by Cindy Dees
“A thousand residents. Makes its legal income shipping local produce by river barge to the coast. Makes its real income refining cocaine. The populace is known to be loyal to the government.”
Which explained why no residents had been shot during tonight’s search. And which made it even more unlikely that Elise would’ve been hidden by anyone here, even if she was ostensibly a nun—
His train of thought derailed. A nun. Surely not. He spied the spire of the small church across town. It was as good a place as any to look. Although the army must have searched the place. What the heck. He might just be a little better than the local army guys at spotting a sexy nun with a couple of kids in tow.
Elise jerked fully awake as a loud squeaking sound erupted. That was the chapel’s front door opening. The army couldn’t have come back. A townsperson, maybe, coming to check on the church? Someone coming to pray? At this time of night? Nah. Who, then? She eased up the wooden steps and positioned herself directly under the trapdoor once more. She pulled down on the handle to keep it from popping open if this latest intruder knew about the hidden latch.
The children had been afraid of the total darkness down here in this crude dirt cellar and had wanted to go back up into the chapel to sleep. But now she was intensely relieved she’d insisted they spend the rest of the night down here. If they were lucky, the local priest would discover them tomorrow. Although, her luck hadn’t been so great recently. Better safe than sorry.
The intruder was quiet, but in her hyperafraid state, she heard the faint whisper of fabric as he moved slowly through the chapel. Just as someone would if they were searching the place. He drew near the altar. She held her breath, even though there was no way he could hear her breathing through the thick wooden panel overhead.
The latch clicked, dammit. She hung on to the trapdoor as it would’ve popped slightly open and prayed the intruder gave up as quickly as the army had.
A whisper floated down to her. She couldn’t quite hear it and rose up slightly to press her ear to the wood. There it was again.
“Elise?”
Her heart nearly stopped.
“It’s me. Drago.”
Ohmigod. She pushed the panel up and was startled when it didn’t budge. Momentary panic that they were stuck down here flooded her. There was a grunt and then she realized he must be kneeling on the trapdoor. The panel flew up all of a sudden.
She rushed up the steps and into his arms, knocking him over on his back in her exuberance. “Thank God it’s you. My prayers were answered.”
He laughed quietly as she sprawled across his chest. “Hello to you, too.”
Her relief was such that she kissed him soundly without thinking. His mouth was warm and firm beneath hers but went hot and demanding the instant their lips touched.
His arms came up around her while her hands slid up his chest to grip his shoulders. He hugged her so tightly she struggled to breathe. But she didn’t mind. It felt so good to be held by someone that she all but purred aloud. Her mouth opened against his and he reciprocated immediately. Their tongues met and she slanted her mouth across his, engrossed in the dance of lips and teeth and tongues. One of his hands slid up underneath her hair to the back of her head, cupping it so he could explore even more deeply. She gave in eagerly, melting against him as he took charge of the kiss.
She writhed against him, her body on fire. He groaned in the back of his throat and she reveled in the sound. She did that to him? Cool. She kissed him with renewed enthusiasm. She wanted to hear that sound again.
He was the one who finally broke off the kiss, breathing heavily. His heart pounded against her chest, matching her galloping pulse.
“I’m so glad to see you,” she chattered under her breath. “Here I was trying to figure out how we were going to get out of this town without someone turning us in to the army. And then you just showed up. How did you find us, anyway? Is it safe? Can we leave now? Do you have a car?”
“And you accuse me of asking a lot of questions,” he muttered around a grin.
“Well?” she demanded.
“Yes, we’re safe. The army has cleared out for the moment. You don’t want to know how I found you, yes we can leave now, and of course I have wheels. Do you have the children?”
“I do. And Grandma.”
He blinked up at her.
“Speaking of which.” She called out low in Spanish, “He’s a friend. You can come out.”
Grandma poked her head up out of the hidey-hole as Elise hastily rolled off his totally delicious chest. She felt bereft as his arms fell away from her and he sat up. He held a hand forward to help the elderly woman climb out of the cellar. Grandma rolled awkwardly to her hands and knees and asked, “Is it safe?”
Drago nodded. “Here. Let me help you up.” He crawled out from under the table and partially lifted Grandma to her feet while Elise smiled down at the two small, pale faces peering up out of the hole.
“This is my good friend, Drago. He’s come to help us.”
“Is he one of the superheroes?” Emanuel asked, eyeing the humongous gun slung over Drago’s shoulder in awe.
“He sure is,” Elise replied jauntily.
She made the introductions quickly and was startled when, after high-fiving Emanuel, he knelt down on one knee to shake Mia’s hand solemnly. The little girl seemed charmed in spite of herself. Who’d have guessed the big, bad arms dealer would be so good with children? Bemused, she introduced him to Grandma, who eyed him with open appreciation.
His gaze met hers over the older woman’s head, and his eyes glinted with humor.
Elise commented in English, “Like she told me earlier, she’s not dead yet.”
Drago laughed, retorting, “I always say, when I quit looking, bury me because I’m dead.”
“Where’s your car?” Elise asked more seriously.
He flipped into work mode immediately. “Outside. Lemme clear the area and then I’ll wave you out. Have you got any stuff?”
