… Dav?”

But he didn’t look the least bit bothered or concerned about the police swarming us. He only unwrapped an arm from my waist to check his watch. “It’s about time they showed up.”

pretty boy

Davian

The cops arrived six minutes later than Vince and I had estimated they would.

Good thing we hadn’t counted on their help.

An ambulance followed the convoy of squad cars, and my father’s Bentley pulled in behind them. That wasn’t surprising. He had a habit of showing up as soon as the action died down.

“Lord above.” Gladys gave a low whistle as the squad cars all swerved into the cul-de-sac and parked haphazardly. “That’s a lot of coppers.”

Sadie slowly lifted her arms into the air and started to lower herself to the ground.

I grabbed her waist to stop her. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Surrendering,” she answered while trying to wiggle out of my grasp, but I wasn’t letting her go anywhere.

… Surrendering?

“For what?” I asked, genuinely confused. “You were the one taken captive.”

“Today, sure. But what about yesterday? I stole a gun and took you hostage,” she whispered urgently, glancing at the cops jumping out of their cars and heading toward us. Her arms trembled. “I don’t think I’ll do well in jail, Dav. They use cigarettes as currency in the movies, and my school had a police officer come talk to us about how bad drugs are. He made all the fifth-graders sign little cards promising we’d never even touch them. Plus, I’ve never made a shiv before. I don’t know how. Although, I once made a spatula out of recycled—”

“Sadie.” Rambling was a surefire sign she was deep into freaking-out mode. “Put your arms down. They’re not here for you.”

As I spoke, the boys in blue jogged toward us with their weapons drawn.

Sadie tensed and leaned closer to me, but the men rushed right past us—heading for the house. When not a single one stopped or acknowledged us, Sadie lowered her hands as a crease formed in her brow.

“What are we—invisible?” she whispered. Several more cops ran past, not even sparing us a glance. Bear watched them with his head cocked to the side, both ears standing tall.

“They won’t bother us,” I explained, fighting a smile. “One of the reasons my family runs this city is because we have an understanding with these guys.”

“Well, isn’t that convenient,” Gladys drawled, and the look she sent me wasn’t at all friendly. But my attention was on the chief of police as he got out of his car.

“Gladys and Ryan, it’ll be better if you and Bear aren’t here for this part,” I said, keeping an arm around Sadie’s waist. “Take the van around the block and keep quiet.”

Gladys opened her mouth—most likely to protest—but Ryan nudged her with his hip and almost sent her flying. He nodded. “You got it. Should Sadie come with us?”

I tucked her into my side. “She’s good right here.”

I wasn’t letting her out of my sight.

“She can speak for herself,” Sadie muttered, but she was smiling.

“Come on, then, Bear.” Gladys got the leash from Sadie, but Bear refused to move from Sadie’s side. No matter how hard Gladys tugged on the leash or how many kissy sounds she made at him, Bear stayed put. Sadie even tried to tempt him with promises of treats, but he stayed glued to her side.

“I guess he can stay with us if he’s going to be stubborn. I don’t really want to leave him either,” Sadie finally said, reaching for the leash back. “Be safe, guys. We’ll meet up with you soon.”

“You better, or we’ll come back to get you,” Gladys warned. She and Ryan took off for the Dog-Mobile, just in time for Chief Peterson to walk over.

“Reed.” He stopped in front of us, lips twisting into more of a grimace than a smile. “Why am I not surprised to see you here?”

I shook his offered hand. “You sure took your time, Peterson.”

Sadie choked.

Amusement danced in his dark eyes. “Had to rally the troops after numerous calls about gunshots. You didn’t happen to have anything to do with that, did you? Or is it a coincidence you’re this far north at the scene of a crime?”

I glanced back at the house and all the men milling about the yard. “Zain Ali was keeping an innocent woman captive in this house. I couldn’t ignore that.”

Peterson’s gaze drifted to Sadie, measuring her up. “Was he now? Sounds like that’s something you should’ve called us for.”

“Already had it handled,” I said.

He hummed, cocking a brow at Sadie. “That must make you the innocent woman, then?”

Sadie cleared her throat.

“Innocent?” She chuckled nervously and glanced at his badge before looking at me. “I mean, yes, I was the one abducted. If that’s what you’re asking. But I wouldn’t say I’m completely innocent.”

My brows rose at her nerves, but Peterson laughed like she’d told a joke.

“Any fatalities this time, Reed?” he asked me, and I kept my mouth shut. His sigh carried extra weight. “I see. You never do make it easy for us.”

I shrugged. “One could argue I practically gift wrapped and hand-delivered the perps to you.”

He snorted. “Tell that to the mountain of paperwork that’ll be waiting on my desk tonight.” He pointed at Sadie. “Speaking of paperwork. Do me a favor and stop by the medical tent so they can clear you, all right?”

“Oh. I’m fine, your honor.” She glanced up at me again, then seemed to steel herself. “Actually, before you go, there’s something you should know. I need to confess to a crime—”

I clamped a hand over her mouth. “That’s enough of that.”

Sadie glared at me, making muffled protests against my palm, but Peterson was already distracted by something over my shoulder. “Ah, here comes Ali now.”

Sadie tensed against me, and I let go of her mouth to rub my hand down her side comfortingly. Luckily, she kept her confession to herself as Shane marched Zain across the lawn, both hands tied behind the younger man’s back.

My rage heated at the sight of him, but I couldn’t take care of business yet. Not in front of Sadie.

“Any idea how long you plan to hold him for?” I asked the chief.

“There’s no chance he’ll be allowed to post bail, so it’ll be a few weeks before a hearing.”

“A week would be better,” I said.

He crossed his arms, frowning. “The boy’s a flight risk. Three weeks minimum, or it’ll be too obvious we’re handing him back to you on a silver platter.”

Three weeks was still too long. “Then I’d like a minute with him before you take him away.”

“We can spare a minute,” Peterson said before turning his back. “But no more than that.”

“Dav?” Sadie frowned at me. “What are you planning? Why do you need to talk to him?”

“I just want to follow up on our call.” I squeezed her hip. “Wait here.”

Her gaze narrowed, but she stayed put and scratched between Bear’s ears when I stepped away.

I stopped Zain when Shane went to walk him past us, taking ahold of his jaw and holding tight when he tried to jump back.

“Relax, Ali. I won’t hurt you today,” I murmured. “You’ve got three weeks to think about what I’ll do to you before you’ll be mine.”

I didn’t imagine the way his jaw trembled in my grip.

Zain wet his lips, gaze flitting around us. “I didn’t touch her, man. If she said I did, she’s lying—”

“Not the argument I’d go with, if I were you,” I warned. “Try again.”

A scowl twisted his mouth. “You’re a real shit, Reed. You know, maybe I’ll think about your sweet little Sadie over there for the next three weeks. She’ll make the time fly by.”

Instinct wanted me to snap his neck. Pure force of will allowed me to release his jaw and step back instead.

“Untie him,” I ordered Shane.

Shane stepped forward and cut the zip tie, letting Zain pull his arms free from behind his back and massage his wrists.

I curled two fingers at him. “Go ahead. Hit me.”

His dark brows pulled together, feet staying planted. “Huh?”

“Hit me,” I repeated. “I know you want to. You acted like a big shot on that call—now’s your chance to prove it before they lock you up.”

He still hesitated.

“I’m not an idiot.” Zain glanced at the cops milling around. “I know what you’re doing.”

“Giving you a shot? The opportunity to back up your talk so you don’t look like even more of a pussy when news of today spreads?” I asked. “Yeah, I am. What are you waiting for?”

He thought about it for another second, then took a swing, and I easily brushed his fist aside before landing a blow to his jaw.

Sadie gasped behind me as Zain reeled back with a curse, but the cops did nothing.

“Good. Now, let’s try this again.” I pulled a switchblade from my pocket, flipped the blade open, and handed it to him. “Go on.”

Zain rubbed his jaw and blinked down at the blade.

“Davian,” Sadie whispered behind me. “Maybe we should draw a line at playing with knives. Want to go get ice cream or something? My treat.”

But Zain was already lunging for me again, and I knocked the hand with the blade aside.

It felt good to let off a little steam.

And even better than the rush of adrenaline was the painful crunch of Zain’s nose when I grabbed the back of his neck and slammed his face against the SUV.

The second round with Zain turned bloody quickly. I easily dodged his blind swipe with the knife, then twisted his wrist to disarm him. Another smash of his face into the back of the SUV sent more blood gushing from his nose. Zain cursed through the blood and tears, shouting expletives at me and throwing wild punches, which missed by a mile.

“Davian, stop!” Sadie cried at the sight of blood. “Malcolm! Where the heck did you put my broom?”

Bear’s loud barks joined her yelling.

I leaned to the side to avoid Zain’s sluggish punch, then grabbed his shirt and went to swing at his jaw again.

Sadie grabbed my arm, hugging it tight and killing my momentum. “Dav, please. He’s had enough.”

Zain moaned in pain, and I shoved him away. He staggered back, cupping his nose, which was still streaming blood.

Chief Peterson walked up to my other side with a sigh, his gaze steeped in quiet reproach. “You said you wanted to talk to him.”

“Did you miss the knife he pulled on me?” I pointed at the fallen blade. “That was textbook self-defense on my part.”

His flat stare spoke volumes.

“Stop giving me more paperwork.” He waved one of his men over, pointing at Zain. “Get him to a medic.”

Peterson left without another word, leaving me alone with Bear and Sadie—who stared at me with a dropped jaw as she let go of my arm. “Okay. You want to explain what that was?”

“That was a lot nicer than what I planned on doing to him when I saw you tied to that chair.”

She huffed, and her throat worked as she swallowed. “I know it probably looked bad on the call, but he really didn’t hurt me. Nothing worthy of a broken nose.”

I flexed my stinging knuckles before wrapping an arm around her waist. “He took you. That was enough.”

She relaxed against me at that—even wrapping her arms around my waist as she slowly shook her head. “You know, I think you would really benefit from one of Ryan’s lessons on pacifism and seeking peaceful resolutions. He hosts a weekly group discussion that meets at the shelter. Want me to give you his number?”

I couldn’t think of a single thing less appealing than that.

“Sadie? Is that you?” a deep voice called from the street, saving me from answering. One of the officers jogged over, wearing a puzzled smile. “I thought I recognized you. What are you doing here?”

“Oh. Hello, Officer Murdock.” Sadie stayed leaned against my side, offering a tired smile. “It’s a really long story.”

My brow rose, and I lowered my voice. “You know this guy?”

She nodded. “The shelter is part of Officer Murdock’s patrols. He comes by to help sometimes, like when Bear was taken.”

I took a longer look at the man. Maybe a couple years younger than me, he was clean cut with short brown hair and an athletic build. He stood tall, with his shoulders pulled back like he thought very highly of himself. His police badge was extra shiny and prominently displayed on the front of his uniform.

“Not much help, was he?” I asked, not bothering to lower my voice this time.

Sadie’s elbow found my side with a swift jab, and I grunted. Her smile froze. “Ignore him, Officer.”

“Come on now, Sadie,” Murdock said with a smooth, pretty-boy smile that made me want to deck him. “How many times have I told you to call me Jake?”

What an asshole.

Sadie was polite enough to laugh. “Oh, that wouldn’t be appropriate.”

I agreed. Highly inappropriate. She shouldn’t be calling him at all.

The asshole had the nerve to step closer, and a low growl rumbled from Bear’s chest as he inched forward in warning.

“Bear,” Sadie scolded, shortening the leash before he could pounce. Pity. “None of that. You remember Officer Murdock.”

“He’s fine, he’s fine.” The piece of shit’s smile only widened. “I’m just glad to see you’re both all right.”

How sweet of him.

Unable to help myself, I moved my hand up to the base of Sadie’s neck and let it rest there, rubbing my thumb along the top of her spine. “Jake, is it? Why don’t you run along now. Sadie and I are a little busy.”

She tensed against my side, gaping up at me.

The pretty-boy smile froze on his face, and he glanced between us. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but the chief sent me over here to ask the victim a few questions while everything is still fresh. I didn’t realize it was you, Sadie, but this’ll be quick. If you’re up for it?”

I opened my mouth, but Sadie spoke first. “I’m happy to answer anything. Ask away.”

Sparing a glance at me, he cleared his throat. “Ah, it’s policy to separate any witnesses and victims before questioning them.”

“That won’t be necessary,” I said.

Sadie’s grip tightened on my waist.

“Davian,” she hissed softly before smiling at the shitbag. “Of course. Anything to help.”

‘Anything’ seemed like a bit of a stretch.

I grumbled under my breath as Sadie tugged me down closer to her height so she could place a sweet kiss on my cheek.

“Bear and I will be right back,” she whispered.

I grabbed her hand when she went to pull away, and she looked up in question.

“You missed,” I murmured in a soft challenge, and it only took a second before Sadie’s smile widened.

She rose up on tiptoes to press her lips to mine in a tease of a kiss, and it took everything inside me not to deepen it because Murdock was watching. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking he’d gotten to me.

Even if he had.

Sadie squeezed my hand and gave me a quick extra peck before drawing back.

“Good boy,” she mouthed to me, making it difficult for me not to laugh as I shook my head at her.

When Sadie stepped forward with Bear heeling at her side, Murdock lurched back with his hands raised.

“Whoa. Ah, would you mind leaving him here?” he asked, earning a frown from Sadie. “I’m allergic to dogs.”

“Oh.” Sadie exchanged a look with Bear, before slowly facing me. Her smile turned sheepish. “Is it okay if Bear stays with you for a minute?”

