“No, you couldn’t. You’re not nearly as distracting as I am.” She grimaced. “I’ve held the bastard in thrall since I was eleven years old.” She forced a smile. “But you’d better make sure there’s a poker handy.”

“There will be. Not the kind you used on him before.” He took a deck of cards from his jacket pocket. “But it might do just as much damage…”

Chapter 15

Chapter
15

The Mountain Casino was located on a road off the interstate deep in the mountains. The casino itself was a large building but totally unimpressive, even shabby. Still, the mountainous landscape on which it rested was rugged and powerful. Rough, rocky slopes led up to a high ridge that towered over the boulders below. The area was isolated, and even the rocky parking lot looked a little deserted. Tanner made no attempt to enter the lot but parked across the road some distance away.

“It doesn’t look like a happening place to spend an evening, does it?” she asked lightly. “I can see why any tourist would miss it entirely.”

“I think that’s why it attracted Volkov,” Tanner said. “You said he liked to be the center of attention, but I’d bet he also liked to have his own space. It’s all in what you do with the space.”

Lara shivered as she remembered Volkov’s use of the space at his mountain home. “No bet.”

He nodded. “I told you I wondered why he built that house in the middle of nowhere. Sandrino liked his privacy, too, but there wasn’t anything dark about him.”

But this conversation was becoming dark. She quickly changed the subject. “It’s still almost deserted. Are we early? Or is there some reason you wanted to get here before anyone else?”

“Yes, we’re early. And I did want to get here a bit before you had to face the rest of the world so that I could talk to you.” He paused. “Things might get a little wild tonight, and I don’t want you to feel lost or that you’re not able to keep up. Sometimes I go full speed ahead and don’t stop to let anyone catch up.”

“I’ve noticed.” She chuckled. “And I feel I keep up very well. If I didn’t, I’d just rein you in and put you in a corner until you stopped thinking and started explaining. You can be maddening at times, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

He grinned. “I knew that. But you’re going to have to face Volkov tonight. I wanted everything clear for you. No matter what I have to say or do.”

“Everything is clear between us.” She smiled as she shook her head. “And I’m not afraid of Volkov, or anything he tries to do to hurt me. Been there, done that. My fight, too, Tanner. Now will you stop fretting?”