Page 4 of As Thick As Thieves

“We’ve got soup, so hopefully it won’t be too harsh on your stomach. We need to get back in the van, we’re heading to the Heights. We have a place set up there that no one knows about.”

“What about your girlfriend?” I teased, his eyes narrowing as his friend laughed.

“She’s not my fucking girlfriend, you cheeky shit. I’ll let you get away with it because I have a feeling that’s the first you’ve smiled in a long time. Get in the van.”

“This is the second time I’ve been kidnapped,” I sighed, crossing my arms. “I think I deserve some ice cream.”

“I have some at home,” his friend replied. “I’m Ander.”

“You can’t win me over with sugar,” I warned, and Zavier scoffed.

“Don’t listen to her. Cruz and Drake figured out the way to her heart is with food.”

“And good dick,” I pointed out, a cocky grin tugging at Ander’s mouth.

“I’m your man then, babe.”

“Pass. You’re not my type,” I said and wrinkled my nose, holding out my hand to Zavier. “Can I use your phone?”

“Nope. Pretend you’re kidnapped for one more night. I’m not dealing with those dickbags kicking my door down tonight. I’ll deliver you to the compound tomorrow,” he answered, gently nudging me towards the van. “Please be a good little princess for me, I’m tired.”

“I thought you liked your girls wild?” I deadpanned. “And why would you take me to the guys?”

He frowned. “You don’t want to?”

“Are they looking for me?” I asked flatly, and I didn’t miss the way he cringed. “Exactly. I don’t want to see them, Zavier.”

“Your call. Do I tell them you’re okay?” he asked as he helped me back into the van.

“No. It’s not like they’re worried anyway,” I snorted, getting comfortable as I sat in the corner. “The Night Thieves can go and fuck themselves.”

Zavier could tell I was done talking, so he handed me a protein bar and offered one to Raylene who flinched back from him. “We’ll get you out of here, okay? No one’s going to hurt you. Tomorrow, we’ll help you get home to your family, they’re worried about you.”

“You’ve spoken to my family?” she choked out, and Zavier gave her a warm smile.

“They’ve been looking for you ever since you were kidnapped. We’ve been in touch so they knew we’d found you and were working on getting you out.”

“Thank you,” she sobbed as she threw herself at him, and I loved how he didn’t even hesitate to comfort her. He was a good man.

“C’mon, we need to get moving. One can eat while the other showers, then you can have an early night. Bedroom doors lock too so you can sleep without fear tonight,” he promised, pressing the protein bar into her hand, and this time she took it. “You can call your family before bed too if you wish.”

Raylene kept blubbering her appreciation, and she cried tears of relief the entire ride to the house. At least one of us had a loving family to go home to.

* * *

“Hey, save room for soup,” Zavier scolded as I shoveled a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth.

“Leave her alone. Ice cream is dairy, she needs calcium for her weak bones,” Ander offered with a grin as he slid a bag over his shoulder and grabbed his keys. “Don’t wait up for me, it’s a late one.”

“She needs nutrition,” Zavier argued, bringing a bowl over to the table and placing it in front of me, snatching the small tub of ice cream from my hands despite my protests. “Soup first.”

“It’s just ice cream, not acid,” Ander scoffed as he headed towards the door.

“Call me if you need me,” Zavier answered dryly, scowling at me as I tried to take the ice cream back. “Hey, do as you’re told.”

I flipped him off and Ander laughed as he left, but I happily dug into the soup, groaning as I swallowed the hot broth. “This is really good. Did you make it?”

“Yeah. I like soup and it's a cheap way to make a bunch of meals to freeze when I need to,” he replied, dropping into the seat beside me. Raylene was showering and going to bed since she’d already eaten, but I was more than happy to hang out with Zavier.

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