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“You don’t have to make a special trip if Shane will already be there—” “Not up for debate, sweetheart,”
“Okay, it’s a deal.” I held up a single finger. “I’ll play your hostage—excuse me, guest—on one condition.” Davian’s eyes lit with amusement. “This isn’t a negotiation.”
For such a sweet girl, Sadie’s underwear drawer was… intriguing. It was the right decision not to let Shane paw around in it.
We both stared at her. She thought I was kind? This girl was single-handedly wrecking the reputation I’d spent years building.
I reached the kitchen door before Vince’s startled yelp made me pause. “Don’t lick me!”
Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle,
Except… it wasn’t the mic drop moment I’d been hoping for. Instead, Antonio’s lips twitched like he was trying not to laugh again, seemingly unimpressed with my budding rap sheet.
If this was how Davian normally treated his prisoner-slash-guests, then I might never leave.
What kind of cookie tasted like feet? I almost spat it out by reflex, but I didn’t want to hurt Sadie’s feelings after she’d spent hours baking in here. She was already staring at me in horror as I chewed and fought to muster a smile. “It’s… good,” I forced out,
“You just lied to spare my feelings. That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me,” she managed to get out, beaming at me. A crazed giggle spilled out as she wiped the tears. “And now you think I’m a terrible baker!”
That didn’t make any sense. I couldn’t fathom why anyone would bother to bake something for dogs. They’d eat trash at the bottom of a dumpster if they could reach it.
I cut a look at Antonio, but he only nodded gravely and cast a wary glance between me and Sadie. Then the craziest thing happened. My chef—the man who had been loyal to me for years, who’d moved here from Bologna for me, and who had known this girl for less than a day—took a small protective step toward Sadie’s side of the counter. As if he were prepared to step in if I attacked her.
I was getting really tired of people assuming I would hurt Sadie.
“Yes it is. You made it look so good, then it tasted like shit.” Sadie sucked in a breath, brows pinching in a frown. “It’s cheese and chickpeas, and you said you liked it!”
It’s natural to feel fear when your hostage is hunting you. Arousal is less common, but we don’t kink shame in this guide.
A promising life cut short when she suffered a spontaneous heart attack after accidentally feeding a dog treat to Westport’s resident mafia prince. No throat slitting required.
“Forget what I said earlier. You’re welcome in my kitchen any time, dolcezza.”
“Do I want to know what that was about?” He rubbed my hips. “Or why my chef is calling you pet names?” “Just kitchen talk.”
“It’s a good thing. I got to use both mixers at the same time. Do you have any idea how big of a turn-on that is?” Davian’s hands stilled on my hips. “You’re telling me you were in here getting turned on with my chef?” … Oops.
Like I said—be it from a heart attack or spontaneously combusting from the hunger in his gaze, I was going to die today.
“Almost?” she asked sharply. “You mean you didn’t sleep with him?”
“Not exactly. We got interrupted.” Thinking about the patio and kitchen had my cheeks heating, and I loosened my grip on Bear. “But we did… other stuff.”
“What have I become?” I whispered. Shacking up with a criminal. Doing unsanitary things in a baking environment. This wasn’t like me. “I’m not even wearing any underwear!”
“No underwear? What could you possibly have been doing back there that you lost your knickers?” “I’d rather not hear the answer to that,” Ryan muttered, rubbing his throat.
I huffed. “It might be hard to believe, but there are men on this planet who find me attractive—” “I’m not questioning your attractiveness, you silly girl.
Gladys sighed. “You say that now, but I swear, child. You better not have magical lady bits that make him come after you.”
“We can’t afford to take any chances.” Gladys tightened her grip on the wheel. “In fact, we shouldn’t even stay in the States. Ryan, pull up directions to Mexico.” He frowned. “Isn’t Canada closer?”
“What?” I squeaked. “He’s not tracking me. Why would you say something like that?” “Because he held you captive at his house,” she said, as if it should’ve been obvious. “He probably put a tracking app on your phone.”
I was going to strangle my father for lying to her. “Good thing I’m not fucking engaged, then.”
My former best friend conveniently avoided my glare, and my fingers flexed against the countertop. Turned out, I was going to kill my father and my right-hand man all in one day.
I mean, how do we know we didn’t just get whisked away by the unexpected passion of a hostage situation?”
For all we know, our feelings are the result of Stockholm and reverse Stockholm syndrome.” I closed my eyes. This girl would be the death of me.
“It’s so sweet of you to care, but I’ll be fine,” she said softly, before her voice strengthened. “Despite what Vince thinks, I can protect myself.”
“By the way, you didn’t happen to put a tracking app on my phone, did you?” “No, but I should’ve.” “Davian!”
Except I paused in the doorway, because my shoes weren’t here. Instead, a brown stick covered in chew marks sat in their place.
Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping,
“I want to know more about the meringue metaphor,” Ryan said. “What were you smoking when you came up with that?”
“You weren’t kidding about that bastard being sweet on you, were you?”
“But I thought you said Reed would forget all about you.” Ryan turned in his seat to frown at me. “If that’s true, why was he just begging you to come back?”
“Wait a second.” Ryan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Is that why Reed gave all that money to the shelter yesterday—because he wants to sleep with you?”
I’d mentioned the shelter’s rent problem to Davian once in passing, and he’d fixed it right away.
“Don’t go getting all weepy, child,” Gladys warned me as she passed another car. “You’re no corner girl. He can’t buy you, and I’m offended he’d even try.”
“You said Davian donated the money yesterday?” “Yep. Last night.” “Right before you shacked up with him,”
“You couldn’t have mentioned the donation before I gave Davian a lecture on meringue and reverse Stockholm syndrome?” “To be fair, no one saw that lecture coming,”
Had I really just rambled on about egg whites after all Davian had done was help me? Who cared if we weren’t meringue. Egg whites were just as good in other forms. We could be an omelette. Or a nice soufflé.
never should’ve pulled you into my mess.” “Shut your mouth, Sadie Marie,” Gladys snapped. She swerved to the right. “This is what friends are for.”
“Should we surrender?” “Over my dead body,” Gladys declared. “Hold on to your hats, kids. We’re not going down without a fight.”
When we locked eyes and an arrogant smirk spread across the stranger’s face, my first instinct was to throw up.
“Distasteful? I said I’d bone you. That’s a compliment.” It was my turn to stare. “Regardless,” I said, ignoring his comment.
Unable to help myself, I offered a little advice. “I’m sorry, and I promise I’m not criticizing your technique, but it really would be easier if you sweep everything in one direction into a pile.