Page 52 of Breaking the Rules of Love

He closes my door and goes around to the driver’s side and gets in. Still smiling, he starts the truck and backs out into the street. “So where are we going?”

“The…grocery store,” I say slowly. Jake nods and takes a left in the direction of the grocery store.

“No protection job for you this morning?” I ask. Jake shakes his head.

“Nah. Nice few days off for me, actually.”

We reach the end of the street, but instead of taking a right toward the store, Jake turns left. My heart rate quickens instantly.

Okay, so Jake’s new here. He could just not know where he’s going. I’ll just remind him.

“Um, Jake,” I say. “The grocery store isthatway.”

I point behind us, but when I look over at him, I can tell by his expression that he already knew that. The direction we are headed isnota mistake. “But you already know that…”

“I do.” He nods.

“And we’re not going to the grocery store,” I say.

“We’re not,” he replies, shaking his head.

My heart rate goes up even further.

Okay, so one of two things is happening right now. Either Jake is taking me on a surprise romantic…breakfast. In which case, I have to break it to him that I’ve already eaten or just pretend I haven’t and go ahead and eat whatever it is they serve at wherever he’s taking me.

Or two, I’m being kidnapped.

“Jake,” I say slowly, “are you…kidnapping me?”

Jake doesn’t answer right away. He thinks for a second, but that’s all the answer I need.

Quickly, I take my phone from my purse and start to dial 9-1-1, but before I can press send, Jake snatches it away from me and stuffs it in his pocket.

“No, no,” he says. “We don’t need any of that, Sadie. Just relax.”

37

Sadie

Okay,don’t panic. Remain calm. Jake is just messing with you. He definitely isn’t Joe from that show You on Netflix. You’re definitely not being taken to his secret cage where you’re going to spend the rest of your life until he kills you.

But the more I tell myself to relax, the less relaxed I feel and the more my heart rate continues to skyrocket.

“Relax?” I repeat. “Justrelax?”

I’m on the verge of screaming now. This can’t seriously be happening. Am I seriously being kidnapped by Jake?

Maybe I’m dreaming.

I reach down and pinch myself on the thigh to try and wake myself up. But all that happens is a pain shoots through my leg. I’m still sitting in Jake’s truck as he drives a route taking us out of town.

“You’rekidnapping me, Jake!” I nearly shout. “How the hell am I supposed to relax?”

“Come on, Sadie,” Jake chuckles. “It’s notreallykidnapping you. You know me.”

“So then why didn’t you just ask me to come with you?” I reply indignantly.

“Because you wouldn’t have come with me if I’d just asked you.” Jake shrugs. “You’d give me some speech about how going anywhere with me would be breakingyour rule.”

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