“At first, then you became an ally. Even when I knew I had to fight you, too, I knew that you were like a big wolfhound who would keep me safe from the rest of the world.”
“Wolfhound? What a comparison. Should I be offended?”
“Whatever. But I like dogs. Wolfhounds are beautiful. They’re lean and powerful, and their eyes seem to mesmerize you.” She yawned. “Though your eyes are blue, not dark…”
“And you need to go back to sleep.” He got to his feet. “I’m glad you knew that I’d keep you safe, Allie. I’ve told you that, but I was never sure you believed me.”
“I believed you.” Her eyes were closing. “Why did you really come in here? You had to know I was all right.”
He chuckled. “I was still having problems not wanting to have sex with you. I wanted to look at you and try to remember there were a hell of a lot other facets to what we are together.”
“And did you?”
“Yeah, I remembered.” He started to turn away. “It may be a fix that will last a little while.”
She wasn’t sure that it would last that long for her. But maybe it would. She wasn’t sure at the moment whether she wanted him to make love to her or just to hold her and let her feel his strength.
“Mandak.”
“Yes.”
“Kobu is going to do what you wanted, isn’t he? There’s no sign that he’s on the hunt for you?”
“No sign. Tomorrow I’ll wire half the money I promised into his bank account. I’ll hold the other half as an automatic deposit until the job’s completed.” He paused. “There could still be a double cross.”
“I don’t know how you did it. His memories were so vicious, and he hates you.”
“Memories? You went in and scanned him? You didn’t tell me.”
“You didn’t give me a chance. I thought I’d be able to tell if Kobu was alert and knew you were outside the tent.”
“You avoid scanning like the plague. You hate it.”
“It is a plague to me. And Kobu’s memories were every bit as ugly and full of poison as those men my father had me read. But it would have been worse to not do it and be unable to keep something terrible from happening.”
He nodded. “You’ve taken a big step tonight.”
“Have I? It doesn’t feel like it. I just did what I had to do.” She closed her eyes. “The tiger … Kobu was afraid of a tiger. He wanted to throw you and me to the tiger. Do you know anything about it?”
“Yes, I’ll tell you about it later. Not now. It’s the stuff of nightmares.”
Nightmares … She wanted to tell him that their lives had been nothing else since the night Lee and Natalie had been killed.
But Mandak was gone.
And she had to try to sleep and not dwell on Kobu and his frantic terror of the tiger …
* * *
“A TIGER? A REAL TIGER?” GINA smiled at Camano as her gaze traveled around the silk and ivory wall hangings of the palace to the gilt-embossed doorway the servant had pointed out to them on the way to showing them to their quarters. “I can’t believe Praland has a special fancy chamber where he keeps his pet tiger. How amusing. Though it’s in keeping with all this exotic luxury, isn’t it? Praland must have good taste.” She frowned. “Or perhaps not. He didn’t pay very much attention to me when you introduced us.”
“He’s accustomed to using women and not catering to their whims.” He glanced at her, then inserted a jab. “And his concubines are far younger and more lush than you, Gina.”
“Younger only means less experienced, and that can be the kiss of death in a relationship. Lush is a matter of taste, and I can change any man’s taste.” She smiled. “Isn’t that true, Camano? Have you ever been disappointed?”
“No.”
“Then stop trying to make me unhappy.” Her gaze was wandering over the marble floors, the gold- and jewel-studded insets in the rosewood tables. “I like this. It suits my style.”
“If your style is Taj Mahal,” he said sourly.
“But of course it is. What does everyone say when they meet me? I’m queen to your king, my darling. But this is much more grand than what we have at home.”
“Don’t get used to it. I’ve brought you here for one purpose. Praland wants your daughter as much as I do. When you find a way to lure her into a trap, then your job is done, and we’re on the next plane out.”
“Perhaps.”
“Gina.” His hand grasped her wrist. “Teresa is more of a threat to me now than she was before. You will do it.”
“Of course.” She reached up and kissed him. “I meant that perhaps we’d stay awhile and have a few weeks here. You said that Praland doesn’t like the idea of taking care of difficulties within the U.S. borders. I thought it might be an opportunity for you to give him what he needs as you did in Flagstaff. He appears to have the funds to make it worth your while.”
“And the funds to make it worth your while?” he asked dryly. “Don’t make the mistake of trying to manipulate Praland.”
“Only for you,” she said.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Well, you’ve learned that if I’m happy, I make you happy.”
“And if you’re not happy, you try to make my life hell. I don’t know why I don’t just kick you out.”
“Because you’ve found you need me in all kinds of ways. Why else did you bring me here?”
“Because Praland offered to supply the trap if I’d bring you to spring it.”
“And a gorgeous trap it is,” she murmured. She looked over her shoulder at the gilt door that led to the tiger cage. “I saw a movie once where a Roman empress had a pet panther and led him around on an emerald-studded collar. She looked pretty, but she wasn’t as pretty as I am. But I thought how exciting it must be to control a big cat with only a slender leash. The sheer power of it…”
“I can see you getting off on the idea.”
“But a tiger would be much more impressive than a panther. I wonder if Praland has had him trained.”
