She knew Nicos had been swayed by her words, but he was volatile and could waver and turn back at any moment.
“I know it’s all bullshit,” Brukman said sourly as he pushed her ahead of him. “But it will be worse for you if you don’t shut up about me. I don’t need Nicos getting any ideas right now that aren’t absolutely positive.”
“What could be worse for me than what you intend now?” she asked. “And Nicos doesn’t think it’s bullshit.” She looked at him over her shoulder and murmured, “You won’t either if he chooses you.…”
“Bitch!”
She smothered a cry as Brukman twisted her arm as he fastened her wrists to the manacles next to the other three prisoners chained to the long concrete wall. Then he stepped back and looked down at her. “Do you feel helpless? That’s what you are. If Nicos gives me two days with you, you’ll be begging me for forgiveness for that twisted tongue.” He glanced at the man chained next to her. “Tell her, Estefan.”
He turned on his heel and strode away.
Margaret drew a deep breath. She did feel helpless. Somehow being chained here to this wall next to these pitifully emaciated prisoners was different from being bound on that stake in the center of the yard.
“Kill … yourself.”
Her gaze flew to the man chained next to her. He might have been young or old; she couldn’t tell his age. Deep lines of suffering were carved on his face under the long shock of dark hair. His skeletal frame was almost naked and the wounds were raw and bleeding over the entire surface of his body. “You’re Diego Estefan?”
“Kill … yourself,” he repeated hoarsely. “I saw Nicos hit you.… It’s starting … again. Find a way.”
She could feel his pain, but it was dulled by despair. That, along with the fact that she had never had a chance to get to know him, were the only things that allowed her not to be drawn into his agony. It took her a moment, but she managed to block it. “We’re going to help you,” she whispered. “I promise you.”
He shook his head. “Find … a way. My wife was screaming at me to make them kill her before she died. I couldn’t … do it. I could only watch.”
The tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
He closed his eyes. “Don’t be sorry. Just don’t let them do … that to you.”
“I won’t. And I won’t let them hurt the rest of you, either.” She could see he didn’t believe her. How could he when she appeared as helpless as the rest of them chained to this damn wall?
So don’t think about feeling helpless. Think about being strong.
Concentrate.
Reach out.…
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Mandell had Brukman squarely in his sights.
One slight pressure on the hair trigger of his rifle and the son of a bitch’s head would blow off his body.
I’ve got him, Dietrich.
Just not right now, he thought regretfully.
He took out his phone and called Lassiter at the cave, where he was still with Patrick. “Nicos and Salva arrived here thirty minutes ago.”
“Margaret?”
“She’s here. Brukman had her tied to a post in the middle of the yard of the camp. But when Nicos and Salva arrived and talked to her, Brukman took the cuffs off her and then took her away somewhere.”
“Dammit, where?”
“I couldn’t tell. It was out of my field of vision. But Nicos and Salva went in another direction.” He paused. “She might be safe for a while, Lassiter. Brukman didn’t allow her to be touched during the time they were waiting for Nicos.”
“And when Nicos showed up?”
“Nicos only hit her once when they were talking.”
Lassiter swore beneath his breath. “And you still think she might be okay?”
“For a while. It could be a delicate balance.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. But the body language was an interesting dynamic. Margaret was doing the majority of the talking and Brukman and Salva appeared to be on the defensive. And at the end of the conversation, Nicos must have given the order to take her off that stake. Maybe Margaret talked herself out of something? Or a delay at least. What do you think?”
“That I’m scared shitless.” He didn’t speak for an instant. “And that Margaret isn’t going to wait for us to try for a rescue. She’s a loner. She’s doesn’t really trust anyone but herself, and she’s probably already got a plan in place to get herself away from Nicos.”
Mandell gave a low whistle. “That’s pretty impressive. I applaud the thought, but she could get in our way.”
“Or we could get in hers.”
“Either way, it might spell disaster.” Mandell paused. “I came close to trying to take out Brukman a few minutes ago. It was very tempting. But I’m too far away up here in these boulders. It would take a miracle shot. And I knew, even if I made it, that it would cause the camp to explode and it might get Margaret killed. I can’t take out Brukman without taking out Nicos and Salva. If we take out all three, then there’s no one to give the orders or pay the salaries. The entire structure of Nicos’s world would crumble.”
“Exactly. And I’m thinking…” Lassiter was silent a moment. “About body language. I’d bet Margaret would have figured that out, too. Brukman and Salva both on the defensive…”
“Is she really that good?”
“Oh, yes. What she did in Montego Bay was just the tip of the iceberg.” He was silent again, thinking. “Whatever she’s planning, she’ll probably try to do it by herself. I can’t let her do that. I have to get an idea of what she’s doing and make sure she knows we’re there for her.”
“Good thought. Difficult execution. How are you going to do it?”
“Damned if I know. As I said before, we have to start with negotiation. I’ll give Nicos a little more time and then give him a call.”
*
“Open your eyes, Margaret. Salva says you’re trying to freak me out.”
Nicos. She’d been expecting him sooner, but he’d given her at least four hours since he’d had Brukman take her down from that stake.
She opened her lids and straightened away from where she’d been leaning on the wall. She smiled at Salva, who was standing a few yards behind Nicos. “Don’t believe him. It takes concentration to gather power. I have to close everything else out to do it. And it seems as if you’re the one who’s being freaked out, Salva.” She looked at Nicos. “Nicos doesn’t seem to be frightened.” She studied him. “On the contrary, I believe he’s excited. Have you been thinking about which one you’re going to choose, Nicos?”
“Shut her up,” Salva said. “Can’t you see she’s playing you?”
Nicos chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to have her cast a spell to turn you into an anaconda.” He tilted his head. “Could you do that, Margaret?”
“Not yet. I’ve been devoting my time to the death spells. I thought that would be more beneficial for you and might help me to survive. But we might be able to make him into a zombie.”