Page 136 of Hot for Hostage

I wasn’t letting her out of my sight.

“Shecan 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.”

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