He was joking, but Lara realized it was an unselfish act. His hatred for Volkov must be as deep as her own, and it was natural he wanted to control every facet of his removal. She smiled. “I appreciate your generosity.”

“You’re welcome. I’m sure that you know what you have to do.”

They were at the pass now and she could see down into the canyon where the gray helicopter was sitting some hundred feet below the ridge. Volkov was getting out of his car, and he looked…stressed. That was a good sign.

“Stoke the fires,” she said softly. “Mock him. Make him want to chase us to hell and back.” She shrugged. “No problem.” She punched the number.

It rang only once before Volkov picked up the phone. “Tanner! Where are you?” His voice was harsh with malevolence. “Do you think you can get away with this? No one gets away with cheating me. When I catch you, I’m—”

“It’s not Tanner,” Lara interrupted. “It’s Lara. Tanner was busy driving and didn’t want to bother with you. We’re through with you, and on to good times. But I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to you, and I always like to put a period to a relationship. Particularly when it’s turned out to be so profitable for me.”

“Profitable?” he repeated. “What are you talking about, bitch? You’re dead to me. After I’ve killed Tanner, I’ll send my men to hunt you down and cut your heart out. I’d do it myself, but you’re not worth my time. I’ll just tell them to make sure the rape is long and painful before they even start the actual torture.” His voice fell to a hiss. “Just as I would have done. You’ve always known that’s what’s been waiting for you, haven’t you? I was going to treat you as I would have your whore of a mother before I ended you.”

“Are you finished? Yes, I always thought it would end that way if you had your way.” She added mockingly, “But aren’t I lucky that you’re not going to have your way? Because you’re a loser, Volkov. I wish I could have seen you when you found out that Tanner had taken you for every nickel. Did you scream? Did you moan and cry like a baby? Yes, that must be what you did. You must have cried, and everyone around you in that casino was probably laughing at you.”

“Shut up! No one was laughing.” He was screaming. “They were all afraid of me. Everyone was afraid.”

It was almost too easy to push him toward hysteria. “I don’t believe you. They were all pretending. I’ve watched people pretend to be afraid, and then laugh at you behind your back.” She chuckled. “And you didn’t even know it. I did it myself. Because you were such a pitiful human being.”

“You were afraid of me. I know you were. I’m not a loser.”

“Yet I was beginning to win every Trial you set me. So I was the winner, and you were the loser. And when I found Tanner, we built on that. Look at you now. Everyone laughing at you. No money. No fancy cars. All the families will be feeling sorry for you until they decide to devour you. That will come soon, won’t it? Like the way you pounced on anyone too weak to fight you. I’ve watched you and wondered when it would be your turn.”