Like I could say no.

“Just hurry back.” I held my hand out for his leash, and she handed it over.

Bear also got a kiss goodbye from Sadie—making me feel a certain way about the one she’d given me—and he tried to follow her when she left.

“Hey.” I tugged on the leash to stop him. “You can’t go with her right now. Stay.”

Bear whined in answer, and I silently agreed. It wasn’t fun watching her walk off with that tool. “She’ll be right back. Take a seat.”

Bear answered with a sharp bark, and I shook my head at myself.

… Was I really talking to a dog?

But I was impressed when he actually listened and plopped down in front of me. His alert gaze glued to Sadie and the asshole, both ears swiveled toward where they’d stopped next to a makeshift black tent. An officer inside the tent handed Sadie a cup of water.

Since Bear was doing it, I saw no problem in keeping an eye on them, too.

A minute later, Vince joined us. “If you glare any harder, you’ll burn a hole through his head.”

Guess we hadn’t been very subtle.

“If only,” I muttered dryly, turning to him. The gravity of his face looked out of place after a successful job. “What happened?”

He pressed his lips together and looked at Bear, who’d perked up at Vince’s arrival—his tail wagging furiously against the pavement.

“I just got off the phone with Enzo.” Vince’s shoulders rose with a deep breath. “Lorenzo’s dead.”

I went still. “How?”

“That’s the interesting part, and you can thank Dante for updating the system or we would’ve missed it. The feeds went down as soon as we left, but the backups kicked in right away.” He hesitated. “It caught Seb going to the shed.”

What the hell.

I almost asked him to repeat himself. “… My old man offed Lorenzo? You’re kidding.”

“Enzo sent me a clip of the footage. I saw it myself.” He shook his head. “Seb didn’t know about the backup cameras. He just counted on sneaking in and out during the chaos.”

I looked over to where my father was talking to Peterson, my mind reeling. I wasn’t sure what to think. Seb had no reason to kill Lorenzo. Unless…

It clicked. The goddamn piece of the puzzle I’d been missing earlier.

Lorenzo wouldn’t have gone sniffing around Zain on his own, and he knew something my father thought was worth silencing him over.

And Zain had found Sadie way too quickly to not have been tipped off by someone on the inside.

My father was working them both.

I watched Chief Peterson and my father laugh over something together, like old friends.

I’d spent years cleaning up his messes. Handling his dirty work. Setting up the deals and running the games, while he raked in the winnings. Just how long had the old bastard been playing me?

But one question drowned out the rest.

Why?

Vince cleared his throat. “What will you do?”

Tearing my gaze from the man in question, I checked on Sadie. Aside from Pretty Boy blinding her with his pearly white smile, she seemed fine—no thanks to my old man. If it were up to him, today would’ve gone very differently for her.

The voice that left my throat didn’t sound like my own. “I’ll handle it.”

fourth time’s a charm

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping Being Taken Hostage (Again), Tip #35: There doesn’t seem to be a limit to how many times one can be taken hostage.

I hadn’t expected the aftermath of a hostage situation to be so noisy. Things quickly grew crowded in the cul-de-sac, between more cops swarming the street, Davian’s men exiting the house, and nosy neighbors creeping closer to the action. A giant fire truck joined the fray, and makeshift tents were popping up all along the grass.

It wasn’t until I saw the crime scene tape going up that it hit me how real all this was.

Officer Murdock led me over to one of the tents, where his coworker offered me water and some kind words.

I picked at the rim of the full cup, unable to stop myself from peeking over at Davian and Bear on the sidewalk again. Davian looked to be in a serious talk with Vince, while Bear sat between them both with his tail wagging excitedly and his gaze focused on me.

There was something about seeing Davian holding Bear’s leash that did things to my insides—simultaneously melting my heart into a puddle of goo while also capturing the horny demon’s attention.

I wanted to go on a date to the park with Davian and bring Bear along with us for a picnic.

I also wanted to jump him.

Davian must’ve felt my eyes on him, because he looked over midsentence. Even from this distance, I saw him raise his brows in silent question. Could he tell the kind of thoughts running through my mind just from seeing him and Bear together? I smiled at his questioning gaze and gave a little wave to let him know everything was fine.

Bear was still staring at me with those puppy-dog eyes.

Warmed by all the attention, I blew a kiss to both of them.

A smirk curled Davian’s lips, earning him a punch on the arm from Vince—who didn’t seem too happy about being ignored.

I turned back to Officer Murdock, who was watching our interaction with a frown. I barely fought down the urge to roll my eyes at him. Even though I was trying my best to be polite and follow the rules, it still annoyed me how poorly he’d handled Bear’s dognapping.

Murdock ran a hand over his jaw, gaze narrowing on me. “So, you know Davian Reed?”

I pulled Davian’s jacket tighter around me. “You could say that.”

He glanced toward the sidewalk, and his frown deepened. “You two seem close.”

A schoolgirl blush threatened to rise, and I stamped it down. He had just witnessed me kissing the guy. “It’s a bit of a crazy situation, but he helped me get Bear back.”

Murdock had the disappointed law enforcement look down pat. He even enhanced it by standing with his legs slightly apart and crossing his arms.

“Sadie, we’ve known each other for a few years now,” he said slowly. “We can be honest with each other, right?”

Unsure where this was going, I took a sip of my water—wishing it were something sweeter—before answering. “We’re not friends, if that’s what you mean.”

He feigned a shot to the heart, wincing. “Ouch. That’s a little harsh after everything I’ve done for you and the shelter, isn’t it?”

My hackles rose. That was rich coming from him. Some of my will to be polite vanished. “… You mean like when I called you after Bear was taken, and you did absolutely nothing to help us find him?”

“What did you expect me to do?” His chuckle grated against my skin. “I can’t play doggy detective every time one runs off. The city’s full of missing dogs.”

“But he didn’t run away. He was stolen. You told me to check if he had shown up at other shelters, but we had the Skulls on tape, carrying him away!”

His laughter faded. “That wasn’t a lead. Nobody could ID a face from that grainy security footage.”

“Davian took one look at their graffiti and knew it was the Skulls,” I said. “He said it was obvious.”

Murdock shook his head. “You’re talking him up now, but do you even know who Reed is? What he does for a living?”

That made me pause and shift my weight. This was dangerous territory to discuss with a police officer.

“I know enough,” I hedged, not sure what he was getting at.

“He’s a monster who turned Zain Ali’s face into a bloody pulp. The kid will need surgery.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I kept my mouth shut.

“Dozens of officers were watching him, and he knew he could do that without us touching him,” Murdock added gravely. “That’s too much power for one man to have.”

I swallowed. He wasn’t wrong—that’d been scary to watch. “What are you trying to say?”

A long pause heightened my worry before he shook his head. “I just want you to be careful. That’s all.”

“I am being careful.” I scrunched my nose at the defensiveness in my tone. “And, honestly, Jake? It’s none of your business.”

His brows shot up.

And I hadn’t said his name to be nice. It was mostly because I was growing tired of his attitude.

“Noted.” His tone turned clipped—borderline frosty—as he averted his gaze to the crowd forming in front of Zain’s house. “I just thought you had a stronger moral compass than to get involved with criminals like him. Guess I was wrong.”

I prickled with annoyance at his bad attitude, but I had to laugh.

“It’s funny you’re so quick to judge Davian when he’s been loads more helpful than the police,” I said. “When all you did was come up with excuses and waste time flirting with me, Dav actually helped me get Bear back. And he did it for nothing in return.”

Jake’s gaze slid down my body in an obvious leer. “I wouldn’t say he did it for nothing.”

I gaped at him, struck speechless for a good few seconds before I found my voice.

“Seriously? You say stuff like that, but all Davian’s ever done is be on my side.” Even when I’d been too scared to face my feelings for him and run away, he’d still come for me. I was just wasting time now when I’d much rather be spending it with him. “We’re clearly getting nowhere, and I need to get back to Bear. Have a nice day, Officer.”

“Wait, Sadie.” Jake grabbed my arm when I turned away, and I stilled. He blew out a breath. “I’m sorry, okay? But the boss will have my head if I don’t question you. I just want to make sure you’re answering me honestly and not being swayed by Reed.”

“I would never lie to law enforcement. Nobody is swaying me.”

Jake’s lips twitched, and he dropped his hand. “Of course. But humor me for a minute, okay? Then you can get back to your dog.”

I swallowed another retort. “If you can keep things professional, then I’ll answer your questions. But no more bad-mouthing Davian.”

“Deal,” he agreed easily enough, making my eyes narrow. He backed up a few steps and opened the passenger door to one of the squad cars, gesturing for me to get in. “Now, have a seat. Please.”

My brows went up, and I shifted my feet on the pavement. There was no reason to get into a car with this man. “I’d rather stand, thanks.”

Jake glanced at the two other officers across the tent from us, then the others milling around us. He lowered his voice. “It’s for privacy, Sadie. I have some sensitive questions, and the chief doesn’t want the wrong ears overhearing us.”

I bristled. It was obvious the “wrong ears” were Davian’s men, and I was offended for them.

Across the cul-de-sac, Davian and Bear stood further down the sidewalk. To my disgust, Davian’s father was with them now, and it looked like a heated discussion. I found myself taking a step in their direction before snapping out of it.

Bear was focused on Sebastian Reed, too. He leaned forward as much as the leash would allow, sniffing his legs and shoes.

I almost hoped he developed the same obsession with that man’s footwear as he had with Davian’s. The jerk deserved to have a few loafers stolen.

But Davian seemed busy, so I turned back to the car.

“Fine.” I huffed and ducked into the passenger seat. The sooner this was over, the sooner I could get back to Davian and Bear—hopefully after they were finished talking to Sebastian.

Jake swung the door shut and jogged around the front of the car. When he slid into the driver’s seat, I placed my water into the cupholder and flattened my hands over my skirt. “Okay. What would you like to know?”

Instead of asking me anything, Jake put his key in the ignition and started it up.

“Um, what are you doing?” I asked, growing more baffled when he put the car into gear.

He didn’t answer until he was driving forward. “We’re going somewhere safe to talk. You’re obviously not comfortable speaking freely with Reed nearby.”

My heart dropped into my stomach.

“Are you joking?” I shifted to look out the window, but Davian wasn’t in sight anymore as Jake expertly wove through the maze of parked cars. I scowled at him. “At least let me tell everyone where I’m going first, so they don’t worry.”

His grip flexed on the wheel. “By ‘everyone,’ you mean Reed?”

“Gladys and Ryan, too. They’ll be concerned if I disappear.” I pressed the button to lower my window so I could call to Davian, but the window didn’t budge. “… Why isn’t my window opening?”

“It’s better if your friends don’t know. We can’t risk Reed not letting you go.”

“What I do isn’t up to him,” I said through gritted teeth, pushing the window button again. Nothing. I stabbed it with my finger three more times. “Is this window broken?”

The car picked up speed once we cleared the parked vehicles, my heartbeat speeding up with it.

Screw it. Jumping out of a moving vehicle had to be better than whatever he had planned. But when I yanked on the handle, my door didn’t open. I jiggled the handle again—but it did nothing.

Dread filled my stomach. “Why is this locked?”

Jake’s lips pressed together as the car picked up more speed. “I’m sorry, Sadie, but we’re doing this to protect you.”

“No, what you’re doing is being ridiculous,” I cried as my panic grew. “I don’t need protection. Can you just turn around, please? I don’t have my phone, and it’ll take one second for me to tell them we’re going somewhere.”

I wasn’t actually planning to tell anyone or ever get back into a car with Jake, but I’d say anything to get him to stop the car.

Instead, his foot grew heavier on the gas. “I can’t do that. This is the only way to trust you aren’t being coerced.”

Coerced?

I wanted to scream.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I fought to remain cordial. “I appreciate your concern, but it’s not needed. No one is coercing or brainwashing me. I’m acting of my own free will, just like I always have. That’s the truth. Now, please pull over.”

“It’s not up to me.” Jake shook his head. “My orders are from the top. Chief Peterson asked me to take you off site so you could feel comfortable talking to me without fear of retribution.”

“Retribution?” I echoed in disbelief. This was just ridiculous. “Davian won’t hurt me.”

“You don’t know the Reeds like we do. This is a necessary safety measure.”

… Son of a dog biscuit.

I rubbed at my temples, trying to stay calm and think rationally. But the panic was winning. I pulled on the handle again, desperately willing my heart rate to stop spiking. “Unlock the door, Jake.”

He didn’t seem fazed by my panic. “Calm down for a minute—”

“You did not just tell me to calm down while you’re driving me away without my permission.” I laughed at how crazy this was before gritting my teeth. “If you don’t let me out right now, I’ll—I’ll report you for this. You’ll be in big trouble.”

He gave me a cool side-glance. “Threatening me now? Reed sure rubbed off on you fast.”

I scowled at him, but my mind was working a mile a minute, weighing what to do. I briefly considered attacking Jake, but there were tons of trees lining the street. Attacking him could lead to us crashing straight into one.

I needed to be smart about this.

I tried again, hoping manners would help him see reason. “Please let me out.”

“No.”

Well. Manners didn’t work, then.

At the end of the street, Jake took a sharp right turn, and I grabbed my seat as we zoomed down a side street—and straight toward the Dog-Mobile parked against a curb. Desperate, I jumped at the chance for help as we approached.

“Gladys! Ryan!” I banged against the passenger window, willing them to look over. Jake sped up, and I couldn’t see much as we passed the van. “Help!”

He snorted. “Don’t be so dramatic. This is for your own safety.”

