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“What?” He laughed again. “You fellas believe she’s actually asking me to spank her pretty butt?”
“I would’ve thought it would be a dream come true for you,” she said. “But from the look on your face, I’d say you’re scared.” When he narrowed his eyes at her, jaw tightening, she knew she had him. The emotional attack worked. Such a fragile ego. Easy to bait. The hubris would do Seth in. He was so used to getting whatever he wanted, threatening, using violence, any means necessary. It’s what allowed him to believe that he was above the law. That he could avoid retribution. He’d grown to see himself as invincible. “Afraid a woman will give you the beating you deserve? Should be. You pathetic excuse for a man.”
Even in the dim light, she saw Seth’s face redden.
“She’s not going to tell you,” Eklund said. “Stop toying with her. Just throw her in the pigpen and be done with it. We’ve wasted enough time on her.”
“We need that money!” Colvin stepped toward Seth. “Or we’ll be the ones in the pigpen.”
“Get the lieutenant to help us,” Eklund said. “He can find out who has Haley. Maybe even where they’re keeping her.”
Seth shook his head. “Jameson washed his hands of us the minute he learned IA was going to get involved.”
“IA?” Alcock’s gaze flew around, his visible panic rising.
“The lieutenant wants as much distance as possible,” Seth continued. “Telling us about Haley being taken to a safe house was the last help he was willing to give.” He glared at Charlie. “The agency that has her wasn’t mentioned in the report. But you know, and I’m going to make you tell me.”
“Make him a sweet offer he can’t refuse,” Eklund said, his voice desperate. “Double what he usually gets. If that doesn’t work, threaten to name him as an accomplice if we all go down.”
Colvin raked a hand over his close-cropped hair and paced in a circle. “Is that a joke? The lieutenant will sooner put a bullet between our eyes and bury us himself than give in to a threat. He might even be the first in line to take a plea deal or to get immunity to testify against us. Just out of spite. We need Haley. And the money.”
Charlie met Seth’s evil gaze. “Only one way I’ll talk, if you’re man enough for it.”
No way she was going to make this easy for him. The fear was there, like a shadow in her soul, eclipsed now by the anger running through her like a cold iron bar. These might be the last minutes of her life. She wanted to spend them fighting.
“Cut her loose,” Seth said, fury rife in his voice.
“Are you kidding?” Eklund asked. “You’re going to fight her?”
“Why not?” Seth shrugged, slipping the switchblade in his pocket. “I’ve got no qualms about hitting a woman. Especially if means getting what we need. I’m happy to beat the answers out of her.”
“This is beyond sadistic,” Alcock said.
“Shut up.” Seth stepped toward him. “Ortega is on the way here. We need to be the ones getting the answers. The ones showing that we’re still in control. Not him.”
“The cartel’s rep is coming? I’m out of here.” Alcock took off down the path toward his vehicle.
“Do you want me to go after him?” Colvin asked.
Seth shook his head. “Let the bottom-feeder go. He won’t talk. Too much to lose. His license to practice law. His reputation. His picture-perfect family. All those luxuries he enjoys.”
Eklund drew a bowie knife from a holster on his hip, sliced the zip tie around her wrists and shoved her forward.
The ground was cold and damp beneath her bare feet. The feel of the mud and grass grounded her. To get the circulation going, she shook out her arms, and then hopped up and down to warm up. Sparring with Rocco kept her nimble, her reflexes sharp.
Getting out of this alive wasn’t her aim since the odds were slim. All she wanted was to give Seth hope. Hope that she’d cave under the pressure of violence. But she knew the truth. Nothing he did would work.
You couldn’t break what was already broken. Her father had done the job a long time ago.
Her one goal was to use every punch and kick she threw to crush Seth’s hope. And her only regret was that she hadn’t told Brian that she loved him. She did. She’d thought it rash to say it. That it was too soon. She’d also been scared.
But now her greatest fear was that he’d never know how deeply she felt for him.
The car engine fired up. Tires sped down the road as Alcock fled from the farm.
“Did Haley ever tell you that I like it when my women fight back?” Seth asked. “Makes it more enjoyable. And my wife brought me a lot of pleasure. She was a scrapper, too.”
Steeling herself, Charlie lifted her fists as she and Seth circled each other in the space between the barn and firepit. Eklund and Colvin drew their firearms but kept them low at their sides. Even if she won, they were going to make sure she didn’t leave this farm alive.
