The Midnight Hour (8 page)

When they reached the top of the stairs, she glance around him, straining her eyesight to see into the darkness. At the far end of the hall they made out moonlight that was filtering in through a small window, deciding that some light was better than none. After taking a few steps Drake paused and she felt his warm, gloved hand on her thigh. "It's the last room," he whispered. "Stay behind me and protect my back."

She nodded. Although she would protect his back, he would be stationed in front of her, using his body as a shield to protect her as well. If something went wrong and there was gunfire, he would take the bullet instead of her. She just hoped and prayed the protective vests they were wearing did their jobs.

Outside they could hear the wind beginning to howl, indicating the possibility of a coming storm. Sudden and unexpected thunderstorms in this area were not unusual but unwelcome, especially tonight. Tori's only consolation was in knowing that no matter the weather, a group of Recons were stationed nearby, ready, on alert, poised for action, if things went wrong. And if things went right, that same army of men would be there, strategically placed in the jungle, waiting to get word that Robin had been rescued before moving in for an attack.

Barely breathing, Drake moved forward knowing Tori was right behind him. His dark eyes focused, his ears sharpened when he got closer to the room and heard the sound of a woman moaning. His mouth tightened. Had they gotten here too late? Had those bastards already…

Tightening his grip on the pistol he held in his hand he tried to get his mind in check. The one thing he could not tolerate was the violation of a woman. Through the small window he could see lightning flash. Damn. Either way it would be a rather messy night, he thought, easing into the semi-darkened room.

The room was dirty and cluttered. Guards, who'd been drinking, probably celebrating what they thought was a victory to kidnap the president's daughter, were sprawled everywhere, unconscious from the combination of both alcohol and the drug they'd been given.

Behind Drake, Tori heard the sound of a woman's gasp when Robin saw what she perceived as a huge, giant of a man walk into the room. Tori quickly moved from behind Drake to ease the young woman's fears. "Shh, we're here to help you," she said in a soothing voice, releasing a deep sigh when she saw the woman was still fully clothed. Although it was apparent she was shaken up pretty badly, there was no I signs that she'd been raped. Evidently the rebels had been given orders that she remain untouched until their leader arrived.

She sat huddled in a dark corner of the room on the floor, 1 with tape over her mouth and with her hands and feet tied; | obviously frightened, confused, scared out of her wits. The | effects of the drug were wearing off, leaving her disoriented, woozy.

Not knowing if the young woman would resort to hysteria if they removed the tape off her mouth, Tori began talking. She needed to make her understand they were there to J help her.

"We've come to take you home. Robin, are you injured in any way?"

The woman shook her head that she was not. Satisfied with that response, Tori then asked. "Can you walk?"

Tears burned the woman's eyes when she nodded that she could walk. "Good. We're going to release you but-"

"No time," Drake said, crouching down beside them* "The storm is about to break. Besides, it will be easier for £ me to carry her out the way she is. And keeping her gagged will assure she doesn't go into a state of hysteria and alert anyone of our presence. I heard the phone ring downstairs I just now. Chances are that's the call to tell them they nabbed 1 the wrong woman so we need to move out."

Tori nodded, knowing Drake was right. She took Robin Thomas's hand in hers soothingly, to assure the young I woman that everything would be all right. "We're going to 1 have to carry you out, so don't panic. We need you to continue to be brave for us, okay?"

Tori smiled when Robin nodded again, knowing she was fighting hard for control of her emotions. After Robin's ordeal, she would need plenty of tender, loving care when she got back home. Tori then quickly moved aside. Shakily, Robin looked at Drake when he crouched down and lifted her effortlessly into his strong arms.

"Let's go. We have less than two minutes to get out of here," Drake said, leading the way out of the room. When they reentered the room where the unconscious guards were sprawled about, Tori noted it appeared one was slowly coming around. Before she could say anything, Drake had taken the butt of his revolver and hit the man on the head. After a hash grunt, the man lost consciousness again.

