Page 139 of Hot for Hostage

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 becauseMurdock 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.

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