“Did you hurt him?” she demanded.
Vance shook his head. “What kind of a monster do you think I am? I wouldn’t hurt an old man.”
She didn’t believe him. “Where are we? What do you want?”
“Now slow down, doll.”
Isaac’s body tightened behind her. Cosette’s heart was beating faster and faster. Her gaze darted around the men. They all looked tough, brutish. One guy stood out to her. He had a handsome though seasoned face and was extremely muscular. His arms were covered in tattoos; she could even see tattoos peeking out of the top of his T-shirt and climbing his neck. Yet he didn’t look as mean as the others. On the contrary, she could’ve sworn he gave her a kind smile. No. It was probably more of a leer. Even in this situation, she was too trusting.
“One question at a time,” Vance said. “We’re just west of the Las Vegas strip.”
He paused to let that sink in. So they’d knocked them out and transported them to Las Vegas while they slept. She felt disoriented but even more terrified. Could the FBI have followed them here?
As if he’d guessed her thoughts, Vance smiled. “Don’t worry about the FBI finding you. We removed all your tracking devices before we left San Francisco.” His voice lowered, and he swept his gaze over her and winked. “All of them, doll.”
Cosette’s stomach squirmed, but she tilted her chin up imperiously. She still had her bra on, so they must have had to … Ew. She couldn’t let her overactive imagination get away with her on this one.Focus on Isaac. Focus on Isaac.
“And as to what I want …” Vance walked closer. She was afraid he would touch her, but he glanced at Isaac and stopped a couple of feet away. “I want you, doll.”
Isaac let out a growl that made Vance step back toward his men.
Yet Vance’s cocky attitude didn’t stop. “We both know you’re socially inept, crazy as a redhead, and horrible at making love …”
Isaac’s body went even stiffer against hers. Cosette grimaced, and she wanted to assure Isaac that she’d never been like that with Vance, but now was not the time.
“Don’t you dare,” Isaac growled.
Vance took another step back. He focused on Cosette as if he were trying to ignore Isaac. “But you’re beautiful, you make me laugh, you’re the only woman who’s ever escaped me …” He winked as if this were all some game, but his voice trembled slightly. Isaac unnerved him, even with all of Vance’s manpower and Isaac’s hands bound. “And I want your money, of course.”
“I’ll give you all my money,” she said quickly. “Just let us go.”
He grinned, but his gaze flickered to Isaac and she could read the uncertainty there. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that. You hurt me, doll. You’re never leaving me again, and now someone has to pay for your sins.” He gestured with his chin.
All five of his men sprang into action. One of them pulled Cosette away from Isaac. The other four grabbed Isaac and manhandled him to his knees. With his hands behind his back, Isaac couldn’t fight them. How could he fight four men anyway?
“Ike!” she screamed out.
He glanced up at her. His blue eyes were somber but determined. He looked so strong, despite the position he was in. Two of the guys stayed on the floor next to Isaac, one on each side holding him in place. The other two stood close by, ready to help restrain him if needed.
Bile rose in Cosette’s throat as she imagined what was coming. “Vance, no,” she begged, horror rushing through her. “Please, no. I’ll stay with you. I’ll give you all my money. I’ll do anything. Please don’t hurt him.”
Vance pulled out a knife and smiled as he walked slowly toward Isaac. “Thank you, doll. I wanted to know what the stiff military dude meant to you. Obviously a lot, and obviously I need to teach him who’s in charge.”
Cosette whimpered and tried to pull free, but the guy had her in a vice grip.
Vance reached Isaac. He lifted Isaac’s shirt and sliced through it easily, demonstrating how sharp the knife was.
Isaac glared up at him, unafraid. “Very soon I’m going to rip your arms off, and then you’re going to apologize to Cosette.”
Vance drew back, fear tracing across his face. Then he looked at his men and laughed. They all chuckled with him. “I don’t think you’re in any position to be making threats,” he said.
Isaac raised his eyebrows. The muscles in his back and arms popped with his hands behind his back. Cosette admired his bravery, but she knew that Vance was right. He had all the power here, and he enjoyed hurting people. How could she let him hurt Isaac? Her breath came in shorts pants, and her body trembled.
“Vance.” Cosette tried to make her voice commanding. “Stop!” She scrambled for some way to make him stop, as he didn’t even glance her direction. “Isaac’s family is rich. You can have all my money and even more money from them, but only if you don’t hurt him.”
Vance finally looked at her, but it was only to give her a cocky tilt of his eyebrows and say, “Don’t worry. I’ll get every drop of money out of both of you. After I take some drops of his blood.” His face became savage as he angled the knife toward Isaac’s back.
“No!” Cosette screamed, flailing to get away from her captor.