Pandora's Daughter

moving toward you. Understand?' She nodded her gaze on the top of the hill. 'I understand.' The Redwing cemetery had been in existence since the start of the Civil War and it showed its age. Rotting wooden crosses and stone markers with the inscriptions eroded by time, overgrown patches of grass sprouted between the graves.

'Don't get too close to him. I might need a clear shot.'

'You can't shoot him. He has Phillip and Renata still hasn't been able to find where Molino's keeping him.'

He put the scope on his rifle. 'If I have to make a choice, it won't be Phillip,' he said grimly.

'Molino doesn't want to kill me. Not yet.'

Harley appeared out of the brush. 'Molino's here. He and Sienna are starting up the north slope of the hill.'

She stiffened. 'Then I'd better join him, hadn't I? We wouldn't want him to become impatient.'

She heard Grady's low curse behind her as she moved up the path. He was feeling helpless and out of control and he hated to be put in that position, she knew. Well, he would have to deal with it. She was feeling pretty helpless herself at the moment.

The moon was full and shining brightly as she caught sight of Molino and Sienna standing on the crest of the hill. Her pace hesitated for an instant as a thrill of fear went through her. Don't tense. They might be monsters but monsters could be destroyed.

Molino was smiling at her. 'Ah, Sienna, here she is. I told you that she'd be scampering to save that human refuse, Phillip. Her mother was just the same. Like mother, like daughter.'

Sienna shrugged. 'And neither of them is very smart. You're wasting your time. You have her now, kill her.'

'What do you say about that, Megan?' Molino asked. 'I keep telling Sienna that you're a worthy opponent, but he won't believe me. He thinks that I should concentrate on business.'

'If you can call that filth you do business,' Megan said as she came level with them. 'Tell me how I can get Phillip back.'

'Presently.'

'Is he still alive?'

'Yes, but I can't dial him and have him talk to you.' He chuckled. 'His communication skills aren't exactly top notch at present. I understand Gardner was excited about him squeezing his hand, but we haven't bothered to explore that route.' He tilted his head. 'I'm more interested in having you squeeze Sienna's hand.'

'What?' Sienna jerked his head around to stare at Molino. 'What the shit are you up to?'

'Why, Sienna, there's nothing to worry about. You've always doubted that my Steven was victimized by that whore who bred this viper. I could see how contemptuous you were of me and my crazy ideas. If you're right, then you can prove it now. Let her take your hand.'

'I don't want to touch him,' Megan said. 'He's as dirty as you are.'

'But you were boasting how you were going to turn me into a vegetable. Such an ugly threat. Were you bluffing?'

'I don't want to touch him,' she repeated.

'But I insist. That's why we're here. I had to know what I had to face with you, what I have to face with all those freaks listed in the Ledger. You boasted that you could find me, but that didn't happen. You bragged that you had powers like your mother, but there's no proof of that either.' He smiled. 'Show me proof, Megan.'

'I don't have to show you anything.'

'You do unless you want me to make a call and tell my men to disconnect the feeding tube from Phillip Blair.'

She shrugged. 'All right, I'll admit it. I'm no Pandora. I just wanted to make you angry.'

'Show me,' he repeated softly.

'Screw you,' Sienna said. 'I'm not going to put up with this bullshit.'

'Scared?' Molino asked. 'Why? As you said, it's only bullshit. My Steven went insane for no reason at all.'

'Don't be an ass,' Sienna said. 'It's just that I'm not willing to play your game.'

'And you're scared of the pretty lady. My, my.'

'Oh, for God's sake.' Sienna took one stride forward to stand before Megan. He thrust out his hand. 'Get it over with.'

She didn't move.

'Take his hand,' Molino said. He took out his phone. 'I'll give you thirty seconds before I make the call.'

She glared at him. 'Why don't you let me take your hand, Molino?'

'Because Sienna deserves whatever happens to him for doubting me. And I've always liked the idea of those Egyptian poison tasters. There's something regal about it. Fifteen seconds.'

She reached out and took Sienna's hand. It was big, warm, and soft and all she could think about was how he had tortured Edmund Gillem with those hands.

'Press it,' Molino said. 'Hard.'

Her hand tightened. She was hating this.

'Harder,' Molino said.

She tightened her grip again.

'Crap,' Sienna said. 'This is taking too long.' His hand crushed bruisingly around Megan's.

Pain. Anger. Hatred.

Then Sienna released her and stepped back. 'Satisfied?' He asked Molino curtly. 'I almost broke her hand. Do you want me to do it again?'

Relief soared through Megan with dizzying force. Nothing had happened. She hadn't realized until this moment how afraid she'd been.

'No.' Molino was studying Megan's expression. 'I believe I'm disappointed. I admit I hoped to get a little of my own back by having you teach Sienna a lesson. It might not be as entertaining to kill you as I'd hoped. You're obviously not going to be the challenge I thought.'

'I told you I wasn't a Pandora.'

'But you're Pandora's daughter and that will have to be enough for me.' He turned away. 'Come along, Sienna. Let's go back to the house and pay a visit to Blair.'

Megan tensed. 'What are you going to do to him?'

'Make sure he's still alive in that cellar.' He paused. 'Then tomorrow night I'm going to cut off his feeding tube.'

'No!'

'Yes.' He stared her in the eye. 'If you want him back then you have to give me something in return. I think you know the terms I'll accept. You want Phillip Blair, I get you. Unless you show up here tomorrow alone without Grady or Harley or that other freak, Renata Wilger, anywhere in the background you won't see Blair again alive.' He glanced around the cemetery. 'My men told me that Grady and Harley came with you. I'm sure they're still somewhere close. I was willing to let you feel safer tonight. Tomorrow is different. I want you to feel vulnerable. No, frightened. I want to taste your fear. Steven was frightened that night before he died. He whimpered and cried.'

'You promise you'll let Phillip go?'

'I told you I would, under certain circumstances.'

'I'm willing to make a trade, but I won't risk my life for nothing.' She moistened her lips. 'You bring Phillip to that open field just north of the cemetery and I'll arrange for a helicopter to pick him up and take him back to Bellehaven in Atlanta. When the helicopter takes off, you can come and get me.'

'That's not satisfactory,' Molino said.

'Hell and damnation,' Sienna said. 'Stop bargaining. What do you care about Phillip Blair? You'll have the woman and that's what you want. Let's put an end to this.'

'So eager,' Molino said. 'Sienna, I can't decide whether you're pissed because I made you risk your sanity by holding hands with our little Megan or you're just eager to get her in bed.' He smiled at Megan. 'I did promise him he could rape you as a fringe benefit. That should give you something to anticipate for the next twenty-four hours.'

'Send Phillip to be picked up in that field.'

Molino was silent. 'Very well. Sienna is right. I don't really care about anyone but you.' He turned and started