“Just a few emergency supplies Grandma had in a bag.”
“Smart woman.” He nodded and melted out into the night. He did that so easily. Her suspicion that he was much more than a simple arms dealer resurfaced with a vengeance. Of course, the moment she started asking questions about who he really was, he would do the same to her. She was actually grateful for a moment that they still weren’t out of danger. The longer she could avoid the hard questions waiting for her from Drago, the better.
He waved to her, and Elise hustled Grandma and the kids out to his Jeep. They piled in the backseat and she climbed in the passenger seat beside him. He started the car but left the headlights off.
He quietly directed Grandma and the children to lie down in the backseat and cover themselves with Grandma’s shawl. She was startled to see how carefully he lifted the children and how gently he tucked a blanket around them to hide them.
Elise murmured, “And I suppose you want me to get down on the floor?”
He answered in English, “I was thinking more in terms of you lying down with your head in my lap, but I suppose the floor works.”
“You wish.” Grinning, she wedged herself between the dashboard and her seat.
“It would’ve been more comfortable my way,” he commented.
“Not when I was through with you it wouldn’t have,” she blurted without thinking. His gaze snapped to hers. Whoops.
“I’m exhausted,” she muttered. “I don’t know what I’m saying.”
His gaze narrowed speculatively and she swore under her breath. He didn’t buy her excuse for a second. She was the worst fake nun ever! She watched apprehensively as he nodded to himself and then threw her another one of those “we need to talk” looks.
As she crouched on the floor, her legs started to tingle and then to ache, but she’d be twice damned before she complained about her cramped position. Finally, he turned on the headlights and announced that everyone could sit up. She pulled herself back into the passenger
seat gratefully.
They drove on a two-lane paved road for hours. Although, the existence of asphalt didn’t prevent the road from having gargantuan ruts and potholes that could swallow a small house. It was slow going, particularly after the moon set and heavy darkness fell outside.
Grandma and the children crashed in the backseat and Elise grew sleepy. She murmured to Drago, “If you’re tired I don’t mind driving for a while.”
He shook his head. “I’ve got it.”
“You know, I’ve worked plenty of double shifts in emergency rooms. I can go twenty-four hours or more if I have to.”
“You don’t have to,” he replied.
“Are you one of those macho men who insists on taking care of the woman all the time?”
“You don’t have to make that sound like some terrible character flaw.”
“So you are a Neanderthal?”
“I’m a gentleman. I was raised to believe that the man takes care of the women and children. Keeps them safe. Looks out for them.”
He was a dealer in death. Since when did notions like protecting the weak and helpless enter into that equation? “Do you go for the whole opening doors and holding chairs thing, too?” she asked curiously.
“I do,” he bit out.
Huh. She’d heard of men like him—old-fashioned types who held with values like courtesy and chivalry—but she couldn’t remember the last time she’d met one. He couldn’t be for real, could he? “And do you hunt saber-toothed tigers with a club and drag the woman off by the hair to your cave?”
He glanced over at her and shrugged. “I’m old-school. I freely admit that. If you’re the kind of woman who likes it, great. If not, then we can go our separate ways, no harm, no foul.”
Honesty compelled her to confess, “I don’t know if I like it or not. I’ve never known a man who felt that way.”
“Seriously?” he blurted.
“As a heart attack. I spend most of my time trolling the worst neighborhoods New York City has to offer. I’m just glad when the men there don’t shoot me.” Although, now that she thought about it, she supposed many of the men did look out for her in their own rough fashion in the form of gang escorts and repeated attempts to teach her how to shoot a gun.
“Why do you run around in such bad places and endanger yourself?” Drago asked in audible alarm.
“I’m a nurse. Many of my patients can’t or won’t seek medical care unless it comes to them.”
He shook his head. “You should have someone like me along with you to look out for you.”
“Are you volunteering for the job?” Good grief. She had to quit spilling out the first words that came to her head like that.
He frowned. “Unfortunately, I have other commitments. But if I didn’t, yeah, sure. I’d watch your back.”
“I don’t think most nuns have bodyguards,” she replied.
“But you’re not most nuns, now are you?”
Her gaze snapped to him, but he was staring straight ahead at the road. His profile was strong. Clean. Well-defined. And it didn’t give away even a hint of what he meant by that remark.
Even if he wouldn’t let her take a turn driving, she stubbornly insisted on staying awake with him through the night and keeping him company. He seemed amused that she thought he wouldn’t be able to remain alert all by himself.
Finally, as the sky began to lighten in the east behind them, he said, “Why don’t you close your eyes for a few minutes? You’ve had a rough couple of days.”
Now that was an understatement. But at least she had Mia and Emanuel now, and could turn her attention to getting out of this godforsaken region. “I’ll be fine,” she replied stubbornly.
“It’s getting light out. I’ll be good to go for most of the day. Take a nap.”
She retorted, “Look. If it’s all right for you to take care of the weak, helpless female, it’s also all right for me to worry about you.”
He looked startled. “There’s no reason for you to worry about me. I’ve got things handled.”
“Then why are we headed into the heart of Army of Freedom territory? You do realize we could be jumped at any moment, right?”