I gave the handle a few more useless yanks as my freak-out mode fully engaged. “Jake, please. This isn’t funny. Pull over.”

His mouth formed a thin line as he kept driving—very noticeably not pulling over.

I turned in my seat to stare out the back window as the Dog-Mobile shrank in the distance, in complete disbelief this was happening again.

Had I seriously been abducted twice in one day?

… Gladys would never let me live this down.

the dream team

Davian

Sadie’s hellhound could be surprisingly obedient when he wasn’t slobbering all over my shoes. It was almost worth having my toes strangled by Vince’s tiny boots, because Bear happily trotted at my side when we left Vince on the sidewalk and tracked down my old man.

It only took one look from me for Chief Peterson to excuse himself from his conversation with my father—who sneered at Bear as we approached.

“Let me guess. You got a job as a dog walker for that damn shelter?” he asked dryly.

I stopped next to him, pleasantly surprised when Bear readily sat on his haunches next to me. The dog leaned forward and gave my father’s loafer a healthy sniffing that made both ears perk up.

If I was lucky, maybe Bear would take a liking to my pop’s shoes over mine.

“Didn’t expect you to show your face here,” I said, ignoring the barb.

“I was curious when Dante started gathering the troops.” Seb shrugged. He eyed the people streaming in and out of Zain’s house. “But this looks like a lot of trouble for one woman.”

“Don’t,” I warned him, remembering what Vince had said. Lorenzo was dead. My father had cut the feeds. And now he showed up here like nothing was wrong. “This was you, wasn’t it?”

The brow over his eye patch rose. “Say again?”

“Did you send Ali after Sadie?”

He barked a booming laugh, startling a low growl out of Bear. “You think I give a rat’s ass about who you roll around with and would turn her over to Ali? I just met the minx an hour ago.”

I refused to take the bait. “If you orchestrated this because of that bullshit engagement—”

“I didn’t orchestrate shit, and paranoia doesn’t suit you, son.” The humor vanished from my father’s face, replaced by an icy calm I used to admire as a kid. “When have I ever given you a reason to doubt me?”

“That’s a great question,” I said. “And it’s why I didn’t want to believe it. But if there’s one thing you’ve taught me, it’s that you’ll always follow the money. Always. It doesn’t matter who you sell out in the process.”

Even me.

“Everything I do is in the best interest of our family.” His gaze turned glacial. “I’ll even let this little witch hunt of yours go—since you seem to have lost your damn mind after getting involved with that girl—but question me again, and we’ll be having a very different conversation. You understand me?”

I understood just fine. He was a condescending ass with a god complex.

“Just answer one thing first.” I stepped closer, and Bear shifted up onto all fours before copying me. “Did you come here to side with Ali against me, or to silence him before he could snitch on you like you did Lorenzo?”

His eye narrowed, and there it was. A brief hesitation I would’ve missed if I hadn’t been looking for it. “… What’s this about Lorenzo?”

“You going to tell me that wasn’t you, too?” I cocked a brow. “Hard to fake that footage.”

Genuine surprise flashed across his face, and he leaned closer. “Careful what you accuse me of. Everything I’ve done has been for us, Davian.”

“Us or you?” I threw back at him with a tight smile. “Either way, I think you’re overdue for a vacation, Pop.”

He scowled. “The hell are you talking about?”

“Take a trip. Move to another country. I don’t care.” I looped Bear’s leash around my wrist and stared my father down. “Just don’t come back.”

The rest didn’t need to be said. He knew what happened to traitors who showed their faces again.

“Who are you to tell me to leave?” His voice rose, drawing some attention from those nearby. “This has to be a joke. First, you accuse me of working with Ali with no proof, and now you think you can kick me to the curb? Your own father?”

“If you want proof, then show me your recent calls,” I challenged. “You were the only one to step out of my office after we watched the footage of Sadie leaving. Show me you didn’t call Ali as soon as you stepped outside, and I’ll believe you. Go ahead.”

When he only sneered, I slid my free hand into my pocket and gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Like I said, take a vacation. Enjoy the beach. Hit the slopes. Go wherever the hell you want. But never step foot in this city again.”

Seb rolled his eye. “Give it a rest, Davian. You got your girl back. The deed’s done. You don’t want to play this game with me.”

I could still picture how scared Sadie had been, and my grip on Bear’s leash flexed. “Oh, but I really, really do.”

My father looked ready to pull a blade, when suddenly Bear ran past me with a bark—almost yanking my elbow out of its socket as he jumped off the curb.

“Hey. Settle,” I ordered, holding firm on the leash and frowning at him. He only barked louder and fought to drag me off the sidewalk. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Boss!” Malcolm called across the lawn. He ran toward us with one hand still holding Sadie’s ridiculous broom. “Was Sadie supposed to leave?”

“Leave?” I looked for her head of pink hair where I’d last seen it. “No, she was just—”

The tent she’d blown me a kiss from was empty. No sign of any pink hair or Pretty Boys in the area.

… Motherfucker.

Bear’s barks grew more urgent, and he tugged hard on the leash—trying to pull me toward the empty tent.

“Get Vince and grab an SUV,” I ordered Malcolm, leaving my father on the curb and following Bear through the swelling crowd. Malcolm followed, but there were too many people here. Too many cars blocking us in. “Find a way out. Drive through a tent if you have to.”

I fished out my phone as Bear and I ran toward the tent. Once inside, he kept his snout to the ground and sniffed. When he began pacing, I let go of his leash and called Sadie’s number.

“Reed?” Gladys answered after the second ring. “Why are you calling Sadie’s phone?”

Right. She didn’t have it on her. “Have you seen any squad cars leave this street?”

“More coming than going, but one flew by here a minute ago.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Was Sadie in it?”

“What do you mean ‘was Sadie in it’? She’s with you. Why would she be—”

I hung up and pocketed my phone, searching the area for Peterson. That goddamn unsettling feeling that’d taken root when Zain abducted Sadie filled my chest again, and I didn’t take a full breath until I spotted the police chief across the pavement.

“Bear, heel,” I called to the dog, pleased when he looked up and stuck to my side as we raced over to Peterson. “Where did Murdock take her?”

Peterson looked up from his paperwork, both bushy eyebrows knit. “The hell are you talking about?”

“That asshole drove off with Sadie, and there’s no chance she went with him willingly,” I said. “What happened?”

He scanned the area before retrieving his phone far too slowly.

“I asked Murdock to get her side of the story, but I didn’t say to take her anywhere.” He waited with the phone to his ear, and precious seconds ticked by before he shook his head. “He’s not picking up.”

“Do you have some way to track him?” I asked.

“All the cars are outfitted with GPS trackers.” He waved over another fresh-eyed officer. “We can look up his location.”

He ordered the cop to find a tablet, and the younger man ran off.

Frantic honking filled the air as the giant blue Dog-Mobile raced down the street. It skidded to a stop on the other side of the gathered cop cars, tires squealing.

Gladys hopped out from behind the wheel, and Ryan wasn’t far behind her as they ran over.

“Reed!” Gladys called above the noise, patting her hair to flatten the stray strands. “What’s going on? Where’s Sadie?”

“Jake Murdock drove off with her,” I answered shortly. “What do you know about him?”

“Jake? Well, he’s a friend of the shelter.” She frowned, glancing at Ryan. “But Sadie wouldn’t run off without telling us.”

“There’s no way she’d leave Bear like that,” Ryan added.

I agreed.

“Here.” The officer Peterson had sent off returned with a sleek tablet in hand. “I’ve synced it to Murdock’s vehicle.”

Peterson took the tablet and studied the screen. His lips formed a thin line. “Good work, Patel. They’re moving northeast. Reed, I’ll send three units with you—”

“No.” I cut him off and held out my hand for the tablet. “I’m not putting her at risk because you’ve sent some of Murdock’s friends to help him. I’ll call you after we take care of it.”

Peterson froze, the tablet hovering an inch above my palm.

“Jake needs to be alive when we get there,” he warned gruffly. “He’s one of us, Reed. If he’s not breathing, I can’t help you.”

I took the tablet without another word and turned away.

“Not so fast,” Gladys snapped, catching my arm in a surprisingly strong grip. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I glanced down at her boney fingers wrapped around my sleeve. “To get Sadie.”

“If you think I’m letting you run off with that tracking thing and leave us behind, you’re crazy. We stick together.” She plucked the tablet from my hand and jabbed a finger at the Dog-Mobile. “Get in.”

Sadie hadn’t warned me her friend had lost her marbles. “You’re kidding.”

But Gladys didn’t waste any time explaining. She smacked the tablet against Ryan’s stomach, making him fumble to catch it. “You navigate, Ryan. I’ll drive. Reed, you’re in the back with Bear.”

Forget the marbles. She’d lost her damned mind if she wanted us to take that hunk of metal to chase down a cop car. “My SUVs are faster. You can ride with us—”

“They’re all blocked in, and the Dog-Mobile will do just fine,” she snapped over her shoulder. “Your friend did something to the engine when he fixed it for us. We won’t stall out at forty anymore.”

… Anymore?

I shook my head, not wanting to waste more time arguing. “Fine. All right. Let’s go.”

We rushed over to the Dog-Mobile with Bear hot on our heels, and I slid the side door open.

Bear jumped through first, while I gritted my teeth before climbing in after him. The other two hopped into the front, and I shot a text to Malcolm and Vince with instructions to track my location and follow us.

Gladys and Ryan both strapped in—of course there weren’t any seat belts in the back—and Gladys started the engine. “Now, let’s go get our girl back.”

That jerked my attention away from my phone, and I looked to the front. “Our girl?”

Her gaze met mine in the rearview mirror, and she raised a challenging brow. “Sadie was ours long before she ever met you, Davian Reed. You better get used to that if you plan to stick around.”

She held my gaze while peeling down the street, and I studied her reflection—realizing with a start that instead of feeling anger, part of me found her challenge endearing.

Ridiculous, but endearing.

No wonder she was friends with Sadie.

“Understood.” I focused on Ryan. “How far away are they?”

He tapped at the screen. “A couple miles. Take a right up here, Gladys.”

She followed his instructions to a tee, and Ryan navigated us out of the neighborhood and down the nearest back road. Gladys’s quick reflexes and calm under pressure would make her a good getaway driver.

Meanwhile, I was stuck sitting on my ass in the back, with an overgrown beast panting beside me.

All in all, we made an unlikely rescue team compared to the smooth operation I’d just run with the guys. But what bothered me was we were heading northeast, in the opposite direction of the city.

Where the hell was Murdock taking her?

“We’re closing the gap,” Ryan said, studying the tablet. He scratched his head. “It looks like they’re slowing down. Turn right!”

The barked order made Gladys yank the wheel in a sharp turn, and inertia sent Bear into my side. His wet tongue found my cheek in a rogue lick, making me scowl.

“Watch it,” I murmured to the mutt, side-eyeing him. But Bear just kept panting his hot breath into my face, letting out the occasional soft whine as Gladys floored it down the road.

I couldn’t blame him, since I was just as worried about Sadie. It went against my every instinct to sit here without doing anything.

Maybe that was why I didn’t push Bear away when he rested his head on my knee.

But I didn’t have an explanation for why my fingers scratched the spot behind his ears when we took another sharp turn.

remember his name

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping Being Taken Hostage (Again), Tip #36: Being a recurring hostage is exhausting. Make sure to stay hydrated.

I was so over being abducted.

At this rate, someone should’ve at least given me a loyalty punch card for all my troubles.

Survive ten abductions and earn a free ice cream!

That would be worth it.

“I’m worried about you, Sadie. The Reeds aren’t a family you should be hanging around,” Jake said for the third time. He was still trying to justify kidnapping me.

I pursed my lips and stared out the passenger window, pretending I hadn’t heard him. My new plan was to ignore him until he pulled the car over.

And I might’ve been pouting just a little bit, because how was I supposed to prove I wasn’t a weakness to Davian if I kept getting kidnapped at every turn?

Jake sighed and turned onto another road. “Enough games. That son of a bitch messed with your head, and you don’t know what you’re getting involved in.”

I snorted. But when I saw the dirt road he’d turned onto, all plans to ignore him went out my locked window. Instead of heading toward the city, we were driving away from civilization. And no other cars were around. I straightened in my seat. “Wait. Where are we going?”

“To the station. You’ll feel safer answering questions there.”

“But this is an abandoned road. The city is that way.” I pointed behind us, where I could see just a hint of the skyline. “You’re driving further away from it!”

Jake adjusted his grip on the wheel and mumbled something surely insulting under his breath, which did nothing to help my growing panic. My mind went straight to the worst possible scenario. “Oh my god. You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”

“What? Don’t be stupid.” He threw me an incredulous look before shaking his head. “You’re clearly not thinking straight.”

“And you’re not my mother,” I shot back, prickling with annoyance. “You have no right to take me somewhere against my will.”

That was it. I needed a plan. I wasn’t some helpless damsel waiting to be saved, and there was nothing good about an abandoned road.

I eyed the contents of the car, but Jake didn’t keep many items lying around. The only thing that looked heavy enough to hit him over the head with was a laptop, but it was hooked up to the middle console.

Picking up my cup of water, I subtly weighed it in my hand. Too light. But taking a sip gave me an idea.

Bingo.

I cleared my throat and reached a hand down to rest over the buckle of my seat belt. My best chance at getting him to listen was to play along.

“Okay,” I said in my best effort at calm. “I’ll talk to you, okay? I’ll tell you whatever you want. Just pull over first.”

