“I know,” she whispered. It was a horrible decision for him and for her. To stand on the sidelines when they wanted only to plunge into the battle. “And we have to do whatever is best for her, Joe.”
“And who the hell knows what that is?” He was silent, stiff, fighting the battle. Then he muttered a curse and got to his feet. “Okay, he wins.”
She got up and followed him to the tent entrance. “I don’t think anybody wins this one, Joe,” she said wearily. “It doesn’t feel like it.” She watched him go down the hill and stop before Caleb, who was sitting there drinking a cup of coffee before the fire.
“Okay, I’ll back off,” Joe told him. “You have a clear shot at trying to locate her and setting up a rescue. But the minute you do, you get in touch and bring me into it. Agreed?”
“No choice,” Caleb said. “I knew that’s as much as I’d be able to get from you.”
“And you’ll keep me informed, dammit.”
He nodded. “I’ll let you know how she is as soon as I can. I know Eve’s worried.”
“See that you do.” Joe didn’t move, staring down into Caleb’s eyes. “And if you do the wrong thing, if you get her killed, I’ll hunt you down and break your neck.” He turned and strode back up the hill to the tent. “Done,” he told Eve as he took her back into his arms. “He said earlier that he thought he’d be contacted soon. I hope to hell he’s right.”
*
Caleb turned back to the fire as Joe left him. It had gone as he’d expected. Joe Quinn was smart and always managed to overcome personal feelings if they got in the way of what was best for any situation. But it had been more difficult than usual, since it concerned Jane.
Caleb didn’t know if he could have made that choice.
He was on fire right now.
And he didn’t think he’d hidden it very well. Eve had said he was ready to explode and she had come close. He was burning with rage and panic and the multitude of searing, complex emotions that were always there when he thought about Jane.
So don’t think about her, he decided. He had to be calm and cool when the call came.
And it would come soon. He’d delved into everything that he knew and had experienced, and unless there had been a greater change than he thought, the call would be coming within the next hour or so.
So he would sit here and wait and wouldn’t think about Jane.
Instead, he’d think about the most painful ways to kill Santara.
*
The call came forty-five minutes later.
He smiled grimly as he saw the ID. He could feel the rush of adrenaline sending the blood zinging through his body.
And so the hunt begins.…
He pressed the access button. “Hello, Teresa. You’ve kept me waiting. But that was always one of your strategies. However, I imagine it was just as disturbing for you as it was for me this time. You’ve probably been salivating for the chance to display how clever you are.”
Silence. Then she laughed. “As it happens, you’re right, Caleb. I was just sitting here thinking about you, wondering what you were doing. What blind alleys you were running down while trying to find her.”
“I didn’t waste my time. A cursory check at Loch Gaelkar and then I sat down to wait for your call. Do you have Jane yet?”
“She just arrived. However, she won’t be of use to you, Caleb.”
He kept his tone indifferent. “She’s alive?”
“Yes. A wrenched neck and concussion. But I made sure that Santara kept her awake on the flight. I believe the danger of coma is over now. But I had him give her a sedative just before he got here. Naturally, she’s rather tense, and that’s bad for her right now. I wanted her to be at her best when you saw her. She’s quite beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Anyone could see that.” He paused. “Just as anyone could see how beautiful you are, Teresa.”
“Yes, I am. But I’ve had to have a few nips and tucks lately. Very annoying. Particularly when I look at Jane MacGuire. But maturity always triumphs over youth in the end.”
“Does it?”
“Always,” she said softly. “Look at the situation. Your Jane is lying unconscious in my guest room, totally helpless. I can do anything I want with her, Caleb.” She chuckled. “Or look at Lisa. I was in charge of her for years. And when I realized she’d be useful, I had Santara teach her a few of the lessons I’d wanted her to learn ever since I became her guardian. Arrogant little bitch. All that youth did nothing to help her, either, Caleb.” The laughter vanished. “But you helped Lisa escape, didn’t you? I knew you would come if she called you; that’s why I took her. I needed you. But Santara was a fool and let you take her away from me. It wasn’t supposed to work that way. So I had to make a correction.”
“Jane MacGuire is the correction?”
“Yes, I thought you’d appreciate my brilliance in choosing her. You always admired that quality in me. No one else bothered to look for it.”
“You missed the boat this time, Teresa. I’ll grant that you were smart to take Lisa. You knew how I felt about family. But Jane doesn’t mean anything to me.”
“Oh, I think she does,” Teresa said softly. “Years ago, after your parents sent you away to Scotland, I filed you away as a possible asset and forgot about you. When I needed someone to draw you into the web, I chose Lisa.” She sighed. “But that was extremely difficult to manage. I knew I couldn’t do too much to Lisa, because it would make you too angry. She was your little sister and there was all that protective business you’d demonstrated after Maria had been killed. I was walking on eggs. Jane MacGuire will be much easier.”
“Indeed? Why?”
“Because you fuck her,” she said simply.
“Wrong.”
“No, after you took Lisa, I got an in-depth report on your activities over the last several years. Well, as in-depth as possible considering what a secretive bastard you’ve always been. But you’ve never hidden what a sexual animal you are, Caleb. You’ve gone to bed with many, many women, but you never form relationships. One-night stands.” She added softly, “Except with Jane MacGuire. You kept returning to her, Caleb. You were together in half a dozen countries, and wherever she is, you’re eventually there, too. Is she that good?”
“Coincidence. We have mutual objectives at times.”
“I don’t think so. That’s why I felt I’d been given a gift when I saw her name on every page of the report I had on you.”
“Would you believe we’re friends?”
She laughed. “You? Have you forgotten I know you, Caleb? And I’ve seen her.”
“I didn’t think that you’d accept that. Nevertheless, you’re wrong, Teresa. And why would you think you could use her for a weapon, even if you were right? Someone I fuck wouldn’t have the same impact as Lisa.”
“Not usually. But you’re very intense, sometimes almost obsessive. Jane MacGuire might fall into that category. If she does, then you wouldn’t want to give up your toy if you could help it.” She added, “Especially when just performing a small service for me would permit you to keep her.”
“I don’t permit myself to be used. Have you forgotten that?”
“I haven’t forgotten anything about you. Have you forgotten that I don’t let anything stand in my way when I want something?” Her voice became honey-smooth. “Friends? I don’t believe she’d feel very friendly toward you if I turned Santara loose on her when she’s feeling so poorly. I didn’t let him rape Lisa, even though that might have been effective, because I knew that would disturb you.”
“Yes, it would have.”
“But the gloves are off now, Caleb. I have to have this service performed in the next forty-eight hours. I’ll do anything I have to do to MacGuire to ensure your cooperation. If you don’t tell me right now that you’re willing to deal with me, I’ll send in Santara and any other of his men with whom he wishes to share. You know I don’t bluff, Caleb.”
“I also know you’re capable of any deceit.”
“Of course.”
He was silent. She would do it. Find the safest way out. “You are clever, Teresa. You’re right: I do find her … very satisfying. As a toy, she’s superb. I don’t like the idea of her being damaged.”