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Fear and bile rose in equal measures, but she held her ground. “I swear to you, that wasn’t what I intended when I came here. I just wanted to help any way I could. And if you mean what you say about Nawaka being your home, then you should know that kidnapping us will only send the wrong message.”
His smile changed to one of speculation. “So you care about what happens to my people?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then accept my hospitality. Prove it by staying here,” he said, his gaze holding the implacable challenge.
No!The silent scream threatened to burst from her chest, and she barely managed to hold it in. “What good will I do from here?” Her voice emerged shaky.
“We live in an era of astounding technology, Belle. Don’t let your surroundings fool you.”
Sheer terror threatened to immobilize her. She’d already seen his satellite phone and the powerful weapons his soldiers wielded. God only knew what other pieces of software and hardware he had at his disposal.
If Charles Mwana decided to keep her—all of them—here indefinitely, chances were they would never be found.
Belle couldn’t let that happen. Father Tom, for one, despite having lived in and served in harsh environments like these, would never make it.
“Or perhaps everything you say about wanting to help my people is a lie. In which case, you’re of no use to me.” With a careless shrug, he turned away again.
“Stop!” She swallowed hard, her insides churning with terror. She’d seen the way he watched her. And she wasn’t naïve enough to think the offer to take his bed was a completely altruistic one born out of the need to keep her safe. “I’ll stay for a while and help you with whatever you need help with. But I’lldo it on one condition.” She balled her fists to stop their shaking. “You let the others go.”
He gave a soft laugh. “Just like a Westerner. Even in a hopeless predicament, you think you can throw about ultimatums. But I’m tempted by your offer.” His gaze dropped to her lips, his gaze darkening when it rose to capture hers. “Very tempted.”
His face relaxed, and his lips curled into a smug smile of satisfaction. Reaching out, he traced a rough knuckle down her cheek. A bubble of terror grew deep inside her at the anticipatory gleam in his eyes.
“You caught and held my attention from the first moment I saw you. In another time, another place, this would’ve gone down differently, but destiny has placed us here, so this is how it has to be, you understand?” he murmured softly.
She didn’t, not really, but she nodded anyway, as she slid down the slippery slope toward hopeless despair. A sudden thought teased her brain, and she grasped it with both hands. Would her condition buy her time? What if it backfired? It would be a calculated risk, but it might just pay off. She took a deep breath.
“Th…there’s something you should know.”
His smile disappeared, replaced once again by a deadly stare.
“What is it?”
“It— It’s my time of the m-month.” Incomprehension clouded his face.
She felt her face redden. “My period. I started my period last night,” she stated baldly.
When she’d felt the familiar cramping just after they started their nightly trek yesterday, she’d inwardly raged at Mother Nature for compounding her predicament with yet another situation she was unprepared for. The handkerchief-sized scarf she’d worn to protect her head from the fierce sun saved herfrom total humiliation. Now she gladly welcomed the cramps and discomfort. It might just save her from the rebel leader’s repulsive attentions.
Ancient Nawakan tradition prohibited men from touching women during their monthly cycle. From their conversation this afternoon, it seemed Mwana had assimilated every aspect of being a Nawakan. Dared she hope he had adopted all of its traditions as well? She mentally crossed desperate fingers, almost afraid to blink as his expression darkened.
He captured her chin in his hands, proving that he didn’t believe in theno-touchingrule at the very least. “I hope you’re not trying to play me for a fool, Belle.”
She stopped breathing. “I-I’m not. I promise.” She deliberately softened her voice and relaxed her body.
For an eternity he stared at her. Finally, he said, “I could ask you to prove what you’ve just told me, yet I am choosing to believe you. But understand this. Break my trust, and things will not end well for you.”
Relief swept through her. “I understand.”
His gaze dropped to her lips once more. Belle tugged her chin away and spoke before he could put the clear intention in his eyes to action. “What about releasing my colleagues?”
“The ransom demand has already been set in motion with the Dutch couple’s family. I will make my decision about the priest in the morning. As for you, if you’re being truthful about your reasons for coming to Nawaka, about your respect for my country and my people, then you will be given a chance to prove it.”
A scream rose in her throat. She quashed it. She would not break down, would not give him the satisfaction. She almost laughed at the twisted irony of her thought.
Heart hammering, she folded her arms to hide their trembling. “I meant every word.”