“It will take him a while to fix the keyboard. I thought you could call him later and explain that he’d be more useful coming to Muddy Mountain and joining the action than trying to chase after me.”

Another silence. His expression was impassive. “Tanner would really be pissed off.”

“But you don’t care. It might amuse you. Though you do care about him. Yet right now you’re hurting, and all you want to do is hurt everyone who has hurt you.”

His lips tightened. “And Sandrino.”

“And Sandrino,” she repeated quietly. “So are you going to let me help you?”

He stared at her, his expression impassive for another moment. Then he smiled recklessly and opened the passenger door for her. “Why not? It’s your neck on the line. Get in. You’ve already taken up too much of my time. I still have to pick up the dynamite.”

*  *  *

Mountain Casino, Muddy Mountains

Lara unconsciously tensed as Tanner helped her out of the Mercedes and led her toward the front door of the casino. Don’t let him know that this first moment of facing the dragons is still a little scary. The front facade of the building was still as unimpressive as when they’d arrived here earlier. She glanced at the rocky slope of landscape beyond it that appeared totally deserted. But then so was the casino area. Only a few vehicles in the parking lot. “You told Volkov that you’d be on the lookout for anyone who might interfere with the game, and evidently he took you at your word.” She glanced at him. “Or did he? It’s a little too quiet.”

Tanner shrugged. “I’d like to say he was intimidated by me, but it wouldn’t be true. But he was impressed by the deposit I made in that Cayman account. He didn’t want it to be canceled. Still, that didn’t mean he was going to keep to the terms of our agreement. This area may appear deserted because he ordered his men to back off and make it look that way, but it’s as phony as the casino facade. I’ve had Mallory and Rennell both scouting out the other areas for the past twenty-four hours and they’ve both seen troop movement.”

“Where?”

“Those rocks on that upper slope behind the casino hide a multitude of sins. Rennell said that he’d spotted at least seven potential snipers in that area.”

“Charming.”

“But that shouldn’t really be a problem for Rennell. However, the Bell helicopter that generally carries fifteen that’s hovering behind the south ridge might give him a little trouble.”

“I’d think so.” She glanced up at the rocky slope again. “He doesn’t intend us to get out of here alive.”