“I agree with Nawakans choosing their destiny, but perhaps the sacrifice you speak of isn’t necessary.”
He shook his head. “Our oppressors must be dealt with in such a way that neither they nor their descendants will ever be in a position to sully Nawaka’s sacred heritage.”
Belle’s swallowed carefully around the need to scream.
Her skin tingled unpleasantly with the knowledge that this monster was waiting for her agreement, for her approval.
“I can’t really speak to that. I think the Nawaka I’ve come to know is special the way it is.”
He leaned forward and ran one finger down her cheek. She locked her muscles in an effort not to recoil.
“If you really think that, then I look forward to showing you Nawaka’s true potential once I am in power.”
“When— When do you intend all this to happen?”
He sat back with a satisfied smile. “Soon. I have a few more maneuvers to perform first.” His focus shifted from the board to her face. “Although some of them will be achieved sooner than I thought. You love Nawaka as much as I do, don’t you?”
The warmth and caring of the people she’d come to know before she was captured rose to her mind. Some of them were people Mwana planned to slaughter. “Yes, I do.” Her voice shook.
“Good, Belle, very good. We can achieve incredible things together, you and I. I was worried that your marriage would prove a hindrance, but since that is no longer an issue…” He laughed and shook his head. “I’m getting ahead of myself. Unexpectedly, we have more time now. That is enough for me.”
Ice numbed her from head to toe as he continued. “The last pieces of the game are almost in place for the final battle.” He smiled with chilling relish. “And we will be victorious, Belle. I count on it. Another game?” He indicated the chessboard. “I might even consider letting you win again.”
She shook her head. “No. Would you mind if I went to bed?”
His disappointment gave way to a smile a moment later, his expression turning hungry as hooded eyes raked over her. “Of course not.” He held out his hand. Unable to refuse without incurring offense, she let him help her up.
Silently she walked beside him to the cavern adjoining his and stopped several feet from the makeshift bed. A quick glance at his face showed a deepened hunger that made her heart slam against her ribs in sick apprehension.
“I look forward to the day when I will join you on that bed, Belle.”
The sound she made in her throat was unintelligible. But he smiled as if he understood, bid her goodnight, and left.
She sank onto the bed, her breath coming out in gulping pants. With every strange sound her nerves frayed more. With every second that passed, she slid closer to black despair because she could no longer hide from the knowledge that Charles Mwana very much wanted to keep her as his personal prize…indefinitely.
…
1:34 A.M. THE SAME NIGHT
Nick’s teeth jarred as the second-hand jeep struck yet another ditch in the severely potholed dirt road that led into the rebels’ territory.
A whole day had passed since they’d landed in this godforsaken place.
A day wasted while several appropriate hands had been greased in an attempt to ascertain the most up-to-date information on the whereabouts of Belle and the other three hostages.
So far all they’d managed to find out was that the rebel leader and his men were holed up in the jungle near the Congo-Nawakan border, waiting for Theos knew what.
Nick suppressed the dread rising inside him and forced himself to focus. Beside him, Alex braced his hand against the dashboard as the jeep bounced again.
Like him, his cousin had done three tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Having Alex by his side eased his gut’s churning. Not by a whole lot, but…it helped.
His com crackled through his earpiece. Gritting his teeth, he listened as Allen spoke to his men over the radio.
“We’re approaching the coordinates, gentlemen. Time to ditch these babies and head in on foot. We don’t want any surprises. And remember—radio silence in T-minus five. Allen out.”
They located a wide, shallow ditch and hid the jeeps, covering them with tarpaulins and large branches from a mahogany tree.
At Allen’s low, terse command, they melted into the jungle. Nick stayed abreast with Alex, his senses sharpening and heightening as covert skills he’d presumed dormant swiftly rose to the fore. Adrenaline flooded his veins and coated his mouth. His gaze swept and tracked their immediate surroundings for any potential threat. Relief followed swiftly, and his grip tightened on his assault rifle.