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J oe Quinn arrived at the encampment, accompanied by a very substantial team, late that afternoon.

The first thing Celine noticed was that his demeanor was as taut and sharp as a drawn sword blade.

She automatically tensed as she saw him coming toward her in deep conversation with Dominic.

When she’d talked to him on the phone that one time, he’d been angry and impatient, but this man was cold…

and deadly. She scrambled to her feet and moved toward them.

“I’m glad to see you, Quinn. I’m sorry about Eve and Michael. It’s terrible.”

“Of course it is,” Quinn said curtly. “Stop apologizing. It wasn’t your fault.

You did the best you could and tried to warn us.

They were my family and my responsibility.

I should be the one to take any blame for not stopping those sons of bitches.

” His lips tightened. “But blame is pretty damn hollow. I’ve decided to stick with revenge after I find a way to get Eve and Michael away from that village. ”

“I know how you feel,” Celine said. “You might remember I had a friend murdered by Caldwell. I prefer to call it justice.”

“Call it what you like,” Dominic said. “Let’s just get the action under way and get rid of them as efficiently as possible.

” He glanced at Celine. “Quinn just told me that Eve was permitted to call him for a few minutes earlier this morning. She couldn’t give him any information, but both she and Michael appeared to be in good health and will probably stay that way as long as Eve continues to work on the mask. ”

“Until she finishes it,” Quinn said. “Then all bets are off.” He smiled bitterly.

“Eve will realize that, and if she were anyone else, she’d try to slow down.

But she can’t work that way. She’s too blasted brilliant.

She can’t run the job, the job runs her.

She might try to slow a little, but it probably won’t happen. ”

“I’d heard that about Eve,” Celine murmured. “You must be terribly worried about her. We probably shouldn’t waste any time getting out of here.”

“We’ve already started,” Quinn said. “Caleb is the best tracker on the team, and the minute we heard from Eve he broke away from the unit and headed toward that waterfall Dominic told me about on the phone. He’ll probably be able to report to us when he manages to rendezvous with the men Dominic sent to explore that trail through the maze. ”

“That’s good,” Celine said. “So I guess we’d better start out right away.”

“No,” Dominic said flatly.

Quinn shrugged. “Dominic was just telling me about the disagreement about your coming along with us. I can see his point of view. I have to tell you that Eve would probably agree with him. I remember she was worried about you when you left the Lake Cottage that day. You appear to be in a particularly sensitive situation that makes you very vulnerable.”

But he hadn’t come out and actually refused her yet, Celine realized.

She said quickly, “I wouldn’t be in your way.

I’m strong. I’d be able to keep up with any of your team.

I’m an excellent shot with either a pistol or a rifle, and hand-to-hand martial arts are really my specialty.

” She was trying to read his expression.

“And I have a medical degree, and Dominic will tell you my instructors described my skills as excellent. I would be able to help on the spot if members of your family or team require my services.”

Quinn was smiling reluctantly. “Impressive. But it’s really Dominic who’s in charge at the moment. I have to concentrate on getting Eve and Michael away from those bastards.”

She shook her head. “Dominic will refuse whether you agree or not. I consider it my duty, so I’m going regardless. I just don’t want to have you think I’ll be a burden. It will make my presence less valuable to you.”

Quinn studied her for a moment and then shrugged again.

“The medical degree won me over. I think even Eve might have cast her vote in your favor since she has to think about Michael.” He turned to Dominic, who was cursing softly.

“My team needs at least four hours of sleep before we start on the trek. I’ll meet you here then.

Do what you will with Celine. I’d probably feel exactly the way you do under the same circumstances.

But the circumstances aren’t the same. I can’t look at her any differently from anyone else who might help me save my family from those butchers.

So hell yes, I’ll be glad to have her along.

She might be useful. In the end, that’s the only thing that’s important.

” He turned and stalked back toward his vehicle, where his team was waiting.

“Yes, I might be useful,” Celine said softly.

