“This must be Jeanne? I’ll have one of the guys bring a stretcher.” Alisa was pulling out her phone. “She’ll have medical attention as soon as we get her to the border. The director will probably want to whisk all the students away to some secure European facility, but we’ll make certain that she—”

She stopped as a whistle of sound broke the silence.

At first, Sasha thought it was the crackling snap of the fire in the tent behind them. Then she saw Alisa jerk and cry out and saw the blood flowing down the front of her jacket!

Sasha screamed as she watched Alisa fall to the ground.

A bullet, she realized in panic. Shot. Alisa had been shot!

“She’s not dead yet,” Masenak said from where he stood just inside the tent behind Sasha. His gun was now pointed at her. “I was careful to aim for the upper body. But if you don’t come back into this tent and go with me out the main door, I’ll put another bullet into her that she won’t have a chance of surviving.” His lips twisted. “I take it that would make a difference to you, since she must have been the person who paid for your tuition all those years. Am I correct?”

Nightmare. Alisa was so still, her eyes closed. “Yes,” Sasha said hoarsely. “She’s bleeding. You’re sure she’s not dead now?”

“Very certain.”

“Then will you let me stop the bleeding?” She dropped to her knees on the ground beside Alisa. “I’ll do anything you say, if you’ll let me help her.”

“We don’t have time. If you’re lucky, one of the bitch’s friends will find her and stop the bleeding. All you’ll get from me is that I won’t finish the job this time.” His eyes were blazing. “Do what I tell you. You don’t realize how much I want to hurt you. I don’t know how you managed to do this to me, but you had something to do with it.” He spoke through bared teeth. “I want you dead. But you’re still useful, so I’ll let you give me what I need.” He motioned with the gun. “Move.”

She didn’t move. “Let me stop the blood. I’ll be quick. Why should I trust that she won’t die anyway if I leave her like this?” She added hotly, “And if you shoot Alisa again, I swear that you won’t get anything from me.”

He muttered an oath. “You have one minute. Do it.”