Isaac found he didn’t mind the idea of a beach vacation with Cosette close by.
“I can’t just … not work!” Cosette said. “Who knows how long it will take you to take down Vance?”
“I’m sorry, love. You have no choice.”
Cosette’s nostrils flared. “I’m a successful businesswoman, and you will not hide me away in some beach bungalow.”
Blaine stared at her, his blue eyes glinting. “I’ve already lost your mother. I won’t lose you.”
Cosette’s fight disappeared faster than a popped balloon lost air. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
He waved that away. “Please don’t forget what that monster is capable, love. You saw how vile he can be.”
Cosette shrank back against the couch and didn’t say anything.
Isaac looked back and forth between the two of them. When no further information was offered, he said, “Can you tell me who this Lansky guy is and what he did to …” He didn’t want to saymess Cosette up, but … “Hurt Cosette?”
“Vance Lansky is part of a very old mafia family based out of Las Vegas. The city officials thought they ended the mob’s rule in the eighties when they had a ‘black book’ that barred all people suspected of having ties with organized crime from entering the casinos.” Blaine smiled wryly. “The problem was, the mafia still owned most of the casinos under assumed names. There’s been some new money coming in over the years, but it’s mostly the old mafia families.”
Isaac nodded, hoping the history lesson was over and he could get to what had happened to Cosette.
“Vance, of course, didn’t tell Cosette where his money came from, or even what he owned when they met in Italy last year.”
Cosette glared at the coffee table. Isaac’s gut churned at the thought of Cosette in the arms of some slick, wealthy mobster. It wasn’t just the jealousy he was fighting. Cosette was so pure and innocent; she would never suspect the evil some people were capable of.
“Their relationship was mostly long distance, but a few weeks ago, he asked her to come to Vegas for a week. She saw him torturing a man and escaped, of course calling the wedding off and informing the police.”
Isaac’s stomach now filled with acid as his neck prickled. He’d seen torture himself. He couldn’t stand the thought of Cosette seeing it. “They didn’t prosecute him for the man’s death?” he asked quietly. Staying seated was difficult; he wanted to scoop Cosette up and hold her, reassuring her that he’d never let this Lansky loser touch her again.
“He wasn’t dead,” Blaine continued. “And when the Vegas police questioned the man and asked to see his back, he claimed he’d crashed on a mountain bike and ripped his back up on rocks.” He shook his head. “The FBI are involved now. Vance has been on their radar for a while, so hopefully we’ll be able to find a charge that sticks. Vance’s texts to Cosette were veiled threats before she blocked his number, so at least we have that.”
“Such as?” Isaac hated to pin her down, but he needed to know.
Cosette spoke up. “Stuff like, ‘I don’t want anybody to carve up that beautiful face,’ or ‘How will your business recover when your lab explodes?’ or ‘How will youlivewithout me? I don’t think you will.’”
“Those aren’t really veiled,” Isaac grunted, his fists clenching. “And Blaine’s right. You can’t go back to your lab if he was threatening things like that.”
“So you’ll take the job?” Blaine asked.
Isaac nodded slowly, still studying Cosette. “I don’t want your money, though.”
“Spoken like a true Jewel man.” They stood, and Blaine shook Isaac’s hand. “All the arrangements will be ready for you to fly out in the morning. Eight a.m. okay? Sorry to take you away from your family.”
“They’ll understand,” Isaac said. “Eight’s fine.” He turned to Cosette. “See you in the morning.”
She nodded silently. The deep blue eyes that had once been so open and sparkling were now wary. She’d been damaged by a self-serving mobster. As Isaac strode from the room and headed toward the elevator, he wondered if he could somehow help her heal over this next week.
“Isaac?” Blaine called from behind him.
Isaac paused at the door, hoping Blaine would provide some extra insight into what Cosette had been through so he could help her. He’d seen damage like this, but he wasn’t well trained in women’s feelings, despite his feisty little sister Rachel trying her level best to help him.
Blaine stopped in front of him and didn’t say anything for a moment. Finally, he looked right in Isaac’s eyes and said, “I’m trusting you with my girl.”
Isaac’s eyebrows lifted. “I know, sir, and I plan to protect her.”
“She tries to come across as this independent, tough businesswoman, but you know she’s more a brilliant, spacey scientist. And I love that about her. I want to see her smiling and carefree again. What with losing her mom last year and thinking she was in love, then being tricked by this scum …” He shook his head. “I just want my girl back.”
“That’s understandable, sir, but I wonder if you’re not giving Cosette enough credit. Though she is a brilliant scientist, she’s also grown into a capable woman and is running a successful business.”