46. You Can Run, But You Can’t…
you can run, but you can’t…
. . .
Sadie
Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle Not Freaking Out Escaping, Tip #28: Choose your escape vehicle wisely. Bulky vans that max out at 42 mph and lack proper safety harnesses might not be the ideal choice for quick getaways.
Well, that could’ve gone better.
I set my phone on the van floor with shaking fingers and patted Bear’s chest, wishing I could erase that embarrassing phone call from my memory.
“What was that about a man locked in a shed?” Gladys asked from the front. She’d slowed down considerably while I’d taken Davian’s call—especially after a taco truck had cut her off.
I winced. “It’s a long story.”
“I want to know more about the meringue metaphor,” Ryan said. “What were you smoking when you came up with that?”
I rubbed my eyes with a sigh. “I don’t know. It made sense in my head.”
The following silence as we drove grew way too awkward before Gladys finally broke it. “You weren’t kidding about that bastard being sweet on you, were you?”
To my embarrassment, tears welled in my eyes, and I fought to blink them back. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“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?”
“He wasn’t begging,” I said, defensive of Davian. “And he’ll get over it.”
“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 blinked back at him, not following. “…What money?”
“He donated a small fortune! Mr. Sanders was over the moon about it, and he almost threw out his hip again. There was even a new security system included in the donation. Updated cameras and everything.”
“We’re one of those high-tech establishments now,” Gladys chimed in, though she lacked any of Ryan’s excitement. “But it’s all hogwash, in my opinion. A man like him wouldn’t donate without wanting something in return.”
“And you think he wants Sadie?” Ryan asked.
I was too busy reeling from the donation news to process what they were saying. None of this made any sense. “You’re saying Davian did all that? Davian Reed?”
Ryan shrugged. “The donation was anonymous, but you know how big of a mouth Brenda has. The whole place knew who the donor was before we fed the dogs breakfast. Mr. Sanders got a notice the rent went back to normal, too. I’m guessing Reed had something to do with that?”
When all I could do was gape, Bear butted his head against mine in concern. I petted him distractedly.
I’d mentioned the shelter’s rent problem to Davian once in passing, and he’d fixed it right away.
But why hadn’t he told me?
“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.”
“He’s not buying anyone, Gladys.” Ryan’s ever-calm persona returned as he faced the windshield again. “Maybe he just likes dogs.”
A fist wrapped around my heart and tugged, throwing me off balance and constricting my throat.
“He doesn’t like dogs,” I whispered, sinking my fingers into Bear’s fur. I had to clear my throat before I could speak again. “You said Davian donated the money yesterday?”
“Yep. Last night.”
“Right before you shacked up with him,” Gladys added with a grumble. “Convenient timing.”
I caught my lower lip between my teeth. “But we didn’t do anything more than kissing until today.”
It occurred to me I was probably oversharing, but that had to mean something.
“Then he must’ve been planning ahead to get in your pants,” Gladys said grimly. “Slick mafia scum.”
“But Dav didn’t even tell me he donated money! How could it be some master seduction plan if I didn’t know?” I groaned and dropped my head back. “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,” Ryan said. “And it’s Davian Reed. We thought he had evil intentions with the money.”
“It’s a donation .”
“Yeah, and he’s in the mafia ,” Gladys snapped, mimicking my tone. “Something you seem to keep forgetting. There’s no way he did that out of the goodness of his heart.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening.
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.
“I should call him,” I decided, reaching for my phone.
Gladys jerked the van sideways, sending my phone flying across the back and out of reach. “So help me, child, if you pick up that phone?—”
“Guys, be quiet!” Ryan waved a hand to silence us, but his attention was on the passenger-side mirror. “I think we’ve got a tail.”
I snapped my mouth shut, both Bear and I sitting up straighter. We hadn’t made it back to the city yet, and the road was mostly empty.
“Is it Reed?” Gladys asked as she pushed the Dog-Mobile faster. “He sure caught up fast.”
I swallowed and pulled Bear closer. Maybe Davian did have a tracking app on my phone, after all.
Without windows in the back of the van, I closed my eyes and clung to Bear. “What does the car look like?”
“It’s two dark SUVs.” Ryan’s voice grew grim. “They’re closing the gap.”
Davian’s men drove SUVs. Oh god, what if he was angry I hung up on him? Had I screwed everything up?
“I’m so sorry, you guys,” I cried. It was my fault they were at risk now, but I was pretty sure Davian wouldn’t hurt my friends. Well, as sure as I could be after finding that man in the shed. For all I knew, the compound had individual sheds ready for each of us. “I 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.”
“They’re boxing us in from both sides.” Ryan looked back and forth through the windows. “Should we surrender?”
“Over my dead body,” Gladys declared. “Hold on to your hats, kids. We’re not going down without a fight.”
She floored it, and I grabbed Bear and the side door as the van shot forward.
But the Dog-Mobile wasn’t built to outrun the mafia—or even go above forty miles per hour on a good day—and it made a terrible grinding before slowing in a series of short jerks as it fought to keep going.
I winced at one final choking gurgle before the engine sputtered to a stop, and we all sat in stunned silence as both SUVs shot past us.
“Blast it!” Gladys smacked the steering wheel. “You gosh-darned piece of?—”
I covered Bear’s ears again at her string of curses. “Gladys!”
“They’re coming back,” Ryan blurted, pointing out the windshield.
Gladys turned the key in the ignition, but the Dog-Mobile only gave a few sad coughs without starting up again.
I rose to my knees in time to see both SUVs circle back to us and park out of my sight. Doors slammed behind the Dog-Mobile.
“Sadie, they’re approaching the back of the van,” Ryan warned me. He moved Walter from the center console to the dashboard and beckoned me over. “Climb up here with us.”
It was too late for that. “I’m not leaving Bear, but it’s okay. I’ll explain everything to Davian. He won’t hurt us.”
I was glad my voice sounded more confident than I felt.
Bear lowered his head and growled toward the back of the van, and I gripped his collar. “It’s okay, boy.”
I hated lying to him.
Bear moved in front of me just as voices spoke on the other side of the doors. One of the handles jiggled.
I swallowed and braced myself to face the cold, calculating eyes of my ex-hostage.
But when the doors swung open and let in beams of sunlight, the guy leering down at me wasn’t Davian Reed.
Not even close.