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“I have mixed feelings about my motives. But Celine Kelly has reentered the picture, and I may need her as the wild card that wins me the game. You owe her a great deal. In case no one has seen fit to tell you, she’s the one who saved your son and gave those others involved in your little plot the chance to escape.

” He paused. “We know she’s been wounded, but we’re searching diligently to find her.

Zakira is very eager for reasons of his own.

I believe you’ve probably been told why.

If we find her alive, I might have reason to negotiate with you again.

By then I’ll have all the power I need.” He opened the door.

“I’d not waste any time getting back to that lost queen you’re working on.

You’ll have to show your progress to Zakira, too, if it comes down to those negotiations. ”

“Wait.” Eve had to ask the question. “You’re right.

Except for your men coming in here and questioning me and searching the workroom, no one has told me anything.

You said you thought Celine might be alive, and I seriously doubt you’d be here asking questions if your people had killed or captured anyone else. ”

“Someone like your husband? I thought Quinn might be involved, but he was wise enough to not show himself around the village and let that whore Kontara take care of snatching the kid.”

“She’s not a whore. She’s a victim and a very brave one. She’s a survivor.”

“Well, I should tell you how Jossland did his usual fine work and damaged them terribly. It would serve you right for your part in this annoying mess.”

“But that would be another lie.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “So they’re all safe except for Celine?”

He nodded curtly. “She kept Jossland so busy chasing her down that they had time to escape the village. That damn Kontara evidently knows enough about Shafira territory to help them find their way back to Quinn’s team.”

“That’s what she told me,” Eve said. “Or I would never have let her take Michael. Thank you for telling me.”

“Don’t be too happy about it.” His lips were curled into an ugly twist. “Because I don’t like to lose.

I’m already planning how to make all of you suffer.

I think perhaps it will have to do with what we’re planning to do with Celine once we’ve found her.

Perhaps it will involve sending her body parts to everyone who has given me an uncomfortable moment.

Yes, that sounds like just what I need to top off that ceremony Zakira is planning.

” His brilliant smile was full of self-satisfaction.

“Now I must run along. I feel inspired to get my men to find Celine with even more speed so that I can start the process right away…”

Eve shuddered as the door closed behind Caldwell.

She hadn’t the slightest doubt that he’d meant every word of that statement describing what he intended to do to Celine Kelly when she was found.

The man was clearly a split personality, and one of them was this ugly savage that had been revealed only a few minutes ago.

She was feeling terribly helpless at the thought of Celine out there wounded and alone with men like Caldwell hunting her down with only the intention of inflicting more pain on her.

She had deliberately put herself between those killers and Michael, Joe, and Kontara.

Eve wanted to rush out and help her. But she was a prisoner and could do nothing, dammit.

And now that Michael was free, she was no longer of use to him, either.

All she could do was pray that Joe and Dominic would find Celine before Caldwell and Zakira did.

No, prayers were all very well, but she could do something else.

The only power she really had was her work on Folashade.

Caldwell had been sarcastic, but what he’d said about her value being linked to the queen was true.

So it had to be the strongest weapon she possessed.

Yes, think good thoughts and pray that Celine wasn’t in some cave bleeding out from that damn wound.

But now it was time for Eve to get off her ass and go into the workroom and start working so that she might be able to negotiate a way to get Celine out of Caldwell’s hands if she managed to survive everything that had already happened to her.

The next moment, Eve was on her feet and heading for the door leading to the workroom.

Her hands were clenching into fists with the frustration she was feeling.

But where in the hell are you, Celine?

In the workroom, Eve moved to the golden sarcophagus. “We could use a few good wishes from you, too, Folashade. After all, you might say Celine was wounded in your service.”

She sighed. “Never mind. But if you have any influence wherever you are, we could use it about now. That’s all. I’m signing off and hope we hear from you soon.”

Then she drew a deep breath before she sat in her chair and forced herself to concentrate on the reconstruction in front of her.

Close everything else out. Because this was something that only she could do. I’m trying to help, Joe. But I wish I could be with you now. I know how you must feel about losing Celine…

“What do you mean you lost her, Quinn?” Dominic asked harshly on the phone. “How could you lose her when she swore to me she wouldn’t think of going into the damn village?”

“A few unexpected things happened,” Joe said.

“Kontara told her that she shouldn’t let herself be seen and she agreed, but then she saw that Jossland was threatening Michael and Kontara and decided that she could help them.

I didn’t even know she’d left the maze until I saw her running across the square toward the hut where Michael was being held. ”

“You should have known,” Dominic said. “You should have been right beside her. That’s where I would have been.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?” Quinn asked harshly.

“Do you believe I don’t feel like shit? I was doing a balancing act, dammit.

But everything was happening very fast, and I was worried that if I moved too quickly I’d get them all blown to kingdom come.