They inched into the hallway and silently eased back down the stairs. Tension tightened Tori's stomach when the sound of pounding feet met their ears. Robin twisted frantically in Drake's arms and Tori was glad for Drake's decision to keep the young woman gagged. Robin was frightened and would have probably screamed at the thought that her captors were returning for her.

As soon as they made it down the stairs, Drake pulled Tori into a small and darkened alcove beneath the bottom of the stairs just seconds before an army of men came around the corner and ran up the stairs. A violent curse erupted and the loud sound of several doors opening and closing permeated the building.

"Let's move out," Drake whispered harshly against her ear and she nodded. Knowing they couldn't leave the same way they'd come, Drake quickly led the way out the back while they ignored the gunfire that was going off upstairs. Evidently the leader, angered with the unconscious men for failing to do what they were ordered to do, had decided to Put an end to their lives while they were still knocked out cold. When it came to revolutionaries who thought they Were fighting for what they considered a just cause, they could be merciless, even to their own kind.

When they made it out of the building the first thing they noticed was that dawn was fast approaching; the second thing was that it was about to storm. When the spotlights suddenly came on and a siren sounded, Tori knew they would have to make a run for it.

"All systems are go," she heard Drake bark into the transmission radio he had pulled from his belt, alerting the Recons they had rescued Miss Thomas.

It would be too dangerous to attempt to get out back through the barbwire so Drake led the way around the side of the building. They dodged the spotlight every time it scanned the area where they were. When Drake motioned to a small area near the back end of the building, he turned and mouthed the word "grenade" just moments before pulling one from his belt and tossing the explosive. It was then that Tori remembered Drake's specialty while a Recon. He was a weapons and explosives expert. The best.

As soon as the smoke settled the way was cleared. Drake had effectively made a passage for their escape. Unfortunately, he had also brought attention to that area and the spotlight shone brightly. A couple of revolutionaries rounded the corner with their pistols ready to open fire. "Now it's time to show your stuff, Green," Drake said smiling at her.

She smiled back and nodded. As more revolutionaries came running around the corner, Tori smoothly, and with accurate precision, picked them off, shot after shot. Suddenly, it began to rain; a turbulent downpour, and Drake pulled her forward, while adjusting the weight of Robin in his arms. "Let's make a run for it. Now."

Dodging the enemies' fire they sprinted across the lit yard, running toward the passage Drake had blown open for them. The sound of gunfire surrounded them and they heard men scrambling about trying to get back their hostage and take down the individuals who'd had the audacity to invade their stronghold.

Tori's heart began soaring in triumph as they ran farther and farther away from the building. Although they weren't out of the woods yet, and were heading deep into the jungle with men fast and furious at their heels, a part of her knew they would survive. The most dangerous part of the mission, rescuing Robin, was over. Rain poured down, slashing violently into their faces and eyes as they ran deeper into the jungle where the trees swallowed them up. She felt exhausted and knew Drake had to feel the same way, doubly so since he was carrying additional weight. But they couldn't slow down to talk. They had to keep moving.

Drake cradled Robin in his arms, holding on to her tightly as he and Tori raced deeper into the jungle. At some point they would stop running and find a place to sit and wait, but not yet. Danger was still lurking all around them. He'd heard the sound of a jeep's motor and knew some of the revolutionaries were chasing them in a jeep, so they needed to run into an area where a vehicle couldn't go. He heard the sound of a man shouting and then gunfire behind them. He wished there was some way to wipe the rain from his face, but knew he couldn't, at least not while holding Miss Thomas. He looked around. They couldn't be far from the area the military had pinpointed to be their holding position. There he would find food and more ammunition. It would be a place they would stay until the Recon showed up to escort them back to the ship.

When he suddenly heard an exchange of gunfire, he knew the Recon had arrived and the revolutionaries had to forgo their search for the missing hostage to deal with the

United States Marines. Drake smiled. He already knew who would be the victor.

