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walkon—that hurt, more than she would have thought possible. That she could be hurt by a few insensitive words, and from a stranger no less, also infuriated her. Two emotions that didn’t sit well together raged within her.
    Who did they think they were, these strangers, the one sure she could be bought, the other sure no one in his right mind would want to buy her? She wanted to disappear. She wanted to retaliate. First she had to get off the lap of the dark one.
    She settled on two out of three, since the arms that had held her were now loosened. She rose with as much dignity as she could muster, carefully placed the gold coins on the table, and mindful that The Seraglio had witnessed a scene just last night and didn’t need another, she turned to leave. A wise decision she could have been proud of, but her anger suddenly got the better of her and she swung around and slapped the golden Adonis with all her might.
    What happened then was swift, no one’s reflexes lagging. Vasili raised his arm with the clear intent of slapping her back, Stefan leaped up and caught his arm, while Tanya unsheathed her knife. But for once she didn’t care to make good on her threat, didn’t even demand that they leave. While they both stood unmoving, staring at her knife, Tanya backed away, turned, and ran out the back door.
    As soon as the wench was gone from sight, Stefan turned on his friend with a snarl. “Vasili, you are about as sensitive as a pig!” At the same instant, Vasili burst out incredulously, “That bitch pulled a knife on me!”
    â€œNot surprising, since you were about to hit her,” Stefan noted with disgust.
    â€œDeservedly, after she slapped me.”
    â€œWhich you deserved.”
    Vasili shrugged and then grinned. “What does it matter, as long as you have forgiven me my loose tongue. Now, would you like me to find the dancer for you?”
    â€œIdiot, that was the dancer.”
    Only the merest widening of Vasili’s eyes showed his surprise, before he said imperiously, “Then I returned to save you just in time. You may thank me later.”

Chapter 5
    After hearing Serge’s discouraging news that the Dobbs woman was another lead who had been dead many years, Vasili had been in favor of returning to The Seraglio last night, but Stefan had talked him into waiting until the morning. It was ironic that they had been so close to their quarry without even knowing it. But the woman’s husband, the owner of the tavern and their only remaining hope for some solid information about Tatiana, had lived in this town for over twenty years. He wasn’t going anywhere.
    The truth of the matter was that Stefan was embarrassed to face the little dancer again, after he’d sat there and let her be wounded by Vasili’s arrogance. Granted, he’d been amazed into momentary speechlessness by Vasili’s insensitivity, but that was no excuse. He’d chosen the wench for the evening, so he should have protected or at least spoken up for her sooner than he did.
    Of course, it had not taken him long to understand why his friend had been upset enough not to carewhom he insulted. Vasili had seen the entire situation as being his fault because of his earlier remark, and so had tried to correct it as swiftly as possible, and contempt was a specialty of his, developed to perfection.
    At any rate, Stefan didn’t want to return to the tavern until he could be assured the wench wouldn’t be there, which was this morning, while the place wasn’t open for business. Yet who should open the door to Serge’s pounding but the very one Stefan had hoped to avoid. And what did she do upon seeing them standing there but immediately shut the door, and none too gently.
    It was a new experience for all four of them, having a door closed in their face, and they each reacted differently.
    Serge became aggressive, asking, “Shall I break it down?”
    Before