Celine seemed to have a handle on what was happening, and I was hoping that she’d be able to get them all out of a very tight spot and get back to the maze before reinforcements appeared on the scene.

” He paused. “But that’s not how she worked it.

She decided to give us some extra time to get out of the village.

She didn’t want me to lose Michael after we’d just managed to get him out of that hut.

So she convinced Kontara to start us on our way back up toward your camp. She said she’d catch up with us.”

“Dear God in heaven,” Dominic muttered. “Could it get any worse?”

“I don’t know,” Quinn said. “Celine’s strategy worked, but when we looked back after we reached the hills, the entire village was in turmoil. We couldn’t tell what was happening.”

Kontara snatched the phone from Quinn and spoke quickly, frantically.

“But we can guess, can’t we, Dominic? This was all my fault.

I should never have done what Celine told me.

I wanted to go back and try to find out what had happened in the village after we left, but I was afraid that Michael and Joe wouldn’t be able to find their way back to camp, or that I might even lead Caldwell to you.

But as soon as I turn them over to you, I’ll go back and find out why Celine wasn’t able to follow us.

” She added huskily, “What if it turns out I was the one responsible if something terrible happened to her?”

“Stop blaming yourself,” Dominic said harshly.

“We could all take turns doing that. I’m probably the one most likely to have put her in this nightmare.

I was in charge of the team. I didn’t stop her because she’d promised, and I thought you and Joe would be able to take care of her.

Obviously, I was wrong. But she still wouldn’t thank us.

You know she’s always fiercely passionate about anyone interfering with her life or what she needs to do.

All we can do is get together and go after all those assholes who are a danger to her.

So get Quinn and his son to my camp, and when you get here we’ll talk about how you’re going to help turn this horror story around.

I’ve finished with the bridge and additional construction on the path, but the alternative path you’ve discovered and used will make any attack we can manage to spring that much more efficient. ”

“I need to go back,” Kontara said. “I know what it’s like to be alone in that damn village. I can’t leave her there.”

“I’m not going to tell you again.” Dominic’s voice was ice-cold.

“She won’t be alone, but I won’t let anyone go near that village without a plan to get them out.

Now get moving and take that kid somewhere I know he’ll be safe.

I’ll see you at the camp.” He cut the connection and turned to Rashid.

“You heard them. Everything is going to hell. Go back to the construction camp and bring the team that’s working on the bridge and trail back to the main camp.

I’ve had them working on those repairs for almost twenty-four hours.

I want to get them fed and rested before I have to ask them to take down those sons of bitches at Shafira.

” His smile was totally without mirth. “Though I think they’d prefer it.

They were sick and tired of having that village just out of reach and were pissed off knowing that Caldwell’s men had caused them all that work. ”

“Not only that,” Rashid said quietly. “Celine became one of the team while we were on this hellish trek through the jungle. She kept up and she never complained. Word gets around, and the guys could tell you were worried as hell when she and Quinn disappeared. It’s the same old mantra about never leaving a buddy behind.

They’re going to be ready to go after anyone who stands in their way. ”

“They’ll get their chance.” Dominic’s lips tightened. “I’ve just got to be sure that I get mine.”

Rashid tilted his head as he stared quizzically at Dominic. “Why do I sense that you’re not going to be napping or making up for any missing meals yourself while you’re waiting for Quinn and Kontara to arrive at camp?”

“Because you know me too well. There’s no way I’d be able to nap.

But as for satisfying appetites…” He smiled grimly.

“There are all sorts of ways that can happen. Did I mention that we’d no sooner finished the repairs than Seth Caleb came to me and asked if he could do an exploratory trip and verify that Shafira was at the end of the trail as we thought? ”

“You know you didn’t,” Rashid said. “You gave permission?”

“Of course. I didn’t tell you because I was jealous as hell.

I wanted to be the one to do it.” He scowled.

“But I was in charge, and there are rules. I knew Caleb could do it, and I didn’t have any excuse.

He’s damn good when he’s on the hunt. MI6 told me once he’s like a ghost the way he fades in and out of the enemy lines, and I agree.

I should be getting a report from him anytime now.

” He paused. “And he’s aware that I need to know about Celine.

Though he didn’t realize that the situation has changed, and she’s managed to slip away from Quinn and Kontara.

After that, I may have to go take a look for myself. ”

“It doesn’t sound like she slipped away. More like she didn’t want to leave any buddies behind.”

“I know,” Dominic said hoarsely. “Because that’s what she’d do. It’s still hard for me to accept. That’s why I might have to go looking for her myself.”

“If you decide you want company… She’s my friend, too.”

“I’ll call you. Don’t I always?” Dominic asked as he headed back toward the camp.

“But first we have to find out what’s happened to her and how much damage we’re going to have to contend with.

” He added through set lips, “And how many of those bastards we’re going to have to punish or kill for even daring to touch her. ”