Hot for Hostage

by Maggie Evans

Mr. Reed. I’m the one with the gun, so if I say you’re my hostage, then you’re my hostage. Got it?” Oh, I got it. “Of course. My apologies. I’m your hostage,” I said, no longer hiding my grin. And to think I’d thought today would be boring.

“You okay, bunny?” Davian’s eyes narrowed on my face, and a shiver rolled down my spine at his inspection. “You look a little pale. Maybe you should sit down.”

“We could take the Dog-Mobile instead, if you want to?” I suggested. “It’ll have more leg room.” Davian blinked back at me. “The… Dog-Mobile?” His face pinched, as if it pained him to even say the words.

Who knew Davian Reed would be attracted to short bakers in pink overalls, pointing a gun at him?

“I apologize for taking the gun back. But you’re safe here, and soon Bear will be safe, too.” And hopefully she’d forgive me for this, because I wasn’t ready to let her go just yet.

“I’m not leaving here without my dog!” she yelled at Fessy and his crew, brandishing the broom. “Where is he?” A determined scowl pinched her face—more endearing than intimidating—and I swear my goddamn soul floated out of my body.

“You told me Bear was a dog,” Davian muttered, eyes narrowing into slits as he got to his feet. “Not a hellhound.” “He’s just a big sweet puppy,” I cooed to the cuddly beast. Bear licked my face again in answer, and I didn’t even care about the slobber.

The mutt guarded Sadie like he owned her, and it pissed me off. I couldn’t even hold her fucking hand without him getting in the way.

“Butter pecan. In a cup,” I said. Sadie grimaced at my order, and my brows rose higher. “What?” She took her cone from Bruno while shaking her head. “It’s nothing. Thanks, Bruno.” “It’s not nothing. You have a problem with my order,” I said, caught between feeling amused and offended. She suddenly looked incredibly interested in her treat. “Well… it’s just that butter pecan is such an old-person ice cream flavor, you know?”

Davian only chuckled. “You sound about as threatening as a kitten.”

“Wait!” I cried through my laughter, grabbing a cupcake off the counter we passed. “I need to finish icing these.” Davian stopped midstep, then dutifully turned and carried me back to my station. He set me back on solid ground but didn’t go far. Instead of stepping away, he pressed his front against my back, and both his palms flattened against the counter to cage me. I swallowed and placed the cupcake down. This felt nice. Once I could breathe normally again, I patted Davian’s forearm. “Good boy.”

She snorted. “What are friends for if not to help each other break out of heavily guarded mafia fortresses?”

“Again?” I asked evenly, slowly rounding on Vince. “You lost her again?” He’d been off fetching ice cream for Sadie instead of watching her. Vince stared at the note like he couldn’t believe it was real before answering through a clenched jaw. “That girl is surprisingly duplicitous.” “You keep underestimating her,” I said, already dialing the guard at the front gate.

A soft whizzing sounded before another set of explosions filled the sky, making me and Vince both hug the wall. “Are we under attack?” I asked in disbelief. This day couldn’t get any stranger.

My blood ran south. I fought a smile and slid off my jacket before reaching for my belt. “Didn’t you make a promise not to feed the horny demon in public anymore?”