Page 23 of Hot for Hostage

a girl and her broom

. . .

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide toHostage-TakingBeing Taken Hostage, Tip #7: When your ex-hostage inevitably escapes, track them down to let them know you’re still in charge.

It was them—the little troublemakers who’d taken Bear.

My blood boiled. I didn’t see my faithful pooch anywhere in the dirty garage, but that didn’t mean they weren’t holding him prisoner.

Half a dozen members of the gang stood across from Davian and his two men in the garage, and I stormed up to all of them—ready to carry out this rescue mission.

The younger crowd took in my broom and glare before they… doubled over in laughter?

Rude.

Davian just stared at me before slowly shaking his head.

“Sadie, come here,” he ground out through a clenched jaw, crooking a finger at me.

But I was still mad, so that wasn’t happening. Instead, I stayed right where I was and sent him a sharp look to let him know just how badly he’d messed up. “You left me behind.”

“Baby, I’m not joking. Get your ass?—”

Done with both his lies and his stupid bossy face, I turned my focus on the troublemakers and held my broom higher. “Where’s my dog?”

The tall one in front with a red basketball jersey squinted at me. “Hey, I remember you. Aren’t you one of the chicks from the shelter?”

He must be their ringleader—and the one I’d need to negotiate Bear’s safe return with. I could do this. Ineededto do this. “Yes, and you stole a beloved member of our family.”

He laughed and looked around at his friends. “Just consider him adopted, then. It’s a shelter, ain’t it? I’m helping you out.”

I sucked in a breath at his audacity. Were children not taughtmannersanymore? “There are protocols for that.Paperwork. You’d never be approved for an adoption in a million years!”

That wiped the smile right off his face.

“Who invited Miss Priss to the party?” Sneering, he crossed his arms. “Fine. I’m willing to deal. What can you offer for your dog?”

It took all my willpower not to smack him upside the head with my broom.

Who did this boy think he was?

“I don’t need to offer you anything,” I said through clenched teeth. “He’smydog.”

He cocked his head before trailing his gaze down my figure and back up. I shivered in disgust at the blatant leering. “Tell you what? I’ll hand him over if you stick around and party with us tonight. The name’s Fessy, by the way.”

My jaw dropped.

Had ateenagerjust propositioned me?

“Watch it, kid,” Davian warned evenly before I could get over my shock.

Fessy smirked at Davian. “Can’t blame me for trying. A body like that? I’d smash?—”

A loud bang filled the quiet garage like an explosion going off, making all of us jump.

What the?—?

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