Page 18 of Hot for Hostage

Vince snorted, and Sadie’s eyes narrowed into slits. She still looked confused, but there was anger brewing, too. “But we made a deal.”

“The deal is to get Bear back,” I reminded her, “and I fully intend to hold up my end. But you’re staying here.”

“You can’t tell me what to do. I’m the one with the gun!” She reached into her overalls, but I’d already nicked it when she walked past me into the house. When she didn’t find the gun, her brow furrowed. She patted down her body before coming up empty, and she looked lost. “I don’t understand. Where’d my gun go?”

My jaw tightened. I didn’t like deceiving her, even if itwasbetter to keep her safe here. Taking me hostage had been cute and all, but not everyone would find it endearing like I did. I wasn’t about to risk her during something as simple as a dog retrieval.

“I’m sorry, Sadie. As much as I enjoyed playing this game with you, we don’t have time for it anymore,” I said. “Stay here, and I’ll be back soon with Bear. Vince will stay with you.”

And my friend didn’t look too happy about that.

“Are you kidding me?” Sadie threw her hands up. “You’re my hostage. You can’t just take over?—”

“Look around you.” I pointed around the foyer. She snapped her mouth shut and followed where I pointed, finally noticing a guard standing at the top of the stairs. “You’re at my compound, which is surrounded by twelve-foot walls. There are armed guards watching the gate. Your gun is gone. You don’t get to make the decisions anymore.”

Her lips parted, and the betrayal in her gaze cut straight through my chest. “You tricked me.”

I let the mask I’d perfected years ago slip into place. Even if I wanted to treat her with kid gloves, my men would never let me live it down. So, I showed her what everyone else saw. Cold indifference. “It’s what I do.”

Her big grey eyes widened, and she looked ready to freak out, so I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “I promised I’d get Bear back for you, and I will—but I have to run things my way now. Okay, sweetheart?”

Sadie’s eyes narrowed into a glare so furious it raised the hair on the back of my neck.

“I amnotyour sweetheart,” she spat with no small amount of hostility.

I fought back a smile. She was a fierce little thing. “I apologize for taking the gun back. But you’re safe here, and soon Bear will be safe, too.”

And hopefully she’d forgive me for this, because I wasn’t ready to let her go just yet.

sadie’s great escape

. . .

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide toHostage-TakingBeing Taken Hostage, Tip #6: Beware your hostage turning the tables and takingyouhostage. It happens more often than you’d think.

Davian went upstairs to change clothes, and I wanted to scream.

My impromptu hostage plan had just blown up in my face, but I could only blame myself for the turn this had taken.

I was stupid.Sostupid. Even though I’d basically forced Davian to help me—at gunpoint, no less—I’d begun to think of us as a team. Partners. It was the two of us against those annoying little teenage thugs.

Clearly, I’d been wrong.

He came down the stairs in dark jeans, a black shirt, and a leather jacket, and my heart flipped over in my chest. He was every bit the dark warrior ready to exact vengeance for me.

It honestly wasn’t fair he looked so attractive when I was angry with him.

“I’ll be back with Bear before you know it,” Davian told me as he took a gun Vince held out. It was larger than the oneI’d borrowed earlier, but Davian handled it with just as much expertise as he loaded and inspected it. He motioned to a couple guys outside the open door before facing me. His dark eyes glinted with amusement. “You be good while I’m gone, Sadie.”

I scoffed at the nerve of him and crossed my arms tight against my chest. “I can’t even begin to fathom why you think you have the right to tell me to be anything right now, Davian Reed. You’re nothing but a liar.”

His answering smirk made me want to punch him. “Don’t forget you pointed a gun at me to get what you wanted. I took a less violent approach. But we’ll straighten this out when I get back from keeping my promise to you.”

“You bet we will,” I grumbled.

Davian’s grin only widened. “I’m looking forward to it.”

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