Silencing Eve

your way? Don’t worry, I’ll try to keep myself alive to avoid causing you any serious mental distress.” She suddenly chuckled. “And I won’t flatter myself that I’m at the root of that distress. It’s because I’m Eve’s friend, isn’t it?”
    “Ridiculous.”
    “I don’t think so. I’m not sure what you feel about Eve and how much it’s affecting your actions, but there’s some kind of cause and effect involved.”
    “You don’t believe it’s your charm and endearing personality?” he asked with silken menace. “I don’t appreciate your thinking that I’m transparent enough for you to read me. It annoys me.”
    She smothered the sudden ripple of fear. Being with Zander was like walking a tightrope. Most of the time, she felt fairly confident, but then he’d show his teeth, and the chill would come. Don’t let him see it. “I can’t read you. But you and Eve came together while she was on the run from Doane in the mountains. You couldn’t be with her for even the shortest time without realizing how special she is. She’d make her mark on you.” She forced herself to look him directly in the eye. “And Doane may be your target, but he’s not the reason you’re on the hunt. It’s Eve.”
    “Really?”
    “Really. You’ve gone to extraordinary lengths to assure that Doane wouldn’t kill her.”
    “Extraordinary? Not likely.”
    “Extraordinary,” she repeated. “For you, Zander. You’re probably in denial and perhaps don’t realize your motivation, but you want Eve to live.”
    “Because she’s my daughter?” he asked mockingly.
    “I don’t know. You’d have to tell me.” Her lips twisted. “And I’m not about to force that issue. I’m already in enough trouble with you.”
    “And you’re clearly terrified,” he said sarcastically.
    “I’m afraid of you,” she said bluntly. “You’re intimidating as hell, and I have to work my way through it. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t do it. You have to respect me, or you’d leave me behind in your dust.” She paused. “And I believe you do have your own plan to get Doane. I don’t want to be left out of it. I won’t get in your way, and you can count on me to watch your back.”
    “And protect me?”
    “I know that you didn’t like that.” She grinned. “Stang nearly had a heart attack.” Her smile faded. “But it’s what I have to do. You’re the prize, Zander.”
    “I’ve no quarrel with that statement. It’s quite true.”
    “And prizes have to be given a certain security.”
    “Only if it’s a prize that’s being distributed by someone else. No one has the power to control this particular prize.” He tapped his chest. “Not you, not Quinn, not Venable. No one. I won’t be traded, bartered, or held hostage. Don’t try it, Catherine.”
    “Not if I can see any other way,” Catherine said quietly. “Eve wouldn’t thank me for it. That’s why I was glad that Gallo called and gave us that info about the driftwood. I’m looking for any way out.” She grimaced. “So stop threatening me, and let’s see what we can do to find that son of a bitch that doesn’t require me giving Doane your head on a platter.”
    “I really don’t believe that’s a possibility,” he said coldly. “And if you persist in—” He broke off and suddenly chuckled. “And now you’re trying to run me as you do the rest of Eve’s little army of rescuers? This is my hunt, and I’ve allowed you to come along for the ride. We’re not ‘we,’ and we have no common purpose.”
    But at least he was smiling again. “Not even the common purpose of keeping you from becoming beheaded?”
    “By you.”
    “By me.”
    She shrugged. “Why not help me, Zander? Don’t make me trail after you. As you said, there’s not much time. I’m trying to gather every bit of information I can, and we’re all having to frantically piece it together.”
    “Yes, I’ve watched with fascination you trying to pull all those strings. Don’t try that with me. I’m no puppet.”
    “Neither are Joe or Gallo. And Jane MacGuire is a tough cookie. We’re all just people trying to work together to keep Eve alive. If I seem to be making the effort to coordinate what’s going on, it’s because it’s so damn difficult to work through this web that Doane and his son wove years ago.” She added soberly, “And according to what Jane is telling me, Doane may not even be as terrible as his ex-wife. I told you what Harriet