Captive Heart

by Adriana Hunter

  In a way, he reminded her of Scott when he’d been on a case. Driven and focused, to the exclusion of everything, including her. But the steely determination she sensed in Gideon was far more intense than anything she’d ever seen in Scott. Then again, Gideon wasn’t like any man she’d ever met. She wondered what kind of history someone had to have to make them into the kind of guy who did things like this for money. But she doubted, with the current state of their relationship – or non-relationship – that she would ever unravel the mystery of Gideon Wolfe. Nor was she sure she’d even want to.

  They sped down a paved road, past commercial buildings, scattered residences, and then into the countryside. Lainey stared out the window as they traveled from forested areas through small villages, open areas, then larger towns.

  “You want something to eat?” His voice startled her. They’d been riding in silence for what seemed like hours.

  “Yeah, I guess. My stomach’s in knots but I do feel a bit weak.” Lainey hadn’t realized how hungry she was. Worry over Aiden and now the tension between her and Gideon had kept her from thinking about food.

  They were in a small town and Gideon pulled over to an open-air market. He cut the engine and stepped out, leaning on the frame of the car.

  “I’ll be back. Stay here.”

  Her retort was cut off as he slammed the car door. Where was she going to go? She was in a foreign country with practically no money. He was back in a few minutes with a paper bag. He handed her a bottle of water and a banana.

  “Word of warning: don’t drink water unless it comes from a bottle, and only eat fruit you have to peel. There’s no way I can take care of you if you get a case of tourista.”

  “A case of what? And I can take care of myself.” Lainey screwed the top off the bottle, taking a long drink.

  “Montezuma’s Revenge?”

  She gave him a blank look.

  “I thought you said you’d traveled before.” He pulled off his sunglasses, his brows furrowed in a bemused look.

  “In Europe. I’ve been to London twice, Scotland once.” She peeled the banana, biting off a mouthful of the sweet flesh.

  “Well, let’s just say there’s a lot of bacteria here that would love to give you a run for your money, making your life – and mine – a living hell. If you can’t find water, drink beer. Anything in a bottle.”

  “Oh.” She continued eating the banana. Gideon started the engine, pulling back onto the road.

  Another hour of driving brought them to a much larger city, one with a flurry of signs and honking traffic. After weaving through traffic, Gideon pulled the vehicle over and parked.

  “You’ll need your passport again.” He peered at her over the top of his sunglasses. “Or, you know, the other option: you can stay here. You’d be able to get a fight to Chicago.”

  Lainey shook her head slowly, holding his gaze, chin lifted. “No way.”

  Gideon sighed. “Come on. Bring your stuff so it’s not stolen while we’re gone.” He grabbed his duffel and Lainey followed him along the crowded sidewalk, her bag slung over her shoulder.

  “When they ask you why you’re visiting, tell them you are sightseeing. There are ruins in Petén, so it’s a logical reason to be coming here. Under no circumstances should you mention your brother. Do you understand?”

  Lainey nodded. Gideon abruptly stopped and she ran into him. He turned to look down at her.

  “I said, do you understand?” His voice was cold steel in the hot sun.

  “Yes, I do. I understand.”

  He stared at her a moment longer then turned and continued down the sidewalk. She wondered what she’d done now, besides just being there, that had set him off.

  They entered a small building, Gideon stepping ahead of her at the first counter. There was a rapid exchange between Gideon and the man behind the counter, and it looked like money changed hands. But before she could say anything, Gideon moved her to the second counter.

  There Lainey handed her passport to the man seated behind the counter, who stamped it, allowing her out of Belize. When asked, she dutifully said she was interested in the ruins and wanted to go sightseeing.

  Gideon walked to the third counter, apparently taking care of the paperwork for the vehicle. She saw money change hands again but was too far away to hear the conversation, which she suspected was in Spanish. Gideon gestured toward her and the official behind the counter looked at her, nodded, then smiled.

