The Survivor (Eve Duncan #30)

She made a face at him. “You’d dare anything, but you’ve never tried to do that.” She hesitated. “You can be a little overpowering sometimes. It gets in my way. I was just defending myself. Do you understand?”

“I’m beginning to understand what you were doing, though I don’t know why.” He reached out and gently brushed her hair away from her face. “But I’m starting to make guesses and I believe we have to nip this in the bud. You’re right, we haven’t known each other very long, and you’re not feeling you know me well enough to trust me.”

“I do trust you.”

“Not enough or I would have been the first one you turned to in any situation. We’ve got to change that.” He brushed a kiss on her forehead. “Because I found out when I was on my way to the hospital that it might not have been long enough for you, but it was for me. I know the real thing when I see it.” He turned away from her. “But I’ve got to have it all.”

She went still. “Does that mean that you think we’re not right for each other?”

“No, it means we have to make a correction so that there’s never going to be any doubt who you’d turn to in any difficult situation.” He was heading for the stairs. “And I can think of one opportunity that will give us an excellent way to explore who and what we are together. Care to come along?”

“Where are you—” But he was already down the stairs and heading toward the lake. Then Riley realized where he was going and ran after him.

He’d almost reached Maya, and she turned and looked at him inquiringly. “You decided that Kirby and I should leave right away?”

“No, there might be preparations to make. It depends on how you answer me,” Cade said. “You might get what you want.” He turned to gesture to Riley, who had just caught up with him. “You’re very persuasive, and you started a long time ago with Riley. Even if she turned you down now, I’m not at all certain that she might not be tempted to follow you later.”

“Do you want to make certain?” Maya asked sardonically. “Let me help. I’ve been feeling guilty since I asked her to come.” She turned to Riley. “I was playing dirty. Throwing one last pitch in a game I’d lost. There’s no way I’d take you with me if I went hunting for Silvana.”

“And I’m not a chess piece for either of you to move around,” Riley said. “Do you think I didn’t guess that might only be a strategy? Ordinarily you’re very honest, but you wanted to convince us, and you were desperate. Even then, you were trying to talk me out of it.”

“I didn’t try that hard,” Maya said. “I had to get out of there or I might have gone the other way.” She glanced at Cade. “Is that what you wanted? And how does that give me a possibility of getting what I want? Was it a trick?”

“No trick. I knew Riley was too clever not to see through that carrot you were dangling. That wasn’t the question I wanted you to answer. Your proposition was very intriguing and meant to appeal to both Riley and me in our separate ways. You obviously wanted to draw me into this conflict you’re going to have with Nadim. You were frank enough about that.”

“Frank enough to ignore the fact that Riley would never consent to involving you willingly,” Maya said. “But I still had to try because you were essential. I knew that the instant I finished researching you. You have the money, influence, and team to take Nadim down. You also have a hatred of poachers and a record of eliminating any that you run across.”

“And you realized you might have at least a chance of being able to get to Cade through me,” Riley said bitterly.

“I had no choice,” Maya said. “He was perfect, and I had to save the island.”

“I hate it, but I can see your logic. A good many people in the world have the same opinion of Cade and want to use him. But it makes me want to slug you.” She turned to Cade and asked curtly, “What do you want to ask her?”

He took a step closer to Maya. “If we take your proposition, I’ll only accept it if I’m in charge. Kirby says you like power and use it well, but I won’t be a second in command. Yes or no?”

Maya hesitated. “I knew this was coming. As long as you consult with me… You know nothing about the island. The villagers may not take your orders.”

“Is that a yes?”

“As long as you don’t turn into an asshole. Then I might have to make an adjustment.”

Cade chuckled. “A lethal one?”

She smiled. “But only if you’re an asshole.”

Riley looked from one to the other. “You’re actually going to go through with it, Cade? There’s no way on earth I’d ask you to do this.”

“I know you won’t,” he said. “But it’s not only that opportunity I spoke about. I want to get a look at those one-horned creatures she mentioned.”

“Which might not exist,” Maya said. “I didn’t say they weren’t the stuff of legends.”

“You dangled them in front of me,” Cade said. “I’m betting that there might be some authentic ‘stuff’ in that legend that you’re not ready to reveal yet.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Perhaps to hold something in abeyance as a special incentive? It would be very smart.”

“Well, since you’re going to be there, you’ll be able to see if I’m that intelligent.” She drew a deep breath. “It’s going to happen? You’re both actually going with me to the island? When?”