been one of your primary faults. Along with monumental arrogance. You were always sure that you were smarter than I was.' Almost casually, he took an automatic pistol from his jacket pocket and pointed it at Devon. 'But in this case you may have come through with something of value.'
Devon stiffened, the breath leaving her body. 'What's all this about, Lincoln?'
'Betrayal. Greed. Perhaps, death. The last rather depends on you.'
'Stop talking bull, Lincoln.' Bridget turned to Devon. 'You don't have to be afraid if you do what we say. It could all be over tomorrow if Marrok agrees to terms.'
'Losing your nerve?' Lincoln smiled. 'She didn't want to be the one actually to threaten you, Devon. It surprised me. She's not usually this soft. She needed me to point the gun, pull the trigger.' He gestured with the gun. 'Go into the bedroom and relax. I've got it all prepared for you. Windows boarded up and not a hint of a weapon to be found.'
Devon didn't move.
'Never doubt I
'Bridget is mistaken.'
'Perhaps. But she's seldom wrong, and if it's not enough of a weakness for negotiation, it may at least give me the plea sure of depriving him of something he wants. I owe him one.'
'He would never give up the dogs.'
'He might. It's my best chance to date.'
Devon turned to Bridget. 'You're going to let him do this?'
'I told him to do it,' she said coolly. 'I've been fighting him for too long. We both knew it was only a matter of time until I came over to his side. Marrok wanted me to put you in storage to keep you safe, and it was my chance. You made it easy for me.' She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. 'It's funny how things just seemed to fall into place. Almost as if it was meant to be. I had the opportunity, and I took it.'
Devon shook her head incredulously. 'You're too smart really to believe Marrok would give up the dogs for me.'
'We'll have to see, won't we?' Bridget stared her in the eye. 'I have to end this.'
'By killing the dogs? You know Lincoln won't guarantee he'll keep them alive. By killing me?'
Bridget flinched. 'The dogs have a better chance with Lincoln than Danner. It has to end.' She shook her head. 'Marrok can't win against the kind of people he's up against. I've known that all along. Now it's all going down, and he can't even see it.' Her lips tightened. 'And I may as well get my share.'
Devon turned back to Lincoln. 'She's sold you a bill of goods. Marrok won't bargain for me.'
'I tend to believe you. I've not seen anything or anyone that would make Marrok give up what he wanted to keep.' He added, 'But I could be wrong. I desperately want to be wrong. I've waited too long for a break that would give me the dogs. Bridget was very convincing.'
'Why would Marrok give up a fortune to save someone he barely knows?'
Lincoln shrugged. 'He's impulsive. Savages are sometimes irrational. And he never really wanted the money the dogs would bring him. He wanted his revenge.'
'And to save the dogs.'
'Now that would truly be irrational. Even you can see that one doesn't risk everything to save four-footed friends.'
'No, I can't see that. The dogs mean more to him than I do.'
'You're seeing your own feelings in Marrok.' He gestured impatiently with the gun. 'And you'd better hope you're wrong. Now shut up and go to the bedroom.'
'Do it,' Bridget said. 'He won't hurt you if you don't resist.'
Devon moved slowly toward the bedroom door. What was she going to do? There was no way she was going to let that bastard get away with this. Two more steps and she would be within a yard of where Lincoln stood.
'Devon.' Bridget was staring at her expression. 'No.'
Devon was close enough now. 'Go to hell.' She threw her shoulder purse at Lincoln's gun and dove for his knees.
'Shit.' Lincoln was on top of her, swinging the butt of the gun viciously at her head.
Pain.
Darkness.
'YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO HURT her.' Bridget fell to her knees beside Devon. 'Bastard.'
'I was supposed to do what I had to do to keep the bitch from escaping,' Lincoln said as he picked Devon up, carried her into the bedroom, and threw her onto the bed. 'Now get out of my way, Bridget. You've done your part.'
Bridget slowly got to her feet. 'Yes, I've done my part.' Smother the anger. It would do no good. 'Make sure you keep her safe, or there won't be a deal.'
'I won't kill the goose that could lay the golden egg. You'd just better be right about her.'
She didn't answer. She couldn't trust herself to speak. She walked out of the house and didn't look back.
THE SUN WAS BLINDING AS MARROK jumped out of the helicopter at Paco's canyon. 'Come on, Addie. I'll take you up to visit your old buddies. They're waiting for you.'
The golden retriever jumped out of the aircraft and ran ahead.
'Where are you keeping the dogs?' Walt got out of the helicopter. 'I don't see anyone.'
'You're not supposed to see anyone. I had Larry Farland take a team up on the bluffs first thing this morning. Men are stationed all over the canyon. The dogs are in an enclosure above the cave.' Bridget should have called him by now, dammit. It had been hours since they'd left the ranch. What was she doing? 'See, Addie knows where they are. She's streaking right up the path toward them.'
'I'm surprised Sarah actually let you take Addie. She was definitely hostile.'
'I told her I'd bring her back in a few days. If I don't, she'll probably come after her… and me.'
'You could have left Addie. No one is going to monkey with the property of a man who could be president of the United States in a few years.'
'It has to be all four dogs. Danner wants them all.'
'And when do you issue the invitation?'
'I don't, you do. We switched aircraft today to throw Danner off, but tomorrow you go back to Sarah's place and pick up Nick Gilroy. No switch of helicopter then. You let Danner's men follow you here. They'll report back to Danner and watch us for a day or two. We'll make sure they see what they want to see. Four dogs. Not too big a force to keep them from taking them.'
'It's still a risk.'
Did Walt think Marrok didn't know that? 'They're at risk every day. I have to get rid of Danner.'
Walt didn't speak for a moment. 'Where's Bridget taking Devon?'
'Some place in northern California. She said she'd call me when they got there.' But she hasn't called yet, he thought again in frustration.
Walt frowned. 'I don't like this, Marrok.'
He stiffened. 'Too bad. Neither do I. But it's done now.'
'Bridget is a professional. She could hurt Devon without even meaning to do it if Devon struggles with her.'
'She won't hurt her.'
'I'm glad one of us is sure of that.'
He wasn't sure, Marrok thought. He knew how easily accidents happened in a fight, and Devon would never give up easily. 'What the hell was I supposed to do?' he asked harshly. 'Let her stick around until Danner came down on us like a ton of bricks?'
'Easy.' Walt held up his hand. 'I just wanted to make sure you knew what Bridget can be when-'
'I know what Bridget can be,' Marrok interrupted. 'But she promised she'd take care of Devon. I have to trust her.'
'Whatever.' Walt's stride lengthened as he reached the cave. 'I'm going to go visit the dogs. They're a hell of a lot better-tempered than you.'