“Actually, I’m hoping they do jump us. I’ve got to get back into contact with Raoul and company so I can complete my deal with them.”
Elise’s jaw dropped. “You want to find those cutthroats?”
“Absolutely.”
“News flash. You’ve two women and two small children with you now. None of us needs to be exposed to a bunch of violent insurgents.”
“Do you want me to pull over and let all of you out of the car?” he asked.
“No! I want you to drive us to some nice, big, safe city with an international airport so I can get these kids out of Colombia.”
“I’ll be happy to do that…after I close my sale.”
“Your sale is immoral.”
He snorted. “Like you’re one to comment on my morality.”
What did he mean by that? Sure, she wasn’t a great fake nun. But she hadn’t done anything to really disgrace the profession, had she? Kissing him probably hadn’t been strictly nunlike, but she couldn’t help it. He kept catching her at weak moments. And besides…he was hot.
They drove in silence as the sun rose and the thin layer of ground fog burned off, leaving the young day hazy and humid, promising hellish heat by afternoon. The jungle gave way to rolling grassland, and ranches and farms became more and more prevalent. They stopped in a village to refuel, use restrooms and eat breakfast. Drago stocked up on snacks and drinking water, as well.
Elise spent the rest of the morning cooking up games to play with the children to pass the time. The children dozed again in the early afternoon, and since Drago really did appear to be going strong, she finally allowed herself to close her eyes.
It was nearly dark when she blinked awake, her neck stiff and her back aching.
“Good evening, Sleeping Beauty,” Drago murmured.
“Good grief! You let me sleep the whole afternoon away!”
“You needed it. Grandma read a book I picked up in that village to the munchkins, and listening to it kept me wide awake. No reason for you not to sleep for a while.”
She supposed there was no sense in crying over spilled milk. The nap was a done deal and she felt worlds better. “So, are you going to let me drive now that I’ve had some sleep and you haven’t?”
“Nope.”
“Has anyone ever told you you’re insanely stubborn?”
He blinked innocently at her. “Why, whatever do you mean?”
She didn’t know whether to scowl or laugh at him. She settled for huffing in exasperation. “You’re such a…”
“Man?” he offered.
“Exactly.”
He chuckled. “Thanks.”
“It wasn’t a compliment,” she snapped.
“Yeah, I got that memo. But thanks, anyway.”
“Ooh!”
“You’re so cute when you’re mad. You look like a kitten who’s being tewwibwy fewocious and is about to attack a ball of yarn.”
“Yeah, well, kittens can tear up a ball of yarn with the best of them. Don’t underestimate my claws, mister.”
He smiled indulgently. “It’s not your claws that are the problem. It’s that stubborn determination of yours that’ll get you in trouble.”
Actually, he was right. But there was no way on God’s green earth she would admit that to him.
The road quality improved dramatically through the Llanos—the tropical grasslands bordering the majestic Orinoco River. They drove at near highway speed until the foothills of the Andes Mountains began to rise around them. By her calculation, the road trip had taken them nearly halfway across the country. Now all she had to do was make her way to the coast and a major airport. There had to be a way for her to return to the States without her passport, and in the meantime, Mia and Emanuel would be safe once she got them on a plane.
They stopped a
nd made a picnic supper of the food Drago’d had the foresight to purchase. After the meal, from somewhere in the back of the vehicle, a soccer ball mysteriously emerged. Emanuel shouted with delight, and she smiled gratefully at Drago. You had to love a man who went out of his way like that to make a little kid happy.
Whoa. Love? Huh. Maybe she did love him just a little.
He looked away guiltily. What? The big bad arms dealer didn’t want her to know he had a soft spot for kids? If only he knew how much sexier it made him—she broke off the thought in sharp frustration. If nothing else, this disastrous nun disguise had taught her once and for all that a celibate lifestyle was not for her.
Elise and Grandma watched the boys pass the ball back and forth. But then Drago did something surprising. He kicked the ball to Mia where she slouched beside the Jeep. The little girl reluctantly kicked the ball back. How he pulled it off, Elise wasn’t quite sure, but within a few minutes, he’d coaxed Mia into the action. The two children squealed with laughter at Drago’s ridiculous antics as they played keep-away from him. Her heart melted a little bit more.
Grandma murmured, “He will make a good father. And so handsome, he is. A girl would be crazy to let him go.”
Elise glanced over at the elderly woman in surprise. Surely Grandma wasn’t advocating that a nun cast off the cloth and her vows for the hunky arms dealer! Unless…crud…Grandma’d figured out she wasn’t really a nun. But how? Elise thought back frantically over the past day. How had she given herself away?
Drago interrupted her silent panic by flopping down on the grass beside her.
“They wear you out?” Elise asked him.
He snorted. “It takes more than jumping around like a monkey for a few minutes to tire me out.”
“Where did you learn to handle children so well?”
“Me?” He looked startled. “I don’t know the first thing about kids.”
“Could’ve fooled me. You don’t have any of your own?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” he answered sharply.
“No nieces and nephews you spoil rotten when you go home?”
“No.”
“Where is home, anyway?”
