She must have asked the question out loud because he answered. “Because you would have been safe if you’d done what I told you.” In spite of the harshness of his tone, he was putting her down on the cot with utmost gentleness. But she still tensed as hot pain shot through her upper shoulder. “Why couldn’t you have just stayed in the truck with Vogel?”

“Sasha. I told you…We had to get them out.” But the thought of Sasha had started alarm bells ringing. Her eyes finally flew open. “Sasha. Where’s Sasha? Is she okay?” She was struggling, fighting to sit up. More pain. Ignore it. “She was with me. And that poor child, Jeanne Palsan…She needed a doctor.”

“Stop fighting me.” Korgan’s arms tightened around her. “You’ve been shot, and I’m trying to keep you from doing any more damage to yourself.” He added jerkily, “I won’t lie. Sasha wasn’t with you when we found you. But I believe she must have been there because it had to have been her who rigged this tourniquet to ease the blood flow. If she was well enough to do that, then chances are she wasn’t hurt herself. Masenak must have just taken her with him.”

“Masenak?” she whispered. She couldn’t comprehend the horror. “It was Masenak?”

“Jeanne Palsan was hysterical when Vogel found the two of you, but she kept screaming his name and begging Vogel to keep Masenak from taking her, too.” His lips tightened. “And there was a sighting of him at the main camp after that third drone took out the helicopter pad.”

“You said Masenak would be killed. You promised me.” Her voice was shaking. “He’ll be in a rage. He’ll be blaming everyone. He’ll be blaming her.”

“I’ve sent Vogel and a team to find them with orders to kill Masenak on sight and bring her back.”

“If she’s still alive.” That thought was too agonizing, and she couldn’t take it. “She is alive.” She was trying to sit up again. “I have to go after her myself. I’ll find her.”

“You’re not going anywhere.” He nodded at someone out of her range of vision, and she felt a prick as the hypodermic entered her arm. “Except to the same hospital we’re taking Jeanne Palsan.” He took her hands in his own as she tried desperately to strike out at him. “Yes, I know you believe no one can take care of Sasha but you, and that I failed you by not killing Masenak. You’re right, I did fail you, but I won’t do it again. I’ll get that son of a bitch, but I won’t risk you dying. It’s going to be my way, Alisa.”