Page 131 of Hot for Hostage

The tension eased from her shoulders, and she smiled sheepishly. “Thank you.”

But she still hadn’t let go of the freaking broom. “And Malcolm will carry the broom for you. Deal?”

Sadie’s lips twisted, but she reluctantly handed it over to him. “Deal.”

I didn’t miss the flat stare Malcolm shot me over her shoulder.

Sadie stepped into my arms without hesitation, and I picked her up—dropping one hand to hold her skirt against her ass when she wrapped her legs around my waist.

Like always, she felt good in my arms.

Remembering what we were about to walk into, I nudged her face toward my shoulder. “Close your eyes and keep them shut.”

“Why?” Sadie whispered, but dutifully closed her eyes.

“I don’t want you to see this.” I tucked her face into the crook of my neck and turned to the steps.

She audibly gulped and clung tighter to my shoulders.

We descended the stairs with Malcolm shadowing us. It was all business when we reached the foyer. I wove through the bodies littering the floor, while my men roamed the area—talking and packing up cases of weapons.

Vince was stationed near the front door, with a dirty little street thug squirming in his grasp.

Fessy held up both hands as I approached. His face was as pale as a ghost, while he shook like a leaf.

“See?” he called, pointing a quivering finger at the girl in my arms. “I told you she’s fine.”

“Is that Fessy?” Sadie asked against my neck, voice muffled. She tried to lift her head, but I held it down—earning a soft huff from her. “Davian.”

I quickly dismissed Fessy, instead focusing on Vince. “Any sign of Zain?”

“Shane has him. Caught him trying to sneak out the back,” he answered. “No one else gave us trouble.”

I shifted Sadie in my arms. It’d been almost too easy, but what could I expect from a kid who’d just gotten the keys to his dad’s kingdom?

“Good. Finish up here, then meet outside,” I said.

I needed to get Sadie somewhere safe before I dealt with Zain.

Vince opened the door for us, and I walked to the nearest SUV. Malcolm veered off to do his own recon of the property, leaving Sadie and me alone except for a handful of my men loading the vehicles.

I set her on her feet next to the SUV. “You can open your eyes.”

She blinked them open, quickly spotting the other men. “You brought all these guys with you?”

“Most are still inside taking care of Ali’s men, so we can talk now. You were explaining why you ran off without talking to me first?”

Her head jerked back to me, brows shooting up. “You want to talk about thatnow?”

“You wanted to talk about it when we were still upstairs,” I reminded her, amused. “Now you’re safe, and we’re mostly alone. And I’m very interested in knowing what else you were going to say.”

I remembered something about a soufflé.

“Oh. Right.” Sadie leaned back with a wince before sighing. “Well, I was saying you were right about me being scared. And I really wanted to talk to you first—honestly—but then your father kinda freaked me out, and then that man in the shed said you were going to kill him, and that definitely freaked me out?—”

“Man in the shed?” I asked, eyes narrowing. She’d mentioned that on the phone, but I hadn’t gotten the details.

Even though only a few of my men were in the cul-de-sac, Sadie looked to both sides before leaning closer to me.

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