“Not until we’re far away from Reed.” Jake ran a hand through his hair, disheveling the dark locks. “You know I’m looking out for you, right? If you want a man to look after you, you have other options. You don’t need to settle for a guy who spends his nights in back alleys with the rats and lowlifes.”

My grip tightened on the water cup. “I understand, and I’m grateful to have you watching out for me.” The lie tasted like sandpaper on my tongue, making me grimace. “But I don’t feel comfortable driving off like this. Please pull over, Jake.”

He scoffed. “Don’t be silly. You’re safe with me—”

“Pull over. Now.”

Miraculously, he swerved the car to the side of the road and screeched to a stop—causing water to slosh over the rim of my cup.

Jake spun in his seat to face me, and his glare made my hands tremble. “Watch your tone. You don’t give me orders, Sadie.”

He reached for my jaw, startling me into action. I threw my water in his face—aiming for his eyes—at the same time I freed my seat belt. While he spluttered, I launched myself across the middle with a war cry and reached over him to yank open his door.

“What the hell—?”

Jake blindly grabbed at me, and my momentum made us both tumble out the door onto the road in a tangle of limbs and dirt.

“Let me go!” I cried when he landed on top of me. I pushed at his chest, but he easily grappled me to the ground and straddled my waist. No amount of bucking or wiggling would make him move.

Great, now he was sitting on me.

“Calm down,” Jake ordered, grabbing my wrists and pinning them to the road.

I panted for air beneath him, and both of us realized at the same time that Davian’s jacket had unbuttoned during the scuffle—revealing my pink cupcake bra and a whole lot of cleavage.

Oh my.

Jake stared at my chest, eyes widening comically. “What the hell are you wearing?”

I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on pushing against his hold. “Get off me!”

This was going the exact opposite of how I’d hoped when I came up with the water cup plan.

“Why can’t you just listen?” Jake tightened his grip on my wrists, not budging. “I’m trying to help you, you ungrateful little—”

Beep, beep!

Frantic honking cut Jake off, and we both looked up. The Happy Tails Haven Dog-Mobile chugged along, moving toward us in a dust cloud. I could just make out Gladys and Ryan waving frantically at me through the windshield.

Jake muttered a few choice curses above me. I tried to wiggle my wrists free, but his grip didn’t loosen.

The Dog-Mobile squealed to a stop a few meters away, but not before Davian and Bear jumped out the side door like crime-fighters in an action movie. I gaped up at them.

Bear shot over to us like a bullet, rammed straight into Jake, and knocked the jerk off me.

Jake screamed, and I scrambled backward on my butt before a pair of strong hands pulled me up. I looked up to meet Davian’s piercing glare.

He looked positively murderous. “You okay?”

I gulped and nodded, then he breezed past me toward Jake just as Bear sank his teeth into Jake’s arm.

I could swear Davian said, “Good boy, Bear,” before pulling Jake up by his collar—only to throw a punch at his face.

Uh-oh.

Bear let go and retreated to me, nudging my hip to herd me away from the violence.

“I know, I know,” I muttered to him, shuffling back and fumbling to rebutton the jacket. “Thanks, buddy.”

When we reached the edge of the road, Bear stood sentry in front of me, and I braced myself before looking at Davian and Jake rolling around the dirt road in a full-out brawl.

Oh no.

Davian was clearly winning with the hits he was getting in. And he seemed to be the only one dodging. But nothing good could come of beating up a police officer.

“Dav!” I called, wincing at a particularly brutal hit. “I think he got the message.”

Instead of stopping, Davian grabbed Jake’s collar and threw another punch.

Ouch.

“Sock him in the throat, Reed!” Gladys shouted from next to the Dog-Mobile, followed by a hooting cheer. “Nice shot!”

“Gladys,” I hissed over my shoulder, not wanting her to encourage him.

She shrugged. “At my age, you gotta get the thrills where you can. You call that a punch, Murdock? My parakeet can hit harder than that!”

Ryan watched in horrified amazement from the other side of the van.

“Help me stop them,” I called to my friends, looking around for anything to use as a weapon. “I don’t want Davian to get hurt.”

And I didn’t want him to get into trouble for assaulting an officer, either—which he was apparently very good at.

“Sadie,” Gladys called, and I turned just as she lobbed something at me.

I fumbled to catch the clay pot, and immediately recognized my beautiful brown plant, Walter.

Perfect. His pot was solid enough to do some damage.

Hauling him behind my head for leverage, I waited until Davian shoved Jake into the side of the patrol car to make my move. When the timing was right, I aimed at the side of Jake’s head and let Walter fly.

… He missed.

Instead of hitting Jake’s head in an impressive display of my athletic skill, Walter went three feet to the right and ricocheted off the car’s back window. He fell to the ground with a sad plop and a cracked pot.

That wasn’t good.

I ran over and picked him up just as Davian clocked Jake in the jaw, earning a groan from Jake and another cheer from Gladys. It wasn’t even a fair fight as Jake swayed to the side and Davian pulled him back by the collar of his jacket. He was just playing with his food now.

I needed to stop this before Davian got into trouble. The police might’ve let what he’d done to Zain slide, but I doubted they’d do the same for one of their own.

Adjusting my grip on Walter’s broken remains, I tiptoed closer to the fight until I was a couple feet behind Jake. Bear hugged my hip, growling softly.

“Watch out, Dav!” I warned, just before jumping forward and bringing Walter down against the back of Jake’s head.

Walter did his job this time, and Jake dropped like a bag of rocks. Davian moved quickly and methodically, nicking the handcuffs off Jake’s belt before crouching and cuffing him to the rim of the tire.

He pocketed the key.

Jake moaned pitifully—his face an ugly mixture of red and blue, with one eye rapidly swelling shut—and Davian grabbed his jaw.

“Why’d you take Sadie?” He spoke so calmly—and devoid of any emotion—but the tension radiating from him froze me in place.

“Fuck you,” Jake rasped. He jerked against Davian’s grasp to glare at me, but it lacked any heat when he couldn’t even focus enough to maintain eye contact. “This is who you want, Sadie? A criminal asshole? He’s not—”

“Don’t look at her. Look at me.” Davian’s grip on Jake’s jaw turned white-knuckled as he jerked it back to face him. “Where were you taking her?”

Jake glowered at Davian like there was nothing he’d love more than to make a Davian-flavored stew.

“As far away from you as I could,” he spat. “She’s too good for you, Reed. She might be blinded because you found her stupid dog, but Sadie deserves someone better than a lowlife.”

I frowned. It wasn’t difficult to guess Jake believed that “someone” was him.

Davian’s low answering chuckle raised the hair on my arms. “Maybe I owe you a thank-you, then. If you hadn’t shit the bed when Bear went missing, Sadie wouldn’t be mine now.”

My chest had no business fluttering at that, and I tightened my grip on Bear’s collar.

“Davian?” I whispered, worried how far he planned to take this.

He pulled his gaze away from Jake long enough to glance at me—then Bear—with a look that chilled me to the bone, before refocusing on the officer.

“Peterson is on his way. He’ll get you medical help and take your badge, because you’re done in this city.” He sneered, letting go of Jake’s jaw. “Consider it a favor. If you ever come near Sadie again, I won’t be this nice.”

A shiver rolled down my spine at the threat, making me adjust my grip on Bear’s collar.

Jake only spat out blood—and was that a tooth?—then slumped back against the tire with a weak moan.

He wouldn’t be flashing that flirty smile of his again anytime soon.

Davian straightened to his full height and strode toward me and Bear. His hand found the small of my back, ushering us further away from the scene of the crime.

“Want to tell me how you ended up in a car with that asshole?” he asked dryly.

“Wrong place, wrong time?” I forced a light laugh, trying to lighten the mood. He didn’t join in, so I cleared my throat. “I might’ve made a poor judgement call, and Jake was convinced he was saving me from a very bad man. His words, not mine.”

Davian’s dark gaze flashed. “And how exactly did it go from him saving you to him pinning you to the road?”

I winced. “Well, I might’ve thrown water in his face and attacked him…”

I was rewarded with a hint of a smile cracking through Davian’s hard exterior. He pulled me close and pressed his lips to my forehead. “That’s my girl.”

The way my heart fluttered at the praise was entirely unhealthy and wholly welcome.

Especially when Bear didn’t complain this time.

Davian drew back too soon for my liking, face serious. “I need to call Peterson before we leave to let him know that piece of trash is still breathing. Don’t move from this spot.”

It took effort not to roll my eyes at him when he stepped away with his phone, but he didn’t go far.

Gladys quickly filled his place and enveloped me in a fierce hug, even as she scowled. “You foolish girl! What did I say about sacrificing yourself?”

“I didn’t volunteer this time! He tricked me.” I pouted, hugging her back.

Ryan wrapped his arms around both of us and squeezed. Bear must’ve been jealous, because he leaned all his weight against my leg to join the hug.

“You guys are the best.” I reached down to scratch Bear’s head. “I can’t believe you teamed up with Dav to come help me.”

“Of course we did.” Ryan eased back with a scoff. “I told you we’ll always have your back.”

“And Reed turned out to be somewhat useful,” Gladys added, not letting go of me even when Davian rejoined us.

Luckily, he seemed amused by her comment. When he stopped behind me, I gravitated toward him.

“Mind giving us a minute?” he asked the other two.

“Uh, sure. We’ll be over here,” Ryan said before peeling a scowling Gladys off me and dragging her to the Dog-Mobile. They left Bear with us, since he was glued to my hip.

I shook my head at them and readily walked into Davian’s waiting arms with a sigh.

“Hey.” I looked up, resting my chin against his chest. “Two rescues in one day. That’s gotta be some kind of record, doesn’t it?”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “Let’s not make it a habit.”

“Deal,” I agreed happily.

“Vince is almost here.” Davian’s hands found my hips and squeezed them. “Peterson won’t be far behind, but I’d rather not wait around for him. You ready to head back to my place?”

I hesitated, looking over at my friends by the Dog-Mobile.

“Would you mind if we went to the shelter instead?” I asked, scratching Bear behind his ears and earning a friendly lick. “I think it’ll be good for everyone, and Bear’s been missing his friends.”

Davian’s eyebrow rose at the last part of what I’d said. “Sure. We can go wherever you want.”

With a smile, I rested my cheek against his chest and buried my fingers in Bear’s fur. I was looking forward to resting at the shelter. Maybe Bear and I could take a little nap after the long day we’d had.

Maybe Davian could join us.

I glanced over at Jake’s slumped body with a shudder, but it was the soil on the ground near him that broke my heart.

“Oh god. Walter!” I moaned, pulling away from Davian and rushing over to my poor plant. If his pot had been cracked before, it was shattered now.

It was too late for him. The pot was unsalvageable, and his soil fanned out across the dirt road like some sort of sick blood splatter.

I sniffled and knelt beside him, caressing one of his wilted brown leaves. Bear sniffed at the soil, nudging it around with his snout.

“We’ll never forget you, friend,” I whispered.

He was gone much too soon, but for a worthy cause.

Bear pawed at the soil, and a flash of green nestled in the middle caught my eye. I sucked in a breath as my heart skipped a beat. “It can’t be.”

Davian’s footsteps approached behind us. “What is it?”

I carefully dug the little green sproutling out of the soil and held it up to him, beaming. “A survivor! Walter left a sproutling behind—a child!”

Davian blinked at the seed. “But that thing looked like it’d been dead for years.”

“His name is Walter,” I reminded him. When he only stared at me blankly, I huffed. “He sacrificed himself for us today, so the least we can do is remember his name.”

I went to put the little sproutling in one of Davian’s jacket pockets, but they were too loose. I couldn’t risk Walter Jr. falling out. When I opened my mouth to ask Davian to put it in his slacks pocket, he raised a brow like he knew exactly what was coming and thought I was insane to even ask.

Out of other options, I carefully tucked the little guy into my bra for safe keeping—earning a snort from Davian before he slung an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his front. Bear took that as his cue to sit on my foot and lean his full weight against my hip.

I soaked up both their embraces and patted the cup of my bra with a pleased smile. “There. Safe and sound.”

Just like me.

partners

Davian

We had a funeral for a plant.

… A plant.

I couldn’t believe it.

After discovering what Sadie referred to as Walter’s “child” in his remains, she’d insisted on giving Walter a proper burial back at the shelter. It was a whole thing. I got talked into digging a six-inch grave, Sadie said a few words, Ryan made a mini-headstone, and Gladys sang a song about life being a circle. I could swear Sadie even shed a tear when Vince dumped a shovelful of dirt over Walter’s wilted corpse.

It was safe to say my life had changed a lot in the past two days.

There were a dozen things I should be doing back at the compound, like cleaning up the mess with Ali. Meeting with the other heads to ensure my takeover went smoothly. Making sure my father didn’t do something stupid instead of leaving.

Instead, I was sitting at a patio table in the Happy Tails Haven’s courtyard with a beer in one hand and Sadie curled up on my lap. Twinkling fairy lights hung from the trees, music played through wall speakers, and laughter and stories filled the place. We celebrated Walter’s life and memory—as Sadie said he would’ve wanted.

And there were dogs everywhere.

Everywhere.

Running around, rolling on the grass, and endlessly squeaking all those goddamn toys.

Bear was thrilled to be back with his buddies, and I already knew the one Sadie called Mr. Woofkins would be trouble. The husky ran countless laps around the courtyard and howled at the night sky like a deranged lunatic.

Sadie played fetch with every dog who brought toys over to us. Bear was the biggest repeat visitor, and he made sure to stop for a quick rubdown and kiss from Sadie every time he retrieved something for her.

