He turned me around, giving me a light smack on the butt. “That means I need you to go pack, baby.”
I took a couple of steps, already on my way to comply with his order, when a shred of sanity returned. It wasalmost as though I was regaining my wits as I increased the distance between us.
Wow. Okay. Nope.
We’re not just glossing over this.
“Um, wait. What?” I asked carefully because it felt important to have clarity when the man in your living room was the subject of an active manhunt.
Sasha chuckled. “What did you think I was here for? You’re coming with me.”
I turned, propped my hand on my hip and stared at him with raised brows. “I’m what now?”
“Coming with me. We’re kind of running out of time, and I mean, I really don’t wanna rush you or anything buuuut we do need to leave.” He shrugged, like this was completely out of his hands.
I gaped at him.
Great. A nationally wanted fugitive has decided I’m part of his exit strategy.
Am I being kidnapped? Wait, would this even qualify as a kidnapping? I’ve never looked up the specific terms and limitations. Where’s Google when you really need it?
“Five minutes,” he added, tapping on his wrist like he was wearing a watch.
I didn’t move.
“I’m not going anywhere.” The words came out sharper than I expected. “You don’t just get to — show up,shoot someone, and decide I’m coming with you like I’m — what? A carry-on item?”
Something in his posture shifted, subtle but no less dangerous.
He stepped closer. “Addy.”
“No,” I said, backing up a step. “No, you don’t get to ‘Addy’ me right now. You’re—” I gestured wildly. “You’re a wanted criminal. You just shot a man in my living room. I don’t even know if he’s going to—”
“He’s not dying,” Sasha cut in, his voice firm. “I didn’t hit anything vital.”
“That is not reassuring!”
My heart was racing and panic was clawing its way up my throat.
“This is insane. This is actually insane. I should be calling the police. I should be—”
“You won’t,” he said quietly.
The certainty in his voice made something in my chest stutter.
“I might,” I shot back, but it sounded weaker now.
He closed the distance between us completely. “If I wanted you hurt, you’d already be hurt.”
My breath hitched.
“I want you with me.”
I dragged a hand through my hair, pacing once before stopping again, staring at him like he might suddenly make sense.
“You planned this,” I said slowly.
“Yes.”