'I can't,' she whispered.

Luc's body clenched. She saw his mouth tighten, his eyes glitter. 'You stupid little fool, you can't still hanker after him! The man's a barracuda. His teeth are stripping every ounce of flesh off this island and he's hungry to strip you; too. Get away from him while you can.'

'You don't understand____________________' she began, and he broke in with a muttered curse.

'Damn you to hell, Lissa, have some sense! You're blind about him. Can't you see…'

'Luc____________________' she interrupted huskily, putting a hand on his sleeve.

He caught her shoulders painfully, flinging her head back, and his mouth burnt fiercely, angrily, on hers. She felt the violent movements of it like blows. Luc was kissing her with rage, his lips forcing hers until she felt the tender skin inside her mouth grinding against her teeth.

She struggled wildly. He was hurting her and she felt his anger so deeply she wanted to cry.

'Stay with him, then,' Luc bit out, releasing her.

Lissa felt his hands fling her away and stumbled, clutching at the honeysuckle bush. Luc walked away into the darkness and the tears began to run down her face.

She could not go back to the hotel in that state. She walked around the garden in the shadows and once or twice saw silent-footed shadows patrolling the grounds. Chris's men prowling around-in search of her? she wondered. She froze into the darkness and waited until they had gore. Fortune came softly up to push his nose into her hand and she knelt to hug him.

As she walked back to the hotel she walked into Rebecca and got a quick, hostile glance from the other girl. Rebecca's eyes narrowed on the tearstains visible on Lissa's cheeks. 'Had a row with Chris?' she asked in a wry voice.

'You'd love that, wouldn't you?' Lissa flung back.

'Does he know you're in love with him?' Rebecca's colour ran angrily. 'I'm not!' 'No?' Lissa stared at her. Rebecca knew everything that went on at the hotel. Chris might have hidden the sort of operation he was running from her, but he wouldn't have hidden much from Rebecca. How could he? Rebecca was always around his office. Carefully Lissa said: 'He must find it very useful to have a doting secretary. You'd die rather than give away a thing about what goes on here, wouldn't you, Rebecca?'

The other girl's brows flicked together. She stared at Lissa sharply. 'What are you talking about?'

Lissa didn't answer. She just smiled, her eyes mocking.

'You're not the wide-eyed innocent he thinks you are, are you?' Rebecca broke out with shrill dislike. 'I've seen the way you look at that Ferrier man and the way he looks at you. You've been pulling the wool over Chris's eyes long enough. The only reason he was going to marry you was because he didn't think he'd get you any other way, but he's wrong, isn't he? He probably got beaten to you a long time ago. I bet Ferrier wasn't even the first. Chris has been a fool about you.'

'Chris loves me,' Lissa said very softly, watching her.

'He said he loved me once,’ Rebecca muttered. 'I should have been as bright as you are-waited for a wedding ring before I lost my head. It was too late when I realised just what sort of man he really was. I'll hand it to you-you're clever. I didn't think anyone could make a fool of Chris, but you've done it. Just don't imagine you can go on doing it. Once he realises he isn't the first he'll kill you. He won't like it when he discovers he's been had.'

Lissa shivered and Rebecca, watched her with a fierce smile. 'I wouldn't like to hazard a guess what he'll do to you. Girls who run foul of him come to no good?

'What about the girl on Joubeau Street?' Lissa asked casually, hoping Rebecca could not see the shock and horror inside her.

It surprised Rebecca. She saw the startled expression come into the other girl's eyes. 'You know about her? He didn't tell you.' Rebecca laughed curtly. ' Pierre, was it? Chris will cut his throat!'

'No, not Pierre,' said Lissa. So it was true, she thought. It was all true. And tonight Luc was facing him across the table, risking not only money in their encounter. The darkness inside Chris made him unpredictable and dangerous.

Rebecca was staring at her, biting her lip. 'Are you going to tell him what I've said?'

Giving her a wry look, Lissa shook her head.

'It cuts both ways, remember,' Rebecca warned. 'I've got a few things I could tell him about you.'

'You keep your secrets, I'll keep mine,' said Lissa, turning to go.

Rebecca caught her arm, her long talons of nails digging into her flesh. 'Look, if you've got any sense you'll get the first plane out of here. Chris can be vicious.' She glanced around nervously. 'I wish to God I'd never got involved with him.' Releasing Lissa, she hurriedly, vanished and Lissa went slowly into the hotel.

She could not go quietly to bed. She had to know what was going on between Chris and Luc. She left Fortune in her room, washed and did her make-up again, then went down to the gaming rooms.

The men on the door looked at her in surprise but let her pass without question. One of them had an amused expression and she guessed he thought she had come because she was worried about Chris. Everyone knew she did not approve of his playing poker.

She walked through the spacious, luxurious public rooms, where faces bent avidly around the roulette table, the chandeliers casting a harsh cruel light over them. One of the croupiers watched her, smiling, and Lissa smiled back brightly.

Max was on the door behind which Luc and Chris were playing. He stood with folded arms, watching her walk towards him, his narrowed eyes skimming the half-revealed curves of her body in the black dress.

Lissa managed to look calm and unconcerned, but she was very aware of the way his eyes slid over her. She had never much liked the atmosphere in these rooms, but now she loathed them. She knew it would kill her to stay here on the island in this place. She had to get away before the poison leaked into her own veins.

He did not move to let her pass and when his eyes came up, Lissa met them with raised eyebrows and a light smile.

'Can't I go in?'

'Chris said nobody was to go in,' Max told her.

Lissa lowered her lids. She thought quickly, coldly. Putting a hand up to Max's bow tie, she pulled it loose with a teasing little smile. 'That doesn't include me, docs it? I'm not nobody.'

Max's eyes flickered at the deliberate flirtation. She had never thought about it before, but now she guessed

Max found her attractive. His eyes told her as much as he looked down at her.

'I'll ask him,' he compromised, turning.

He opened the door and she slipped through with him. Max turned his head to frown and Lissa gave him an impudent little grin.

'I can ask him myself,' she mocked.

She walked towards the table in the centre of the room. The rustle of her black dress caught Chris's ear and he turned his head to stare at her with hard, watchful eyes.

Max hovered, waiting for his orders..

Luc surveyed her icily as she walked round to Chris. Ignoring him, she put a hand on Chris's neck, her fingertips stroking the short fair hair bristling on the nape. She felt the shudder run through him.

'So you are playing,' she said with a faintly sulky look, bending to meet Chris's eyes.

Chris put down his cards and leaned back in his chair to smile at her. His eyes held a mixture of amusement, relief and physical desire as they ran over her.

'Checking up on me? I'm beginning to feel married.'

'No, you're not,' said Lissa, flickering a look at him through her lashes.

She saw the flash of excitement in his eyes. She had never looked at him teasingly, provocatively, before, and Chris loved it. He took her hand and began to kiss her arm lightly, his mouth lingering on her wrist, the smooth cool inside skin, her inner elbow.