“Should I go answer the door?” I ask hopefully.
“No, you shouldn’t.” He shakes his head at me. “Don’t say a word,” he hisses. “I still have a gun, remember?”
“I think they know we’re here,” I point out.
“Ah fuck.” He runs his free hand through his hair. “Come here.” He grabs me again, wrapping his hand around my waist as he puts the cold tip of the gun against my brow.
And all wise ass responses dissolve from my tongue. I can feel how panicky he is. His hand is shaking, making the gun wobble against my skin.
“Darien, please…”
“Shut up. Just do exactly what I say.” He walks me toward the door that leads out of the storeroom into the shop. The front door handle rattles again, there are low voices coming from outside. Darien tightens his hold on me, and I can feel how scared he is.
Not that I would care. But scared men don’t make great captors. Especially when they have a gun to your head.
“Tell them I’m armed,” he whispers against my ear. “And I’m dangerous.”
“He has a gun,” I shout out.
“Sadie? Is that you? Are you okay?”
Zach’s panicked voice comes from beyond the door. And I’m so damn relieved to hear it.
“I’m fine.” Apart from being held captive by my gun-toting ex who seems like he’s on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
The whispering starts again. Followed by another shout.
“Darien, we have the place surrounded.” That sounds like Asher’s voice, but more deadly. “Let Sadie go and we can discuss what you want from us.”
Darien lets out a humorless laugh. “I’m not an idiot,” he shouts out. “She’s going nowhere until I get what I want.”
I swallow. Hard.
“If you hurt her you’ll regret it.” That’s Zach again. A rush of warmth pools deep in me. More hushed voices follow. I can feel Darien standing stiff behind me.
“Tell us what you need, and we’ll organize it,” Asher replies. “As long as you promise to let her go.”
Darien shifts his feet. I stand stock still, determined not to make any sudden moves.
“I want a boat,” he shouts out. “The gas tank full. Keys in the engine, the engine running.”
“Okay,” Asher replies. “Give me ten minutes and we’ll get it for you.”
“Hmm,” Darien says, like this is too easy. “And I want some caviar.”
I whip my head around. “What? You don’t even like caviar.”
“They said I could have what I want.” He shrugs. “And that shit’s expensive, you know?”
The man really is an idiot.
“We just need to know Sadie’s okay first,” Asher calls out. “Will you let us see her?”
“No,” Darien says. “I’m not a fucking imbecile.”
“I’m fine,” I call out. “Although no caviar for me. I ate earlier.”
There’s a beat of silence, then Zach lets out a laugh that sounds more like a snarl. “Let her go, Darien.”
