River of Desire: A Romantic Action Adventure/Thriller

by Winn, J. K.

Acutely aware her knees were knocking and would surely give her away, Leah gave them a head start. By the time she entered the parlor, Hernandez leaned against the far wall. One of his men searched the closet while the other rifled through the blanket chest, tossing blankets aside.

  “Anything wrong, Señorita?

  He had caught her staring. “No. I was just helping my grandfather out and realized I haven’t dusted in here. Sorry.” What a flimsy excuse-couldn’t she have come up with anything better? She wanted to kick herself. Sweat trickled down under her sky blue blouse.

  The sergeant smiled. “What a treat to have a granddaughter like this one to worry about such matters. Maybe I will have such a granddaughter one day.”

  Kruger laughed along with the soldiers, while Leah inwardly sighed with relief. Thank goodness she had hit one of his emotional buttons.

  A hollow sound rang in her ears. Much to her horror, the soldier at the blanket chest poked the false bottom with his rifle butt. She hoped Hernandez hadn’t noticed. “Would you like tea?” she asked to distract him.

  “You are so kind, Señorita. Sí.”

  While she hated to leave her vigil in the room and wanted to be present to intervene if Dylan was discovered, she had no choice. She raced to the kitchen and put water on the large wrought iron stove. The water took an eternity to boil and every second seemed like an hour. She must have checked the pot a hundred times. Finally hot enough, she returned to the parlor and handed the steaming tea to Hernandez, relieved to see that the guards had completed their search of the room without discovering Dylan.

  Hernandez sipped the tea. “Bueno te. Manzanilla?”

  “Sí,” she said, though not at all certain it was chamomile.

  Hernandez glanced over at his men who slouched against a wall. “What do you two think you are doing? This is not your tea time. Keep searching the place!”

  Leah had a brainstorm and placed herself between the approaching men and the door, hoping her behavior might throw them off track. “There’s really nothing out there.”

  One of the soldiers pushed her roughly out of the way. “We do what commander orders.”

  When they were out of earshot, Hernandez shook his head. “What a bunch of barbarians, Señorita. They do not know how to treat a lady.” He strode over to place his tea on a side table and took a seat on a ladder-back chair, his leg pressed against the blanket chest. “I apologize for inconveniencing you, Doctor. I know you tell the truth. But we must do our job and check to see if the American is still around.”

  Leah could barely hear him over the hammering of her heart. She stepped forward. “It seems like you’ve searched everywhere.”

  “That may be true, Señorita, but we must be thorough.” He tapped a foot against the chest. “Come here and sit next to me while we wait.” He gestured toward a second chair.

  Every time Hernandez moved, Leah shivered from a combination of fear and worry that Dylan would move or cough or somehow give himself away. The thought almost sent her into a panic attack. “Thank you, but I’d rather stand.”

  “As you wish.” Hernandez patted the chest. “I have never seen anything like this chest. Where is it from?”

  Sweat beaded Kruger’s brow. She prayed he wouldn’t reach into his jacket pocket and withdraw a handkerchief to wipe it-and give himself away.

  “From Germany,” Kruger said.

  Hernandez ran his fingers over the wood. “What is it made from?”

  Leah froze. The air fled her lungs. She wanted to speak, but words wouldn’t come.

  “Indonesian teak,” Kruger said. A bead of sweat dribbled down his brow. He leaned heavily against the back of a chair.

  Concerned Kruger’s condition might alert Hernandez, she had to intervene. “Grandfather are you over exerting yourself? Is it your heart again?” She turned to the sergeant. “My grandfather’s not well. For God’s sake, let him sit.”

  With a gesture, Hernandez said, “Do as your granddaughter wishes.”

  They both watched as Kruger slowly took a seat.

  Just then she heard a scraping sound and an alarm sounded in her head.

  “Did you hear something?” Hernandez asked.

  “We are troubled by mice, my dear sergeant.” Kruger placed a hand on his chest in a gesture of embarrassment. “Such a nuisance. Nicht?”