Less than six hours later, Tori stepped out of the shower onboard the military ship. She had needed the deep cleansing the hot water had given her. Her body ached tremendously and her throat felt somewhat raw. But still, the mission had been a success. Robin had gotten checked by a naval doctor onboard ship and was sleeping soundly.

The Recon had attacked the fortress, taking the leader as well as his comrades into custody. The president had been notified that his niece was safe and in good health.

Tori heard a knock on her cabin door and tightened the sash of her robe. She moved slowly, stiffly, wondering if something had gone wrong. As far as she knew, the ship was headed for the military base in Guatemala where a private plane would be picking up Robin. A military aircraft was scheduled to fly Tori to California and she'd heard from a member of the ship's crew that Drake would be departing for El Salvador.

She opened the door and suddenly felt the aches leave her strained muscles. Drake stood in the doorway. From the dim lights in the hallway their gazes met in the shadows. This was the first time she had seen him since they had boarded ship. He had immediately gone to brief the military officers on what had transpired during the mission and she had left to accompany Robin down in the brigs to be checked by the doctor.

A shiver went through her and her heart began pounding j fast and furious in her chest. Surprised, she watched as his mouth quirked into a rare semblance of a smile. "I though I'd check on you before I left."

Left. She inhaled, as she struggled to ignore the panic that gripped her with that one word. "I thought you were going as far as El Salvador," she said, trying to sound as casual as she could.

"That was before I got orders to go elsewhere. A chopper's on its way to take me to South America."

She lifted a brow. "South America?"

"Yes. I'm needed on another assignment."

"So soon?" she asked, not liking the thought that he was about to place his life in danger once again, escaping death by the skin of his teeth.

"Yes, it seems Santiago and his band of rebels are causing problems again."

She nodded, studying the depths of the dark eyes that had been in her heart and thoughts for the past five years. When a couple of sailors passed by in the hall, she decided that she needed to invite him in, if only for a short while. Licking her lips, she whispered nervously, "Would you like to come in for a second?"

He smiled again. "Yeah, just for a minute. The chopper is to arrive in a couple of hours."

When the door closed behind him, she glanced around. "I would offer you something to drink, but the strongest thing I have at the moment is bottled water."

He met her gaze. "No, thanks. I'm not thirsty."

Tori broke eye contact with him and noted he was dressed in black jeans and a black T-shirt, ready for action once again. She also noted how good he looked. Her gaze returned to his face and probed his eyes. He was watching her intently.

"How long do you think you'll be in South America?" she decided to ask. When he walked out that door, chances were their paths would never cross again. She hadn't told Casey yet, but she had decided to leave the Agency. She couldn't risk having to work with Drake on another mission.

"For at least four months."

She nodded. That was all the time she would need to disappear. When he returned from his mission she would have relocated elsewhere and started a new life. Since it was the Agency's policy not to give out the address of any of their agents-former or present-for fear of the data getting into the wrong hands, no information would be given out as to her whereabouts if Drake was to ask. It would be better that way. Her past was a secret she would have to carry to the grave with her. He would never know that the woman standing before him was the same woman he had planned to marry after that Haiti assignment. The same woman he had asked to share his life and have his children. The only woman he'd ever let steal a way into his heart.

He was a man who'd been known to be hard as steel in most situations, inhumanly controlled in combat and relentless of his pursuit of anyone who threatened the country he loved. But when it had come to Sandy Carroll, he had loved her with such an intensity, a tenderness that was so unlike the giant of a man that he was, mat even now remembering those nights he'd held her in his arms after making love to her, Tori wanted to weep at the thought of all she'd lost. All they'd lost.

As natural as the breeze flowing beyond the cabin window on the sea, she took a step forward at the same time that he did, and he gently pulled her into his arms. Immediately she melted with his touch when he tilted her chin up,* bringing her gaze level with his.