Page 41 of Hot for Hostage

“Give me a minute,” I told Shane, taking a few steps away from the chair before answering the phone. “What happened?”

“I’ve got Sadie with me, and we’re on our way to the compound,” Vince said.

My grip tightened on the knife’s handle. “Repeat that.”

“I’m bringing Sadie back with me now. Apparently, Fessy has older friends. I didn’t get a good look at them, but it wasn’t safe to leave her there.”

Lorenzo’s head lolled to the side with a moan, and I gave him a sharp look to shut up. The acoustics in the shed just made it louder, and it didn’t escape Vince’s notice.

“… You busy, boss?”

“Just finishing up an appointment.” I handed the knife to Shane and signaled for him to take over, then slipped out into the warm night. Two of my men stood guard outside the door, and it clicked closed behind me as my mind reeled. “How’d they have her address? I didn’t see any tails.”

“Hell if I know,” Vince said. “Your girl mentioned the shelter was broken into, and they keep files on all the volunteers. It wouldn’t be hard to get an address.”

My chest had no business swelling at him calling Sadiemy girl.

I cleared my throat and shoved whatever possessive reaction that was deep,deepdown. “Is she scared?”

Vince snorted. “Seriously, what happened to you? ‘Is shescared?’ Do you hear yourself right now?”

“Piss off.”

“Nah, this is worse than just thinking with your dick. You’re actually worried about her.”

If I couldn’t explain this whole Sadie thing to myself, there was no chance he’d understand. “Answer the question, Vince.”

He grumbled under his breath. “She’s in the back with her dog. The screen’s up, but she wasn’t sobbing hysterically or anything.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before you picked her up?” I asked, trying to ignore the tightness that’d taken up residence in my chest.

“There wasn’t time. They were already in the lobby.”

I glanced at my watch. “What’s your ETA?”

“Twenty minutes.”

“Make it fifteen. Pull up to the front.” I hung up. Pocketing my phone, I pulled the door open to update Shane. “Sadie’s on her way. Finish up here, then use the back door so she doesn’t see you.”

He looked up from Lorenzo in surprise, but nodded curtly.

“It’s not too late to talk,” I added to Lorenzo. One of his eyes was swollen shut, but the other narrowed at me. “Tell us who you’re meeting with, and we can work out the rest.”

“I’m not meeting with anyone,” he spat through the blood caking his face. “You know I wouldn’t do anything against the family, Reed.”

Normally, I’d believe him. But money was missing.

And we had pictures of him at clubs on the other side of town.

I gave Shane a subtle nod before leaving. It’d take at least five minutes to jog through the woods and get back to the house. Then I needed to hop into the shower and change into something not stained with blood before Sadie arrived.

Even though things had gone sideways, my mood lifted.

Turned out my little bunny was spending the night here, after all.

sleepover

. . .

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