Page 152 of Hot for Hostage

After discovering what Sadie referred to as Walter’s “child” in his remains, she’d insisted on giving Walter a proper burial back at the shelter. It was a whole thing. I got talked into digging a six-inch grave, Sadie said a few words, Ryan made a mini-headstone, and Gladys sang a song about life being a circle. I could swear Sadie even shed a tear when Vince dumped a shovelful of dirt over Walter’s wilted corpse.

It was safe to say my life had changed a lot in the past two days.

There were a dozen things I should be doing back at the compound, like cleaning up the mess with Ali. Meeting with the other heads to ensure my takeover went smoothly. Making sure my father didn’t do something stupid instead of leaving.

Instead, I was sitting at a patio table in the Happy Tails Haven’s courtyard with a beer in one hand and Sadie curled up on my lap. Twinkling fairy lights hung from the trees, music played through wall speakers, and laughter and stories filled theplace. We celebrated Walter’s life and memory—as Sadie said he would’ve wanted.

And there were dogs everywhere.

Everywhere.

Running around, rolling on the grass, and endlessly squeaking all those goddamn toys.

Bear was thrilled to be back with his buddies, and I already knew the one Sadie called Mr. Woofkins would be trouble. The husky ran countless laps around the courtyard and howled at the night sky like a deranged lunatic.

Sadie played fetch with every dog who brought toys over to us. Bear was the biggest repeat visitor, and he made sure to stop for a quick rubdown and kiss from Sadie every time he retrieved something for her.

I would’ve been jealous if she hadn’t been perched on my lap and playing with my hair all night.

It was the type of evening I could get addicted to.

“Hey, buddy,” Sadie cooed when Bear set another stick in her lap. She leaned forward and kissed his snout, and the furry bastard wagged his tail like he’d just won the lottery.

She threw the stick, then rested her head on my shoulder while Bear raced a few other dogs across the yard to chase it down.

“You and Bear seem to be getting along now—working together to save me and everything,” Sadie said as he wrestled with another dog for the stick.

I shrugged. “He’s not so bad.”

Laughter spilled from her lips, soft and infectious. “You two make a good team.”

“Unfortunately for him, I already have a partner.”

Sadie wasn’t speechless often, but there was a noticeable pause before she turned her head to press a sweet kiss to myneck. Her smile curved against my skin, making my arm tighten around her waist.

As the night wore on, the Happy Tails Haven crew proved they were quite the partiers. Vince and Ryan faced off in a riveting beer pong match, a giant game of Jenga turned into a drinking game, and Sadie led the group in drinking songs—despite not having more than a few sips herself.

Everything was going well, until Gladys had one too many drinks and stomped over to us, jabbing her finger in my face.

“Let’s get one thing straight. I don’t like you, Davian Reed,” she stated bluntly, giving me a strong stink eye. Both my brows rose.

“Gladys!” Sadie gaped at her in horror, but everyone else at the table laughed.

“It’s all right.” I rubbed a hand down Sadie’s back, watching Gladys. She’d clearly been holding back earlier, and I was curious to see where this went. “Go on. Say what you want to say.”

Her answering scowl said everything. Apparently, our little joint rescue mission earlier had done nothing to warm Gladys toward me.

“I don’t like the way you look.” She ticked off on one finger. “I don’t like the way you live your life. And I especially don’t like that when you could have any woman in this city, you set your eyes on my friend.”

Gladys paused to hiccup, and Sadie groaned under her breath. “Oh my god, she found the gin. This can’t be happening.”

I rested my hand on Sadie’s waist, amused as Gladys’s lips twisted.

“But I like when my friend is happy,” she continued, ignoring Sadie’s comment. “And I’ve never seen Sadie smile like she did when you got all mushy after sucking her face off against that SUV.”

Sadie slapped both hands over her face. “Gladys,pleasestop!”

She waved Sadie off, then pointed that boney finger at me and wiggled it threateningly.

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