Page 94 of What Doesn't Kill You…

"In that case." Lian sat up straighter. "What can I do to help?"

"You can't tell the rest of the family. We don't want to waste valuable time and energy managing their fear and panic when we could be out helping Violet."

"Of course." Lian inclined her head in a regal gesture.

"You can help me to keep them busy and calm," Katrina continued.

"And if trouble comes to find us?" Lian said. "What then?"

Mission logistics weren't Katrina's forte. She had no field experience and no military training. She glanced at Harris. He had even less experience than she had.

"I can call Rodrigo," she started as Lian put a hand over hers to stop her.

"We need to scout a secure location where we can hole up until help comes," Lian said. "I suggest you send the boy to look for one." She gestured to Harris. "Tell him to look for somewhere nearby that's easy to get to. Ideally, it should have two ways to get in and out of it. We don't want to hide in a walk-in freezer or something silly like that. The enemy will only lock us in and walk away, letting the location do the job for them. Tell him to look for corner rooms, secluded and near stairways."

"Okaaaay," Katrina said because she honestly wasn't sure what else to say.

"If possible, he must fortify it. Place furniture in front of thinner walls, to protect from bullets. Cover the windows, so no one can see in. And seal up any vents, to prevent a gas attack." Her voice was so melodic and calm that it took Katrina a second for the words to sink in.

"Who are you?" she said, looking at Violet's grandmother with new eyes.

Lian didn't reply. "We will also need weapons. If you have guns, that would be best. But anything that can hit, cut, or bludgeon will work too." She thought about it for a second. "It wouldn't hurt to stock the room with some alcohol and matches."

"Seriously," Katrina said. "How do you know this stuff?"

"Before I was a grandmother and a mother, I was a fighter. I fought in many wars, not all of which have made the history books. Some were in China, some in Scotland. This is not the first time I've prepared for an attack."

Holy crap, Katrina thought. "Violet gets it from you, doesn't she?"

Lian smiled serenely. "Hurry along and talk to Harris. There's no time to delay.

Katrina did as she was told.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Max was in trouble.

And he had no one to blame but himself. It wasn't the first time in his life he'd screwed up, but he suspected it might be his last.

He was tied to a wooden chair in the middle of Damien's opulent study. A Persian rug was on the floor beneath him. Gold leaf decorated the cornices overhead. Paintings by Picasso hung on the walls, depicting images of women twisted and deformed. It was exactly the kind of thing he expected to find on the walls of a monster.

"A gun?" Damien considered the weapon his henchmen had taken from Max, before tossing it onto the ornate desk behind him. "You were going to kill me, Maximillian?"

"The thought had crossed my mind, but no, I hadn't planned on killing you. I want to see you rot in jail for the rest of your life. I want to see your reputation in tatters. And I especially want to find out how you'll cope when you don't have access to social media, because you have a serious addiction, buddy."

Damien's fist came out of nowhere, striking his face and knocking his head to the side. Max couldn't even lift his hands to defend himself because they were bound to the chair. He probably shouldn't have taunted the madman, but he couldn't stop himself. Violet was right—talking was a compulsion for him.

The thought of Violet, locked in the toilet where he'd left her, made his stomach clench. Dumb move, he told himself. She was going to be so mad when he saw her again. If he saw her again. At least she should be out by now. He'd sent a text to Rodrigo once he was away from the bungalow, asking him to set her free. Neither of them would be happy with him, but at least he hadn't left her trapped.

Of course, when he'd sent the text, he'd thought he was sneaking up on an empty estate. Not walking into an armed compound where the reigning king was holding court. Damien hadn't gone to the meeting on the boat after all. Talk about bad luck.

"I had you investigated." Damien perched on the edge of his desk. "Twice now. The first time was years ago, when you tried to write that hack piece about me. Second time was when you turned up on my island. Gotta say, Maximillian, I didn't find anything of interest. Apart from writing, you're a pretty dull guy."

"At least I'm not a criminal."

This time, the blow struck him across the temple and left him feeling disorientated.

Got to stop talking.