Page 105 of Hot for Hostage

It occurred to me I was probably oversharing, but that had to mean something.

“Then he must’ve been planning ahead to get in your pants,” Gladys said grimly. “Slick mafia scum.”

“But Dav didn’t even tell me he donated money! How could it be some master seduction plan if I didn’t know?” I groaned and dropped my head back. “You couldn’t have mentioned the donation before I gave Davian a lecture on meringue and reverse Stockholm syndrome?”

“To be fair, no one saw that lecture coming,” Ryan said. “And it’s Davian Reed. We thought he had evil intentions with the money.”

“It’s adonation.”

“Yeah, and he’s in themafia,” Gladys snapped, mimicking my tone. “Something you seem to keep forgetting. There’s no way he did that out of the goodness of his heart.”

I couldn’t believe this was happening.

Had I really just rambled on about egg whites after all Davian had done was help me? Who cared if we weren’t meringue. Egg whites were just as good in other forms. We could be an omelette. Or a nice soufflé.

“I should call him,” I decided, reaching for my phone.

Gladys jerked the van sideways, sending my phone flying across the back and out of reach. “So help me, child, if you pick up that phone?—”

“Guys, be quiet!” Ryan waved a hand to silence us, but his attention was on the passenger-side mirror. “I think we’ve got a tail.”

I snapped my mouth shut, both Bear and I sitting up straighter. We hadn’t made it back to the city yet, and the road was mostly empty.

“Is it Reed?” Gladys asked as she pushed the Dog-Mobile faster. “He sure caught up fast.”

I swallowed and pulled Bear closer. Maybe Daviandidhave a tracking app on my phone, after all.

Without windows in the back of the van, I closed my eyes and clung to Bear. “What does the car look like?”

“It’s two dark SUVs.” Ryan’s voice grew grim. “They’re closing the gap.”

Davian’s men drove SUVs. Oh god, what if he was angry I hung up on him? Had I screwed everything up?

“I’m so sorry, you guys,” I cried. It was my fault they were at risk now, but I was pretty sure Davian wouldn’t hurt my friends. Well, as sure as I could be after finding that man in the shed. For all I knew, the compound had individual sheds ready for each of us. “I never should’ve pulled you into my mess.”

“Shut your mouth, Sadie Marie,” Gladys snapped. She swerved to the right. “This is what friends are for.”

“They’re boxing us in from both sides.” Ryan looked back and forth through the windows. “Should we surrender?”

“Over my dead body,” Gladys declared. “Hold on to your hats, kids. We’re not going down without a fight.”

She floored it, and I grabbed Bear and the side door as the van shot forward.

But the Dog-Mobile wasn’t built to outrun the mafia—or even go above forty miles per hour on a good day—and it made a terrible grinding before slowing in a series of short jerks as it fought to keep going.

I winced at one final choking gurgle before the engine sputtered to a stop, and we all sat in stunned silence as both SUVs shot past us.

“Blast it!” Gladys smacked the steering wheel. “You gosh-darned piece of?—”

I covered Bear’s ears again at her string of curses. “Gladys!”

“They’re coming back,” Ryan blurted, pointing out the windshield.

Gladys turned the key in the ignition, but the Dog-Mobile only gave a few sad coughs without starting up again.

I rose to my knees in time to see both SUVs circle back to us and park out of my sight. Doors slammed behind the Dog-Mobile.

“Sadie, they’re approaching the back of the van,” Ryan warned me. He moved Walter from the center console to the dashboard and beckoned me over. “Climb up here with us.”

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