  Gideon stepped away from the counter, stuffing folded papers into his pocket, and caught her eye. With a brief nod of his head, he indicated the restroom.

  “You may want to take advantage of the facilities. It’s going to be a long ride, and I can’t guarantee I’ll stop. It’s getting late.”

  She glanced at the door then back to Gideon. “And you promise you won’t leave me here?”

  For the second time that day, he smiled. And for the second time, she was struck by how handsome he was. His sunglasses were off, one bow tucked into the neck of his t-shirt. As before, the smile reached his eyes. It was almost impossible not to smile back and for the first time, Lainey got the feeling he didn’t totally despise her.

  “Yeah, I promise.”

  Lainey’s brows shot up in surprise.

  “Come on, hurry up. Like I said, we’ve got a long drive ahead of us.” He nodded again at the door. “Scout’s honor, I’ll be here.” Solemnly, he held up his left hand, two fingers extended.

  Lainey laughed. “It’s the right hand, and three fingers, but I’ll trust you.”

  The bathroom was less clean than she’d have liked, and she was distracted by the thought that Gideon was still playing her, that he’d be gone when she came back out. As she emerged from the stall, she collided with a heavy set woman, eliciting a stream of what sounded like a stern reprimand in a language Lainey didn’t recognize as the woman banged her way through the outer door. Lainey ducked her head, mumbled something she thought might be an apology in garbled Spanish, and finished washing her hands.

  Lainey stepped out of the bathroom, anxiously looking for Gideon. He was standing where she’d left him, leaning against the wall, idly watching the people passing through the front doors. She’d bet money he would be able to recite the height, weight, and eye color of the last twenty people he saw. She didn’t think idle was part of his vocabulary.

  He straightened when he saw her, moving with easy grace across the small lobby, the hint of a smile on his face. Her lips moved into an answering smile but she froze as the look on his face changed. A dark scowl fell over his face and he closed the distance between them quickly.

  “Where’s your bag?” He pointed to her shoulder.

  “What? I…it’s…oh, shit. I must have left it in the bathroom.” Lainey turned, hurrying back into the bathroom. Banging open the stall door, she looked around the small space. Nothing. Darting back to the sinks, she tried to think. When did she remember having it last? Then it hit her; the woman she’d run in to, or who had run into her.

  Lainey ran back out of the bathroom, searching the crowd for the woman. But she was long gone. Gideon strode over, concern on his face.

  “What happened?”

  “It was stolen. A woman…she ran into me. That was the last I remember having it.”

  Gideon pulled off his cap, fingers sliding through his hair. He blew out a sigh. “You should have been more careful.” His voice cut through the air between them.

  “I know…” Annoyance made her voice ragged. But Gideon shook his head, hands held out in front of him.

  “I should have been paying attention, at least told you to keep a closer eye on your things.” His voice was softer, but his frown deepened.

  “So now you’re without a passport…and money.”

  Lainey shook her head, biting back as much anger as she could. “Not so fast. Like I said, I’m not as air-headed as you think. I have money and my passport.” She patted the back pockets of her jeans with the palms of her hands. �
��Still here, safe and sound.”

  His eyes moved down to where her hands rested, poised over her hips. For a moment they lingered on her, one eyebrow rose, and something like a smile tugged at the corner of Gideon’s lips. His eyes rose briefly to hers and Lainey saw a gleam in it that hadn’t been there before. She drew a sharp startled breath, lips parted.

  But abruptly his expression changed, his face becoming closed and remote. Gideon slid his sunglasses on, eyes now hidden from her, shaking his head.

  “Alright. Just don’t get pickpocketed, okay?” His brusque manner returned and whatever she’d seen in his expression was gone. Her mind tried to take in the mercurial changes she’d just seen. She’d never met anyone who could go through such a range of emotions in such a short span of time.

  “Come on. We have a long way to go yet.”

  Gideon led her back to the Range Rover, tossing his duffel behind the driver’s seat. They climbed back in and he started the vehicle, pulling ahead into traffic.