I would’ve been jealous if she hadn’t been perched on my lap and playing with my hair all night.

It was the type of evening I could get addicted to.

“Hey, buddy,” Sadie cooed when Bear set another stick in her lap. She leaned forward and kissed his snout, and the furry bastard wagged his tail like he’d just won the lottery.

She threw the stick, then rested her head on my shoulder while Bear raced a few other dogs across the yard to chase it down.

“You and Bear seem to be getting along now—working together to save me and everything,” Sadie said as he wrestled with another dog for the stick.

I shrugged. “He’s not so bad.”

Laughter spilled from her lips, soft and infectious. “You two make a good team.”

“Unfortunately for him, I already have a partner.”

Sadie wasn’t speechless often, but there was a noticeable pause before she turned her head to press a sweet kiss to my neck. Her smile curved against my skin, making my arm tighten around her waist.

As the night wore on, the Happy Tails Haven crew proved they were quite the partiers. Vince and Ryan faced off in a riveting beer pong match, a giant game of Jenga turned into a drinking game, and Sadie led the group in drinking songs—despite not having more than a few sips herself.

Everything was going well, until Gladys had one too many drinks and stomped over to us, jabbing her finger in my face.

“Let’s get one thing straight. I don’t like you, Davian Reed,” she stated bluntly, giving me a strong stink eye. Both my brows rose.

“Gladys!” Sadie gaped at her in horror, but everyone else at the table laughed.

“It’s all right.” I rubbed a hand down Sadie’s back, watching Gladys. She’d clearly been holding back earlier, and I was curious to see where this went. “Go on. Say what you want to say.”

Her answering scowl said everything. Apparently, our little joint rescue mission earlier had done nothing to warm Gladys toward me.

“I don’t like the way you look.” She ticked off on one finger. “I don’t like the way you live your life. And I especially don’t like that when you could have any woman in this city, you set your eyes on my friend.”

Gladys paused to hiccup, and Sadie groaned under her breath. “Oh my god, she found the gin. This can’t be happening.”

I rested my hand on Sadie’s waist, amused as Gladys’s lips twisted.

“But I like when my friend is happy,” she continued, ignoring Sadie’s comment. “And I’ve never seen Sadie smile like she did when you got all mushy after sucking her face off against that SUV.”

Sadie slapped both hands over her face. “Gladys, please stop!”

She waved Sadie off, then pointed that boney finger at me and wiggled it threateningly.

“But mark my words, Reed. If you hurt my friend or make her cry, I have my own ways of making you suffer. And I have a network of old broads who’ve read enough crime thrillers to know where to hide the bodies,” Gladys warned, making my brows rise. “They’re also old enough they don’t care whether they spend their last years behind bars instead of a nursing home.”

It was hard not to look at the others to see if they were laughing as I fought to keep a straight face. “Message received.”

She hummed, giving me a quick once-over that said she didn’t like what she saw. “It’s good to know you’re not a complete imbecile.”

I couldn’t hide my amusement at her sudden boldness. “It wasn’t that long ago you were terrified of me.”

“That was before.” She lifted her chin and glanced at Sadie, who was still hiding behind her hands. “You can’t touch me now.”

It took me a second to realize she was right. I wouldn’t hurt Sadie’s friends. The realization was… annoying, but I wasn’t too upset by it. Anyone willing to kill someone on Sadie’s behalf was good in my book.

My lips twitched. “I think we’ll get along just fine, Gladys.”

She only grunted. “We’ll see.”

Gladys sauntered off without another word—heading straight for the liquor bottles.

Sadie groaned, keeping her face covered and burying it in my shoulder. “I’m so sorry about that—”

“Don’t be.” I trailed my fingers up and down her side. “It’s good to have people who care about you so much.”

She pulled back to gape at me.

“My friend just threatened to murder you, and you’re okay with that?” Her voice rose until it was mostly squeaking, and she waved her hand at my face. “You’re even smiling!”

I leaned closer and lowered my voice to make it seem like I had a secret. “That’s because I’m happy.”

Her mouth opened and closed like a fish, before a smile broke through. “Oh, you’re smooth.”

She gave me a kiss on the cheek that made me want another one.

I was no better than Bear.

Vince strolled over not long after Gladys left, and it was the first opportunity I had to break the news to him. “Seb’s out.”

He stopped in front of our chair. “For good?”

“Dante is handling the details.” I nodded. “I told him to leave town tonight.”

“Good.” He grunted, leaning against the table. “It’s about time, to be honest.”

It was.

Vince glanced at Sadie in my lap, and I caught him doing a double take—which drew my attention back to her, too. Sadie sat with her arms crossed, brows pinched, and a glare focused on Vince. When she raised a brow, he frowned.

“What?” He scowled at her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Sadie huffed, then deepened her voice in what I could only guess was a poor imitation of my right-hand man. “‘I was so wrong about you, Sadie. You’re not a distraction or a weakness. You’re a broom-wielding, baking goddess who deserves some respect. Please accept my deepest apologies for being such a grumpy, insufferable jerk to you. You deserve better.’”

I had to stifle a snort of laughter, and even Vince was fighting back a smirk when he shared a look with me.

“Well?” Sadie pressed, watching him expectantly.

He sighed.

“I heard you took one of Ali’s men out with a broom,” he finally told her. The following pause lasted for ages, until he added, “That’s pretty badass.”

Sadie pretended to buff her nails against the shoulder of my borrowed jacket. “You should see what I can do with a potted plant.”

My chest rumbled with a laugh, and even Vince grinned.

“I won’t underestimate you again,” he said. “But I won’t sit by and watch you get abducted again, either. I’m going to teach you self-defense, so you don’t have to rely on house plants and cleaning tools. We’ll start tomorrow morning.”

Sadie’s head snapped up, and her mouth opened before closing again. “… Really? You want to teach me how to fight?”

I eyed Vince with the same disbelief. It wasn’t a small thing for him to offer—especially since he’d harbored a grudge against Sadie ever since she nicked his gun.

Vince sniffed and looked over to where Gladys and Ryan were dancing with a pack of dogs. “Well, not if you’re gonna make a big deal out of it.”

“No, no. I wouldn’t dream of making it a big deal.” Sadie beamed at him. “Tomorrow morning. I’ll be there. Thank you.”

Vince nodded curtly and walked off, but he stopped when I called after him.

“Thank you,” I said. Maybe he was atoning for what’d gone down with Seb, or maybe he just knew Sadie wasn’t going anywhere, but I was grateful either way.

He dipped his chin before leaving, and Sadie looked at me, all smiles.

“I get to learn how to beat up grown men,” she said excitedly.

I shook my head with a laugh. “I think Vince’s lessons will focus more on escape maneuvers and how to avoid any fighting.”

Her nose scrunched. “That doesn’t sound as fun.”

“It’s not about fun.” Unable to resist, I tucked a loose strand of pink hair behind her ear. She gravitated closer. “It’s about keeping you safe.”

“Oh.” Sadie chewed on her lip, and I admired the way her cheeks flushed, before she perked up. “Do you think he’ll teach me how to knock down a door? In case I need to escape a locked room, of course.”

I grinned. She wasn’t fooling anyone. “Doors are part of the more advanced training.”

But from the way my right-hand man was acting, she’d won him over. Vince would teach Sadie whatever she asked him to.

And even if Vince’s training crashed and burned, I’d make sure to have plenty of brooms handy for her.

Sadie seemed satisfied with my answer, and she wrapped an arm around my shoulders while watching the dogs play. Her fingers found my hair again, combing through the strands in a slow, soothing rhythm that lulled my eyes closed even as loud music blared through the speakers.

“I’m new to all this, so today has been full of new experiences and surprises,” she said after a minute. “But is it weird the hostage call earlier kinda turned me on?”

That got my attention.

I cracked my eyes open to study her beneath hooded lids. “Go on.”

Leaning closer with a smile, she whispered into my ear, “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what you said to Zain.”

I raised a brow, pretty certain she wasn’t talking about when I’d promised to tear that kid’s body limb from limb. “Which part?”

“When you called me yours,” she murmured, making my one-handed grip on her waist tighten. I took a pull of beer to mask the slow grin taking over my face, and Sadie cleared her throat as she drew back. Her gaze dropped to my mouth. “Do you want to go make out in the back room of the shelter?”

Like an idiot, I choked on my beer and had to cough into my elbow to recover. It turned my voice hoarse. “Repeat that?”

Sadie wet her lips, and I didn’t stand a chance against the mischievous glint in her gaze. “You heard me.”

She didn’t even need to ask. With the way she was looking at me right now—with laughter and affection dancing in her gorgeous eyes—I’d follow her anywhere.

hot for hostage

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping Being Taken Hostage (Again) Falling for Your Hostage, Tip #37: When a mafia boss claims you as his, embrace it. Revel in it. Count your lucky stars and praise the hostage gods, because you hit the freaking jackpot. And if he wants to do dirty things to you? I highly recommend enthusiastic participation.

“… You want to ‘go make out’?” Davian’s voice was practically dripping with amusement. He shook his head with a slow smile, and I might have a slightly unhealthy obsession with his dreamy eyes and the way they crinkled at the corners, because I couldn’t stop staring. “What are we—in high school?”

It almost felt like we were. The night was young; we had music and friends and the dogs, and I’d had a few sips of hard cider—but that wasn’t what had me so giddy. No, no, it was the man I was currently perched on the lap of who was the reason for the butterflies swarming my stomach.

“Hey, don’t judge.” I scrunched my nose at him. “It’s a simple question. Do you wanna make out or not?”

The wicked glint that entered his gaze had to be illegal. “Sadie, I want to do a lot more than make out with you.”

My heart fluttered, and the horny demon’s interest was officially piqued. “Like what?”

The others were chatting around us, but Davian didn’t pay them any attention as he slid a hand up to the back of my neck. He pulled me forward until he could whisper in my ear, sending a tendril of heat through me. “I want to splay you out on a counter and taste you again. Want to feel you underneath me. But more than anything, I want to bury myself inside you.”

Oh.

That was… a lot more detail than I’d expected.

My thighs clenched, and I gulped. “You do?”

I could feel his lips smirking against my ear. “And that’s just the start of a very long list of things I want to do to you.”

Well, that sounded like a list I’d have fun checking off.

Anticipation thrummed through my veins, and I wet my lips. “This feels like a good time to remind you I’m still not wearing any underwear.”

It was like I’d spoken the magic words.

Davian lifted me into the air and slung me over his shoulder—being very considerate to band an arm around the top of my thighs so I didn’t flash the whole party—in one smooth move. I squealed with laughter, and he strode through the sea of dogs—heading toward the back door without another word.

But I was facing the opposite direction, where a yard full of people watched us leave with raised brows. The dogs were oblivious.

“We’re grabbing more drinks,” I yelled to them, using the first excuse I could think of.

“Sure you are,” Ryan called back dryly. “Please spare us the details.”

Vince gave us a flat look. “There’s a cooler right here.”

He pointed to a giant open cooler fully stocked with beer, and I just laughed harder as blood rushed to my face.

My cheeks ached from smiling as Davian carried me over the threshold and slammed the door shut. He flipped the lock, pulled me down before pinning me against the door, and my legs instinctively circled his waist as fire rushed through my veins.

Then he was on me in a clash of lips and tongues and teeth. He helped me shimmy out of the jacket I’d borrowed from him, and my torn shirt came off next. He hiked my skirt up around my hips, and I had his belt undone within seconds.

My urgency to get his clothes off should’ve been alarming, but who was I kidding? I’d been ready for this since Davian had claimed me on that hostage call. Since even before then.

Until his hand ventured up to reach underneath the cup of my bra.

“Wait!” I warned him, barely remembering in time the sproutling that’d hitched a ride with me. “Careful with Walter Jr.”

Davian paused long enough to ground out, “Sadie, I’ve got more important things on my mind than that damn seed. You’ve got five seconds before I rip this bra off.”

Oh my.

“Okay, okay,” I muttered, letting go of his pants to reach into the cup of my bra. But Walter Jr. was a slippery little sproutling, and he kept evading me. It didn’t help that the thorough attention Davian’s mouth was giving to my neck was highly distracting, and it took me a moment to even find the little bugger. “Almost there…”

There was something oddly arousing about having a man suck on your neck while you’re trying to dig a precious seed out of your bra. Maybe I’d discovered a new kink.

“Got him!” I cried, proudly holding Walter Jr. up just as Davian unhooked my bra. I slipped my arms out of the straps and grinned cheekily as my chest was exposed to the cool air. “Okay. Ready to be ravished.”

He didn’t waste any time capturing my lips in a kiss that burned all the way down to the tips of my toes. My legs tightened around his waist as the kisses trailed down my neck. All I could think about was I wanted him to touch me everywhere and never stop.

But I needed to find a safe place for Walter Jr. first.

Just as that thought materialized, Davian slid a hand up to cup my breast, his lips trailing back to that spot on my neck that made my eyes close, and poor Walter Jr. dropped from my grasp without a second thought.

“Um, be careful where you step,” I warned Davian distractedly as I arched into his touch. Growing bolder, I slid my hands down his front, freed him from his boxer briefs, and wrapped a hand around his hard length. That earned a groan from Davian that raised the baby hairs on my arms. The feel of him in my grasp—hard and ready—made heat pool low in my belly. “So, I know I mentioned making out, but I’m ready to get you inside me.”

Davian’s lips curved against my neck. “You’re the one with the gun, sweetheart. You make the demands.”

I froze with my fingers wrapped around him. He sounded way too proud of himself for that one.

