"What kind of alliance?"
"There are few women in Red Sands," said Keifer. "None of them as pretty as you. I'm restless, Laura. That kind of alliance." Quite objectively, he let his eyes study her slowly, starting at the top of her head and working down without passion, without hurry. When he finished, she was blushing. "Exactly that kind of an alliance," he said.
"You're crazy if you think I—"
"Your father expects the worst. He thinks we're going to hurt you. We're not. We're going to hurt him.
"Plans can change. Your father will be tortured, while you are sitting here with me. We can break a man, Laura, physically and mentally. We can make him talk. Or—you can save us the trouble."
"How?"
"By telling your father you believe this is the winning side. By telling him you're going to live with me."
"To—what?"
"To live with me."
"I wouldn't marry you if—"