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As they ran past the tree line, Celine spotted a large black object just over six feet tall. Then another. Then another.

“What are those?” she asked.

“Keep moving. You’ll see in a few seconds.”

She heard more voices behind them, and the bullets were getting close to finding their mark.

“Get down!” Dominic pulled her into another small gully and pushed a button on his wristwatch.

“What did you just do?”

Celine heard a mechanized whirring, and she and Dominic peered over the gully just in time to see the black objects swing around and cut loose with a torrent of gunfire aimed back at their pursuers.

The men’s excited voices were replaced with screams of pain as the machine guns mowed them down with incredible precision.

Dominic ducked back down and checked his watch. “Each of those sentry guns is equipped with a two-thousand-round magazine. They’re set up with motion sensors for their targeting.”

The pursuers’ anguished shouts continued as Celine ducked back down next to him. She might have been horrified by their death screams if they hadn’t just been trying to kill her. “Cool gadgets.”

“I thought you’d approve.” He was dialing Caleb as he spoke. When Caleb picked up, he said, “You know you said you wanted to escalate the action?”

“Yes, and you were being very boring about it.”

“I hate to disappoint. Escalate.” He paused. “All the way.”

“Yes! I’ll be right back with you.” Caleb pressed DISCONNECT .

And Dominic grabbed Celine’s elbow and pushed her into a run. “Let’s keep going.”

After he’d hung up with Dominic, Caleb crouched on a hillside with his binoculars, staring at the twisted spectacle of Zakira’s army celebrating their dear leader with music, sparklers, and a feast that could have fed a group a hundred times its size.

In the middle was a huge platform altar equipped with leg and arm restraints.

The sight sickened him. Zakira was obviously prepared to serve up Celine’s human sacrifice for his assembled guests.

To hell with that.

He reached for the knapsack Dominic had given him.

Celine and Dominic had traveled less than a mile from the site of the sentry guns when a familiar voice called out from the darkness.

“Celine Kelly!”

More than familiar to Celine. It had to be Caldwell.

“How naughty you were, Celine,” he shouted again.

“You’re responsible for the death of almost twenty of my men.

How does that feel? Not that I minded you ridding me of that fool Jossland.

In fact, you chose a very convenient time.

But it annoys me not to be in control of a situation.

So I think I’ll have to kill Dominic to teach you a lesson.

Of course you’re reserved for Zakira. But I’ll enjoy watching your face as Dominic is torn apart. ”

Dominic was motioning her to stay silent, and there was no way she’d give Caldwell the satisfaction of even thinking she’d heard him. Evidently, she had discouraged him, because he didn’t call out again.

“That wasn’t pleasant,” she murmured to Dominic. “I hope that surprise you arranged is right around the corner? I’m afraid I’m a trifle breathless.”

“It is. Caleb reminded me that you’re still wounded, so I made plans to accommodate.

” He had his arm around her waist again and was bearing most of her weight as they reached the edge of the forest. “There’s a cave only a few yards away.

Tuck yourself inside it, keep quiet, and prepare to watch the show.

” He was climbing a tall sycamore tree as he spoke and pulled out his automatic pistol and adjusted it on one of branches near the top of the tree.

“Come on, Caleb,” he whispered. “It’s almost time.

I promised her that surprise, and we don’t want to disappoint her. ”

As if on cue, Caleb’s voice came over his mobile phone. “I’m all set here. Zakira’s soldiers are standing by for an attack at the parade grounds when they bring Celine down for the ceremony. Zakira has a particularly deadly-looking machete that he’s brandishing while he’s waiting for her.”

“He’ll never get a chance to use it,” Dominic said coldly as he aimed at one of Caldwell’s men who had appeared on the horizon. “Not if you did what I asked you to do.”

“Of course I did,” Caleb said. “There’s nothing I like better than a carefully coordinated attack on a fine night like this. I told you how envious I was about you taking over the heliport action. I’m still available if you need any assistance.”

“I’ll let you know.” Dominic took out the sniper, watching the man drop to the ground. He set up the next shot. “I’m well aware of your willingness to accommodate. Or perhaps I should use the term eagerness instead.”

“Perhaps you should,” Caleb said quietly. “It’s definitely more appropriate. I consider Eve Duncan family, and those bastards have been putting her through hell. It’s been a pleasure finding a way to work out the right payback.”