My answering laugh—a delighted cackle that had no business happening during a make out sesh—was swallowed by Davian’s lips finding mine again. But once the giggles started, I couldn’t seem to stop them, and he pulled back to raise a brow at me.

“It can mess with a man’s self-esteem to hear a woman laugh when she’s handling his equipment,” he said dryly.

I only laughed harder and stroked my hand along his length with a wink. “You already know you have nothing to worry about.”

Davian’s lips twitched, and he nipped at my lower lip before capturing it in another hungry kiss—one that quickly deepened into something more as he nudged my thighs further apart.

But instead of meeting my demands with what I wanted most, Davian decided to torture me first. The tremble of anticipation when his hand disappeared under my skirt quickly morphed into electrifying pleasure as his fingers stole my ability to speak. He worked me until I was writhing and begging and the horny demon threatened to take over.

Only when I was on the brink of shattering into a million pieces did Davian’s tormenting finally let up.

Hiking me up against the door, he pushed into me just like he did everything else—with a surety that left me breathless. It wasn’t slow. Or gentle. Instead, he gripped my hips like he was branding them and thrust into me until I could feel every inch of him.

I loved it.

I gasped, grabbing his shoulders and adjusting to the sweet stretch. “More.”

Davian let out a low chuckle. “Someone’s greedy.”

He wasn’t wrong. But the joke was on me, because I didn’t think I’d ever get enough of him.

Davian’s hips set a merciless pace that left me breathless and holding on for the ride. This wasn’t a lazy exploration like on his patio underneath the sunshine or the fun we’d had on his kitchen island.

This was hot and fast and made the door behind me rattle with his ferocity.

But I already knew I wanted to do it again. And again. And again.

Being pinned to a door didn’t allow me much movement, leaving me to claw my nails down Davian’s shirt-covered back and clutch his hair as I arched against him—earning a guttural growl I’d never heard him make before.

Davian was just as attentive as he was hungry. It was like everything he did was with my enjoyment in mind. The angle of his hips. The depth of each stroke. His hand slid between our bodies, and it wasn’t long before he pushed me over the edge with a touch that temporarily blinded me. A strangled cry left my throat, and he followed shortly after—pulling me flush against him as my heart threatened to beat out of my chest.

I belatedly realized I was completely naked except for my skirt, while Davian had barely pulled his pants down.

That didn’t feel fair at all.

But I couldn’t complain. The man had just made me see stars.

“Change of plans. Reschedule your training with Vince and anything else you have planned tomorrow,” was the first thing Davian said to me as we caught our breath. He dipped his head to press a kiss to my bare shoulder, and his voice dropped to a deliciously gruff tone. “Because when I get you in my bed, I’m taking my time with you.”

It took me a second to comprehend what he’d said. But when it sank in, a delightful shiver rolled down my spine.

“Bed?” I propped my head back against the door and tightened my legs around his lean waist. Davian’s breathing had returned to normal, while I still sounded like I’d just run a marathon. “Don’t forget, you still owe me dinner.”

His lips curved against my skin. “I’ll take you to all the dinners you want.”

I gave a pleased hum, happy for so many reasons.

Even wrapped up in each other’s arms, with him still inside me, I couldn’t resist clearing my throat to ask, “So… what’s next on your very long list?”

Davian stifled a surprised laugh against my shoulder, making me grin.

The horny demon and I could agree on one thing: We were both very much looking forward to tomorrow.

disgustingly sweet

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping Being Taken Hostage (Again) Falling for Your Hostage, Tip #38: You don’t need to be a criminal to love one.

Davian and I woke up spooning on a pile of dog beds in the shelter lobby.

The morning sun streamed through the windows, so bright I blinked against it. I wasn’t sure how or why we’d ended up here, but I wasn’t complaining. With Davian’s strong arms holding me against his front, his comfy suit jacket keeping me covered, and a blanket draped over both of us, it was warm and cozy. Davian’s hand had snuck underneath the jacket to splay across my bare stomach, and his thumb traced soothing circles against my skin.

I’d definitely woken up in worse spots after a night spent hanging out with my Happy Tails Haven family.

Wiggling around in his arms to face him, I found Davian’s hooded dark gaze already trained on me.

It wasn’t fair he looked so attractive this early in the morning, while my hair had decided to defy the laws of gravity.

“How did we get here?” I asked hoarsely, patting down my rumpled hair as best I could.

Davian flattened his hand against my lower back. “You fell asleep after we went back out to the patio, and I carried you here.”

I fell asleep?

Rubbing my eyes, I tried to piece together what’d happened last night. I remembered sneaking back out to the courtyard with Davian after our mind-blowing sex and a little canoodling afterward. I’d spent the rest of the night on his lap—hanging out with everyone and talking and drinking and laughing. I remembered lots of laughing.

Gladys had regaled everyone with stories about the shelter—acting like she hadn’t threatened to murder Davian in cold blood an hour earlier.

It’d been a fun night. Then I’d dozed off in Davian’s lap, and he’d carried me… here.

To a nest he’d made from newly donated dog beds.

Something about that made my heart flutter.

“Where’s Bear?” I asked, seeing no sign of my furry friend in the lobby.

“I put him in his kennel for the night. He’s fine,” Davian answered as his fingertips scratched my back. “And your seed is on the desk for safekeeping.”

Oops. At least one of us hadn’t forgotten about Walter Jr.

I happily snuggled closer and rested my head against Davian’s chest. “Where’s everyone else?”

“They left. Gladys and Ryan wanted to keep the celebration going until morning, but Malcolm convinced them to let him give them rides home.” A teasing smile warmed his voice. “You volunteers sure know how to party.”

I hummed softly. “You should see us on bowling league nights, especially when Gladys brings boxed wine. It gets cuh-razy.”

Davian’s chest rumbled against my cheek with a laugh. “I’ll have to catch the next one.”

My heart did a dozen cartwheels in my chest, and I had to clear my throat before I could form words. “I’d really like that.”

I smiled, picturing Davian showing up at our Thursday night bowling league and hanging out with my friends. It made me feel like a schoolgirl with a crush, and I played with a button on his dress shirt while listening to the steady thumping of his heartbeat.

I wet my lips and asked another question that’d been on my mind. “Was yesterday a normal day in your line of work?”

Davian snorted. “Two hostage rescues and overthrowing my father? No, that’s not even close to a normal day. I’m usually in meetings, making deals, and overseeing operations.”

I quietly absorbed that. Maybe it was best not to ask what those operations involved.

Meetings and deals and operations. That wasn’t anything like what Gladys had told me about the Reed family. She’d made it sound like they took special delight in wreaking havoc and ruining innocent lives every day. One comment in particular replayed in my mind.

“So, you wouldn’t say you spend your spare time doing things, like… murdering litters of puppies, then?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant as I glanced up at him. “Right?”

Davian pulled back a few inches to stare at me. “No. Where the hell did you get that idea?”

Blood rushed to my cheeks. “Just a rumor. Forget I asked.”

Internally, I breathed a sigh of relief. If there was one thing I couldn’t turn a blind eye to in his world, it was puppy murdering.

Not that I could picture Davian ever doing that, especially after Gladys and Ryan said he donated a small fortune to the shelter.

Speaking of…

“I heard you got Happy Tails’ rent lowered and made a big donation,” I added softly, tracing a finger along his jaw.

Amusement flashed in Davian’s gaze. “That was supposed to be anonymous.”

“We don’t really do anonymous here.” I smiled. “It was very thoughtful of you.”

“My old man shouldn’t have taken advantage.” He studied my face before squinting. “Go on. I know you have more questions.”

He wasn’t wrong. My mind was overflowing with questions about his life and job and all the rumors Gladys had heard, but did those even matter anymore? I only needed to hear one thing after what we’d done last night, and I braced myself for his answer. “Just one. … You’re really not getting married to a mafia princess?”

“Hell no,” he answered, voice clipped. “I make my own decisions. I always have. There’s only one girl I’m interested in, and she only recently dipped her toes into the life of crime.”

I fought a losing battle against a smile before it faded with a sigh.

“I’ll never be good at this stuff, Dav. I gave it a shot, but I felt sick to my stomach, taking you hostage. And even threatening those teenage boys with a broom took at least ten years off my life, let alone incapacitating that grown man,” I said solemnly, as much as it hurt to admit it. “Vince was right about one thing. You deserve someone strong who can stand beside you. What if his lessons don’t work, and I’m only ever a weakness to you?”

Instead of looking concerned, Davian’s lips twitched.

“I don’t want you to be good at those things. I want you to be you, Sadie. Beautiful, kind, and so very brave.” He pressed a kiss to my face between each compliment, making me smile. “There’s nothing weak about you, sweetheart.”

His last kiss landed on my lips, and I readily parted them for more. Davian wasted no time in deepening it, and the atmosphere changed in an instant—from sweet to something more. Something stronger. Potent. Something I wanted to capture in a bottle just so I could feel it again later.

I was more than ready for him when Davian shifted between my spread thighs and undid his pants. Weak was the last thing I felt as he sank into me. No, the guttural groan that left him made me feel almost too powerful.

My fingers dug into his back for leverage as each thrust seated him deeper inside me until I wasn’t sure where I ended and he began. Until I didn’t know if we were still two separate bodies. Everything inside me was on high alert for his touch. His heat. His kisses. Him.

Our hands roamed freely as the blanket slid away, and I arched into Davian’s touch.

He moved over me with a relentless focus, as if his solitary mission was to hit that spot inside me that made my toes curl. And he did—over and over until I couldn’t take it anymore.

Just as captivating was the way he broke our kiss and bent his head to watch me, our shallow breaths mingling. I felt exposed under Davian’s gaze—like he saw every inch of me. He watched me as if nothing else in the world existed in this moment but us. It was too much for me to hold his gaze, and my eyes strayed to the strong line of his jaw as it clenched.

His unwavering attention took me back to the patio at his compound, making me feel like a goddess again. The goddess of pet beds and gourmet dog treats being worshiped by her handsome mortal lover.

All that was missing were some grapes for him to hand-feed me.

Davian’s thrusts stayed torturously controlled, no matter how much I bucked against him or begged him to go faster. But the slow buildup was its own sweet torment, driving me just a little bit crazy, until he swallowed my cries as we tumbled over the edge together.

And the wild beating of his heart against mine was solid and reassuring in a way that had me thinking crazy thoughts.

Thoughts that would probably scare him off if spoken aloud.

But when Davian pulled me with him as he rolled over, and we caught our breath, I couldn’t seem to stop myself from blurting them out.

“It might be the reverse Stockholm syndrome talking, but… I think I’m falling in love with you,” I confessed quietly before wincing. “Sorry. That sounds absolutely wild, given the circumstances…”

Davian had gone still against me, and the words died on my lips. Embarrassment washed over me. It was the longest moment of my life, before I risked a glance up at him to see a slow smile forming.

Leaning forward, he kissed my forehead and murmured against it, “Join the club, sweetheart.”

My mouth opened and closed like a fish before I could form words. “… Really? But—But we haven’t even been on a real date yet. We hardly know each other.”

I wasn’t sure why I’d decided to play devil’s advocate, but luckily, Davian didn’t agree.

“We’ve been through a few hostage situations together, and you already know me better than most people I’ve known for years. I’ve learned plenty about you, too.” He pulled back, and one of his brows rose, but his hand didn’t stray from my lower back. “You’ve got a heart of gold. You like swimming and ice cream and baking and dogs. You’re disgustingly sweet—when you don’t think I’m engaged, of course—and you’re loyal as hell to those you care about. I saw it with Bear, Mr. Sanders, Gladys. The list goes on.”

Normally, Davian saying such glowing praise would make me melt into a puddle at his feet like Bear did when he wanted belly rubs. But my brain snagged on one tiny detail, and I scrunched my nose. “‘Disgustingly’ sweet?”

“Painfully so.” Davian nodded with a solemn face. “It’s giving me cavities.”

That earned an eye roll, but nothing could dampen my smile. I was too happy. “Well, don’t you say the nicest things.”

He flashed a devilish grin. “Sweetheart, you didn’t take me hostage because I’m nice.”

I huffed a laugh, but he had a point.

And I’d gotten to know him, too. Davian was protective. Driven. He might seem a little dangerous and murdery on the outside, but he had a softer center that did things like hold Bear’s leash and pretend dog treats tasted good just because he thought I’d baked them for him.

And there was definitely no denying our physical compatibility—I blushed just thinking about it.

Maybe the scary things we’d been through together were a blessing in disguise. They’d bound us in a way I hadn’t considered, and I felt closer to Davian than to people I’d known my entire life.

I might not know his hobbies or how he liked his eggs cooked or what was on his bucket list, but it’d be fun to learn all that stuff.

Reassured, I burrowed even closer to him, and Davian’s voice was teasing when he whispered into my ear. “It doesn’t hurt that you’re a firecracker in bed, either.”

I burst into laughter and poked his stomach. “We haven’t even done it in a bed yet!”

He responded by nibbling on my ear in a delightfully arousing way, while rolling us across the dog beds until I was on top and straddling him.

“Eh, beds are overrated. Lumpy dog pillows on dirty shelter floors, on the other hand?” He growled playfully as his hands slid down to squeeze my ass. “They’ve grown on me.”

My answering squeal was cut off by his kiss, but I wasn’t complaining.

They’d grown on me, too.

two conditions

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping Being Taken Hostage (Again) Falling for Your Hostage, Tip #39: If you play your cards right, you might never have to let your hostage go.

