Page 50 of Sinner's Ransom: Taken
Montgomery stole a deep breath and steeled himself for the order. He didn’t have to wait long before he saw them. Stone and George strode out from behind some trees, their strides strong and purposeful. They were dressed in dark clothes, but they didn’t look out of place. Stone’s T-shirt sleeves strained around his wide arms and fitted tightly against his chest. His knee-length cargo shorts left his legs bare. The sight of Stone in casual clothes made Montgomery’s mouth water, even in a stressful situation like this. Nothing could distract him from Stone’s handsomeness.
Stone stopped near the edge of the pathway and his gaze narrowed in Montgomery’s direction. He curled his lips in a half smile when he saw him, and Montgomery returned it. Stone crooked a finger, gesturing for him to come toward him, and he didn’t hesitate. His act was lost as he practically ran toward Stone like an obedient dog who’d been given an order.
“How did I do?” Montgomery asked when he reached them, throwing himself and the briefcase into Stone’s arms.
Stone caught him and their lips pressed together urgently, part victory and part lustful kiss.
“You did good, kid, but let’s not stick around. We need to move.” George cleared his throat and jerked his head to the side.
Montgomery nodded. He snuggled close to Stone, the briefcase securely in his arms, and they turned to head back the way Stone and George came from. They didn’t get far, though. Kaden stood in front of them, a gun gripped tightly in his hands.
The group of people around them gasped as they began to realize there was a gun in the area and scampered out of the firing range.
Montgomery’s heart stopped, his gut swooping in dread as he stared at the gun gripped tightly in those hands he once loved on his body. It felt like a million years ago now, though. He didn’t want anyone to touch him but Stone. He longed for Stone’s touch every minute.
“What the hell is this?” Kaden’s cap had been pushed up, and his sunglasses were missing. He panted, as though he’d run to catch up to them, and his chest heaved with every breath he took. Anger flashed across his face, betrayal in his eyes as he stared at Montgomery hard. He raised his gun and pointed it straight at Stone’s chest, but his next words were directed at Montgomery. “Were you part of this?”
“No.” Montgomery swallowed and glanced at Stone. He shoved himself in front of Stone so the gun was pointed at his own chest instead. Raising one palm toward Kaden while the other grasped the briefcase, he stared at the detective pleadingly. “Please put down the gun, Kaden.”
Kaden’s eyes widened, the gun lowering for a short second before he raised it again. “Did you say please?”
Montgomery didn’t know how much he wanted to tell him. Maybe the whole story? Kaden was a good guy, far too fucking good for the likes of Montgomery. “Please.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Were you with them from the beginning?” He nudged the barrel of the gun in George’s direction. The older man hovered beside Stone, his face fierce and his moustache twitching. He looked as though he was ready to attack Kaden, but Montgomery knew that wouldn’t end well. He had no doubt that Kaden had backup hanging around somewhere.
“No. Not from the beginning.” Montgomery took a step forward and waved off Stone when he went to grab his arm. “They genuinely kidnapped me.”
“What happened?” Kaden swallowed, the apple in his throat bobbing. His jaw tightened, the corded muscles of his arm contracting as he continually tightened and released his hold on the gun.
Montgomery knew he needed to be careful. There was only so much Kaden would understand, and talking about his fascination with Stone’s hands wrapped around his throat as he suffocated him while they had sex wasn’t one of them. “They told me the truth about Richard. He’s not a good man. The things he’s done.”
“And you believe him? Don’t be stupid, Montgomery.”
Stone’s palms settled on his shoulders, squeezing them, and Montgomery used it as strength. He could do this.
“My father killed people and put men in prison for something they didn’t do. Innocent people.”
Kaden shook his head. “You can’t believe that.”
“I do. You know what Richard’s like.” Montgomery inhaled and crossed his arms. He took a step forward and held his breath. He expected Kaden to warn him away, but when he didn’t, Montgomery continued, “If you want to shoot Stone, you’ll have to hit me first. I won’t let you hurt him.”
Kaden glanced at Stone over Montgomery’s shoulder. A knowing look passed over his face and his dark blond eyebrows furrowed. “You’re fucking your kidnapper?”
It wasn’t like he could deny it. He shrugged. “He’s a good fuck.”
Kaden’s fingers stretched over the handle of the gun. “There’s something seriously wrong with you.”
“Hey.” Stone held up his hands and shifted to stand beside Montgomery. The heat of his body next to Montgomery’s gave him some comfort. “We’re small fish compared to Booker, and we have proof.”
“Where is it?” Kaden’s stare switched between Montgomery and Stone, but the grip on his gun loosened.
Stone held his hand out to George without taking his eyes off Kaden. Montgomery hadn’t even noticed the file George carried, too focused on the relief of seeing Stone. Never let it be said that he paid attention to his surroundings.
Kaden snatched the file out of Stone’s hand when he held it out to him. He narrowed his eyes on them and then opened the folder awkwardly with one hand. As each second passed, the frown creases in his forehead grew, his eyes scanning over the words.
Montgomery leaned closer to Stone. “What’s in that?”
“The proof of everything I told you,” Stone whispered.