  “They must be grande to make such a loud-”

  The roar of a gunshot resounded in the room. Startled, Leah jumped back and looked over at Kruger whose mouth gaped open.

  Hernandez sprang from his chair and rushed from the room.

  “What is it?” she mouthed at Kruger as soon as the soldier was gone.

  He shrugged. “Perhaps the lock on my safe.”

  “What’s in it?”

  Before he could answer, Hernandez returned with a sheaf of papers in hand. When he passed her by, the seal of the CIA danced past her eyes.

  “What is this?” Hernandez demanded, thrusting the papers in front of Kruger’s face.

  For the first time, Kruger seemed flustered. “Business I do vith United States.”

  A scowl passed over Hernandez’s face. “I read little English, but this looks like shady business to me. I know about the Central Intelligence Agency, Señor. I do not believe my superiors would look favorably on your doing work for them in Peru without authorization.”

  Kruger had put his life on the line for Dylan. Leah had to step in to defend him. “He’s just doing research on viruses. It has no bearing on anyone in Peru.”

  “I am not certain my commander would see it that way.” Hermamdez’s steady gaze remained fixed on Kruger. “Of course, if you were to tell me the whereabouts of the American, I might not have to share these papers with anyone. But if you do not...”

  A silence fell over the room. Leah held her breath. Her skin crawled with anticipation. The temptation for Kruger to reveal Dylan’s whereabouts would be almost impossible to resist.

  Kruger’s mouth quivered. “I know not vhere he is. He left day before yesterday for Ecuador.”

  It took a moment to penetrate that Kruger had risked everything to protect Dylan. She wanted to cry out in gratitude and throw her arms around his neck, but she contained her impulse.

  Hernandez folded the papers and placed them in his pocket. “This is your last chance to reconsider and tell me where the American is.”

  “I told you all.”

  Hernandez sneered. “I hope you know what you are doing, Señor. We will be back.”

  Hernandez marched ceremoniously from the room. She heard footsteps, then the door open and slammed shut. In the silence, she grasped the nearest chair and steadied herself. “Oh my God. they’re gone. I just pray he’s bluffing and they don’t return.”

  Kruger mopped his brow with his handkerchief. “Not to vorry, mein kinder. I do everything in mien power to defend you.”

  * * *

  Dylan ached all over, cramped in the limited space, but he lay as still as he could, afraid the slightest movement might alert the man near enough to knock his foot against the blanket chest every few minutes. His recovering arm had gone numb long ago. He made one attempt to revive it, but, when he did, he scraped the side of the chest. He wanted desperately to slap or shake it again, but resisted the urge. Eventually, he ceased to feel the limb altogether, except for his throbbing shoulder. His legs twitched miserably, but there was no room to stretch them, even if he could.

  Voices droned. Doors rumbled open and shut. Drawers creaked and crashed. Footsteps stomped. When the sounds finally stopped, he was hesitant to move. It could be a trap.

  A symphony of metal prying against wood paralyzed him. Light seeped through an opening as the lid was raised. He closed his eyes against the glare, then opened them slowly, half-expecting to see the Peruvian soldiers. To his relief, Leah smiled down at him.

  She hoisted the shelf totally out of the way. “You’re safe. They’re gone.”

  With her helping hands, he awkwardly rose up and out o
f the casket-like enclosure. His legs would not straighten and his arm lay limp at his side, but he was ecstatic. “Hallelujah!”

  She helped him limp over to the sofa where it took a long time to lower himself to sitting. “At least they’re gone for now. We have to leave as soon as you’re stronger. They might return.”

  “I know.” He smiled reassuringly at her, noting that she looked like an angel in the afternoon light, her flaxen hair dappled by sunlight that filtered through woven blinds. He wished his arm was capable of pulling her closer.

  She slumped next to him on the couch. When he tried to raise his arm and failed, she reached over and rubbed it. A warm tingle followed her fingers. The sweat glistening on her skin reaffirmed the toll that hiding him must have taken on her. It demonstrated to him how much she cared.

