Page 8 of Hot for Hostage

“Now you tell us your demands?” I offered, curious where this could go. Did she want money? Valuables? Would she turn the gun on Bruno to rob the store?

This was far more exciting than the day of meetings I’d had planned.

Vince scoffed in disbelief beside me, but I nudged his arm with my raised elbow to shut him up.

“Right,” the girl said under her breath with a nod. I’d never heard of an abductor taking suggestions from their captives before, but I was ready to roll with it. It appeared she was, too. “Yeah, that’s right.I’mthe one with the gun, so I’m the one who gets to make the demands.”

Whowasthis girl?

But when a whole ten seconds passed and little Strawberry Shortcake made no move to tell us why we were held at gunpoint, I wondered how long we’d be here. Vince probably didn’t understand why I was playing with my food instead of getting the gun back, but he knew better than to step in without my say-so. What I didn’t like was how we could all be seen clear as day through the shop windows.

The girl’s eyes darted around the room like a frantic bunny, and she finally spoke. “I need your help.”

My lips twitched. “And pointing a gun at me is your way of getting it?”

“It was my friend’s idea, and I wasn’t going to do it—but then you brushed me off, and I saw your friend’s gun and got desperate,” she rambled before grimacing at Vince. “I’m really sorry I took your gun. I promise I’ll return it when this is all over.”

He made a sound that confirmed he thought this woman was certifiable.

But I couldn’t take my eyes off her. “I guess we should talk terms, then.”

The nervous glances stopped, and her head cocked to the side. “Terms?”

I couldn’t hold back my smile anymore. She was too damn innocent for her own good. “The terms of our help in exchange for not getting shot.”

She tucked a strand of pink hair behind her ear and lifted her chin before returning her second hand to the gun. “Ah, yes. Terms.”

“But first…” I looked over her shoulder at the counter, where Bruno currently stared at the girl in horror. “Bruno, it looks like we’ll have to postpone our chat. Why don’t you give us a minute alone? If that’s all right with you, miss?”

I looked back at the girl, and her lips twisted—but she only paused a moment before nodding. “That sounds reasonable. Bruno, I’m really sorry about this. It won’t take long.”

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Bruno turned to me and braced himself. “She’s a regular here, and I’m sure she means nothing by it. I think we should all just walk away now before there’s any trouble.”

My eyebrow rose. He cared enough about this girl that he worried I’d do something to her?

…Well, I did have a track record.

“It’s okay, Bruno,” the girl answered confidently, but her smile was forced. I wanted to slap a hand over my face when she took her eyes off me and Vince to reassure the shop owner. “I’ve got this handled.”

Bruno mumbled a prayer in Italian and cut a look at me. “Please don’t hurt her.”

I had no intention of doing anything of the sort.

My mind was already busy with much more intriguing options of what to do with her.

While Bruno trudged through a swinging door to the back of the shop, I turned to Vince and lowered my voice. “You should step outside, too. Turn the sign toClosedon your way out.”

The look he sent me proved he thought I’d gone insane. “Are you serious?”

“I’m afraid so.”

He shook his head. “Your funeral.”

“Wait!” Strawberry Shortcake said as soon as Vince took a step. Her eyes narrowed on him, and the gun-wiggling picked up again. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Vince will wait outside,” I said calmly. “He needs to make a few calls, since it looks like we won’t make it to our next meeting.”

She winced. “Oh. I guess that’s… Yeah, that’s okay. You can wait outside, but don’t go too far, okay? And no calling the police!”

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