Page 168 of Saving Serena

The big man screamed. “Nobody.”

“Bullshit,” I called.

Winston looked around. “Where’s the other hostage?”

I snorted, laughing at my own stupidity. “She went to pick up the ransom. She’ll be back soon.”

Lucas’s brow creased. “Come again?”

“She was behind the whole thing. Katelyn killed Leo, sent the Russians after Sophia, and hired this piece of shit and his brother to go after me.”

Duke shook his head. “I never did like her.”

“Jordy,” Lucas said to the floor. “We have incoming. Katelyn Connor, co-conspirator. Winston, get the med kit from the car.”

The big ex-FBI agent hustled away.

Duke pulled my shirt closed. “You’re braless,” he whispered in my ear. “Did he?”

“No,” I said, tucking my shirt in to keep it from flowing open.

“You’re shaking.” He opened his arms for me. I hugged him and his lumpy body armor. His tight embrace slowly eased my tension.

Ten minutes later, Winston and Lucas were still tending to Johnson when Jordy walked in. He had a handcuffed Katelyn with a rope around her in tow.

She spat at him and turned to me. “I’m going to kill you. You ruined everything.”

Jordy threw a duffle bag on the floor. “She had this.”

“Damn right,” she screamed. “That’s my money.” Her voice accelerated into dog-whistle territory.

Lucas grabbed the duct tape and shut up the shrieking Katelyn for good. “I’ve heard enough from you.”

I bit back a laugh.

“Call Wellbourne for these two,” Lucas directed. “And an ambulance.”

I turned to Duke. “Do you still have that necklace? I’m fucking tired of being kidnapped.”

“Sure do.” He fished it out of a pocket and fastened it around my neck. “You’re officially mine, Serena Marie Benson.”

“I’m yours,” I agreed. “And, you are mine.”

“This will have to do until I can find a ring.”

The words made my chest tight. I pushed him back. “You can’t say that.”

“Sure I can. You’re mine now, and I plan on making it official.”

Momentarily speechless, I pulled away.

“Do you guys need a minute?” Lucas called from the other room.

“No,” Duke said as he inched forward. “It’s taking her a minute to accept her fate.”

“Fate? Maybe we should start by dating for a while.”

He shrugged. “Or not.”

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