He took a step closer. “I can’t even screw you now because it might piss off Masenak. But you’d let me do it, wouldn’t you? You’re scared and I don’t look so bad to you now.” He lowered his head and whispered, “But I’ve learned about the way to handle you from Masenak.” She could smell the whiskey on his breath as his tongue touched her cheek. “And that’s why I’m going to take you over to that prisoner tent on the other side of the clearing and give myself a treat. That’s where they’re keeping Jeanne Palsan.”

She stiffened. “Jeanne?”

“Masenak told the men she was off limits and to leave her alone until she healed.” His tongue touched her upper lip. “But he’ll make an exception for me since I’m being so tolerant of his other whores. I’m going to let you watch me give Jeanne another ‘event’ to match the one she already had.”

“No.” She inhaled sharply. “You can’t do that.”

“But I can and I will.” He took another swallow of whiskey. “And if you try to stop me, it will only mean the pain will be worse for her. I told you I’d learned how to handle you. Was I right?”

“You were right. I can’t imagine anything more horrible.” She moved to the left so that to face her, his back would be to the rear tent wall. Her voice was trembling. “Please don’t do this. She’s gone through too much already.”

“Begging me?” His eyes were gleaming with malice. “I like that, Sasha. Remember to do that every time she screams when I—”

He gasped desperately for air. His eyes were suddenly bulging!

“You’ll be the one who’s begging,” Alisa said grimly as she rose swiftly from behind him, her fingers pressing the carotid artery in his throat. His eyes glassed over as she pressed harder. He slumped forward to the floor unconscious. She pushed him aside with her boot and went around him to Sasha. “Are you okay?”

“I am now.” Sasha shuddered as she fell into Alisa’s arms and clung to her. “But you’ll have to teach me how to do that. I couldn’t have stopped him, and Jeanne would have been the one to suffer. He was going to—”