  “What’s this?” Lainey pointed out the window at the building they were approaching, something that looked like a large transparent carwash.

  “Fumigation. Roll up your window.”

  She did as she was told and they passed slowly through the building, a cloud of spray engulfing the car, finally emerging on the other side. Gideon parked the Rover and once again they climbed out, walking toward a low building.

  “This is the Guatemalan Customs, basically a repeat of the Belizean Customs that you just went through. Same routine, same reason for being here.”

  “Got it.”

  It took almost an hour to work their way through the officials and payments. Gideon took care of the money, surprising Lainey. His gruff demeanor had dissipated a little and she thought maybe he’d finally accepted she was part of this journey. Or more likely it would be harder to get rid of her in Guatemala than it had been in Belize.

  They finally made their way back to the Range Rover. It was early evening but the sun had already begun to set, the sky above the jungle darkening.

  “I’m surprised at how dark it is…it’s so early.”

  Gideon nodded. “The sun sets early, even in the summer. And in the jungle it’s pretty much immediately dark, no lingering twilight.”

  The headlights of the Rover lit a swath of asphalt ahead of them. Lainey had the sense of descending into a deep, dark, very humid – and completely foreign – world.

  They drove for several hours along a paved road and then turned off onto a rutted track. The Rover bumped and jolted along, Gideon driving at a much slower speed. After an hour of bone jarring travel, the headlights splashed across a collection of dilapidated buildings. Gideon pulled up in front of a small shack and cut the engine.

  A dim light was visible through a cloudy window. Gideon sat for a moment, absolutely still, eyes focused on the window. Then Lainey saw the light blink off and on and Gideon shifted in his seat.

  “Stay here until I come back for you. This is where it gets dangerous. No one expects you, and I need to explain why I brought you along.”

  Lainey swallowed hard. “Who are they?”

  “One of my contacts. I told you, I work alone. And for a reason. Any more questions?” His voice was thick with sarcasm.

  “No.” Aside from the faded patch of light cast on the ground beneath the window, the jungle was in complete darkness.

  “I’ll be back. Don’t move. And lock the doors.”

  Gideon stepped out of the Rover, watching Lainey as she leaned over and locked his door. She locked hers and watched as he walked toward the small sheet metal door set into the side of the building. He moved like a panther, a shadow among shadows. An involuntary shiver ran through her despite the heat inside the vehicle.

  Lainey watched as he raised a hand to knock at the door. He waited a minute, then two, standing motionless on the edge of the shadows. Then the door opened, harsh light illuminating Gideon’s face. Lainey saw a figure in the doorway.

  For a brief instant the door opened wider, the figure moving aside, disappearing from Lainey’s view. But Gideon remained outside. He gestured back toward the Rover. The figure came back into the opening, and Lainey had the distinct impression she was under scrutiny.

  The figure in the door began gesticulating wildly and Lainey caught the raised voice that went along with those gestures. Gideon remained still, occasionally shaking his head.

  Finally Gideon turned and walked back toward the vehicle as the door of the shack closed, cutting off the harsh light. Lainey reached across, unlocking the driver’s door, expecting Gideon to climb in and give her the lecture about working alone before driving away.

  But he walked to her side of the Rover, knocking on the glass. She unlocked and opened her door and Gideon leaned in, one arm resting on the doorframe.

  “Come with me. My contact’s not happy having you here. But I said it was your brother, explained how you managed to get this far, and you got lucky. Family apparently meant enough to get you through the door.” He paused. “I’d tell you to get your bag, but well, that’s not going to happen.”

  Gideon stepped back and she climbed out, waiting while he retrieved his duffel. She let him lead the way across the overgrown path to the door. As they approached, the door swung open, allowing them to slip inside.

  The door closed behind them. Lainey turned and was startled to see a small, fierce-looking woman with a cascade of wavy black hair walking toward her, a clear look of disapproval on her face. Lainey took a step backward and bumped into Gideon, feeling his hand on her waist.

