Page 147 of Hot for Hostage

“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 toHostage-TakingBeing Taken HostageForming a Partnership with Your HostageEmbracing the Hostage LifestyleNot Freaking OutEscapingBeing 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 drivingawayfrom 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.”

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