Chapter 168
The atmosphere crackled with tension, Alexander’s fury radiating off him in waves. His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists, his voice a low, dangerous growl. “I swear, I’ll make every last one of them pay.”
But revenge wasn’t the priority right now—protecting Isabella was.
Without a second thought, he steeled himself to draw the men’s attention away from her. “I’ll distract them—”
Before he could finish, Isabella cut him off with a sharp shake of her head. “No,” she said, her tone steady but firm. “It’s too risky. You could get hurt.”
Her fingers moved deftly, working at the ropes binding her wrists. A sliver of glass, hidden in her palm, sawed through the fibers with quiet precision. The ropes loosened, nearly free.
She pressed the shard into Alexander’s hand. “Take this,” she whispered. “The door’s locked, but if they come back, they might get careless. That’s our chance. Be ready.”
As if on cue, the lock clicked. The door swung open, revealing Vincent with a leering grin. “I’ve been waiting for this,” he drawled, his gaze raking over her. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll make it worth your while.”
His hand reached for her, but Isabella didn’t recoil. Instead, she tilted her head, lips curving into a slow, dazzling smile—one that made even the dim light in the room seem to brighten.
“Not here,” she murmured, her voice honeyed. “I don’t like an audience. But outside… under the car lights, with me like this?” She gave a small, helpless shrug, the ropes still coiled around her ankles. “That sounds much more exciting, don’t you think?”
Vincent hesitated, his lust-addled brain struggling against the pull of her words. For a heartbeat, he was spellbound.
Isabella’s smile deepened, her lashes fluttering. “Come on,” she coaxed, her voice soft, almost innocent. “Where could I possibly go? My hands are tied, and your men are everywhere. Trust me… I just want this to be good for both of us.”
Vincent snorted, but his grip on her loosened. “Run? In those heels? Don’t make me laugh.”
With a rough chuckle, he sliced the ropes at her feet. “Fine. Let’s go.”
From the shadows, Lucas narrowed his eyes. “You sure about this?” he called out, suspicion lacing his tone. “She’s not some helpless damsel.”
But before he could intervene, Alexander’s ragged cough drew his attention back.
“If it’s money you want,” Alexander rasped, his voice strained, “call my assistant. Ransom takes time to gather. But if your boss gets here first? You’ll get nothing.”
Lucas’s expression darkened, greed flickering in his gaze. Money—that was his weakness.
With a final glance at Vincent dragging Isabella outside, Lucas turned back to Alexander, his focus shifting entirely.
“Talk,” he ordered. “And make it worth my while.”
