“Stay there.” Rolf’s voice rose in pitch; Seth could see the beginning of panic in the man’s eyes. “Stay there or I will shoot her.”

Seth continued to move slowly toward the door, his eyes flickering from the big man’s face to his trigger finger and back. If there was any movement from the man’s trigger finger, Seth would stop immediately. He tried not to look at Zoe’s face. He knew it would unnerve him. Stay calm. He told himself. Stay calm. You’re playing a dangerous game with all the lives here.

As Seth and Braun neared the door, there was no tensing of Rolf’s trigger finger. Instead, he started to move toward them. The loyal bodyguard was not about to let his charge out of his sight. Rolf moved quickly to close the distance between them. Instants later, Seth knew something was wrong, terribly wrong.

Rolf began to smile. Then he dumped Zoe on the floor and stood there grinning. Instants later, steely muscled hands and arms clamped themselves around Seth’s neck and arms and twisted the revolver from his hand. The rest of the garrison had arrived. Hands pushed Seth face first onto the floor. The last glimpse he had before hitting was of the cook, staring timidly around the doorway into the hall.

For an instant, Seth felt old and used up. He had lost—they had lost He thought of his last look at Zoe, so beautiful, so… so not ready to die. Then summoning all his strength, he lashed out at his captors, but they were very young and very strong. He felt the toe of a boot slamming into the side of his head, and for a long moment, the world turned fuzzy.

“Good shot, David,” Seth heard Rolf’s victorious laughter through the fuzz. After a short while, he heard Rolf’s voice again, this time in a more respectful tone.

“How are you feeling, Your Eminence?”

Braun’s comment was unintelligible. Then Seth heard Zoe’s gentle strong voice calling for him. “Seth?” she said.

“Over here,” Seth said. Someone, maybe the man called David, kicked Seth in the head again.

“Shut up, swine,” the man said.

“Are you all right, Your Eminence?” Seth heard Rolf say.

This time, the cardinal replied, “Yes, a bit shaken.” There was a pause. “I see you’ve proved yourself once again. I have never lost faith in your abilities.”

“Thank you, sir,” Rolf said proudly.

“Take me up to the helicopter now,” Braun said. “Help me up.”

Seth heard the rustling and grunts.

“What shall we do with them?” Rolf asked.

The tone of Braun’s reply made Ridgeway’s blood run cold. “Whatever you wish, Rolf. Whatever you wish.” There was a pause, then Seth heard Braun’s voice again, this time closer. “Turn him over.”

The three men pinning Seth to the floor complied. Seth blinked and looked up; Braun spun dizzily above him. Seth had barely focused his eyes when he saw the cardinal lean over him and spit. Seth tried to turn his head, but strong hands held it. He closed his eyes as the spittle struck him on his forehead.