'Not all of it lies,' she answered. 'But you were the primary target.'
He shook his head. She knew then he wasn't going to believe anything she told him. She could see the pain, the raw agony in his eyes.
'He sent a woman,' he repeated. 'Your brother's a coward. He's going to die. It will be fitting justice, won't it? An eye for an eye, or in this instance, a brother for a brother.'
'Caine, you must listen to me,' she cried out. She wanted to weep because of the torment she was causing him. 'You have to understand. In the beginning, I didn't know what kind of a man you were… Oh, God, I'm so sorry…'
'Sorry?' he asked, his voice flat, devoid of all emotion.
'Yes,' she whispered. 'If you'll only listen…'
'Do you think I'm going to believe anything you tell me now?'
Jade didn't answer him. Caine seemed to be staring through her. He didn't say anything for a long time. She could almost see the fury building inside of him.
She closed her eyes against his dark expression, his anger, his hatred.
'Did you let me make love to you because Pagan ordered you to?' he asked.
She reacted as though he'd just struck her. 'That would make me a whore, Caine, and I don't whore for anyone, not even my brother.'
He didn't agree with her soon enough to placate her. Her eyes filled with tears. 'I am not a whore,'
she shouted.
The sudden roar that came from the French doors turned both Caine's and Jade's attention. The bone-chilling sound was like a battle cry.
Jade recognized the sound. Nathan had arrived. The deception was finally over.
'Did you just call my sister a whore?'
The walls shook from the venom in Nathan's deep voice. Jade had never seen her brother so angry.
She took a step toward her brother, but suddenly found herself hauled up against Caine's side.
'Don't get in my way,' he ordered, his voice mild, horribly calm.
'In the way of what?' she asked. 'You aren't going to hurt my brother, Caine. I won't let you.'
'Get your hands off her,' Nathan roared. 'Or I'll kill you.'
'Nathan,' Jade cried out. 'Caine doesn't understand.' She tried to push Caine's hands away from her shoulders. It proved impossible. His grip was as tenacious as seaweed.
She didn't know who looked more furious. Nathan's scowl was just as ugly as Caine's was, just as threatening. They were equally matched, these two giant adversaries. They were bound to kill each
other if given the chance.
Nathan looked like a pirate, too. His long, dark brown hair fell way past his broad shoulders. He was dressed in snug black britches and wore his white shirt opened almost to the waist. Nathan wasn't quite
as tall as Caine was, but he was certainly just as muscular.
Yes, they would kill each other. Jade frantically tried to think of a way to ease the situation while the
two men took each other's measure.
'I asked you a question, you bastard,' Nathan shouted again. He took a threatening step forward.
'Did you call my sister a whore?'
'He didn't call me a whore,' Jade shouted when Nathan reached for the knife in his waistband.
'He doesn't know about Colin. I kept my word not to tell him.'
Nathan hesitated. Jade pressed her advantage. 'He thinks you killed Colin. He has it all figured out, Nathan.'
Nathan's hand moved back to his side, away from his dagger. Jade went weak with relief. 'He has, has he?' Nathan drawled out.
Caine stared at the intruder, knowing now there couldn't be any doubt that the pirate was Jade's brother. They both had the same green eyes.
'Damn right I figured it out,' Caine suddenly roared. 'You're Pagan and you did kill my brother.'
She pushed away from Caine and took a step toward Nathan. Caine roughly shoved Jade behind his
back. 'Don't try to go to him, Jade.'
'Are you trying to protect me from my own brother?' she asked.
Caine didn't answer her.
'Did he touch you?' Nathan shouted the question as though it was a blasphemy.
'Nathan, will you quit that topic?' she cried out. 'Now isn't the time to discuss such a personal matter.'
'Be silent,' Caine commanded.
Jade grabbed hold of the back of his shirt when he started forward. The action didn't waylay him. Caine kicked the ornately carved tea cart out of his path and continued toward his prey. 'Damn right I touched her,' he roared. 'Wasn't that all part of the plan, you bastard?'
Nathan let out a roar, then rushed forward. The two men were like bulls charging at each other.
