I grabbed Asher’s arms and staredup at him, whispering, “You know what she’s been through, Ashey... with her dad. This will kill her.”
“She’s stronger than you think, Sis.”
I blinked back tears and shook my head. “You can’t leave her in there.”
“I have no choice.”
I angrily wiped my tears away from my cheeks. “Then I’m staying.”
“Blowfish, Addie.”
I scowled. “Suck it, Asher.”
“Blowfish” had been our secret code word sincehigh school. We used it when one of us was acting erratically. Right now, however, my best friend was in trouble, so my brother could stick his blowfish up his butt for all I cared.
“Addison,” Jake said, his tone placating, like he was trying to tame a feral cat.
“Don’t,” I demanded.
“I’m sorry?”
“Don’t speak to me as though I’m a crazy person poised to kill someone. Unless you’re preparedto release my friend, you can sit your sexy butt down—” I hissed in frustration as my brother’s face contorted in a horrified expression. Okay, maybe it was my face. Why did I call Jake’s butt sexy? What the hell was wrong with me? “If you really can’t get Dylan out, then I’ll stay with her.”
“You can’t stay here, Addison,” Jake said.
“What if I hit you?”
“What?”
“What if I hit you? Or kickyou? Or I don’t know, scratch your gorgeous blue eyes out.”
Damn it! Again? I’m losing my mind!
He chuckled. “Say again?”
“I’m prepared to assault you. I don’t want to do it, because I’m a lover, not a fighter, but I’ll do anything I need to get to Dylan.” I stepped closer to the gorgeous man. “Will you lock me up if I assault you?”
My brother’s arms wrapped around me like a vice and he physicallymoved me away from the detective. “Blowfish, blowfish, blowfish.”
“Is she serious?” Jake asked Asher.
“As a heart attack.”
“Let me go, Ashey.”
“You can’t assault Jake, Sis. I’m sorry.”
I pulled away from Asher, ignoring his edict, and faced Jake. “Which part of your body would you like me to hit?”
His eyebrows rose and he let out a surprised chuckle.
“I’ll stay away from your... ah...private area, but I need to know which part of your body will get me locked up.”
“I’m not gonna arrest you, Addison.”
“Then you’re useless.”
Jake dropped his head back and laughed.