  He ran a hand over his forehead and only then realized he, too, was soaked in sweat. “As soon as these damn legs work, I need to wash up.”

  A weak nod was the only response he received.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Dylan brushed away wisps of hair clinging to the sides of Leah’s face. Her skin, illuminated by the room’s oil lamp, seemed to shimmer from within. She radiated a serene sense of herself, more at peace than he had ever seen her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

  For too long he had fought the urge to trust anyone. Yet here he was, loving this woman more than he had ever imagined possible. A woman he hadn’t let down. The weeks they had spent together were his trial by fire. He had earned the right to love her.

  He kissed her deeply, stroked her skin. “I’m ready to make good on that promise.”

  The look in her eyes gave him all the encouragement he needed. He clasped her to him, soft lips surrendering beneath his ardent kisses. He couldn’t believe how good she felt, how wonderful she tasted. He had waited so long to be this close to her, now that he held her, he couldn’t have waited a moment longer.

  Slowly he nibbled his way down her neck, followed by soft moans, while his fingers rummaged open shirt buttons. With his lips, he sought the soft skin in the curve of her neck and teased her with his tongue. The fire that had kindled when he first kissed her, flared at the rose scented softness of her skin. This was everything he imagined it would be...and more. Beads of moisture had sprung up on her flesh and he licked them away. She groaned again, driving him to a frenzied level of passion he had never known. He lifted his head to take a breath and her eyes opened wide. The desire he saw in them galvanized his longing. He bent down to remove her shirt and bra, then lowered his lips to her nipples. She grasped him firmly to her as if she wanted to meld into him. Not anymore than he wanted to become a part of her. Out of his mind with pent up desire, he made a dizzying descent with his kisses over her breasts and belly, to the soft sweet mound between her legs. She groaned her pleasure as he touched and tasted her, arching her back so he could take her in. He could hear her heavy breathing, which propelled him on. A ripple shivering its way up her spine. When she cried out, he rose and entered her, aware of the touch of his skin against hers.

  When he rubbed against her, her passion surged with gasps and moans that spurred him onward. He felt the force of his desire for her building within, but he held off long enough to hear her cries of surrender before he breathlessly shuddered his own satisfaction.

  He lay back. Her head rested against his chest, her fingernails combed his arm.

  After a few minutes, she glanced up and said, “I want to know more about what happened in Brazil. You’ve only told me part of the story.”

  It would take strength to tell that story, strength just beginning to return. “You know about my warm reception. The red carpet treatment and all.”

  She grinned. “And the great accommodations.”

  He pushed up on one elbow, looking down upon her. “Von Schotten was the one experimenting on the locals. He’s the one behind the damn epidemic.”

  Leah looked thoughtful. “Wow, I can’t believe how relieved I am it’s not Kruger. I’ve come to care about him, Dylan, much more than I ever thought I would.”

  “I know.” He caressed her face with fingertips. “From what I gathered, Von Schotten blended a concoction of the Ebola virus with the Hantavirus.”

  She covered her mouth with a hand. “Jesus, how horrible! That combination would be incredibly lethal. If that’s what he’s using on the locals, there’s nothing we can do to save them—or the rest of the world.”

  He sat upright, rolled his stiff shoulders, rubbed his sore legs and grimaced. His shoulder throbbed. “Except he also developed a vaccine for the virus.” He stretched his legs over the side of the bed. “Only one catch. The two renegade soldiers kind enough to escort me downriver were working with Von Schotten, selling the Ebola-Hanta formula to a terrorist network. God only knows if the terrorists also have the antidote.”

  She pondered this for a moment. “I have to get this information back to the United States as soon as possible. I’m sure they’ll want to do an investigation into this. We must head back tomorrow.”

  He pulled himself up to stand. Would he ever straighten without support? Ever walk again without limping? “No problema.”

  “As long as you’re strong enough to travel.”

  He willed his legs to stop twitching. “I’ll be ready to leave first thing.”