  “Don’t show any fear. Don’t say anything. Just stay out of the way.” His voice was low, as if he were talking to a frightened horse. Then he stepped around her, moving between her and the woman

  Gideon spoke a rapid stream of Spanish, hands raised in a placating gesture. The woman responded and she sounded angry. Lainey half expected blows to follow, or at least a prolonged argument. But to her surprise, the woman suddenly tipped her head back, laughing. She reached out, clapped Gideon on the arm, and smiled broadly at Lainey.

  Gideon turned, eyebrows raised. “Well, apparently she’d decided that if you’re here, you’re tougher than most women. She respects your tenacity.”

  Lainey was still caught up in fight or flight mode, completely blindsided by the unexpected laughter. She burst into nervous giggles, which earned her a sharp look from Gideon and another smile from the woman.

  “Her name is Francesca.” Gideon’s look was still quizzical, his tone guarded. “She’s offered you a place to sleep, something to eat, but she has nothing that would fit you as far as clothes go.”

  Lainey made the effort to control her giggles, finally succeeding. “Tell her thank you and it’s okay about the clothes. I’ll make do, I guess.”

  “She’ll show you where you can sleep.” Gideon turned to Francesca and another conversation ensued. Francesca nodded, left the room briefly, then returned with a platter of fruit and a bottle of water. She led Lainey across the small room to a curtained doorway. Tugging the curtain aside, she pointed into the dim interior. Lainey squinted. The outline of a cot was visible in the far corner, the room lit by a small battery operated lantern. Francesca handed her the fruit and water then stood back, apparently waiting for some type of reply.

  “Gracias.” Lainey cringed at the sound of her harsh mid-western accent. Francesca smiled then let the curtain drop.

  Lainey set the fruit and water on a low table and looked at the cot. It held a pillow and a blanket. She picked up the pillow, sniffed it, and wrinkled her nose. It smelled like mildew and grease. But then she yawned, exhaustion washing over her. Suddenly she didn’t care so much.

  She wondered where Gideon was going to sleep, the thought passing through her mind that maybe it was with Francesca. Maybe that was what prompted the angry response from the woman. Turning the lantern around, she found the switch and turned off the light.

  In the humid darkness, she pulled off
her jeans and t-shirt, dropping them on the floor before climbing into the cot. It sagged alarmingly in the middle and she moved cautiously, pulling the blanket over her shoulders. The blanket was scratchy and she kicked it off. The heat was relentless, the air in the room heavy and still.

  She rolled over, punching the pillow, trying to find a comfortable position on the saggy cot. From the other room, she heard Gideon’s voice, the staccato replies from Francesca, and then her rich laugh.

  Despite everything swirling through her mind and the unending heat, she drifted into a fitful sleep.

  At some point she woke, aware the voices had stopped. Lainey wondered again about the relationship, if Francesca was just a contact or something more. Or if being a contact included sleeping with Gideon. Lainey frowned in the dark, the thought bothering her. And then it bothered her that she even cared. The image of the woman’s thick black hair cascading down her back, the fire in her eyes as they argued, popped up into Lainey’s mind. The woman was exotic and sexy, and the two obviously had a history.

  Lainey rolled over again, facing the wall, wishing for sleep to come back. But then she was aware of movement behind her, the subtle swish of the curtain moving, a sliver of yellow light hitting the wall in front of her.

  A footstep, then two, and she froze. Someone was in the room with her and she was naked and alone. Should she scream? Yell for Gideon? Her heart beat loudly against her chest, her breathing fast.

  “If you’re not going to use that blanket, can I have it?”

  At the sound of Gideon’s voice, Lainey sat up, wide-eyed. Gideon was backlit, standing in the doorway.

  “Turn around! And close the curtain. And no, you can’t have the blanket.” Lainey groped over the edge of the low cot, feeling on the floor for the blanket. She snatched it up, struggling to cover herself.