Page 101 of Hide and Seek

“We drove around for a long time. I think they were circling because they kept taking right turns. So many right turns compared to left ones, at least a three-to-one ratio.”

He nods but doesn’t say anything.

“We ended up at a house near the outskirts of town. They parked and dragged me inside and locked me in a closet. There was a keypad on the door, and it took a while, but I was able to crack it and unlock the door without anyone noticing. Then I waited for them to leave, and I snuck out as soon as I could.”

“What happened after you escaped the house?” he prompts when I fall silent.

“I walked to the nearest subdivision and started knocking on doors until someone believed me and called the cops.”

“Why did you tell the police you didn’t see or hear anything?”

“Because the guys who took me were cops.”

Jax doesn’t react, but the flare of anger in his eyes is unmistakable.

“They wanted the ransom money,” I continue. “They knew my parents were suddenly loaded, and they snatched me instead of my brother or sister because I was the easier target. They kept talking about their plans in the next room when I was trapped in the closet, how they were going to kill me to make sure they didn’t get caught. I don’t even know how many of them were involved or if the officer who took my statement and was leading the investigation was part of things, so I just said I didn’t see or hear anything and they didn’t hurt me.”

“Do you know who the cops are?” His words are casual, but I can hear an edge under them.

I shake my head. “They wore masks around me. I only figured out they were police because of what they said when I was in the closet. And I could hear them talking to other cops on a radio when we were in the van.”

“Too bad,” he says, his voice dark with anger.

“Would you do something to them if I knew who they were?” I ask, not sure what to do with my giddiness at the thought.

“Would you care if I did?”

“Not even for a second. Those fuckers deserve whatever’s coming to them. And I’m actually pissed I can’t tell you so they can pay for what they did to me.”

He huffs out a laugh and presses a kiss against my forehead. “Now that’s the man I always suspected was in there.”

“What do you mean?”

“I always knew you had a darker side, but you didn’t let yourself explore it until now.”

“You’re not wrong,” I say with a smile. “You bring it out in me.”

“Glad to be of service.” He pecks a quick kiss against my lips. “Ready?”

“For what?” I blink a few times at the abrupt topic change.

“We’re going to my room.” He gives me a little squeeze, then untangles himself from me.

“We are?” I ask as he sits up and stretches his arms above his head, making the muscles in his back bunch and pop in a way that’s way too enticing. “I know I’ve said this before, but Jesus Christ, you’re hot.”

He laughs and drops his arms, glancing over his shoulder at me with a smirk on his full lips.

“Do you live in the gym? Have you ever had a carb in your life?” I push myself up on my hands. “How do you just walk around lookingthathot all the time?”

“I’m a big fan of carbs, and I hate the gym.” He climbs off my bed, completely unbothered by his nudity, and starts gathering our clothes from the floor. “I only go when Killer needs someone to work out with.”

“Then how do you look like that?” I trace my gaze over the full swell of his ass as he bends over to scoop up his hoodie. “I know they say genetics plays a part in how people build and maintain muscle, but there’s no way all that is just good genes.”

“I climb and do calisthenics with Jace. And we have other hobbies that keep us active.” He tosses me my clothes.

“Climb? Like rock climb?”

He nods.