still tried to pretend she was in the dark. “I don’t want anything to do with Janson Styles. Did he tell you to bring me back to him so we could make up? I’m not doing it.”
Vin smirked. “I’ll give it to you—you’re a lot smarter than those other broads he hangs with, but we know what he said to you, so you’re going to come with us.”
“And then what?” she asked.
“We let you live.”
She wasn’t sure if she believed Vin, but didn’t feel like she had a choice. He wasn’t taking any chances and clamped his hand over her arm. She didn’t fight him. Anyone seeing a guy holding onto her arm would know when she came up missing tomorrow that it was connected, so she took her time on the staircase with him, for once hoping every eye was on her.
They reached the empty floor the next story up. Vin ripped open a door to a room, throwing her in with so much force that Mollie practically flew inside. She almost knocked against Janson who’d been sitting on the bed. Janson lurched to his feet to catch her. He ran his hands down her arms. “Are you okay?” Yeah, but she’d failed him. She nodded, too in shock to speak. Honestly, she was confused at the concern in his eyes. He ripped his head up from her, growling at his mutinous crew. “Let her go. She has nothing to do with this.”
“Oh no.” Vin gave a smug grin. “We gotta have something to make you behave. We put a tail on Rosa after she left until we figured out you liked this one more—too bad for her, though I can’t say I’m disappointed. This girl’s got some fire in her. We’ll have more fun with this one.”
Janson’s hands tightened over her. He glared at the gun Vin had, before his gaze swept around the room, lingering on the windows, though they were too far up to get out that way.
Dwayne nudged a suitcase with his boot and drew closer to Vin, lowering his voice. “We can’t keep them here.” The room was occupied—they all were this time of year. “We need to find someplace quiet.”
Mollie’s brain raced a mile a minute, and banking that these men were more brawn than brain, she seized upon her opening. “Don’t even bother thinking about the catacombs. I’m the only one who knows how to get in there.”
Janson’s face clouded with disbelief, as it would be the perfect place to stash hostages, and she’d practically fed the idea to them. But since he’d kept her in the dark for so long, she didn’t feel guilty about him not knowing that she’d done it on purpose, too.
Vin let out a gurgle of laughter. “You’re going to show us how to get in there, little girl.”
She shook her head, even as she noticed the terror in Dwayne’s eyes as Vin said it. Maybe they could use his fear, too. “You can’t,” Mollie cried, infusing as much panic into her voice as was believable. “It’s cold and horrible down there.” And their only way out of this.
Janson’s hand squeezed hers. “Look at me.” She met his eyes, scared out of her mind that her plan wouldn’t work. Strangely, his reassuring gaze comforted her. “Don’t let them get into your head,” he whispered. “I’ll get you out of this.”
Or vice versa. Whatever. Then after that, she’d banish his lying face forever. No one broke her heart twice.
CHAPTER TEN
Janson’s whole body cramped up at the thought of being trapped in the catacombs. Dwayne and Vin had no idea what they were doing to him, though he had a feeling they’d love it if they knew about his panic attacks. That’s why he kept his mouth shut.
He’d figure this out. He had Mollie to think about. She marched beside him down the alley’s steep cement steps, still clutching her mother’s jacket. She let him put his arms around her, but her walls were back up. She wasn’t meeting his gaze with those liquid blue eyes. He was worried about her, especially when he saw the hungry way Vin watched her.
What had she been thinking, suggesting this place? He guessed that somehow Mollie wanted to be in these catacombs—he’d seen right through her, but he doubted she would’ve done it had she known she’d reduce him to a panting dog in a matter of minutes. Or maybe she would have after that kiss. He’d taken things too far, but