My brows rose. What would she do if I said yes? “You’re the one with the gun, Sadie. You’re in charge here,” I reminded her. “We’re just going to my place first.” “Right,” she muttered under her breath. Her hands clutched the seat belt tight enough that her knuckles turned white. “But I don’t remember agreeing to go to your place. Shouldn’ t that be a decision for me—the hostage-taker—to make?” “I need to get supplies and a couple men for backup if we want Bear back without any problems. I’ll need to switch out cars, too.” And she’d be safe out here, miles from whatever was about to go down with the Skulls. Those kids would listen to me, but nobody was ever happy to have unexpected visitors on their turf. I didn’t want Sadie anywhere near the action. The way her older friend had looked at me rubbed me the wrong way. Not the terrified part—I always preferred that. But she acted like she’d do anything to tear sweet Sadie away from me, and that just wouldn’ t do. The little bunny had grown on me. Who knew Davian Reed would be attracted to short bakers in pink overalls, pointing a gun at him? And today had been the most fun I’d had in ages. I couldn’ t wait to see where it went next. Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Sadie happily resumed her baking lesson, and it wasn’t long before we reached the deserted road outside my compound. Twelve-foot walls surrounded the land, and a monster of a concrete building sat a few acres in. Sadie leaned closer to the windshield. “This is where you live ?” “And work.” She gaped at it. “Why is it outside the city? Don’t you want to be closer?” “I like my own space.” “Lots of it, apparently,” she mumbled as I pulled up to the gate. The guard saw me and opened it from the security box with a nod. Sadie’s voice grew awed. “It looks like a castle.” My lips twitched, and I tried to look at the main building with a fresh eye as we made our way up the long drive. I’d never thought of it as a castle. It was too dark, and the blu eprints were similar to those of military security buildings.
Inside the wall, plenty of forest and land buffered the compound in case of a breach. The main building dominated the rest at four stories high. It’d cost enough to have it built, but the security was worth every cent. Before we left the shelter, I’d texted my plan to Vince and was happy to see he’d pulled an SUV around to the front of the building. Two men were packing supplies into the back. I’d also sent a quick text to Antonio, asking him to get a few food options ready . It was way past lunch, and Sadie must be hungry . “Whose cars are these?” she asked as I parked in the oversized garage. It had enough room for fifteen vehicles, and there weren’ t many free spots. “A mix of mine and the guys’.” “The guys?” “My... employees,” I said before exiting the car . Sadie’s legs looked a little wobbly as she got out. “Do they live here too?” “Some make a habit of crashing here. The staf f takes up one wing, too.” “Staff,” she echoed softly. She was still gaping at everything, and it was only the garage. “Gladys wasn’t kidding when she told me your family runs this city , was she?” The cautious way she asked it made me pause. The last thing I wanted her thinking about was Gladys’ s opinion of me. “We should get inside. There’s no time to waste.” I headed for the door, then held it open for her . She only hesitated a moment before walking past me. Her awe radiated off her as we passed the kitchen, lounge, and a few other rooms. When we reached the open foyer, Vince was leaning next to the front door with his arms crossed. He was sulking—clearly not pleased to see Sadie with me. “I thought I saw you driving that piece of junk.” He kicked off the wall. “We could’ve picked you up on the way .” Sadie gasped. “Daisy is not junk .” “There was a slight change of plans,” I answered Vince, but k ept my gaze on Sadie. I needed her here, and preferably never driving that car ever again. Which meant it was time to lay all our cards on the table, and she wouldn’ t be happy about what I said next. “I need to run upstairs and change, then I’ll go get Bear and make sure those kids never mess with the shelter again. We passed the kitchen on the way here, if you want to wait there. My chef put together a few things for you.”
Her brows scrunched together . “We didn’t get to finish our discussion earlier, but I’m coming with you.” “No. You’re not.” Vince snorted, and Sadie’s eyes narrowed into slits. She still looked confused, but there was anger brewing, too. “But we made a deal.” “The deal is to get Bear back,” I reminded her, “and I fully intend to hold up my end. But you’re staying here.” “You can’t tell me what to do. I’m the one with the gun!” She reached into her overalls , but I’d already nicked it when she walked past me into the house. When she didn’t find the gun, her brow furrowed. She patted down her body before coming up empty, and she looked lost. “I don’t understand. Where’d my gun go?” My jaw tightened. I didn’t like deceiving her, even if it was better to ke ep her safe here. Taking me hostage had been cute and all, but not everyone would find it endearing like I did. I wasn’t about to risk her during something as simple as a dog retrieval. “I’m sorry, Sadie. As much as I enjoyed playing this game with you, we don’t have time for it anymore,” I said. “Stay here, and I’ll be back soon with Bear . Vince will stay with you.” And my friend didn’ t look too happy about that. “Are you kidding me?” Sadie threw her hands up. “You’re my hostage. You can’ t just take over —” “Look around you.” I pointed around the foyer. She snapped her mouth shut and followed where I pointed, finally noticing a guard standing at the top of the stairs. “You’re at my compound, which is surrounded by twelve- foot walls. There are armed guards watching the gate. Your gun is gone. You don’ t get to make the decisions anymore.” Her lips parted, and the betrayal in her gaze cut straight through my chest. “Y ou tricked me.” I let the mask I’d perfected years ago slip into place. Even if I wanted to treat her with kid gloves, my men would never let me live it down. So, I showed her what everyone else saw . Cold indif ference. “It’ s what I do.” Her big grey eyes widened, and she looked ready to freak out, so I st epped closer and lowered my voice. “I promised I’d get Bear back for you, and I will—but I have to run things my way now . Okay, sweetheart?” Sadie’s eyes narrowed into a glare so furious it raised the hair on the back of my neck.
“I am not your sweetheart,” she spat with no small amount of hostility . I fought back a smile. She was a fierce little thing. “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.
S a d i e Sadie’ s Guide to Hostage-T aking Being T aken Hostage, T ip #6: Bewar e your hostage turning the tables and taking you hostage. It happens mor e often than you’d think. Davian went upstairs to change clothes, and I wanted to scream. My impromptu hostage plan had just blown up in my face, but I could only blame myself for the turn this had taken. I was stupid. So stupid. Even though I’d basically forced Davian to help me—at gunpoin t, no less—I’d begun to think of us as a team. Partners. It was the two of us against those annoying little teenage thugs. Clearly, I’d been wrong. He came down the stairs in dark jeans, a black shirt, and a leather jacket, and my heart flipped over in my chest. He was every bit the dark warrior ready to exact vengeance for me. It honestly wasn’t fair he looked so attractive when I was angry with him. “I’ll be back with Bear before you know it,” Davian told me as he took a gun Vince held out. It was larger than the one I’d borrowed earlier, but Davian handled it with just as much expertise as he loaded and inspected it. He motioned to a couple guys outside the open door before facing me. His dark eyes glinted with amusement. “Y ou be good while I’m gone, Sadie.”