“Tell me about it. I had that conversation with him when he was derailing in Hong Kong. It didn’t last long, as you can see. But then living a life like his, where you can have anything, buy anything, coerce anyone, ruthlessly bend the world to your will—well, he’s hard to stop.”

“Not always a bad thing,” Roscoe murmured, single-minded like Dominic in the art of the deal, “when it comes to making money at least.”

“Katherine isn’t about making money though. That’s only one of her unorthodox qualities. She’s not his stereotypical playmate and I’m guessing that’s her allure.”

“But she’s still a playmate,” Roscoe brusquely said. “So what are you thinking? A week or two before he comes to his senses?”

“I really couldn’t say. This could be different.”

“Fuck it,” Roscoe grumbled. “You’re not telling me anything I want to hear.”

The phone went dead.

Max pushed himself out of the chair, walked back to the bedroom, dropped his robe, and climbed back into bed. There was nothing he could do or say to control the situation. Nick did as he pleased. He always had.

So Max might as well sleep.

Liv had a family picnic planned for tomorrow. A smile touched his lips as he thought about his son’s shriek of excitement when they’d told him. For some reason, his little angel liked outdoor picnics, even in winter.

TWELVE

At the sound of the soft click of the bedroom door latch, Dominic came awake and glanced at the lighted numbers on the clock: 3:21 a.m.

Shaking off the first few hours of peaceful sleep he’d had in more than a month, he looked up as Leo’s shadowed form approached. “I’m up.”

“We should go.”

Both men spoke in an undertone.

“Raffles?”

“Cleared out and on the plane.”

Dominic carefully slid Katherine from under his arm and rolled off the bed. “How many men?” He strode toward his dressing room, Leo keeping pace beside him.

“Eight.”

“Jesus. Gora’s serious. And we have?”

“Ten. But we’ll be in the air before they can muster a full crew.”

Dominic softly closed the dressing room door once they were inside and flicked on a light. “Okay, fill me in while I dress.”

Leo ticked off the positions of each of Gora’s men, where they’d picked up their arms, who in Dominic’s security crew was watching whom. “The chambermaid at Raffles packed up Katherine’s things and sent her luggage out in a laundry cart,” he said. “One of Tan’s men picked it up on the loading dock and Gora’s guy sitting at the bar was none the wiser.”

Having pulled on a pair of jeans and slipped his feet into sandals, Dominic slid a T-shirt over his head and checked the time on his watch. “The plane’s ready?”

“On the tarmac.”

“We’ll meet you outside. And thank everyone.”

A few minutes later Kate sleepily mumbled, “What are you doing?” as Dominic wrapped her in a quilt.

“A slight change of plans.” And he explained that slight change in such a soothing whisper that she drifted back to sleep before he had to lie too much. Lifting her from the bed, he stood motionless, watching her for a second in case the movement woke her up again. She was like a child in sleep—angelic, manageable, her willfulness temporarily vanquished. He smiled. Not that a few orgasms didn’t play a part in her tranquility.

Here’s to hoping she would remain that tranquil, even with the assassination squad on their trail. He turned and walked away from the bed.

Moments later, having traveled the length of the house, Dominic approached the front door, which was quickly thrown open by one of his houseboys.

Tan stood there, waiting for Dominic, and nodded. “Have a safe journey,” he said in Malay.

“That’s the plan. You, on the other hand, have to consider yourself under siege. They’ll come here when they can’t find her.” He spoke softly back in Malay in the event Kate wasn’t sleeping deeply.

“We’re locked down tight.” Tan spoke as quietly. “And up to strength. My relatives came in an hour ago.”

Dominic smiled. “So the army’s in place.”

Tan shrugged. “Since clan warfare’s frowned upon, they don’t get a chance to have much fun anymore. Everyone’s happy.”

“Give them my thanks. You know what to do if—”

“We know how to dispose of bodies.”

“Then thank you again. Leo tells me eight men were sent out.” Dominic arched a brow. “For one woman.”

“Barbarian overkill.” Tan grinned. “No offense.”

“None taken.” Dominic was perfectly aware that Europeans had been referred to as barbarians since they first set foot on the Asian continent seven hundred years ago.

Tan lifted his chin toward the drive. “Leo’s pacing. You’d better go.”

Dominic glanced out, then back. “Stay in touch. And seriously, no bloodshed if it’s avoidable.”

“Everyone knows that, boss.”

“Jesus, don’t smile when you say that.”

“Yes, sir, boss.”

Dominic rolled his eyes. “Deference from you makes me nervous. Stay out of the courts at least—okay?”

“Sure thing, boss.”

Dominic sighed. “I give up. Call Leo if you need anything.” He dipped his head, smiled faintly, murmured, “Good-bye” in Malay, and moved out into the sultry night.