“But not toward you. She went after Lisa.” Jane was trying to piece together what she’d seen and heard. “It was a very roundabout way to get to you.” She met his eyes. “And you were setting rules before she left here today. And she let you do it.”
“I told you: That last four weeks was about control. She lost and it frightened her. I thought there might be a few threads of memory remaining. It will allow me certain allowances as long as she doesn’t feel too threatened.” He added quietly, “But there will be resentment and it won’t prevent her from killing you if she decides it’s necessary. So I’d appreciate it if you’d make things easier for me and not antagonize her.”
“Heaven forbid I cause you a problem by not keeping my mouth shut when she treats me like your whore.”
“It would be a problem. Because now that the deal’s been struck, that’s exactly what you are in her eyes. She’s very proud of herself that she’s found a way to force me to do what she needs. It was perfectly reasonable that she thought sex was the way to go. It worked for her at the start of that summer and she got to know me very well. It was natural she’d think I wasn’t interested in anything else.”
“I can’t argue with that statement,” she said drily. “And I’m supposed to pretend I’m not interested in anything eIse, either? Well, it’s not natural for me, Caleb.”
He smiled. “We could work on it.”
“Not likely.”
His smile faded. “Teresa thinks I have a sexual obsession with you that’s been going on for years. It’s what’s giving her a sense of power and the belief that I’ll do anything to maintain the relationship. She’s not going to believe that I’d tolerate your not being equally involved after this length of time. She’ll remember those four weeks when I took over control in my relationship with her. If she decides she doesn’t have that power, it’s going to strike a note that could be dangerous.”
“‘Tolerate’?”
“Wrong word. But you get the concept.”
After her time with Teresa Romano, Jane wasn’t stupid enough not to realize Caleb’s theory had merit. The woman had to believe she was superior in every way, and the path that Caleb was walking was very dangerous. “Will you be able to save Haroun?”
“Possibly.”
Her gaze flew to his face. “But you’re not sure.”
“How could I be? I haven’t looked the situation over yet.”
That was too vague for her. “But you’ll try?”
“I’ll try,” he said. “But I told Teresa the truth. I don’t care anything about Haroun. If it comes to a choice between you and him, he’ll die, Jane.”
“No! It doesn’t work that way, Caleb.”
“For me, it does,” he said simply. “I said I’d try. Take it or leave it. He won’t have any chance at all if I have to take another path.”
“I’m just supposed to accept that a man might have to die so that I can live?”
His lips tightened. “I won’t let you die, Jane.”
“He might have people who don’t want him to die, either. Does he?”
He didn’t answer.
“I don’t even know anything about him.” She met his eyes. “But you do, don’t you? He’s not just a name to you. You probably know everything about him. After all, he’s the target.”
“Not everything.”
“Enough,” she said jerkily. “Tell me about him.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I don’t care what you think. He’s no target to me. He’s a man who could die to keep me alive. Tell me.”
He hesitated. Then he called up a photo on his phone and handed it to her. It was a strong face, bearded, with a faint scar beneath his left eye. The man was smiling and those dark eyes were full of intelligence. “Tarik El Haroun. Age forty-eight. Born into a middle-class family here in Dubai. Muslim. But he had a principally Western upbringing from the time he was a teenager. Attended Yale University and then came home to Dubai and started to build his empire. During the last twenty years, he’s increased the economy of Dubai enormously. Fair business practices. Extremely charitable. Has one wife, Fatima. Married fifteen years. No children.”
“Caleb,” she whispered. She couldn’t take her eyes from that photo.
“I told you that I didn’t want to tell you about him,” he said quietly. “I can’t promise you, Jane.”
She gazed at him in frustration. “Then find a way that I can help him. He’s an innocent man.”
“Innocent … I doubt if that’s an accurate description for any of us. Innocence is generally lost before one reaches puberty.” His lips twisted. “But you’re going to be difficult about this. I can see it. It’s not as if I’m not going to have enough trouble with Lisa. No, you cannot help him. But I’ll redouble my efforts to get him out of this alive. Will that—”
“Lisa?” She had caught that one sentence and it had terrified her. “What about Lisa?”
“She’s here in Dubai.”
“What?”
“She was struck with guilt and various other emotions and insisted I bring her along.”
“And you did it?” She gazed at him in horror. “You’re an idiot.”
“That may be true. But I had no recourse. It was bring her or have her come by herself. I dropped her off at the border and had Palik pick her up and take her to the hotel.”
“And what if Santara gets his hands on her again? I worked so hard to keep this from happening. She was safe, Caleb.”
“And you were not. To use that word that offended you so much, Lisa would not tolerate it. She appears to have a fondness for you that totally baffles me.”
She could feel the tears sting her eyes. “You should have stopped her. It was a mistake.”
“As you can see, I do make them on occasion. But all I can do is the best I’m able. She would have come after you on her own, Jane.”
She could see that happening, but it didn’t make her feel any better. “We have to keep her safe. I won’t forgive myself if anything happens to her.”
Caleb was shaking his head. “Everyone has to be kept safe? Haroun, Lisa. Where do you figure in this, Jane?”
“Maybe behind you,” she said shakily. “I won’t lose you either, Caleb.”
His smile vanished. “How generous of you to include me. An unexpected honor.”
“Be quiet.” She blinked back the tears. “You came here to try to save me. Okay, I don’t like the way you’re doing it. But you could die, dammit. And I’m not supposed to care whether you do?”
“Oh, I approve. Because I’m certain that I’ll do something soon that will nullify all my good deeds in your eyes.”
“Probably.” She swallowed hard. “As long as it’s not something that will get someone killed. Don’t do that, Caleb.”
“I’ll be very selective.” He frowned. “I don’t like to see you this upset. It bothers me.” He got to his feet. “And now I’d better get back to Lisa at the hotel and make certain she’s not being troublesome for Palik. She promised she’d do as I told her, but she might have had her fingers crossed.”
“She was very good when she was with me at the lake. She did exactly what I asked her to do. My only complaint was that she did too much.”
“I rest my case.”
“When will you be back?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. Try to rest. I don’t think Teresa will bother you.”
“As long as I don’t antagonize her?”
“That’s right. We have to make sure that she’s happy and content with herself.” His eyes were suddenly glittering with mischief. “Which reminds me that you don’t look at all like a femme fatale I can’t keep my hands off. I think we have to correct that image.”
Her eyes widened. “Not necessary.”
“Oh yes.” He fell to his knees in front of her. “I’m sure Teresa will be in to see you after I leave. We have to keep the image intact, don’t we?” He was swiftly unbuttoning her blouse. “Just a tiny bit of foreplay that will make you look the part. There’s no one who looks more beautifully sensual than you do after you’ve been touched.”