She held up her hand when Dominic whirled to face her.

“No, don’t start trying to argue with me.

I’m going to Shafira and I won’t listen.

React however seems right to you, but I don’t have time to stay around and try to convince you that there will be times when I can’t do what you want.

Right now, I have to go get my equipment and then I want to go find Kontara and say goodbye.

She’s probably already upset by all this.

” She was heading toward the tents. “Like Quinn said, I’ll see you in four hours… ”

“Celine.”

She glanced back over her shoulder.

“This isn’t over,” he said quietly. “I can’t let it be over. You’ve just made it more difficult for me.”

“Too bad. I only want to help. This is all kind of scary and it would be so much better if I could count on you. But regardless, it has to be done…”

She disappeared into the tent area.

“Who told you that I’d want to say goodbye to you?

” Kontara crossed her arms across her chest and stared belligerently at Celine.

“How many times have I told you that what you’re doing is stupid and reckless and you don’t deserve anyone to care about what’s going to happen when you get to Shafira?

I’ve described what happened to me and all those other women at that hideous camp.

You probably won’t even be able to find the damn place.

You realize how difficult it was for me to escape?

Just thinking about those bastards makes me start to shake.

Why would you believe you’re anything special? ”

“I don’t believe that,” Celine said. “Probably the opposite. I know how strong you are and what you’ve gone through.

But that’s one of the reasons I have to go.

” She tried to smile. “Because it has to stop and we have to punish them for doing it. And now they have Eve and that little kid, and that makes everything even worse.”

“Oh, shit.” Kontara’s arms were suddenly around her, hugging her.

“Why didn’t you listen to me?” she asked fiercely.

“Why didn’t you pay attention to Dominic?

What good is a lover if they don’t keep you safe and make sure you have a chance to live a few more days?

I thought better of him.” She backed away from Celine.

“Okay, I’m done. I’m finished. Get out of here.

You’ve said goodbye and now you’re going to do this stupid thing and expect me to be sorry and worry about you.

Well, it’s not going to happen. I’m going to go into my tent and go to sleep and pay no attention to when you and those soldiers of Dominic’s leave the camp. ”

“Whatever’s best for you.” Celine gave her a hug. “Take care of yourself. I know it hasn’t been easy for you to help lead us here. I just wanted to come and tell you how much you mean to me and how glad I was that you were my friend.”

“Oh, shit,” Kontara said again in disgust. “And now you pull that past-tense bullshit?” She turned back to her tent. “Try not to get killed. I hate to be right all the time.”

“I’ll do my very best,” Celine said.

“See that you do.” Kontara disappeared inside.

Celine hesitated, gazing at the door of the tent. Then she cleared her very tight throat and started up the hill toward her own tent to pack.

SHAFIRA

“You’re burning the midnight oil again.” Caldwell threw open the door of the workroom and strode over to the table where Eve was starting to do the repair work on the head of the mummy reconstruction.

She had been using delft clay for a mold that could withstand the melting-point temperature of pure gold.

“I know you’re trying to impress Zakira to try to influence him, but I have a few needs that should be taken care of myself.

” He threw the phone on her lap. “Phone Quinn and let him know you’re still doing well. ”

“Why?”

“What difference does it make? It was your idea in the first place. But since that first call, my men haven’t been able to track down either Quinn or his men. It’s as if they disappeared into the jungle after they visited Dominic’s plantation. I’m uneasy. Now make the call.”

She shrugged. “Whatever you say. I’ll be glad to talk to him again.” She dialed Joe’s number. When he answered, she asked quickly, “Are you okay, Joe? It seems Caldwell is uneasy, and that made me uneasy. We’re fine here, and things are just the same.”

“That’s good to know,” Joe said. “I’m still as well as I can be without you.

I’m fighting mosquitoes and cursing the entire continent of Africa at present.

I just have to keep telling myself that everything is going to be fine if we just hold on.

I remember what you told me after you found out Michael was taken. It helps a lot.”