5. Not Your Sweetheart
not your sweetheart
. . .
Sadie
Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking, Tip #4: Don’t let your hostage’s good looks distract you from your mission.
Well, I was in quite the pickle now.
The good news was I finally had Davian Reed’s attention. He was right where I wanted him—with me pointing a gun at his face.
The bad news was I couldn’t seem to remember Gladys going into the details of what to do after this part. Just ask him to promise to make the hooligans return Bear and leave Happy Tails Haven alone?
It couldn’t be that easy.
The even worse news was Davian was incredibly handsome, and I found it more than a little difficult to concentrate with his piercing gaze on me.
And now he probably thought I was a crazy psycho about to shoot him.
I chewed on my lip and weighed my options. We needed to go someplace private to talk this over, but my school housing was out of the question. It’d be stupid to take him there.
“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.”
I frowned at his name-calling. “I’m not a bunny.”
The corner of his lips only twitched in answer.
Great. Now my hostage was laughing at me.
I sighed before climbing onto the stool next to him, telling myself I was sitting down because I wanted to and not because he’d suggested it.
But this was just getting more and more complicated, and I wasn’t sure what to do next.
“I think I messed up,” I admitted, frowning at the checkered tile floor.
“How so?”
“I really needed you to listen to me, Mr. Reed,” I said, even though that part was pretty obvious. “So, when I saw the gun under your friend’s jacket, I acted without thinking. But now I’m in over my head. I’m basically a criminal.”
“Call me Davian,” he said, sounding surprisingly agreeable considering the situation. He was so calm, too. Had someone held him at gunpoint before? “And what’s your name, sweetheart?”
My brow furrowed at the endearment. Gladys had told me Davian Reed was a scary monster, but right now, he seemed like a gentleman. He spoke softly, and my father was the only one who’d ever called me sweetheart before. But this man had no right to call me that.
“I’m not your sweetheart. My name is Sadie. Sadie Morris,” I said, then wondered if it was a good idea to tell my hostage my name. But, really, the least I could do was keep things polite after making him fear for his life. “I’m really sorry about this, by the way. But I need your help.”
He ran a hand through his lush dark hair, and my fingers itched to see if it was as soft as it looked. Unfortunately, they were still on the gun’s trigger, so I carefully moved them to clutch the handle instead.
We didn’t need any accidents because I was distracted by my hostage’s hair.
Davian only thought it over for a moment before nodding. “Then I’m happy to help.”
I blinked back at him. “Really? Just like that? You don’t even know what I’m asking you to do yet.”
“You’re obviously desperate, or you wouldn’t be doing this. So, I’ll help. But would you mind putting the gun away, first? I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
I hesitated a beat before shaking my head. “I’m sorry, but my friends warned me about you, and I just can’t take any chances right now. It’s too important.”
He leaned against the counter, comfortable as could be. “Fair enough. Now, what can I help you with, Sadie?”
I took a deep breath and let it out. This was it.
“I’m told you’re a powerful man and you can get things done in this city,” I said, choosing my words carefully.
He nodded curtly. “You’ve been told correctly.”
Hope surged in my chest. Maybe this wasn’t a complete bust.
“Then maybe you really can help me. I’m truly sorry, again , but I’m not afraid to use force if it’s necessary. The stakes are too high.”
Davian’s expression darkened. “What happened?”
The concern in his voice broke the dam holding back my fears, and my face screwed up just thinking about poor Bear. I fought back tears and lowered the gun. “They stole Bear! Those stupid boys took him last night, and I’m really worried about him. He hurt his leg a couple weeks ago, and he needs medication every day, but those little thugs?—”
Davian held up a hand that silenced me, and he blinked twice. “Someone stole a bear ?”
I sniffled and brushed away a tear that’d escaped down my cheek. “Not a bear. Just Bear. He’s one of the dogs from Happy Tails Haven. You know, the dog shelter next to Al’s Snow Cone Palace.”
There was a long pause before Davian spoke.
“Let me get this straight,” he said slowly, eyeing me like he thought he’d misheard. “You want me to help you… find a missing dog?”
My lower lip wobbled, but I was just as angry at those little thugs as I was worried for Bear. “I want you to make those boys stop vandalizing our shelter! And to get Bear back. That was the last straw. Nobody touches our dogs. Well, not unless an adoption is approved. Or if you want to visit and play with the dogs. Or if you volunteer or work there. But outside those circumstances, nobody touches our dogs.”
I was growing heated at the nerve of those thugs, and Davian reached out—resting his hand on my knee in a move that made my heart flip-flop. The building tension in my limbs melted away, and I couldn’t lie—his touch sent butterflies into flight in my stomach.
“Tell me everything you know about these boys,” he said evenly.
I wiped my wet cheeks and sniffled again. “My coworkers said they’re dangerous and they won’t listen to anyone but the Reed family. They definitely don’t listen to me. I’ve tried talking to the police and showing them the security footage, but all Officer Murdock could offer was an increase in patrols—which did a whole lot of nothing. And now Bear’s been taken . He must be so scared. I always give him two salmon treats a day, and the boys don’t know that. Who knows what they’re feeding him?”
I’d never felt more defeated in my life. Bear counted on me, and I’d let him down.
Davian’s grip tightened on my knee, which did crazy things to my stomach. “You were right to come to me, Sadie.”
I frowned at him, trying to tamp down the hope that sparked. “I was?”
“Yes. I’ll help you.”
The wave of relief made me dizzy, and I almost dropped the gun. But I reminded myself not to trust him so quickly. If Gladys was right, then I’d need more than just Davian’s word.
I’d need his vow.
“Do you promise?” I asked shakily, clutching the gun tighter.
The answering tilt of his lips was far too handsome—which Gladys and Ryan conveniently hadn’t warned me about.
“I promise.” The gruffness in his voice sent an answering shiver down my spine. “You said the Happy House is next to Al’s, so it’s just a short drive away, right?”
“Happy Tails Haven,” I corrected absentmindedly, still amazed he’d agreed so easily. I hadn’t expected the gun approach to work this well. Maybe I’d use it more often. “And yes, it’s nearby.”
“How about I go take care of this right now, then?” Davian asked. “You can come with me to the shelter, so you know I’ve kept my word. I’ll look at the security footage, and if it’s who I think it is, then I know where to find them. We’ll see if your Bear is with them.”
I swiped a trembling hand under my nose. The urge to hug him in gratitude was almost too strong to resist. “I’d really like that.”
“Then it’s done.” He stood and straightened his suit jacket. “I’m parked around the back. Let’s go.”
That brought me up short. He wanted to drive? I caught my lip between my teeth, not so sure anymore.
Davian must’ve sensed my hesitation, because he cocked a brow. “Something wrong?”
I weighed my options before answering honestly. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I should get into a stranger’s car. Can we take mine instead?”
“You’re the one with the gun,” Davian said lightly, and I looked down at my hands in surprise. For a moment, I’d forgotten it was there. “You make the decisions.”
“Right,” I agreed, tightening my grip on the weapon. I hopped off the stool with a nod. “We’ll take my car, then. She’s parked out front.”