Despite Davian’s newfound enthusiasm for lumpy dog beds, we did not have sex on the dirty shelter floor a second time after I remembered there were now security cameras in the lobby—even after he assured me he’d take care of the footage. I was bound to achieve my goal to stop jumping him in public one of these days.

But we did snuggle and trade kisses until my heart was so full I thought it might burst.

There may have been some tasteful grinding, too.

I blamed the horny demon.

Eventually, our cuddling was cut short when it was time to feed the dogs breakfast.

“What time does Emily usually get here?” Davian asked as he helped me to my feet.

I straightened his borrowed jacket on my shoulders and blinked up at him, trying to think of a reason he would ever need to know our receptionist’s work hours. “Not for another half hour. Why?”

“Just need her to put the papers together for an adoption.”

My brow wrinkled, and I was slightly concerned for his sanity as I looked around the empty lobby. “But there aren’t any visitors. No one’s here to adopt yet.”

Davian’s lips twitched. After a long moment of him watching me expectantly, it hit me.

My jaw dropped. “… You? You’re here to adopt a dog?”

Davian’s answering smirk told me he was enjoying this far too much. “I’m here to get my girl, but I understand she’s a package deal.”

My heart skipped a beat at being called his again, but that took a backseat to what else Davian was saying.

“… You want to adopt Bear?” I asked, struggling to wrap my mind around that.

“I want us to adopt Bear,” he corrected, the amusement in his eyes growing. “Together.”

“Shared custody?” The words sounded robotic, but I had no idea how to feel. It felt dangerous to hope. “That’s… Wow. That’s big. But that might be hard on him to move between homes, and my housing doesn’t allow dogs—”

“It’s a good thing you’re not going back to that shithole, then.”

The simple statement broke my brain.

That wasn’t… He couldn’t possibly be… I swallowed around a suddenly dry throat. “Are you trying to ask me something?”

His smirk only grew more insufferable as he closed the distance between us, settled his hands on my hips, and lowered his voice. “I think it’s my turn to take you hostage. Move in with me?”

A nervous laugh escaped me. The idea of moving in with a man I’d just met was crazy—ludicrous, even—but it was also unbelievably exciting.

And I’d get to keep Bear.

A rush of emotion clogged my throat, cutting off my laughter, and I couldn’t find any words. My heart threatened to explode.

Davian must’ve taken my silence for hesitation, because he squeezed my hips. “I want you safe, Sadie. Besides, living together has its own benefits for our crime partnership—the most selfish one that I want you in my bed every night. And every morning.”

Well, then.

My body had no business getting hot all over at those words.

“It’s a big step,” I hedged. I couldn’t imagine what my parents would say about me moving in with a man I’d just met. Let alone one in the mafia.

And Gladys would have a field day with this.

“Think of all the baking you could do with those stand mixers you like so much,” Davian added, his tone cajoling. “And you can swim in the pool every day.”

A warm, fuzzy feeling took root in my chest.

Thinking about baking in his gourmet kitchen whenever I wanted to was a lovely thought. I wasn’t too proud to admit his pool was a major selling point, too.

But most of all, I wanted to sleep in Davian’s arms again tonight. And maybe all the nights after.

“Okay.” I grinned, throwing caution to the wind. I’d never been one to hold back before, so why start now? “Let’s do it.”

His grip flexed on my hips, but Davian cleared his throat before I could get too excited.

“Before we make this adoption official, I have a couple conditions,” he said.

Suddenly suspicious, I squinted at him. “What kind of conditions?”

“Bear doesn’t sleep in our bed.”

I frowned. “But he has nightmares, Dav.”

Davian made a face. “What nightmares can a dog possibly have?”

“Well, there’s the recurring one where he’s chasing a squirrel, but it’s always just out of reach. Then he starts shaking, and I think that means the dream squirrel mutated into a giant squirrel monster and turned the tables on Bear.”

Davian stared at me.

“… How about only when he has nightmares?” I offered diplomatically, but I still crossed my fingers behind my back.

Just in case.

Davian’s eyes narrowed just the smallest hint. “Fine, then we’re getting a bigger bed.”

That was crazy. His bed was already huge!

But I smiled. “What’s your other condition?”

I must be seeing things, because I could swear Davian actually hesitated a moment before his lips formed a thin line.

“Bear’s the only pet,” he said. “No others. I’m sorry, Sadie, but we can’t have the compound turning into a zoo. It’s too risky with my work.”

Well, that wasn’t much of a sacrifice, considering I hadn’t been allowed any pets at my apartment. Bear was more than enough, and my smile grew into a grin. “Deal.”

I held out my hand to shake on it, but Davian only used it to pull me closer before leaning down with that wicked glint in his eyes. He sealed our agreement with a kiss that made my knees buckle.

It was thorough and hungry and so very Davian when he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck to deepen the kiss.

I wanted a million more just like it.

He pulled back too quickly for my liking, before placing one more short sweet kiss on my lips that was equally addictive.

“Let’s make it official, then I’m taking you out for ice cream,” he said, lowering his voice.

I blinked. Ice cream for breakfast?

He really did know me better than I thought.

“But Bruno’s doesn’t open until eleven thirty,” I said, having memorized The Sprinkled Scoop’s schedule years ago.

The mischievous glint in Davian’s gaze immediately put me on alert. “I already called him. He’s making an exception for his favorite customer.”

My brows shot up, but I wasn’t sure what was more surprising—the size of Davian’s ego or that it still managed to surprise me. “Making celebration plans before you even asked me? Someone was confident.”

He intertwined our fingers and tugged me toward the reception desk. “Bruno’s was my backup plan in case you needed more convincing. I’m not opposed to bribery.”

I gaped at his back as Davian led me across the lobby, shaking my head in disbelief the whole way.

But I couldn’t believe my luck.

When I accidentally started down the path to a life of crime, I’d never expected to end up in my hostage’s arms—let alone falling for him. But as Davian held me close while we signed Bear’s adoption papers, there was nowhere I’d rather be.

And if I had the chance to do it all over?

I would take him hostage again in a heartbeat.

~fin~

epilogue

Davian

Davian Reed’s Guide to Tricking Your Hostage-Taker into Spending the Rest of Her Life with You, Tip #1: Include her furry bodyguard in the proposal.

Neither of my two conditions for adopting Bear lasted long.

In the eight months since Sadie moved in, Bear slept in our bed more often than not.

And we’d adopted six more dogs.

Six.

At first, Sadie claimed we were only fostering a few—including Bear’s best bud, Mr. Woofkins—while Happy Tails Haven was getting much-needed renovations. Then construction finished, but all the dogs seemed happy to stay in their new home.

When I brought up our agreement, Sadie was quick to point out that, “You said you didn’t want a zoo, and this isn’t a zoo. A zoo is defined as ‘an establishment which maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park or gardens, for study, conservation, or display to the public.’ This is more of a dog sanctuary.”

She’d outsmarted me on a technicality.

I shouldn’t have found it as hot as I did.

And the kicker was my donation had funded the renovations, so I only had myself to blame.

The dogs were just the tip of the iceberg with how much my life had changed since Sadie burst into it. I’d found a partner who not only didn’t shy away from my life, but seamlessly fit into it while adding her own personal touch. Music became a constant presence in Tony’s kitchen with Sadie in there, and my chef smiled more in the last eight months than I’d seen him smile in years. Walter’s children were thriving in little pots around the house—thanks to the gardeners keeping Sadie away from them. Baked goods now accompanied every meeting.

Vince had gained ten pounds since she moved in.

It had its challenges, too. Sadie had a habit of accidentally getting involved with our jobs, walking in on deals in my office, and having a sixth sense for whenever I put someone in the shed—the inside of which had been wallpapered pink without my knowledge.

And the secret bookcase armory in my office had to be expanded to keep my shoes out of Bear’s reach.

Sadie’s self-defense training with Vince had gone so well that Sadie persuaded more of my men to teach her their specialties, too. Working with Tony in the kitchen and Hollis at the front gate were her favorite spots—if only because both allowed her to hand out baked goods. She’d also convinced Malcolm to give her tips on getaway driving, then Enzo let her shadow him during a hacking job, but we drew the line at weapons training.

As cute as Sadie would look with a pink gun, the world just wasn’t ready for it. Neither was my blood pressure.

Her place by my side had been cemented after news of Zain and Murdock’s foiled abductions spread through the underground—even earning Sadie a reputation as a skilled fighter.

I didn’t bother correcting that rumor. It worked in our favor.

And despite my plans, I’d let Zain live, after all. Mostly because Sadie had made it her personal mission to “mend fences” with the Ali brothers, and she would’ve noticed if one suddenly ended up six feet under. Her plans involved having them volunteer at the shelter, exploring non-criminal hobbies, and finding a math tutor for Fessy. It took one look from me for the boys to play along with her wishes, but I drew the line at Sadie inviting them both to Thanksgiving.

That didn’t stop her from sending them a dozen pumpkin pies for the holiday, then cookie boxes on Christmas—with notes saying the treats were from both of us.

It was a confusing time for my reputation.

Zain and Murdock’s initial fates served as a warning of what would happen if anyone tried to touch Sadie, which gave us peace for a few months. But after one of my deals went sideways, a north-side gangbanger cooked up a plan to take Sadie while she was walking Bear.

The hellhound proved a worthy guard dog, and they escaped unscathed long enough to hide and call me. I made sure that was the last attack anyone attempted.

Every day was a surprise with Sadie. From dance parties in the kitchen to her becoming my confidant for work, I was a lucky bastard to call her mine.

Last month, she hosted a wedding between Bear and a Samoyed named Cookie in our backyard. I’d never participated in anything more ridiculous in my life—and that was coming from someone who’d attended a funeral for a plant—but it’d been worth it to see how happy it made her.

All the dogs from the shelter had attended. Sadie had baked specialty treats for the occasion. There’d been bouquets of white flowers to match Cookie’s coat and a veil Gladys had handmade for her.

Sadie had somehow talked Vince into being both the ring bearer and the flower girl.

Framed pictures of the whole debacle hung proudly in our living room—taken by a professional photographer Sadie had hired.

It all felt like a fever dream.

But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me all the more eager to make Sadie my wife.

My plan was foolproof. I’d spent hours in the kitchen yesterday making my masterpiece—and almost as much time working with Bear on his role. It was a simple retrieval he could do in his sleep, but the hellhound had let me know early on that Sadie was his owner and he’d only listen to my commands if he wanted to.

He rarely wanted to.

Sadie only had a few weeks left of culinary school, and I’d recruited Tony to drop a few hints to her about the early summer weather being perfect for a picnic. So, when he packed a basket with a full spread and sent us to the back grounds one afternoon, she was none the wiser.

I set up a blanket near the tree line, where Sadie lay out to sunbathe in one of her intriguingly short pink dresses. She talked me into hand-feeding her grapes and rambled excitedly about a new dog treat recipe she’d been experimenting with, while I sat next to her—feeling an inkling of nerves for the first time since I was thirteen and my pop had let me join him on a job.

That was unexpected, and I checked on my accomplice to make sure he was ready.

Bear took up a whole corner of our blanket, spread out and soaking up the sun like he didn’t have a care in the world. Sadie even rubbed the pampered beast’s back with her foot.

I snapped my fingers—the signal Bear and I had settled on for his part of my plan.

But instead of jumping up and trotting into the forest like the dozens of times we’d practiced, Bear only shifted his head on the blanket to stare at me.

I snapped my fingers again and nodded toward the trees.

His tail thumped against the ground in answer while he continued to stare, and I bit back a groan.

“Happy Tails Haven is hosting a pet talent show this summer during one of our adoption events,” Sadie announced, pulling me out of my staring contest with Bear. “Do you think Bear should enter?”

“What would he do?” I asked dryly, glaring at the beast in question. “Ignore orders? Or show how fast he can fill my shoe with slobber?”

“That was one time.” Sadie winced and sat up. “But I’ve been teaching him some new stuff! Watch this. Bear, roll over.”

Bear’s ear twitched in answer, but no rolling happened.

Sadie frowned. “He did it yesterday. Maybe he’s tired.”

“Or practicing selective hearing,” I grumbled, snapping my fingers again. “Fetch the basket, Bear.”

By some miracle, the dog finally listened and got to his feet. Just like we’d practiced, he slunk away into the trees.

“Basket?” Sadie echoed as he disappeared. “What basket? Where’s he going?”

Bear reappeared at the tree line, carrying a little pink basket with an even smaller box in it. He trotted over to me and held it out in offering.

“Good boy.” I took it and rubbed his furry head. “Now, get lost.”

He just stared back at me expectantly, his tongue out and tail wagging.

“Go on,” I pushed. “Go play with your wife, mutt.”

He didn’t budge.

Rolling my eyes, I slid off one of my loafers and flung it across the yard. Bear took off after it like a bullet, leaving me and Sadie alone for phase two of my plan.

Sadie laughed as Bear ran off, and I handed the basket to her.

“What’s this all about?” She accepted it with a small smile and took a moment to admire the little basket.

I leaned back on my hands. “It’s what’s next on the very long list of things I want to do to you.”

Her face flushed an attractive shade of red, and she carefully opened the box. Her eyes lit up at what was inside—a perfect chocolate cupcake I’d made myself after hours of failed batches. And in the center of a dollop of meringue on top was a ring.

Sadie gasped when she spotted the diamond, and her wide eyes shot up to me. “Dav?”

That damn rubber band snapped in my chest.

“I think it’s time we make this hostage arrangement permanent.” I nodded toward the ring. “Put it on your finger.”

She laughed softly at the demand, staring at the ring again and swallowing before looking at me with a sparkle in her eyes. “Are you trying to ask me something?”