“I believe we’ve found it,” Dominic said. “Though I’m sure Caldwell will disagree. He was hurling threats at us when we were running through the forest and probably thinks he’s got us cornered. But I was just about to phone and nag you for dragging your feet when you called me.”

“I never permit nagging, Dominic. You should have realized that perfection always requires a little longer. But I’ll forgive you since you’ve engineered such an entertaining evening for me.” Then he added crisply, “I’ve just had Kontara forward Zakira’s location coordinates to your phones.”

“Perfect,” Dominic said.

Caleb suddenly chuckled. “Well, it just got a little more perfect. Caldwell just showed up here with a couple of his men.”

“Caldwell?” Dominic repeated. “He was just here.”

“Evidently, he’s impatient. He probably wants to borrow a detachment of Zakira’s soldiers to hunt down you and Celine.”

“Oh, my God,” Dominic murmured. “We’ll never have another chance like this.”

“Tell me you’re ready.” Caleb was whispering. “Tell me you’re going to let me be the one to do it.”

“I’m not shutting you out. I thought I might send some of our best snipers to pick you up to help.”

“Not necessary,” Caleb said.

“You can’t do this alone, Caleb.”

“I’m not alone. I have Quinn, who has an entire team staked out on the next hill over.

He’s very eager to go after any stragglers who manage to survive our first attack.

Not that I expect many of those. You’ll recall he was very pissed off at Caldwell and Zakira after he found out the way Eve was treated in their less-than-tender care.

Plus, I have a knapsack full of your puck explosives.

We’ll see if they’re as impressive as you claim. ”

“It’s still too risky,” Dominic said. “Don’t do it.”

“It’s already half done, Dominic. I think you just want to be here to see it for yourself. I’ll tell you what: I’ll link this phone to the pucks. In ninety seconds, you give the command.”

“You’re insane.”

Caleb chuckled. “I’ve been called worse.

Much worse. But I wouldn’t disobey an order from you.

Give the command and look to the west. You’ll see a grand finale to end all grand finales.

” He was gone from the phone for a few seconds.

Then he was back on the line. “That was Eve. She wants to talk to you before you give that order. Any objection?”

“What the hell?” Dominic asked in exasperation. “Why not? By all means. Next you’ll want a group call.”

“Nah, I’m too impatient to get on with the show,” Caleb said. “But Eve would never ask anything like this without a reason.” He paused. “You have eighty seconds now, Dominic.”

Dominic ruefully shook his head, but he was already climbing down from the tree and running toward the cave where he’d left Celine. “Caleb wants to take on Zakira’s entire army by himself. He’s certifiable.”

“It’s obviously personal to him, too,” Celine said. “He believes he’s just getting the job done.”

“Maybe.” Dominic looked at his watch for another forty-five seconds, imagining Zakira, Caldwell, and their minions standing so proudly, waiting for what they thought would be their greatest triumph.

Screw them.

“But evidently Eve has something she wants to tell me.” Dominic was quickly calling her number.

She picked up immediately.

“I only have a few seconds, Eve,” he said. “Why do you want to talk to me?”

“It’s not really you I want to speak to. I asked Caleb to connect your line to Zakira and Caldwell when you called me. I have something to say to them.”

They could suddenly hear Caldwell muttering curses and then Zakira screaming orders at someone in the background.

“I’m sorry to disturb your party, Caldwell,” Eve called out to them.

“But since Celine and I were to be your guests of honor and we’re definitely not coming, it would have been ruined anyway.

How about changing it to a surprise party with you as the primary guests?

I think we did a good job of arranging for that theme. ”

“What’s happening, Caldwell?” Zakira was shouting. “This is all your fault.”

“Shut up,” Caldwell roared. “Can’t you see this has to be a trap? Isn’t that right, Eve? And you’re the one who always wants this stupid butchery, Zakira. I’m getting out of here!”

“Too late, Caldwell,” Eve said. “I’m afraid Dominic is probably checking his watch now.

Besides, you’re the one who encouraged that butchery, remember?

I have only one more thing to say. Soon there’s going to be fire and explosions and intense pain.

And while you’re feeling it, I want you both to remember what you said to me that day you killed that poor innocent child for no reason at all.

Listen very carefully,” she said softly and deliberately. “It’s happening because we chose it.”

She pressed DISCONNECT , and her call vanished from Dominic’s screen.

Dominic turned to Celine and said quietly, “I believe Eve said it all, didn’t she?”