Page 122 of Hot for Hostage

Fessy leaned closer, lowering his voice. “We can still get out of this. Let’s just leave now. Get a head start.”

“It’s Reed. There are no head starts. He’ll find us.”

“Then let’s give her back and hope he lets us go.”

“It’s too late for that,” Zain muttered with a shake of his head. Mercifully, he released my hair to resume his pacing. But then my scalp stung, and I couldn’t even rub it to make it feel better. Being tied up sucked. “He knows where we are somehow. Our only chance is to stay here and make a stand.”

The color drained from Fessy’s face. “…Make a stand?”

“Reed just showed us his cards, but we still have one ace left to play. As long as we have his ho, he can’t touch us.”

It took me a moment to realize he was referring tome, and I blinked. I’d never been called someone’s ho before.

Not really a fan.

And I didn’t really like where this was headed, so it felt like a good time to throw in my two cents. “Or, you could let me go? It would be a sign of good faith to Davian. I can ask him to leave you both alone.”

Zain pulled to a stop, staring at me. “How stupid are you? You can’t just ask Reed to do something.”

“Sure I can.” I lifted my chin. “I asked him to help me get Bear back when Fessy stole him, and he did.”

To be fair, I’d held Davian at gunpoint to make him comply, but these boys didn’t need to know that little detail.

“We don’t have time for games. I need to get everyone armed and ready.” Zain strode to the door, flicking his hand at the shattered glass littering the floor as an afterthought. “Find abroom and clean that up, Fes. We don’t need her getting cut and Reed blaming it on us.”

Fessy grumbled under his breath, and his brother paused after opening the door.

“Where the hell did Nasir go?” Zain looked up and down the hallway, frowning. He rattled off another stream of curses before slamming the door shut behind him.

Fessy gave me a dark look before leaving, too—I assumed to go get a broom. Though looking at the state of this room, I doubted they even kept one in the house.

I spent the time he was gone to try loosening the knots holding me captive, itching to get free.

But ten minutes later, Fessy limped back into the room with a dustpan and broom in tow, while I’d made zero progress on the bindings. He balanced on one crutch, using his other hand to half-heartedly sweep the broom.

The glass slid from side to side across the floor, but nowhere near the dustpan he’d set down.

Now that it was just Fessy and me in the room, I grew hopeful as he did a poor job of sweeping. He might’ve stolen Bear and spray-painted penises on the shelter walls, but at least he hadn’t cut my shirt or knocked me out like Zain had.

There was a chance he’d listen to reason.

“Fessy, could you please loosen these ropes a little?” I asked, stretching my fingers to get more blood flow to them. The only thing these guys seemed afraid of was Davian, and maybe I could use that to my advantage. It was worth a shot. “They’re cutting into my skin, and I don’t think Davian will like that very much.”

He ignored me and kept sweeping.

I sighed. “Look. I’m trying to help you guys. Like you said, Davian shot you over a distasteful comment you made about me. Imagine what he’ll do if he shows up and sees markings on my wrists.”

Fessy finally looked up, his lips twisted into a scowl. “Distasteful? I said I’d bone you. That’s a compliment.”

It was my turn to stare.

“Regardless,” I said, ignoring his comment. At least I had his attention now. “If Davian sees I’m comfortable and you treated me well, it could work in your favor. I’ll even put in a good word for you and Zain.”

He only snorted and went back to sweeping. “You heard that call. Nothing you say to Reed can save us now.”

“That’s not true. Davian is reasonable.” I tried to think of ways to reassure him, and luckily, I remembered Lorenzo. “I’m sure he would at least lock you in a shed for a few days before doing anything drastic. That would give me time to remind him how well you treated me and that you’re sorry.”

Fessy’s face twisted in horror. “Lock me in a shed? What the hell?”

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