“It’s hard to guess what a monster will do. But I think we’ve got the full scorecard now. I’ve just got to decide how to return in kind.” He stared thoughtfully into the fire. “And you’ve given me hints about how to do that by telling me all about him. Narcissism: Show him and everyone in his circle that he’s nothing. Pride and egotism: Beat him at his own games. Greed: Take away all his wealth. Revenge: There’s almost too much to avenge, but we’ll manage. Pain: That will be no trouble at all.” He gazed at her across the room. “Have I left out anything?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“Well, no one should know better than you.”

“One more thing.” She paused. “You don’t leave me out of it. You have a habit of doing that.” She smiled shakily. “From now on that would not be okay. Maria and I have gone through too much. We’re the ones who have the most to lose if Volkov manages to somehow come out of this intact. So place me prominently right in the center and let me do my part.” She sat up straight. “Now tell me how we’re going to take the son of a bitch down.”

* * *

9:05 A.M., Next Day

“No!” Maria said sharply. “Hell, no. I was wondering why you didn’t wake me when you came in last night. I just assumed you hadn’t found anything up there in the mountains.”

“Oh, we found something,” Lara said bitterly. “Though Tanner took the brunt of it. I’m not going to let him keep on doing that. I have to do my part.”

“You said Rennell was joking when he was talking about holding you hostage.”

“I said I thought he was. And it’s not going to be like that. I just have to do my part.”

“You said that. I don’t want to hear it again. It scares me.”

“Do you know what scares me? What Volkov did to those victims at his house in the mountains. What he did to Sandrino. What he’ll try to do to us if we don’t stop him.” She took Maria’s arms and shook her. “It’s gone on too long, and he’s getting worse and worse. Think of those innocent people. Think of all the agony Tanner went through when he found Sandrino.”

“Why should I think of Tanner? You’re thinking entirely too much about him. I’m thinking about you. He shouldn’t let you do it.”

“That’s what he said until I told him he had to put me front and center. He can’t stop me.” She added quietly, “And neither can you, Maria. But you can keep me safer if you do your best to keep yourself safe, and don’t do anything that will cause Volkov to zero in on any weakness I might have. As he has since I was eleven. I can’t let that happen. This has to be the last Trial.”

“Your Achilles’ heel.” Maria gazed at her helplessly for an instant and then suddenly enveloped her in her arms and held her tightly. “But I’m still going to talk to Tanner,” she said gruffly.