Page 117 of Smooth Sailing

I was in no mood for anything as hot as that.

Still, watching Hugger prowl toward me on my bed like a big cat was so good, a miracle happened, and I got in the mood.

He settled behind me, assumed the position of the big spoon and commanded, “Relax.”

I lay back down, and with his arm around me, he pulled me close.

He then kept being bossy.

“Talk to me.”

Okay, now I got his tone, and indications were I shouldn’t play poker.

One could say I dug a spoon, and I’d just discovered Hugger did it better than any other.

I still squiggled around so we were in our position of the night before, face to face, legs slightly tangled, and I tipped my head back to look at him.

The instant our eyes met, he smoothed a large hand up my spine and whispered, “Baby.”

Nope.

Shouldn’t play poker.

“I’ve felt the urge to murder,” I replied. “Genuinely. I’m being serious.”

“Fuck,” he muttered.

I drew in a breath and let it out speaking. “So, this is what the police are putting together. Esad Babic went rogue from his daddy’s nefarious dealings. He decided to set up his own. He works with recruiters, like the one who located Madison online, in order to lure young women into their clutches and sell them to people like Esad. After they were…done with her?—”

Hugger pulled me closer.

I skipped forward in the story.

“They thought she was unconscious and left her where she was. Madison, who seems to have made an art of hiding how strong and smart she is, pretended to be that way in the hope they’d do just what they did and she’d be able to get away. After all they did to her, Harlan, she had the presence of mind?—”

I gulped.

“Di, honey, maybe we shouldn’t go over this,” Hugger murmured, now stroking my back.

“No, I need to get it out, if you’ll listen.”

“’Course I’ll listen, baby. That’s why I’m right here.”

How in this shitty, shitty world, where such hideous things happened to such good people, did Harlan “Hugger” McCain corner me in an elevator, and in doing so, become a part of my life?

I shouldn’t question it.

I should savor it.

I did that as I went back to sharing.

“As we know, her ploy worked, she grabbed Esad’s phone and got the hell out of there. A good Samaritan picked her up and took her to the nearest emergency room.”

“Right,” Hugger said.

“They’re surmising Esad found her and his phone missing, and knew his ass was in a sling, so he came clean to Daddy so Daddy could cover for him. Daddy went into action, calling Maddy on his son’s phone the next morning, giving her instructions. Tell the police it was him who did the deed. If she didn’t, he would not rest until he hunted her down and shared his displeasure. He advised Maddy she wouldn’t end that episode breathing, and she wouldn’t be the only one. He’d go after everyone she loved. Unsurprisingly, that threat worked and that was what Madison did.”

Hugger appeared confused.

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