Page 65 of Hot for Hostage

“Just that she’s waiting for you to change your mind. Maybe if you actually talked to her?—”

“Talking would give the wrong impression.” Few things traveled between territories faster than gossip, and I didn’t need rumors spreading. “Next time you see them, let Gio’s people know it isn’t happening.”

With a grunt, Vince crouched to get the stick Bear had left on the ground.

“Let me get this straight, because it sounds like you’ve lost your mind.” He stood and pointed the stick at me. “You’re seriously going to turn down an alliance with Gio Vitale because of some doe-eyed baker who wears pink overalls?”

My fingers flexed. He needed to get over his problem with Sadie. Fast.

“I know what I’m doing.” I looked toward the house. “Where is she, anyway?”

It wasn’t like Sadie to pawn her dog off on Vince. I would’ve expected her to be out here, too.

“In the kitchen with Antonio,” he said. “That’s why I’m watching this guy.”

Bear took that as his cue to lie down and roll over onto his back, presenting his belly and panting with his tongue out. It was… sort of cute, I guess.

When he wasn’t growling at me or annihilating my shoes, I could almost see why Sadie called him sweet.

Almost.

But since we’d finished discussing business, I headed for the house. “I’ll be inside if you need me.”

I’d only made it a couple steps before Vince called my name. I looked back at him, eyebrow raised, and he nodded at my shirt.

“If you don’t want your new squeeze asking questions, you might want to change your shirt before you go running off to find her,” he said with a knowing look.

I glanced down, belatedly noticing the blood splatter. I wasn’t sure when that happened during the interrogation, but it was bound to freak Sadie out.

“Good call, but she’s not a squeeze.”

“Of course not,” Vince said, deadpan. His shoulders slumped. “Just… be careful, man.”

I flashed a smile that lacked any humor. You didn’t get where I was by being reckless. “I’m always careful.”

He rolled his eyes before launching the stick halfway across the yard, and Bear scrambled up onto his paws to chase after it in a huge blur of black and brown fur.

I shook my head at the unlikely pair before heading toward the house.

“Have fun playing fetch with your new friend,” I called over my shoulder.

He grunted. “I am notfriendswith a dog.”

baking me crazy

. . .

Davian

The day only grew stranger when I tracked Sadie down after a quick shower and changing into a clean suit.

For starters, music blared from the kitchen from all the way upstairs. It was a bright and catchy pop song I wouldn’t have expected Antonio to listen to in a million years.

I paused outside the kitchen door before shaking my head and opening it.

The sight inside stopped me in my tracks.

Antonio’s kitchen had been turned into a baking wonderland—every inch of available counter space filled with trays of cookies and cupcakes.

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