She crossed her arms as best as she could with her bound wrists, ignoring the faint tremble in her fingers. “Then answer me. Where is Vector?”
The taller man exhaled, slow and deliberate. “Be quiet, human. You’re bait.”
Bait.
The word slithered through her skull, oily and cold. Her stomach clenched, dread sinking deep into her bones.Not a hostage. Not leverage. Bait.
Which meant?—
Vector was still free.
Still coming.
Her nails dug into her palms, pressing into the leather straps. “Bait for what?”
Silence.
A slow, creeping chill slid down her spine.He’ll come––because of me.
She lifted her chin, her voice cold, defiant. “Whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong. He won’t come for me. We barely know each other.”
The taller man met her gaze, something unreadable flickering across his face. Not fear. Not amusement.
Expectation.
“Oh, he will.”
The certainty in his tone sent a chill through her veins.
Her gaze darted to the locked door. The barred window. The weapons strapped to their belts. The restraints biting into her skin. “You know what? You’re probably right. He’s on his way, and he’s bringing the authorities. You’ll be arrested. Is that what you want? To spend the rest of your lives in prison for kidnapping?”
The shorter guard smirked again. “Prison? Is that what you think your lover will do? Put us in prison?” He snorted. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Her breath shuddered out. These men weren’t ordinary criminals. They had taken Vector by surprise. They had drugged her. Planned this. Coordinated it.
Who the hell were they?
They weren’t just waiting. They were prepared.
Which meant Vector was walking into a trap. I have to find a way to break free. Warn him.
Her voice was steady despite the fear curling in her gut. “Oh, I know exactly what I’m talking about.” She thought for a moment, trying to determine what might intimidate goons like these two, then added dramatically, “You don’t want to mess with a man like Vector. You have no idea who he is. He’ll kill you just for fun. He’ll make you pay, in blood, just for insulting him. Imagine what he’ll do to you for attacking him.”
A chuckle. Dark. Amused. “Oh, sweetheart,” he murmured. “I think you’re the one who doesn’t know. He hasn’t told you yet, has he?”
The taller one—grumpy and sharp-eyed—let out a low, humorless laugh. “She really doesn’t, does she?”
Raven’s nails dug into her palms. “I know enough. I know that when he gets here, none of you are walking away from this.”
The smirk widened. “You don’t know what you fell in love with.”
The words struck deep, like a blade slipping between her ribs.
She scoffed. “I know exactly who he is.”
The grumpy one exhaled. “It’s not thewhoyou need to be worried about. It’s thewhat.”
The shorter one leaned in, his grin slow and cruel. “Your fiancé is a fucking monster.”
