The Survivor (Eve Duncan #30)

“It appears Maya has a crush on our Eve,” Cade said to Riley as he watched Maya helping Eve place cups and saucers on a tray at the bar. “At least she’s not telling her what to do as she did me.”

“Did she really?” She looked at him skeptically. “No one orders you around. You probably misunderstood.”

“I believe I got all the nuances,” he said dryly. “She’s obviously accustomed to being in charge. But she did make it clear that she didn’t think I was at fault for almost getting you killed. She took sole responsibility.”

“Because you had nothing to do with it.” Her eyes widened. “Neither did she. It was Nadim and those snipers. Of course she wouldn’t blame you.”

“No?” His lips twisted sardonically. “I found it very logical since it was my first thought when I found out what had happened to you.”

She frowned. “Then you’re an idiot. You didn’t even know why I was going to see Eve.”

“But maybe if you’d felt you could tell me, I would have been able to stop it.”

“I told you why I didn’t tell you.”

“I was busy?” He shook his head. “Doesn’t hold water.”

“Yes, it does.” She was genuinely upset. “It’s not as if I wasn’t going to tell you. We need to talk about this.”

“And we will.” His gaze was on Eve, who was carrying the tea tray into the living room. “As soon as I finish deciding why I felt that Maya might have been wrong. Right now, we have a few more decisions to make.” He was moving across the room and taking the tray from Eve. “Sit down and make yourself comfortable,” he told her. “Tea can wait. We’ve all imposed enough on you. We’re here for a purpose and not a social occasion.” He turned to Maya. “And you’re that purpose, Maya. You’ve caused us a great deal of trouble, and Riley could have been killed. I believe it’s time that you tell us why we shouldn’t return the favor.”

“You’ll have to do what you think best,” Maya said quietly. “But I doubt if you’ll try to punish me when you realize I’m only offering you a proposition and not trying to harm you.” She glanced at Riley. “You felt you had a debt to me, and I used that to get your attention. I had no intention when I helped you of ever doing that.” She shrugged. “But times change and so does the world. I’d gotten information that Nadim was closing in on me, and I had to find a way of fighting him.”

“You saved us,” Riley said. “Of course that got my attention. But I would have tried to help you anyway.” She frowned, puzzled. “What proposition?”

“I have to rid Palandan Island of Nadim once and for all. He’s much more powerful than he used to be. After I pulled strings to get him tossed out of the area, he moved to India and took up arms dealing as well as poaching. He’s got contacts now, and enough money to bribe officials to turn a blind eye if he decided to start raiding the island again.” Her lips tightened grimly. “And he will do it, it’s only a matter of time. He hates me. He’s only been waiting for his chance to go after me.”

“Why?”

She didn’t speak for a moment. “We had an encounter.” She shrugged. “I’d already made him angry by scooping up Riley and her father and getting them off the island. He thought he’d punish me by capturing and holding hostage Dalar, one of my foremen who worked in the orchards. It could have meant a death sentence for Dalar if Nadim had thought it would irritate me. I took several sentries and went after him to Nadim’s camp. Nadim has no respect for women and thought it was funny. He offered to play cards for Dalar’s life. Then he tried to cheat me. I didn’t like that.” She smiled. “So I stabbed his hand with my dagger and pinned it to the table. Then I ran like hell while my sentries grabbed Dalar and took off in the opposite direction. Nadim and some of his thugs followed me, but they were slowed down because they had to try to get the knife out of Nadim’s hand first.” She added reminiscently, “He was screaming quite a bit.”

“I can imagine,” Cade said. “And I can also see why he might dislike you. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“I had to free my foreman. They’d already started to torture him. I had a plan. All I had to do was distract Nadim.”

Riley was shaking her head. “By using yourself as bait. Cade’s right, it’s no wonder he’s hell-bent to attack the island.”

“I admit I’m a featured attraction,” Maya said, “but I’m not the sole reason Nadim is ravenous to go after Palandan. You’re not the only one who was fascinated by all the legends, Riley. There have been islanders who have moved away, and the legends moved with them. Nadim has heard all the tales of the temple with chests overflowing with gold and jewels, the tomb of Silvana Marcella hidden somewhere in the mountains.” She paused and then glanced deliberately at Cade, “And the one about the strange one-horned creatures that may be extinct everywhere else on earth.”

Cade stiffened. “Was that last remark aimed at me?”

“It could be,” Maya said.

“A one-horned animal, extinct everywhere but Palandan Island?” Cade asked mockingly. “You’re reaching, Maya. Are you actually trying to convince me that there might be unicorns strolling around the island?”

“Unicorns? Of course not. Though it is one of the legends, and it’s also a reason Nadim might want to raid the island. No one knows better than you how poachers value the body parts of wild animals to sell to clients for medicinal reasons. I’ve read that you’ve targeted them in the past.”

“Was it interesting reading?” he asked. “Now I wonder why you chose me to study.”

“I was looking for anyone who would be against Nadim,” she said flatly. “And you were an unexpected bonanza that I found when I decided to ask Riley for help. You have a worldwide reputation for being a warrior like Silvana. Plus the fact that you’re a billionaire many times over wouldn’t hurt. You’ve both guessed I intended to use you if I had to. Though I didn’t believe I’d be able to do it. Yes, I knew you and Riley were an item, but I realized my chance of getting her to persuade you to help was probably zero. Particularly after my carelessness had almost gotten her killed. However, that wouldn’t have stopped me from paying you a visit and asking you to stop that bastard from killing any of the people or animals on the island.”

“I would have helped you myself,” Riley said soberly. “But I would never have used Cade.”

“And I would have used anyone I had to,” Maya said. “Because I have to save Palandan Island one way or the other. Even if I have to tear it apart to do it.” Her lips twisted. “As I believe I’m going to have to.”

“Why?”

“There are too many legends, too many Nadims ready to pounce, too many reasons why someone would want to dip their hands into mysteries that have lain dormant for thousands of years. It’s my duty to be the caretaker, but I’m bound to lose something by trying to hold on to everything. It’s much better that I give a portion to people I trust who will have the means and dedication to care for it.” She tried to smile. “So here’s the proposition. Help me get rid of Nadim and his scum and make the island as safe as possible. In return, I’ll help you find Silvana’s tomb and set up a memorial like the one you did for Helen that’s taken the public by storm. It might be even more successful since it will have the uniqueness of being the tomb of a woman gladiator. I’ll also give you half the jewelry in those chests. The other half will go into trust to maintain the island and the people who live there.”