“I have no idea.” She must be very careful if she was to get through these next few moments. She could almost feel the rage he was emitting. “I tried not to think of you at all. Something unpleasant, I imagine.”

“You’d better start thinking about me.” His voice was hoarse, his eyes glittering. “Because everyone connected to what happened to me in that jungle is going to pay. That attack came out of nowhere like those damn drones, but now it’s right in front of me and I’m going to find out every detail. I already know a lot about Alisa Flynn. It’s all over the news. I had no idea when I shot the bitch that she was spearheading that operation. I only thought she had a connection with you and might be trying to save you.” His lips curled. “But now the CIA is saying that she was much more important, that the operation would never have taken place without her invaluable help. How very heroic of her. No mention at all that she had a close connection to a Sasha Lawrence who was enrolled at St. Eldon’s Academy. Let’s discuss that, Sasha. Who is Alisa Flynn to you?”

There was no sense in lying any longer—and it would probably be dangerous. “My friend,” she said simply. “I guess some people would call me her ward. And the reason the CIA probably didn’t publicize any connection is that they didn’t know about me. Alisa doesn’t tell the CIA everything. She has a very dangerous job that might put anyone close to her at risk. Besides, she’s a very private person.”

“Evidently. She wasn’t available to give any interviews, so I dug deeper and found out that she’d been taken to a hospital in Geneva to treat her wound.”

Sasha tensed. “But she’s all right? They said she was okay?”

“What do I care? The CIA didn’t say anything different. She’ll live until I determine how to kill her in the most painful way possible. And you’ll be there to see it.” His voice harshened. “If I’d had any idea what kind of associations she’d been forming, I’d never have let her live that day I shot her.”

She moistened her lips. “You’re talking about the CIA?”

“Bullshit. I’m talking about Gabe Korgan. He flew her to Geneva.” His teeth were gritted. “And you barely have to read between the lines of that speech the director made about how wonderfully the CIA had performed to free the captives to see Korgan moving behind the scenes. I made phone calls, and his name kept popping up. How long has she known him?”

“I’m not certain. I’ve never heard her talk about him.” That at least must have the ring of truth. “Not long. Why does it matter?”