you’ll succeed.”
“Then why don’t you seem more afraid?”
“Because as long as I have Miss Dunn in my possession, I have complete control over you.”
I growl again. He’s right, but I hate that he already knows my weakness.
“What did you do to Liesel? If you hurt one hair on her head, I’ll torture you for years and only let you die once I’ve broken every bone in your body.”
He smirks. “Liesel is still in one piece, don’t worry. She’s currently contemplating my proposition.”
I hold my breath, terrified she’ll offer her body in exchange for keeping me safe—something I couldn’t live with. But from his smug expression, I’m afraid he’s already touched her.
I scan his suit, looking for any signs he’s hurt her. Claw marks, a ripped hole or pulling of fabric, anything from her struggle, but I don’t see anything out of place on him. That reassures me slightly, but maybe it’s my imagination and hope convincing me. He could have changed suits after he beat her, or he could have had another man attack her.
“What proposition?”
“As I’m sure you’ve guessed, I seek the treasure that only you and Liesel protect.”
I nod. Of course, he’s after the treasure. I can’t think of any other reason why he would capture both Liesel and me.
“For yourself or for your boss?” I ask. He may not tell me, but maybe he’ll give me a clue as to a man higher up than him coming after us.
“Your questions don’t stop, do they?” He takes a slow sip of his drink. “You won’t get any answers, Mr. Pearce.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t need to ask any more questions. Only a man who has vowed his life to another doesn’t answer questions when asked. You are just like the men to either side of me. You’re a low-life in a fancy suit, and you’ll never have any real power.”
He frowns, and I know I’ve hit a nerve.
“As I was saying, I gave Miss Dunn a proposition, and I’ve decided to offer you the same deal. I can only make the deal with one of you, but again, it doesn’t matter to me who it is.”
I hold my breath. I don’t care what the deal is; all I want is Liesel to be safe. I want to get on my knees and beg to keep him from hurting her. I would offer all the money I have to keep her safe. I’ll give him the treasure, anything if he lets Liesel go.
“What’s the deal?”
“You both tell me everything you know about the treasure. How to get it and what exactly it is.”
“And in exchange?”
A Cheshire Cat smile spreads across his face while my heart thumps wildly in my chest. What will I have to give in order for Liesel to go free?
“And in exchange, I’ll let one of you go free.”
“Liesel will go free.”
“You haven’t heard the second half of my deal, so you might want to reconsider your chivalry.”
I frown and hold my breath, waiting for him to drop the part he thinks will make me change my mind. He doesn’t realize that nothing will make me change my mind. Liesel has to go free. I can’t be responsible for her pain again, not when I have the chance to save her.
He takes another long drink, enjoying making me crazy as he draws this out.
“I’ll let one of you go free—”
“Unharmed,” I say.
He shrugs. “The person who goes free will be in one piece.”
“They will be unharmed.”
“You aren’t in a position to negotiate. As I said, I gave Miss Dunn the same deal, and if she agrees to my terms before you do, then you will have no choice but to go along with it.”
I frown.
“As I was saying before you rudely interrupted me, I will let one of you go free after I get the information I need. I’ll kill the other one.”
The blood drains from my face. “Why? Why not torture the other to within an inch of their life and then let them go?”
“I can’t have the two of you exchanging information and fighting me for the treasure. I must be the only person who knows all of the clues.”
I don’t think I’ve blinked, taken a breath, or let my heart beat since he said he’d only let one of us live. I’ve been in predicaments like this before, life and death situations. Every time I’ve defeated the enemy. I’ve not only won but succeeded in killing the monster who dared to stand against me.