“Why don’t you ask him?” He paused at the door of their suite, which the servant had just opened. “You could offer to do it yourself.”
“Don’t be sarcastic.” She smiled faintly. “There is always a man available to take the risks if I want something. And I think Praland might be amused at the idea of my putting his tiger on a leash. It would set me apart from his other women.”
“Other?” Camano repeated softly. “Are you thinking of trying to lure Praland into your web? Forget it, Gina. No woman walks out on me. You’re mine until I decide to get rid of you.”
“Why would I want any other man than you? You give me everything I want. I just wanted to impress Praland so that he’d let me influence him about the deal I mentioned.” She sailed past him into the suite. “I’m flattered you’re still jealous about me after all these years.”
“Jealous? No. Just wary. For some reason, I still have a yen for you I can’t shake. But I won’t be made a fool, Gina. Walk the line, or you’ll be sorry.”
“Threats?” Her brows rose. “Did it occur to you that when I’m threatened, I set out to protect myself? It’s what they call self-preservation.” She went to her suitcase the servant had placed on the luggage rack. “Now let’s forget all this nonsense. I’m here to do what you and Praland want me to do. If I manage to amuse myself while I’m here, what’s the harm?” She smiled. “All this fuss because of that silly tiger.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“GOOD MORNING.” SEAN DONAVEL grinned at Allie as she sat up and pushed aside her blanket. “You slept hard. After I came in from my watch and started making coffee, I thought that I’d wake you, but you didn’t stir.”
“I still feel drugged.” She shook her head to clear it. “I guess it’s a delayed reaction. Where’s Mandak?”
“Outside. He’s been on the phone with the Devanez family bank arranging a transfer to Kobu’s account. Breakfast? I have bacon and a couple eggs.”
?
??Not right now.” She got to her knees and opened her duffel. “I feel dirty, and I need to brush my teeth. Do we have any water source around here?”
“Take some of that bottled water. And there’s a small pond about five hundred yards down the mountain on the eastern slope. It’s not uber clean, but I used it earlier. Beggars can’t be choosers.”
“They can, but not when they feel as gritty as I do.” She got to her feet and strode out of the cave. Mandak was standing on the edge of the cliff, still talking on the phone. She moved past him and headed toward the east slope.
Ten minutes later, she was bending over the pond that Sean had described as not uber clean and washing her face and neck. She had considered immersing herself, then thought better of it. Sean had seriously overestimated the pond in his description. The waters were a thick, brownish yellow, and she was wary about what could be swimming beneath them.
“You didn’t tell me where you were going.”
She looked back to see Mandak standing on the trail watching her. “Sean knew.”
“But I didn’t. And Sean is a gambler and likes to play the odds.” His lips tightened. “Tell me, okay?”
She shrugged. “It seemed pretty safe. Sean told me the watches were just precautions.” She nodded at her jacket on the ground beside her. “And I took my gun.”
“Which was good.” He came toward her. “But you can’t go off on your own from now on. It could be dangerous for all of us.”
“Because you felt you had to come after me.” She nodded. “I can see that could become a problem.” She made a face. “I just wanted to get clean. It’s not going to happen in this pond.” She started to button up her blouse. “I brushed my teeth in the bottled water, but I’ll just have to comb my hair and tie it up out of my face.”
“We might run across a decent lake or pond on the way to the palace.” He picked up her jacket and handed it to her. “We’ll see what we can do.” He paused. “But that won’t be until tomorrow. I have a couple things I have to check out before we get on the road.”
She tensed. “What things?”
“I’m having Renata’s guys monitor Kobu’s calls to make sure that he isn’t planning a surprise party with Praland as the host.”
“That was my first thought,” she said. “But I don’t understand how all that sculpting and stuff works. You said I’d have to trust you.”
“Which is damn hard for you.”
“Yes.” She looked him in the eye. “No. I do trust you, Mandak.”
He went still. “How unusual. I believe that’s a breakthrough.”
She nodded slowly. “It feels like that to me, too. I don’t know how you pulled it off, but I know you wouldn’t let me go with Kobu if you weren’t almost certain that I’d survive.”
“‘Almost’ is the key word,” he said. “You will survive. I just have to determine what steps I’m going to have to take to assure that.” He turned and started up the trail. “I’ll call the bank later to see if Kobu has verified that the money has been transferred. That would indicate a healthy greed and an interest in the deal. If he doesn’t contact Praland, then we’ll set off for the palace tomorrow morning.”
“He’s terrified of Praland.” She added, “And that tiger.”
“He’s not alone. From the reports I’ve had, all of Praland’s men are scared of that tiger.”
“Why? You said you’d tell me.”
He stopped and looked back at her. “Praland keeps his tiger in a huge cage in a luxurious room near the rear of the palace. Outside the cage, there are velvet couches and tables and hookahs and various other amusements. He likes his comforts because he spends a good deal of time there.” He paused. “You can imagine what the main attraction is.”
“Throw Mandak and the woman to the tiger,” she whispered. “Kobu was remembering what he’d thought when Praland was threatening him about the tiger. Praland punishes his men by putting them in the cage with that tiger?”
