“So really, you know you’d still have to kill him. I wouldn’t be saving his life by going with you, only causing him distress.” She tilted her head and regarded him steadily over the top of her teacup. “I’m in love with him.”

“You’ll get over that in time.” His gaze didn’t leave her face. “If you come voluntarily, I’ll give you a little time to forget him. Your cat will help by accepting me.”

She could see he thought he was making a huge concession to her. It was frightening, walking a tightrope, trying to placate him, stall him and keep from triggering a violent outburst. He was too controlled and she was terrified of him. She moistened her lower lip with the tip of her tongue and set her cup aside, dropping her hands to her sides on the pretext of hiding her trembling fingers. She knew he caught the shaking, he was too focused on her not to, but she had to find a way to check the cushions.

He shook his head and sprang again, the leap taking him to the side of her chair. “I told you, I removed the weapons. The knife was down the right side. Do you think I’m stupid?” There was an edge to his voice.

“No. But I’m very scared,” she admitted, shifting a little from him as she tried to find the right words to reach him.

His hand anchored in her hair, preventing her from moving even an inch from him. “This is your chance to save him, Isabeau. I’m offering it once because it will be more difficult for you to forgive me if I kill him, but I will.”

His face was inches from hers, a snarling mask of determination and absolute confidence. The lines in his face were cut deep, a tough man with much experience. Looking into his eyes, she knew she’d been right about him: He’d been the brains, the one running Suma, yet he’d hidden it well. He didn’t need the accolades. He wasn’t hurting her, but the threat was there. In fact, the pads of his fingers were rubbing strands of her hair back and forth as if savoring the feel.

“Go take a shower,” he said abruptly. “If you argue with me or you put anything of his on, I’ll scrub you myself and you’re not going to like it much. Do it fast. I want you back out here in five minutes smelling like you and not him.”

He tugged on her hair just enough that she rose and rushed out of the room. He followed her at a more leisurely pace. She was stripping off her bra when he sauntered in and she stopped abruptly, shaking her head. “I’m not taking my clothes off in front of you.”