Part of me missed the days when everyone followed my demands without question, but Sadie had never been like that. It was one of the first things that drew me to her.

I got up on one knee, and it was more than worth it when her eyes crinkled at the corners. I gently took the baked treat from her, fished out the ring, and set the cupcake aside for now.

“Sadie, I’ve been yours since the moment you pointed that gun at me. But I want more—like my ring on your finger. I want you to take my name and make this partnership official. I want to spend every day trying to make you happier than you were the day before. And that’s just the start of my new list.” Unable to resist, I lifted her left hand and slid the ring onto her finger, impatient to get it on her. Small globs of meringue covered her knuckles, having hitched a ride on the ring, and I took care of them with a few open-mouthed kisses. Her hand trembled in my grip as I focused on her gorgeous grey eyes. “Now, will you make me the happiest hostage in the world and be my wife?”

Sadie let out a watery laugh, before biting her lip as she looked at the ring again. She nodded with tears in her eyes. “I can’t think of anything I’d want more than that.”

That was all the warning I had before she launched herself at me, and I barely caught her around the waist before she could knock me flat on my ass.

“You sure you wouldn’t rather adopt another dog?” I asked dryly, keeping her in my lap.

Sadie playfully smacked my arm before squeezing me even tighter. “Shush. You love them, too.”

I’d go to my grave before admitting something like that out loud.

She attacked my face with kisses before pulling back, wiping her nose and sniffling even as she smiled. Her eyes were drawn back to the cupcake sitting beside us.

“What’s this?” She nodded at the white marshmallow-like topping, before poking it with the tip of her finger.

“I made meringue,” I said, surprised she didn’t recognize it.

Sadie’s brows crept higher, and she took her eyes off the cupcake to stare at me. “You made meringue?”

She didn’t have to sound so shocked.

“It seemed important to you.” I watched her closely—studying the delicate way her throat worked as she swallowed—then shrugged. “You said all that stuff about how we couldn’t be meringue, but we can. We are.”

She blinked and looked at it again. More tears welled in her eyes.

“You made meringue,” she repeated softly, seemingly at a loss for words, before shaking her head. She wiped her nose, sniffling again. “I can’t believe… Wow.”

I pressed a kiss to her temple. “Tony tried to talk me out of it. He said meringue isn’t a traditional topping for cupcakes, but I told him we’re not a traditional couple.”

Sadie hugged me with a breathless laugh—one that sounded dangerously close to a sob. “It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect. This is the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

“So far,” I murmured, squeezing her tight. I had plans for Sadie. Big, big plans.

She pulled back just far enough to look at her ring again, grinning at it. “It’s pink.”

I eyed her dress and hair. “Pink suits you.”

“I love it,” she whispered. Her grin widened before she snickered under her breath. “Sorry, mafia princesses, but he’s all mine.”

Phase three commenced after it fully sank in that she’d said yes.

Sadie had lain back on the blanket and was admiring her ring from different angles in the sunlight, but she’d kept her feet propped in my lap.

Unable to wait any longer, I pulled an envelope out of my inside jacket pocket and held it out to Sadie. “There’s one more thing.”

“More?” she echoed, sitting up. She eyed the envelope before hesitantly taking it. “What is it?”

“An engagement present.”

Her lips parted. “You got me a present? But I didn’t know you were doing this! I didn’t get you anything—”

“Open the envelope, Sadie.”

She glared half-heartedly, before cautiously opening it and skimming the contents with a furrowed brow. “I don’t understand. It’s a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo.”

“It’s a deed,” I explained, fighting back a smirk. “For the property next to Bruno’s.”

Her head snapped up, mouth dropping open. “What?”

“You graduate next month, and you said your dream was to open a dog treat bakery.” I nodded at the paper. “I’m bankrolling it.”

She blinked back at me. “You— I— What? You remember that?”

It was something she’d told me the day we’d met, and I’d never forget it. “I remember everything from that day, Sadie. It’s seared into my memory.”

She swallowed hard. “Dav, this is… This is too much. And it wouldn’t be right! Bruno wants to use that space to expand—”

I cut in before she could freak out. “I already talked to him ages ago. If you agree, he’d love to have you next door, and we can still tear the wall down. You’d both have your own entrances and sides to the space, but there’d be enough room in the middle for seating—and room outside for a dog-friendly patio.”

The health department was still my biggest hurdle with making Sadie’s dream a reality. They were insistent on no dogs outside service ones being allowed inside Bruno’s shop, and no amount of bribery had swayed them.

Yet.

Sadie was still having trouble forming words, so I continued. “It’s all yours. From design to product to operations, it can be whatever you want it to be. I’ll help however you need me to.”

A tear escaped down her cheek, and she hastily brushed it away.

“You bought me a dog treat bakery,” she whispered in awe, gaze darting between me and the papers. “I have the best boyfriend in the world.”

“Fiancé,” I corrected, unable to help myself.

A grin crept across her face. “I have the best fiancé in the world.”

She stared down at the deed again, slowly shaking her head. I watched in amusement as her gaze shifted to the pink rock on her finger, then flicked up to mine with a mischievous sparkle I’d come to recognize. “Take off your pants.”

Even after eight months, she still managed to surprise me. “My pants?”

“You heard me.” She carefully set the paper aside and reached underneath her dress. The next thing I knew, she was wiggling on the blanket and pulling her underwear down her legs. “I want to do dirty things to my fiancé.”

My blood ran south. I fought a smile and slid off my jacket before reaching for my belt. “Didn’t you make a promise not to feed the horny demon in public anymore?”

“Shut up.” Her half-hearted scowl was ruined by the blush racing up her face. A second later, she flung her underwear aside—where it landed in a bush. “I never should’ve told you about him.”

“Him?” My fingers froze on my belt buckle. “You didn’t mention your demon was a guy.”

Sadie’s face only turned redder. “Pants off. Now.”

My lips twitched as I worked my belt loose.

But apparently, I wasn’t moving fast enough for Sadie, because she pounced on me with enough momentum to pin me to the ground before taking over.

I didn’t mind at all.

The post-engagement bliss came to an abrupt end ten minutes after Sadie finished having her way with me on the picnic blanket. She lay on her stomach now, admiring her new ring after having a small photoshoot with it and the cupcake. When she finally took a bite of the baked treat, I watched closely—surprised when she froze in place.

The lack of reaction from a woman who usually hummed with pleasure whenever she so much as looked at a sweet put me on immediate alert. “What’s wrong?”

Sadie kept her expression carefully blank as she avoided eye contact. Her throat worked as she swallowed the bite. “Um… Did you bake this yourself?”

Her hesitation made me frown, but I didn’t want to admit Tony and Vince had tried to help. They didn’t deserve any credit. “Mostly. Why?”

A long pause passed before she poked a finger into the cakey part. “It’s nothing.”

Yeah, I didn’t believe her for a second. Especially when she didn’t go in for a second bite.

“Tell me.”

Sadie’s lips spasmed like she was trying not to laugh, even as she grimaced. “I love you. And I really love all the effort that went into baking this for me, Dav—truly—but, um, I think you mixed up sugar and salt in the recipe.”

My frown deepened, and I shifted closer. It couldn’t be that bad. It still looked like a cupcake, after all. “Let me try it.”

Sadie reluctantly handed over the treat, and I took a generous bite before immediately spitting it out on the grass.

“What the hell is that?” I scowled, feeling an actual flash of betrayal as I glared at the traitorous cupcake. It was poisoned. Or defective. “Why’d you swallow it? Sadie, spit it out.”

She collapsed on the blanket in a fit of giggles, while I threw the cupcake as far from us as I could into the forest.

“I’ll make you a better one.” I moved to get up, determined to redeem myself, but Sadie grabbed my arm and pulled me back down without interrupting her laughter.

She grinned and leaned up, placing a kiss on my cheek. “Or maybe you should stick to crime, and I’ll handle the cupcakes?”

I grimaced as the overwhelming taste of salt clung to my tongue, but it wasn’t a bad deal. “I can agree to those terms.”

Sadie eased the sting of discovering I lacked even the smallest amount of baking skills with another kiss, reminding me I’d gladly go to all the plant funerals and dog weddings in the world if it meant she’d be there with me.

Thank you so much for joining me for Sadie, Dav, and Bear’s story!

For a free bonus scene featuring Davian baking Sadie’s proposal cupcake and info about my other books, visit www.maggieevans.com

(Subscribe to my newsletter for the freebies!)

also by maggie evans

The Duet Dilemma

Covert Hearts

You can find a full list of my books at

www.maggieevans.com or my Amazon author profile.

acknowledgments

My goal with Hot for Hostage was to write a story that was fun to come back to. All of my favorite books are ones that I want to reread over and over again—because they give me all the feels, anticipation, and those moments that make me grin at the pages like a mad woman. That’s what Sadie’s story became for me. I loved every second of writing her freak outs, Davian’s amusement, Bear’s thievery, Vince’s bafflement, and Gladys’s spunk. Oh, and poor Walter’s fate. But so much happens behind the scenes of writing a book, and there are a lot of people to thank for supporting me along the way. <3

To my Kindle Vella readers, thank you for believing in me and joining Sadie's journey from the very beginning. I know waiting a week between chapters was torture sometimes (okay, all the time) and that wasn't very kind hostage-taking behavior of me. Thank you for not holding it against me.

To my writing group, Just Write, thank you so much for your support, motivational gifs, and friendship! You’re the best “coworkers” I could ever dream of having, and also my rock in the writing world.

To a very good friend of mine, who won’t be named for reasons that will soon be obvious lol, thank you(?) for cutting off your nipple when you were fourteen just because you were curious if it would grow back. It didn’t, but you absolutely inspired Sadie’s phobia. I hope this shoutout was worth it.

Claire, I'm so lucky you're my sister. You’ve always been there for me, from all those sticker charts and brainstorming sessions, to going out for sushi in celebration of writing milestones, to being my adventure buddy for Disney trips and traveling Europe. T&P<3

Shana and Pat S., thank you for being my friend and writing buddy. It's been a fun road with all the “only 12 chapters left!” Groundhog Day moments, venting sessions, Vella deadlines, and battling imposter syndrome together. This is, finally, **the week!**

Jess, I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you. So much of Sadie's story was written during our writing all-nighters while downing coffee and listening to TS. Thank you for all the love and enabling.

Elli, make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it. I’m so grateful you watched all those eras tour livestreams with me while I was writing. (I’ll always associate this book with Lover era!) From clowning to surprise song freak-outs to listening parties, thank you for matching my swiftie freak.

Becky, I don't know if I would've ever been brave enough to publish if you hadn't encouraged me to in TAFF. I'm forever grateful. … Have I told you lately how much I can't wait for you to publish so I can put your book on my shelf? Because you should do that.

Alison and the rest of the Kindle Vella team, thank you for everything you did for Hot for Hostage on Vella! It still feels like it was all a dream seeing my stories at the top of the leaderboard, and I constantly have to pinch myself.

Nia, thank you so much for holding my hand through editing. I promise one day I'll remember the order of adjectives. Hopefully.

Thank you to Sweet Leaf for being the best stress relief in the world and such a fun group! All those cooking/watch parties helped me recover after deadlines.

Lana, thank you for Larry the Llama! He's been through a lot since high school, but he still calls my desk home and is the best writing buddy a girl could ask for.

And to my readers, words can't describe how grateful I am that you found my little corner of the book world, but I'm so happy you're here. :)

Copyright © 2025 by Maggie Evans

Sylvana Skies Publishing

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Cover Illustration by Daniel Matui

Edited by Nia Quinn

Hot for Hostage was previously published on Kindle Vella in 2022.

www.maggieevans.com

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

1. Happy Tails Haven

2. Teenage Thugs

3. Sadie, Get Your Gun

4. Taking Mr. Reed Hostage

5. Not Your Sweetheart

6. Daisy the Death Trap

7. Gladys Does Not Approve

8. Who’s the Hostage Now?

9. Sadie’s Great Escape

10. The Car Wash

11. A Girl and Her Broom

12. Migraine

13. Hellhound

14. Getting to Know You

15. Melting the Ice Cream

16. Can’t Deny It

17. Grind on Me

18. Apartment 431

19. Making Things Right

20. Someone Owes Sadie a Door

21. Rat, Interrupted

22. Sleepover

23. Why Are You Naked??

24. Just Keep Swimming

25. Just Stop Kissing

26. Caught Wet-Handed

27. Laundry Tips

28. Too Sweet for a Mafia Prince?

29. Fetch

30. Baking Me Crazy

31. Caught

32. Davian’s Treat

33. A Very Good Girl

34. Pretty Little Thing

35. The M-Word

36. Let Her Go

37. The Shed

38. A Prized Cow

39. Manhandled (Again)

40. Phone-a-Friend

41. Sadie’s Great Escape 2.0

42. Again?

43. Noooooooo

44. A Van with a Plan

45. Meringue

46. You Can Run, But You Can’t…

47. Stranger Danger

48. Above Average

49. How Many Times Can One Be Taken Hostage?

50. Who Are You Calling an Old Woman?

51. Anything but That

52. Mine

53. Smitten Kitten

54. On the Hunt

55. A Girl and Her Broom (Sadie’s Version)

56. You Missed

57. Party Crashers

58. Pretty Boy

59. Fourth Time’s a Charm

60. The Dream Team

61. Remember His Name

62. Partners

63. Hot for Hostage

64. Disgustingly Sweet

65. Two Conditions

Epilogue

Also by Maggie Evans

Acknowledgments

Copyright