Chapter Eleven
Isaac got ahold of Joshua, and thankfully Joshua was still at the Jewel Resort on the main island of Puerto Rico. His brother’s plane was waiting for them at the tiny Vieques airport within the hour. They boarded Joshua’s luxurious jet, and Isaac hoped Cosette would relax now that they were moving the right direction, but it was obvious that she couldn’t calm down. Somehow, that loser Lansky had turned this around on them and captured Blaine. That was bad enough, but more concerning was the fact that Lansky hadn’t asked for any ransom or negotiation. He’d simply demanded that Cosette meet him tomorrow night at ten on the San Francisco Piers.
It was after ten when they departed Vieques. Isaac and Cosette were in full-on recliners, but she clutched his hand so desperately that he didn’t know that she’d relax enough in the next eight hours to get any sleep. They both needed sleep.
He excused himself to look through Joshua’s bathroom cupboards. Luckily, there was a bottle of ZzzQuil natural sleep aids. He brought the box back to Cosette. She peered up at him with red eyes in the darkened interior of the plane. His heart swelled within him. This woman loved him. He’d do anything to protect her.
Sitting down next to her, he lied, “Cozy, I really need to sleep so I’ll be as sharp as possible when we meet with Lansky tomorrow night. Will you please take these with me?”
She squinted at the box. “It’s all natural?”
“That’s what it says.” He tried to smile reassuringly. He would be fine without sleep. He’d done it many times in his career and still performed with exactness. She was the one he was worried about. He opened the package and took four gummies out, placing two in her palm. “You go first.”
She shook her head. “Together.”
“Okay.” Isaac put the gummies in his mouth and chewed, relieved when she did the same. She weighed half what he or Joshua did, and if Joshua had these things in his plane and they were effective for his large frame, they should knock Cosette out completely.
They each took a drink of water to get the gummy bear taste out of their mouths. Isaac pushed the button to recline Cosette’s chair fully and tucked the blanket around her.
She blinked up at him. “Maybe a kiss good night would help,” she said.
Isaac chuckled. “Worth trying.” He placed his hands on either side of her abdomen, leaned in, and kissed her. He was going to keep it soft and short, but she gripped his shirt in her fists and pulled him in tighter. Isaac had no problem complying. If kissing was what she needed, he would happily take care of her need. He’d kissed a variety of women, but nothing felt like kissing Cosette. It filled him with a natural buzz of energy and warmth while making him dream of never having to stop or be apart.
When the kiss ended, he settled in next to her and reclined his chair, pulling a blanket over himself. Reaching out his hand, he clasped hers. He found that he was actually feeling sleepy. Hopefully, that stuff would work. He’d be fine without sleep, but it was always better to be fully rested. And he was anxious about whatever they were getting into. The FBI assured him they’d have people all around, ready to swoop in and arrest Lansky as soon as Blaine was safe. Still, he felt uneasy. Sometimes he felt these stirrings before a mission, but he had men he trusted around him during those times, and right now he didn’t want the woman he loved walking into danger. He had to keep her safe at all costs, and that could easily distract him from the larger mission.
“Ike?” Cosette’s voice sounded sleepy and sweet. He liked when she used that nickname.
“Yeah?”
“I’m scared.”
He rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand. “Don’t be, love. I’m here.”
“But what if he cuts you up?” Her voice trembled.
“It won’t happen. I hate to be the one to brag about this to you.” He put a cocky note in his voice. “But your man is tougher than a dozen of Lansky’s cronies.”
She laughed, but it sounded unsteady. Her free hand moved over to rest on his chest, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. “I love you.”
Isaac cupped her hand with his own and kissed her forehead. “I love you.”
Neither of them said anything else, but within minutes, she was breathing evenly. Isaac felt the overwhelming responsibility of rescuing her father and keeping her safe. Lansky hurting Isaac? He rolled his eyes. Not even in the cards.
* * *
Isaac startled awake as the plane touched down in San Francisco. Cosette was breathing deeply and no longer clinging to his hand, though one of her hands was still on his abdomen. He looked over her face, innocent and perfect in rest. His stomach tightened with the resolve to protect her.
Peering out the windows, he saw that the sky was just turning pink. They taxied for a while to the spot where private jets and charters were sent to disembark. As the plane slowed and stopped, he wasn’t sure he wanted to wake Cosette up. They would have a long day of waiting until ten p.m.
A few minutes later, the cockpit door opened. Isaac liked that it was only Joshua’s pilot who flew with them, not a stewardess or flight crew. Noticing that Cosette still sleeping, the guy whispered, “I’m going to get some food. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”
“Thanks,” Isaac murmured.
“Joshua asked me to fly you to Florida on Sunday as well, so just text or call me when you’re wanting to go.”
“Thanks,” Isaac repeated, though his gut clenched.
The pilot opened the door and left, shutting it behind him.