“He’s not here?”
She shook her head. “He tried to help us escape, but we got separated.”
Tucker frowned, hoping the big guy got out of the burning mansion. He focused on Elle. “What about you? How’re you doing?”
“I’ve had better days, too.” She glanced sidelong at Yerik. “They’re planning on taking me north. To an Arctic base in Severodvinsk. I’m to be held there until I’m needed.”
“Then just keep cooperating. We’ll have to see what happens from here.”
“And you?”
“That’s still up in the air.”
The door to the office opened, and Valya exited with Sychkin. Neither looked pleased—not about the situation, and for the archpriest, certainly not with Tucker.
“I’ve been informed that mydachain Sergiyev Posad, an estate that’s been in my family for five generations, has burnt to the ground.” Each word was spoken with an icy bitterness. “Andyouwere involved.”
Tucker remained down on one knee, doing his best to look like less of a threat. “I was hired to search for Dr. Stutt. To use my dogs to sniff her out. Nothing more. This is not my war.”
Sychkin eyed Marco. The dog noted the attention and curled his lips into a snarl, exposing fangs. A low growl rumbled from his throat.
“QUIET,” Tucker ordered.
Marco’s eyes narrowed, looking like he might refuse. The young shepherd had been stubborn from the get-go with his training. It wasno wonder the pup had failed out of the MWD training center in Lackland. Still, Tucker recognized that stubbornness was born of intelligence. With time and the right training, he might outshine Kane.
Okay, maybe not Kane... no one else could be that good.
Marco’s lips lowered, and his growl died away. Still, one long canine tooth remained bared.
Definitely stubborn.
Sychkin acknowledged Tucker’s control of Marco with a small nod. “It seems Dr. Stutt has grown fond of your dog. If you can keep him under control, I see the worth of your presence. Still, if you are to continue with us, you’ll need topayfor your passage north.”
“How?”
“I want all the information you have on the group that hired you. Who they are? What do they know?”
Tucker swallowed, not sure how willing he was to comply.
His hesitation was noted.
Sychkin gave the smallest nod to Yerik, proving that the archpriest had as much control over the monk as Tucker had over Marco. Yerik drew a pistol and pointed it at Elle.
“Must I make my point clearer,” Sychkin warned.
As Tucker stared at the archpriest, he imagined scalping that beard off his face. Instead, he said calmly, “You need her.”
Sychkin smiled, but there was no warmth. “True.” Another nod, and the pistol shifted to Marco. “But I don’t need this dog. There are other ways to make Dr. Stutt cooperate.”
Tucker’s jaw tightened.
“Lie, and your partner’s death will be prolonged. And you will watch every moment of it.” Sychkin leaned closer. “So, I recommend that you tell me something worth the price of your safe passage north. Disappoint me, and we’re done talking.”
Tucker weighed his options. If he refused, he had no doubt that Marco would be slain, and Tucker would be next—but only after they tortured him for all the information they could get.
Later, Elle would likely suffer a similar fate.
So, it was either certain death at the hands of these monsters, or trust in Gray and the others’ abilities. Tucker hated to put a target on their backs, but at least the others were still free and able to act.
