On the Hunt - Page 62

“Yes, it would.” She tried to keep her voice steady. “But I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that. You’re not going to be around for much longer.”

“Oh, I believe I will,” he said. “Whatever would keep me from your charming presence? However, I have to compliment you on figuring out exactly how I could get my hands on Fiona. But you were late there also, weren’t you? I think I’m coming closer and closer to having you exactly where I want you. I see that you’ve called Fiona twice recently but haven’t made contact. I’m sure that your messages will give her hope for the future. She hasn’t had much of that recently, poor child.”

Don’t show him how much he’d shocked and frightened her, Kira told herself. He wouldn’t understand it. Listen to him and try to deal with him on his own terms. “Have you hurt her?”

“Not yet. I was saving that for when I can bring Fiona and her dear uncle together. What a reunion that will be. I can hardly wait.”

Kira had been right. Deal with him on his own terms. “May I talk to Fiona?”

“Not right away. Unfortunately she became a little violent and I had to administer a strong sedative that would let her sleep. But you can see her.” A photo flashed on the screen of her phone. “Just a little blood…”

Fiona was lying on a bed with wrists and ankles tied. The blood was on her wrists and upper lip. She was obviously unconscious. “You are a complete bastard.” Kira tried to mask the bitterness she felt. “She’s only fifteen.”

“I’m aware of all her pertinent details,” Taylor said. “I’ve been considering using her as a prize to give my men for special services. But she also has the misfortune to be related to Harlan. Too bad for her.”

She tried to keep her tone as cold as his. “He’ll kill you if you touch her, you know.”

“Or it might be that this will bring us together in the way that I most desire. It would be a delightful punishment, and I’ve waited a long time for that. Most of the time, she’s been penned up on those castle grounds and proving most elusive for my men.”

Kira tried to think quickly. If she could find a way to turn his attention from Fiona, she might be able to strike some kind of balance…

Balance… bargain… strike a deal… think!

“It just shows that you can’t have everything, Taylor. You shouldn’t expect it.” She paused. “And in this case, you’re asking way too much. You made it clear what comes first for you. It’s the treasure, and Harlan can’t give you what he doesn’t have.”

“Nonsense. Harlan will give me whatever I want when I start hurting her,” Taylor said bluntly. “In the past, the Harlan family has proved very generous and loving, and that gives me quite a decent weapon. Look at how long he’s been hunting me since I killed his dear brother, Colin.”

“But he can’t give up what he doesn’t have,” Kira repeated. “That treasure you’re so eager to take away from Harlan doesn’t actually belong to him. It belongs jointly to Kalim and me. I was going to give Harlan a share for his trouble in protecting me from you. But in the end, the big bucks will be mine.”

He paused. “I… don’t believe you.”

But he could be starting to, she realized. “Then do your research. Everyone knows that all the media stories about the treasure were about me, not Harlan. And what did Abdullah tell you about Harlan and the treasure before you killed him?”

“That you were probably sleeping with Harlan and that the underwater equipment you were using belonged to his Moroccan company.”

“True. But also that Kalim was a special friend who liked me and supported me long before Harlan showed up on the scene. Didn’t it ever occur to you that we’d also been lovers?”

“Of course it occurred to me,” Taylor said slowly. “Just what are you offering, Kira?”

“What do you think? You’re very good at trading, aren’t you? I’ve heard you say yourself you always want it all. Isn’t that right? Well, I want a chance to have it all, too. But I don’t have the stomach for killing teenage girls that you do. I’ll settle for a generous share of those jewels like the sample I brought up from the bottom of Kalim’s caves. And if I can find a way to work it, I’ll also try to get either Kalim or Harlan to share their wealth with me for the pleasure of my company in bed.” Her lips twisted. “Though that might not happen with a bloodthirsty savage like you running the show.”

“You’d have to be very clever to make that happen,” Taylor said. “But yes, chances are still slim. It would interfere with all my prime motivations.”

“Or it could make it easier to make the kills you were planning and also scoop up the treasure and get away with it in all the confusion. Are you smart enough to do that? I don’t think so, Taylor.”

“You don’t know anything,” he said harshly. “You’re just a little whore out to score. You don’t know what I’ve done in the past or what I’m capable of. But Harlan knows how difficult it is to fool me.”

Kira said fiercely, “What I do know is that I’m really the only one who knows where the treasure is located and how to get my hands on it.” She added, “And I know that you’ll have to trade me Fiona to give to Harlan or he’s not going to trust me or give me anything else I want. Since I’ll have to have Harlan’s sleds to bring up the treasure, I’ll have to go through him to get them.”

“And what do I get in exchange?”

“What do you think?” Kira asked. “What you don’t get from me is Harlan or his niece to torture or kill to amuse yourself. That would cause too much trouble with law enforcement and they’d be all over us. You haven’t been showing a low profile lately. So you’ll have to work on getting that kind of kick on your own.” She deliberately made her tone mocking. “However, in exchange I’ll escort you down to the caverns to find and load that treasure onto a cruiser like the one you had spying on us from Abdullah’s village. You provide the cruiser. I’ll supply the treasure.”

“That’s not good enough. How do I know you won’t betray me?”

“You don’t. Set your own conditions. I’m sure you’ll have a few ideas.”

“Yes, I will,” he said grimly. “One, you should realize that Fiona is no longer on your cozy little island. I had her smuggled out earlier this evening. I had that vet who was treating the horse she was so worried about tell everyone to keep away from the stable so he wouldn’t spread germs to the other horses. So don’t think you can just pick her up and snatch her away from me.”