  * * *

  Leah slipped quietly into the study and took a seat across from Kruger, who slumped over an open book, a half-empty bottle of Schnapps at his side. Wagner’s Twilight of the Gods played quietly in the background. She waited until he raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot and his cheeks hollow. Dark shadows circled his eyes.

  “Are you all right?” she asked, concerned.

  “You see old man, Leah.” His head lolled forward as though he was having trouble holding it upright. “Tell me of reason you are awake at late hour.”

  “I wanted to thank you for your help today.” A warm fuzzy feeling filled her chest. “You put your life, your work, everything on the line to protect Dylan. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

  A faint smile lifted the corners of Kruger’s mouth. “Dylan is fine young man, but he vas not who I protected today.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Closing the book, he stared directly at her. “I knew vhat to you vould happen if Dylan had been arrested. I could not allow it.”

  Tears blurred her sight. “You risked your life for me?”

  He cleared his throat. “You are my flesh and blood, hein?”

  Overcome with love, she stumbled to her feet and threw her arms around his scrawny neck. This worn out old man had gradually metamorphosed into the grandfather she had always wanted. “I don’t know how to thank you Grandfather.” The word suddenly sounded right. “I owe you so-”

  He shook his head. “You owe me nothing. I did vhat vas right. But I ask favor of you.” He gave her a squeeze. “Is better?” When she nodded, he gestured toward the chair. “Sit, please.”

  After a final hug, she tucked herself into the chair, sitting much like a little girl, knees and ankles touching, hands folded together in her lap. “Anything you want—”

  A wave of his hand stopped her in mid-sentence. “Do not too quick be. I vant you first to hear my proposal.” He eyed the bottle of Schnapps. “Drink?”

  “No, thank you.” She waited while he splashed a dollop into a shot glass and took a sip.

  He gave her a pained look. “I have little time left.”

  She swallowed hard but waited in silence.

  “I vant you should stay here with me in my final days.”

  The request stunned her. He had been willing to sacrifice his well-being and all that he worked for to help her, shouldn’t she do the same for him? She would if she didn’t have a crisis to avert. “I can’t. I have to go back to report a potential disaster to people who can do something about it.”

  “Send your young man. He vill return for you.”

  She wanted s
o to please him, but at what price? He needed her now, but so did the world. “The world is on the brink of a terrible viral epidemic. As much as I want to be here for you, I have a deadline to meet or more people may die from the Hemorraghic Fever.” She ached with regret. “I wish I could send Dylan and stay with you, but I have to take care of this myself. My editor would not take the story from another source. I must do this.”

  “Do not so hasty be in your decision.”

  “I have no other choice. Lives are at risk. Would you want me to be so uncaring of other men’s children and grandchildren? You, a doctor who has lived to save lives? Would you expect me to behave any differently?”

  Kruger slowly lowered his head into a quivering hand. “Nein. You should go and do vhat you can.”

  “A short time could make a world of difference in this epidemic. I will leave right away—tomorrow—return as soon as I can and remain with you as long as you need me.” She reached out toward him.

  He raised his head and looked at her through tears. “I am in advanced stage of prostate cancer. Two months more I have to live.” He placed his hands together as if in prayer. “I vant you should return immediately to me after you complete assignment.”

  “Come with me!”

  “Out of question.” Kruger took another shot of Schnapps and stared stone-faced at the far wall. “I cannot travel in present condition.”

  Of course not. She had asked on impulse. “I understand.”

  “Before you go, I must to ask one more thing. Tell me of your mother.”

  She thought for a long, hard minute, thinking how hard it was to sum up her mother’s life in a few sentences. “She was an incredible woman. Loving and loyal and fun to be with. I can’t say enough about her. I lost my world when she died.” Leah reached into a pocket and pulled out a billfold. From it she withdrew a picture and handed it to her grandfather.

  “She is most comely.” He smiled sadly. “Much like you.”

  “People would always say I looked like her.”

  He reached across the desk and handed her back the picture. “It should hurt me I could not know her, but instead I have you. You are mein kinder and mein herz, my heart.”