Playing with Fire by Mia Dymond Page B

bolt cutters.”
    “I don’t think that’ll work.” He examined the
handcuffs while pink fluff tickled his nose. “We need a key.”
    Dylan groaned when the phone rang. “You’ll
have to answer.”
    He couldn’t stop the satanic smile that
separated his lips as he palmed the phone. “Carmichael’s
Cathouse.”
    “Shane?”
    “Hey, Maddie.”
    “Is Dylan home?”
    “Sure, but he can’t come to the phone right
now.”
    “I left with the key in my pocket,” she
whispered. “Can you come to the hospital and get it?”
    “Jake will be right there.”
    “Jake?!” Dylan and Maddie said in unison.
    “Someone has to guard the prisoner,” Shane
said nonchalantly. “And Maddie, do you really wear those
shoes?”
    “Goodbye, Shane.”
    He smiled in satisfaction as he disconnected
from Maddie and dialed Jake. When he hung up, he turned the phone
around and aimed it at Dylan.
    “Hartwell, what the hell are you doing?”
    The phone clicked several times.
“Insurance.”
    Dylan released a heavy breath. “You know
paybacks are a bitch.”
    “I don’t think I’d issue threats from your
position,” Shane warned.
    Dylan growled for at least the third time
when the distant wail of sirens echoed off the stillness of the
summer afternoon. “Damn it, Shane! We do have neighbors.”
    “Anyone you want me to call?”
    Jake strolled into the bedroom. “Somebody
call for a key?”
    “Sirens, Jake?” Dylan mumbled.
    Jake shrugged. “Shane said it was an
emergency.”
    “Dylan and Maddie were playing during the
lunch hour,” Shane explained.
    Jake shook his head and bent to unlock the
cuffs. “Do you want a head start before I unlock these?” he asked
Shane over his shoulder.
    “Nah. I saved a picture on my cell
phone.”
    The handcuffs clicked as Jake inserted the
key, freeing Dylan from his passionate prison.
    “Here.” He chuckled and handed the key to
Dylan. “Have a spare made.”
    “Any chance you guys will forget this ever
happened?” Dylan asked weakly.
    “No,” Shane and Jake answered in unison.
    Dylan pulled his pants over his hips. “Didn’t
think so.”
    “Now that you’re sprung,” Shane said, “I’m
going home for the afternoon.”
    Jake gave him a mocking smile. “Do you want
me to stand by?”
    “No. My plans don’t include bondage.”
    “Suit yourself. I’ll see you two later.”
    As soon as the front door closed, Dylan
sighed. “I could really use a cigarette right about now,” he
mumbled.
    “Relax.” Shane handed him a Fireball. “We’ll
go easy on you.”
    Dylan snatched the candy and gave a skeptical
squint as he clipped his pager back to his belt. “You meeting
Liberty this afternoon?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Don’t forget about dinner tonight.”
    His face split into a wide grin as they left
the house. “Wouldn’t miss it.” He climbed into his truck and
lowered the window. “You don’t forget to have that key made.” He
snickered at Dylan’s scowl as he backed down the driveway.
     
    ***
     
    Jake shook his head at his two best friends
and chuckled as he left the scene. Never a dull moment around
either of them. At least someone still had a sense of humor.
    His phone rang as he turned the corner.
“Rawlings.”
    “Can’t you answer the phone like a normal
person? Hello is polite.”
    He bit his tongue to keep from laughing. “Hi,
Mable. How are you feeling?”
    “Like I have a broken hip. Bri needs
you.”
    His forehead wrinkled. “I gave her my card.
Why didn’t she call me?”
    “I don’t have time to soothe your ego, boy.
The electricity is out at the house. I need you to run by and check
on her.”
    “Sure. Do you need anything else?”
    “No. Maddie’s a doll and I feel like a queen.
Just take care of my niece, I mean, my house.”
    “I’m headed there—” He pulled the phone away
from his ear and frowned. Call ended ? Obviously, she was
finished.
    He tossed the phone to the passenger seat and
made the short drive to Mable’s two-story