Page 10 of Hot for Hostage

I chewed on my lip and weighed my options. We needed to go someplace private to talk this over, but my school housing was out of the question. It’d be stupid to take him there.

“You okay, bunny?” Davian’s eyes narrowed on my face, and a shiver rolled down my spine at his inspection. “You look a little pale. Maybe you should sit down.”

I frowned at his name-calling. “I’m not a bunny.”

The corner of his lips only twitched in answer.

Great. Now my hostage was laughing at me.

I sighed before climbing onto the stool next to him, telling myself I was sitting down because I wanted to andnotbecause he’d suggested it.

But this was just getting more and more complicated, and I wasn’t sure what to do next.

“I think I messed up,” I admitted, frowning at the checkered tile floor.

“How so?”

“I really needed you to listen to me, Mr. Reed,” I said, even though that part was pretty obvious. “So, when I saw the gun under your friend’s jacket, I acted without thinking. But now I’m in over my head. I’m basically a criminal.”

“Call me Davian,” he said, sounding surprisingly agreeable considering the situation. He was so calm, too. Had someone held him at gunpoint before? “And what’s your name, sweetheart?”

My brow furrowed at the endearment. Gladys had told me Davian Reed was a scary monster, but right now, he seemed like a gentleman. He spoke softly, and my father was the only one who’d ever called me sweetheart before. But this man had no right to call me that.

“I’m not your sweetheart. My name is Sadie. Sadie Morris,” I said, then wondered if it was a good idea to tell my hostage my name. But, really, the least I could do was keep things polite aftermaking him fear for his life. “I’m really sorry about this, by the way. But I need your help.”

He ran a hand through his lush dark hair, and my fingers itched to see if it was as soft as it looked. Unfortunately, they were still on the gun’s trigger, so I carefully moved them to clutch the handle instead.

We didn’t need any accidents because I was distracted by my hostage’s hair.

Davian only thought it over for a moment before nodding. “Then I’m happy to help.”

I blinked back at him. “Really? Just like that? You don’t even know what I’m asking you to do yet.”

“You’re obviously desperate, or you wouldn’t be doing this. So, I’ll help. But would you mind putting the gun away, first? I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

I hesitated a beat before shaking my head. “I’m sorry, but my friends warned me about you, and I just can’t take any chances right now. It’s too important.”

He leaned against the counter, comfortable as could be. “Fair enough. Now, what can I help you with, Sadie?”

I took a deep breath and let it out. This was it.

“I’m told you’re a powerful man and you can get things done in this city,” I said, choosing my words carefully.

He nodded curtly. “You’ve been told correctly.”

Hope surged in my chest. Maybe this wasn’t a complete bust.

“Then maybe you really can help me. I’m truly sorry,again, but I’m not afraid to use force if it’s necessary. The stakes are too high.”

Davian’s expression darkened. “What happened?”

The concern in his voice broke the dam holding back my fears, and my face screwed up just thinking about poor Bear. I fought back tears and lowered the gun. “They stole Bear! Those stupid boys took him last night, and I’mreallyworriedabout him. He hurt his leg a couple weeks ago, and he needs medication every day, but those little thugs?—”

Davian held up a hand that silenced me, and he blinked twice. “Someone stole abear?”

I sniffled and brushed away a tear that’d escaped down my cheek. “Notabear. Just Bear. He’s one of the dogs from Happy Tails Haven. You know, the dog shelter next to Al’s Snow Cone Palace.”

There was a long pause before Davian spoke.

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