Page 130 of Hot for Hostage

My hand back in his, he pulled me toward the stairs.

“Ten down!” Vince’s deep voice boomed from the level below us, startling me enough to almost drop my broom. “Main level is clear, Reed.”

“Two down up here. Malcolm is checking the rest.” Davian’s grip tightened on my hand, and he cocked a brow at me. “You ready to get out of here?”

My nod was nothing short of enthusiastic. “Yes, please.”

I wanted to get out of here more than anything.

All I could think about was getting back to Bear and my friends, finding some fresh underwear, and going to Bruno’s with Davian to celebrate another successful rescue.

I was officially over this whole hostage thing.

you missed

. . .

Davian

As far as rescue operations went, it’d been a smooth one—until we reached the staircase and I needed to convince Sadie to leave her broom upstairs. She was surprisingly possessive of the wooden stick.

I tried again. “You won’t need it down there. It’ll just get in the way.”

“But what if we get ambushed?” She let go of my hand to tuck a strand of pink hair behind her ear and wiggled the large cleaning tool at me for emphasis. “I can’t whack them with my broom if I don’t have a broom.”

It was difficult to argue with that logic.

It was also difficult to take Sadie seriously when my jacket swallowed her whole, her hair was endearingly disheveled, and she was clinging to a dusty old broom like it was her hard-earned war prize.

But I tried again, because this wasn’t up for debate.

“If any ambushing happens, then I’ll take care of it. And Malcolm will have our backs.” Right on time, Malcolm approached soundlessly behind Sadie, and I met his gaze. “All good?”

He dipped his chin, giving Sadie and her broom a curious look. “I found Nasir, but he’s staying put until this is all over. The other rooms were empty. The two men you took down are still out.”

“Good. Let’s meet up with Vince.” My earpiece had been quiet since Vince gave us the all clear, which was a good sign. The commotion downstairs had died down.

But there was still one issue—the state I’d left the foyer in.

I doubted Sadie would react well to dead bodies.

“Come here.” I crooked a finger at her. She readily stepped forward, but her brows pulled together when I gripped her waist. “I’m carrying you to the door. It’ll be quick.”

That didn’t help any of her confusion. “But I can walk.”

“Sadie. Please.”

She didn’t look happy about it, but she obliged, stepping even closer with her broom and resting a hand on my shoulder. I went to lift her, but Sadie squeaked—bracing her arm to stop me.

“Wait!” She glanced over her shoulder at Malcolm before leaning closer to me until her lips brushed my ear. It was a welcome distraction. “Um… You don’t happen to still have my underwear in your pocket, do you? I’d rather not flash everyone again.”

A choking sputter escaped me, and my hands froze on her waist. …Again?

I’d forgotten her underwear was back at the compound, and now she’d been kept captive by the Ali brothers without it.

That itch to wring Zain’s neck returned with a vengeance.

Forcing myself to focus on the present and not how much I’d like to murder him, I placed a kiss on Sadie’s temple. “I left it in my office, but I’ll find you some as soon as we get out of here.”

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