Page 117 of A Captive Situation

Oliver met me halfway, giving me a tight hug, which surprised me. He murmured into my ear, “I’ve not said anything, but Graham and I are a bit more in the know, and we know there are other factors here. We can talk about that later, but for right now, are you safe?” He stepped back, his face still leaning close. “Are we safe?”

My throat suddenly swelled.

Graham joined us and my eyes went sideways to him.

Oliver read my expression, his hands falling back from my arms. He stilled.

“Oliver?” Graham was watching his husband.

Oliver patted his arm, his gaze trained on me. “We need to go. Right?”

I nodded, slowly.

Graham heaved a deep sigh, his gaze trailing behind me. “It’s honestly like herding a bunch of stray feral cats who think they’re chickens. I swear I heard Clara clucking in the van. Then she was hissing at my mother. Hissing. At my mother. Who barked back. Bear and Pooh joined in. Is this normal for them?”

I cringed. “I’d like to say no, but ...”

He huffed. “Gracious. Thank you for coming here. I already love you. I’m looking forward to continuing this relationship, but take them home.Please.”

Oliver was softly laughing beside us, his shoulders shaking.

“Who are you?” Clara barked over the group, staring at Blake, who was still leaning by the car.

Everyone looked her way.

“This is ... uh—” In the distance, there was a screech. Some honking. I wasn’t paying it attention, instead concentrating on how to introduce Blake. “Um—” I had no idea.

Blake’s eyes widened. She stepped forward. Her hands were pressed together, in front of her. Her shoulders were hunched. “I met Sawyer through—”

My head went higher. “Yes. Right. Through Jake—”

“Through that undercover cop?” Clara supplied, her voice gravelly.

I frowned, but no one was reacting to those words. “Undercover what?”

“Yeah. Detective Worthing. Chelsea and her daughter told us all about him, said he was undercover and that’s why you never called the police to Graham’s with those bodies. Jess Montell filled us in.”

A choked sound came from Blake, who’d gone back to blinking rapidly.

I had no idea who Chelsea and Jess Montell were.

Blake moved to my side, her frown deepening. “Jess Montell? Engaged to Tristian West?”

“Oh yes! That hottie. He was there that night Detective Drool-Worthy took Sawyer because he needed her help identifying men for the case he’s working on.” My mother was beaming, so proud that she could contribute to the conversation though she’d never been there. She added, “Chelsea told us there’s a bun in the oven too. It’s still a secret.”

Bun? What bun?

In the oven?

They’d been baking this whole time?

My mind was too scattered to make sense of what she was saying.

She winked at me, but her smile faltered at seeing my face. “Oh, Sawyer. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—” She started for me again.

I wasn’t sure about the change of her thoughts, but Oliver cut in. “Yes. Not so we get off track, butyes. We were told lots of things at their new friend’s house. That we stayed in because the cops needed to go through our brownstone. Secretly. Because the whole operation was undercover.” He stared hard at me first, then at Blake.

My mom and my aunts were all beaming. Except Maude. She looked disgruntled.

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