“I want Rio here,” she said calmly. She opened her mind, that pathway to Rio so he would see and hear what it was she was saying. “I am defenseless once I’ve healed. It would be easy for you to go back on your word. I would have no recourse.”
“You think I’m going to just turn myself over to some mercenary? Do you realize how many government and nongovernment agencies are after me? You’re out of your damn mind.”
“I don’t give a f**k about you,” she said in an even tone. “What I care about is my ability to walk out of here. You’ll excuse my lack of trust in you, but your promise doesn’t mean shit to me. I’ve told you I can kill your daughter at any time, so that gives you more incentive to kill me once you’ve gotten what you want.”
She felt Rio stir, felt his anger and his fear for her. His anger that she’d provoke him and that she’d bargain so ruthlessly and risk the very thing she’d just accused Farnsworth of being able to do.
“We both want the same things, Mr. Farnsworth. I have no desire to ever see you again. Call me self-centered but I’m more interested in having a normal life than I am in seeing you punished for your crimes. I want Rio here. I want his team to be allowed here. They are my protection. My guarantee that you uphold your end of the bargain. And once I’ve co’mpleted the healing, he’ll walk out of here with me because I swear to you by all that’s holy, if you kill me, if you try to kill me, I’ll take your daughter with me.”
Farnsworth went pale. He shoved a hand through his hair, mussing the immaculately styled strands. Then he yanked his hand away. “It will take too damn long to get them here!”
She smiled. “Oh, I think they’re probably closer than you think. Shall I find out for you?”
Rio, I need you. I’ve been buying time, but I don’t have it to spare. If his daughter dies before you get here, he’ll be out of control. He’ll kill me. He’ll kill you. The one thing keeping him in check right now is his utter terror that his daughter will die. If that happens, nothing will matter to him any longer.
We’re on our way, Grace. You did good, baby. You scare the shit out of me, but you did good. You’re so damn fierce. You even have me convinced you’ll take his daughter down with you if it comes to that.
We got a lead even before you told me who he was. We’re in the air now. Tell him we’ll land on the mainland and then take a chopper to the island. The others will boat in, but he doesn’t need to know that. Three hours, Grace. Buy us three more hours and we’ll be there.
She looked back up at Farnsworth. “Three hours. Rio and his team will land a helicopter here. Until he arrives, I won’t do a thing.”
Farnsworth closed his eyes. “Will you…Will you at least go see her? Will you stay with her? I need her to have a reason to hold on. A reason to hope. I’ll give the order for my men to stand down. Your Rio and his team will have clearance to land and will be escorted to you the moment they arrive.”
“And after?” she asked softly.
“You can leave the same way they came. You have my word.”
She reached into his mind but only found sincerity. No hint of deception. He was too focused on having his daughter well and healthy. He’d gladly let her go if it meant having Elizabeth be a normal little girl again.
“Then take me to her,” Grace said quietly.
Hancock automatically took Grace’s arm and she tried to yank it away, but he held firm.
She glared pointedly at Farnsworth. “Does he have to come?”
“You have your conditions. I have mine. He’s there to make sure you uphold your end of the deal.”
“He doesn’t have to touch me in order to do that,” she snapped.
Farnsworth gestured for Hancock to let her go. Hancock’s gaze was cool and unreadable. Like his mind. He had admirable control over his thoughts. Every time Grace tried to get a read on him again, she saw blankness. Like he was so focused and disciplined that he could shut out everything but what was his primary goal. She’d thought it before and she hadn’t seen anything to the contrary—he was more machine than man and it creeped her the hell out.
She thought she saw annoyance in his gaze, and irritation, as if he loathed taking orders from Farnsworth. But his thoughts didn’t reflect his expression whatsoever.
He let go of her arm but not fast enough for her liking. She ached to put her knee right in his balls and see if the bastard was more machine than man then.
Farnsworth walked ahead of Grace, leaving her sandwiched between him and Hancock. They mounted a winding staircase and then traveled to the end of the hallway once on the second floor.
When Farnsworth o Farnswopened the door, she could see the immediate fear that leapt into his eyes. His entire body went tense, as if he was afraid to hear the worst.
From the bedside of the little girl Grace still couldn’t see, a man looked up, a stethoscope in his ears. On the other side was what appeared to be a nurse or at least someone who sat with the girl.
“Get out,” Farnsworth said in a low voice that carried for its sheer determination.
“But she needs care,” the doctor protested as he took down the stethoscope and let it hang from his neck. “She shouldn’t be left alone right now.”
“Get. Out.” Farnsworth enunciated each word, so much menace in them that the doctor paled and backed away from the bed. “There is a helicopter waiting to take you back to the mainland. You’re dismissed.” He motioned for the woman. “You too.”