“And invites his officers and anyone he suspects might be less than loyal to watch the show. Not only his men, anyone who displeases him. He keeps the tiger hungry.”
She shuddered. “No wonder Kobu was frightened. It’s hard to fight against fear like that.”
“But I was able to use it to lure him away. No one likes a threat hanging over him.”
“You hope.”
“I spent a lot of time reinforcing that part of his adjustment,” he said grimly. “I got it right, Allie.”
She nodded. “Kobu was just so damned determined that the two of us had to be thrown to the tiger.”
“It’s not going to happen.”
She smiled faintly. “Do you remember when we were at the lodge all those years ago, and you took me to see the gym? You were joking about that legend about the lady having to choose what was behind a particular door.”
“And you said that the ‘tiger’”—he tapped his chest—“was on this side of the door.”
“You do remember.”
“I remember everything that’s ever happened between us, Allie.” He met her eyes. “Every single thing.”
She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t look away from him. Heat, sexuality, and something deeper, stronger, brighter, was vibrating in that sudden silence.
He nodded jerkily. “Yeah, here it is again. Kind of difficult to keep it down. You have no idea.” He started to turn away, then whirled back to face her. “But here’s a little something to distract us both. Renata called early this morning. I was going to wait until I had an additional report before I filled you in on the picture. But I’ve decided that not telling you was hypocritical after I’d just told you it was dangerous not to keep me informed.”
“Tell me what?”
“Renata said that the agents she’d had searching for Camano and your mother reported that they’d surfaced. Briefly. They boarded a private jet out of Kennedy yesterday. Their flight plan listed Rome as their destination.”
“Rome?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean that’s where they ended up.”
“No.” She swallowed. “And it’s an odd coincidence that they left the U.S. so soon after we did. You think that they could be coming here?”
“Or that they’re already here.”
She was silent. “Then Camano is joining with Praland to hunt me down.”
“That’s the way I see it.”
She shook her head. “It’s crazy. Camano and Praland coming together here.”
“I thought it might happen,” he said. “But, then, I believe in fate.”
“Do you? I’d think you’d want to mold it to suit yourself.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t fight it, just that it exists.”
“And my mother, too?”
He nodded.
Allie was still having trouble picturing Gina here in this wild, savage country. The idea was bizarre. Rome. Paris. Not here. “I can see why Camano would still be on the hunt for me. But why would he bring my mother with him?”
“Why indeed?” He shrugged as he turned away. “I want like hell to answer you, but I’m not going to do it. It’s time you asked yourself that question. You’ve been hiding your head in the sand for too long.” He moved up the hill and disappeared around a curve in the trail.
And she wanted to keep hiding her head, she thought with panic. Don’t look at it, and it might go away.
Don’t look at it, and maybe it was all a mistake, and Gina hadn’t known what Camano planned.
Don’t look at it, and her mother might love her.
But how long could she turn her eyes away? From the time she was a small child, she had been on the run in one way or the other. She was no longer that child crying for someone to care about her. She’d been given the gift of Lee’s and Natalie’s love, and she had all the confidence that love had brought with it.
Mandak was right, she had to ask herself questions. Not only about Gina but about Lee and Natalie and Mandak. About what was true and false, what w
as important to her and where she wanted it to lead her.
Lord, it was going to be hard, but somehow she’d do it.
If she could just manage to pull her head out of the sand before it smothered her.
* * *
“HE’S QUITE BEAUTIFUL, PRALAND.” Gina took a sip of her wine, her gaze on the tiger pacing in the huge cage. “Does he have a name?”
“No, that would give him importance,” Praland said. “He’s not a pet, he’s a servant.”
“But very exciting. I love that fancy cage. All that gilt trim…”
“I’m surprised you like it. Camano says you prefer the real thing.” Praland’s lips twisted. “But at the price of gold these days, I’m not about to waste it on a cage for an animal.” His gaze traveled over her, lingering on her breasts. “Though I might be persuaded to buy a bauble or two for you. If you prove that you’re worth it.”
He was responding just as she had anticipated he would, she thought. He would not be easy, but he could be had. “I have safety boxes full of baubles.” She chuckled. “You’d have to do better than that. But then I’m sure you could. You’re obviously a man who is able to set his own rules. This palace, that army that takes your orders.” Her gaze went across the room, to where Camano was sitting on a low couch sniffing coke. “I thought I’d found a man who had that kind of power. These days, Rico’s only interested in his damn drugs … and me, of course. I try to tell him that he shouldn’t be that complacent, that he should reach out and grab for the same kind of life that you’re living. But he doesn’t have the guts.” She took another sip of wine. “Too bad.”
“If I heard one of my women talking like that about me, I’d cut her throat.” His eyes shifted to the tiger. “If there was anything left of her.”
“But you wouldn’t have to worry about those bimbos insulting you. They shake when you raise an eyebrow. Don’t you get bored with all that bowing and scraping?”
“On occasion.” He looked at her. “Why did you ask me to bring you in here tonight, Gina?”
“I was curious about the tiger, of course.”