Touch the Horizon by Iris Johansen

exorbitantly. I, on the other hand, have unlimited resources. If you care to switch sides and confide Ladram’s whereabouts, I’m prepared to be very generous.” His smile was so lethal, she shivered involuntarily. “When Ladram is captured, his treatment is going to be most painful, and ultimately fatal. You wouldn’t want to share in that fate, I assure you.”
    Good heavens, the man was a barbarian. “You sound quite savage,” she said lightly, trying to smile. “What did the poor man do to arouse such a thirst for vengeance?”
    “That ‘poor’ man was one of the kingpins of vice and narcotics in Sedikhan,” Clancy said dryly as he strolled forward to stand beside her. “He was also rumored to have connections with the Mafia, but they seem to have deserted him. They didn’t like the kind of heat David generated when he broke up the ring and sent Ladram on the run. That was eight months ago, and Ladram’s been bombarding David with threatening letters and phone calls ever since.”
    “Knives,” she whispered, remembering David’s flippant words.
    “How did you know that?” Ben Raschid asked in a harsh, guttural tone.
    “David mentioned it,” Clancy interjected swiftly. “I was there.”
    “So quick to the defense, Clancy?” Ben Raschid’s voice was silky soft. “I think perhaps she may be even more clever than I thought.”
    “And now I’m supposed to have vamped your trusty right hand from his duty? How can I convince you that I’m just not that appealing?”
    “You can’t, Billie.” David said softly from the door. “Anyone would have to be blind not to see how sweet you are.” He strolled forward. His golden good looks were set off beautifully by the elegant black tuxedo he was wearing, and his brilliant blue eyes were twinkling. “None of us are immune.”
    “Bull,” Billie said succinctly. “Will you stop that? I’m having a rough time as it is trying to convince everyone I’m not after your scalp, either figuratively or literally.”
    “Not exactly seductive, Karim,” Clancy murmured, his lips quirking.
    Ben Raschid shrugged. “But challenging and a little intriguing, which could accomplish the same end with a man like David.”
    “You see? Everything I do is wrong. They’re determined to view me as Lucrezia Borgia incarnate.”
    “Poor baby.” David’s face was alight with amusement. “They are giving you a hard time, aren’t they? You’re holding up better than most, though.” His smile faded as he glanced at Karim, and his tone cooled considerably. “Testing her mettle. Karim? I asked you to make her welcome, not to intimidate her.”
    To Billie’s amazement Karim actually looked disconcerted. “I tried to play the civilized host,” he growled defensively. “She wouldn’t let me. It seems the lady has a dislike for the social graces. She practically attacked me.”
    “Interesting.” David’s eyes were dancing as they went from Billie’s indignant face to Karim’s ferocious scowl. “You appear to have survived her assault very well, and perhaps it’s just as well the amenities were dispensed with in the first confrontation.” He smiled at Billie with a glowing intimacy. “I’m glad you have no use for games. Neither do I, windflower. It’s going to escalate the pace of our relationship immensely.”
    “We have no relationship,” she said, running her hand abstractedly through her hair. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell everyone. What I’ve been trying to tell
you.
” She glared up at him. “And I do think you like to play games. I think it’s amusing you to make some kind of play for me to wile away a day or so in your little desert Shangri-La. I don’t think you care a snap of your fingers what I think or feel.”
    David sobered instantly. “You’re wrong. Billie,” he said quietly. “They really have upset you, haven’t they?” He took her hand in his. “I won’t have that. We don’t have time to waste with anger and