Ginny lay supine upon the bed, marshalling the ebbing reserves of her strength as the fever rose higher, blurring her vision and nibbling at the edges of consciousness. It was no time to be sick! Oh God, if only she could hold on long enough for Steve to come. She’d be of no help to him if she was incoherent with a raging fever.

“I wanted you,” Luna said suddenly, walking back to the bed, “from that night in Ojinaga. You intrigued me, with your sultry beauty and the way you danced—like a Spanish gypsy. Such abandon, such fluid grace. I realized then what I had to do, how to set a trap for Steve Morgan. I did not think I would find his wife so lovely, so tempting. But you are accustomed to the admiration of a man. Of many men. Oh, yes, I saw your true nature in your eyes that night. You expect men to want you, to fall under your spell.”

Reaching out, he slid his hand over her face, then the arch of her throat, his fingers a light caress that made her shudder. Luna laughed at her reaction.

“How many times have you traded your body for favors? I am just one more man to use what you offer.”

“I never offered you anything!” Ginny glared at him. “I detest you. I find you repulsive!”

“Perhaps. But that is of no consequence. You are just an instrument to me, a method of gaining what I want.” He stood up, stared down at her a long moment, his dark eyes glittering in the gloomy shadows. “I have a special fate in mind for your husband, chica. This time, he shall see how it feels to watch another man take what is his—to spoil it, to desecrate that which he holds sacred. It shall give me great satisfaction to watch him suffer the same torment he gave to me.”

“Francesca di Paoli is hardly worthy of such devotion,” Ginny said calmly. “She is much more of a whore than you think me. She pursues married men—”

“Enough!” Luna slapped her, a vicious blow that stung her cheek and caused lights to explode in front of her eyes. As if from a distance, Ginny heard him say, “Never speak ill of such perfection, such talent! She is blameless, a victim of Steve Morgan’s careless attention. He abandoned her, and now will die for it.”

His words came in overlapping waves, descending through a dark haze of sound and the roaring in her ears, but Ginny could perceive that Luna’s determination to avenge the Italian diva was as warped as he was.

Crouching down beside her again, Luna grasped her chin between his thumb and fingers, a brutal hold as he turned her to face him. Dazedly, Ginny focused on his mouth, watched his lips form words that struck terror into her heart.