Rachael buried her face in Rio's neck, inhaling his comforting scent, giving herself up to the strength in his arms.
"You're all right, Rachael," Rio soothed, one hand stroking her hair as he sat on the small sofa on the verandah. "Listen to the forest, to the monkeys and birds. They make life seem in balance again. Listen to the rain. It has a soothing harmony."
"What's happening to me? Do you know what happened? I swear I saw something moving beneath my skin, like a parasite or something." The humidity created the illusion of a sauna. The sound of the rain was dulled and muted by the heavy canopy overhead. Her breath was coming in ragged gasps, as if she'd run a long race. Her wounded leg was throbbing and burning, her pulse pounding there in a frantic rhythm. "I don't have panic attacks, I don't. I'm not hysterical, Rio."
"I know, Rachael. No one thinks you're hysterical. Just stay calm and when we're alone, we'll talk about this." His heart was pounding as frantically as hers. The possibilities were incredible, almost unbelievable to him. He wanted time to think about it, to do a little research before he provided answers. "Just one thing, Rachael. Have you ever heard the words Han Vol Dan before? Did your mother ever say those words to you or mention them in her stories?" He held his breath, waiting for her answer, feeling as if his world teetered on the edge of an abyss.
Rachael turned the words over in her mind. They weren't entirely unfamiliar, but she had no idea what they meant and she was fairly certain her mother had never included them in her wild rain forest adventures of the leopard people. "I don't know. My mother never said those words to me, but..." she trailed off in confusion.
"It doesn't matter," he said.
"What does that mean? Han Vol Dan? The words flow like music."
"It's all right, don't think about it right now," Rio reiterated. "I hope you really aren't blaming yourself for what happened to Kim. I've been rescuing kidnap victims for some time all along this river and in three countries. My unit is hired to go in and bring victims out. Sometimes the government contacts us because it's a politically sensitive situation and other times it's the family asking us to get them out. And still other times we deliver the ransom and make certain nothing goes wrong so we can return the victim to his home. In nearly every incident where Tomas and his group are involved, the victims have suffered beatings. He's one of the bloodiest of the bandit leaders. Most consider themselves businessmen. If the money is paid, they deliver the people they've taken in good health."
Rachael shook her head. "It's just a way of life to them? Kidnapping people? How do their families feel about what they do?"
"Most likely they're grateful for the money coming in. Some do it for political reasons, and those situations are much more explosive and much more dangerous to my team. And anytime we're going after someone Tomas has kidnapped, we know it's dangerous both to them and to us. Tomas has killed hostages even after the ransom's been paid. His word means nothing at all, to him or to anyone else."
"Have you met him?"
He nodded. "A few times. He's crazy and a bit drunk on his own power. He's been known to kill his own men for a perceived slight. He's death on women. I think he likes to hurt people."
"I knew someone like that. He could smile and pretend to be your best friend even as he plotted to murder your family. People like that are so twisted." Already Rachael was beginning to feel better. The strange malady that had gripped her earlier was gone, leaving her trying to remember what it felt like. She just remembered being afraid. The unexplained episode made her feel slightly ridiculous, the epitome of the hysterical woman. It was no wonder Rio didn't think she belonged in the forest. "Rio, I'm sorry for acting like such a fool in front of your friends."
"You didn't, Rachael. If you're feeling better, we'll go back inside and see if Tama and Kim can fix your leg. They're much more adept at healing than I am. Their father worked a bit with me, but they have had the benefit of his tutelage since they were little."
She circled his neck with her arms, linking her fingers at the nape of her neck. "I think I'm becoming used to you hauling me around," she teased.
"Well tuck that blanket around you. I don't mind you going without underwear in front of me, but I draw the line at parading around in the nude in front of my friends. You'll give Drake a heart attack."
"I must be picking up your bad habits," Rachael said, tugging at the blanket until it covered her bare thighs. She snuggled against his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck again, turning her head to look into his vivid green eyes.
They both smiled. It made no sense, but neither cared. They simply melted into one another. She had no idea if she moved first or if he had, but their mouths fused together and joy burst through them. The earth shifted and rocked. Monkeys chattered noisily and a bird shrieked in delight. Prisms of color radiated through the droplets of water on the leaves and moss. Petals from blossoms overhead rained down on them as the wind shifted slightly, but neither noticed. For that moment there was only the two of them, locked in their own world of pure feeling.
It was Rachael who pulled back first, smiling because she couldn't help herself. "You have an amazing mouth."
He had heard those words before uttered in that same voice, that same teasing, slightly awed tone. He had felt her fingertip tracing the outline of his lips before. He clearly remembered sweeping away the dishes and laying her on the table, wild with need, wanting her so badly he couldn't wait long enough to get her to the bedroom.
Rachael's fingers tangled in his hair, a gesture that always turned his heart over. Sometimes he felt as if he lived for her smile. For her kiss. For the sound of her laughter. He leaned close until his lips were pressed against her ear. "I wish we were alone right now." His tongue made a small foray, delving into shadows, his teeth nipping gently. Her breasts pushed against his chest, soft tempting mounds, her nipples taut peaks. He had known her body would react to that small tease of his tongue.
"It's just as well we aren't," Rachael pointed out, trying to keep her brain from melting along with the rest of her body. It had to be the humidity. She could testify she'd never quite felt so sexy and so wanting to entice and tempt a man as she did Rio. She stared into his eyes, his strange, beguiling eyes, and felt as if she were falling into him.
A leopard growled a warning, then gave a soft grunting cough from inside the house. Rachael and Rio blinked, trying to shake off the enthrallment they seemed to be under.
"Rio, you'd better tell your little friend to back off, or he's going to get a surprise," Drake called.
Rachael was shocked at the gravelly menace in Drake's voice. Rio stiffened, snapped out an instant command to Franz and the clouded leopard burst from the house. He raised his lip at Rio, his ears flat, his teeth exposed, tail switching back and forth.
"He looks really angry." Rachael couldn't quite suppress the note of fear in her voice. "It's amazing how big he looks, and his teeth are downright scary."
Rio stepped back to give the cat room. "All leopards have tempers, Rachael. They can be very moody and edgy, even the smallest brother. Franz is naturally upset and he doesn't tolerate company very well."
"He should be used to me," Drake snapped. "The little runt threatened me. If he managed to bite me, I'd stretch his hide between two trees." He stood in the doorway glaring at the clouded leopard. His eyes were brilliant and focused, almost glassy. There was an aura of danger emanating from him. His hands gripped the railing of the verandah, fingers curled tightly around the wood.
Rio slowly set Rachael onto the overstuffed sofa, never taking his eyes from Drake. There was sudden tension in Rio's body, although he appeared as relaxed as ever. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Rachael could see he was just as focused on Drake as Drake was on the cat. Neither man moved a muscle, so still they seemed to become part of the forest, blending into the shadows. Clouds moved overhead, darkening the skies. As the wind blew and foliage and creepers feathered back and forth the shadows grew and lengthened. A few raindrop
s managed to penetrate the heavy canopy and splashed on the railing of the verandah.
The sound of wood tearing was loud and unnerving. Long splinters of wood fell to the floor of the porch to lie in curls. Rachael stared at them in surprise. Franz hissed and, facing Drake, backed away as he slowly slunk toward the largest tree branch. As if his back legs were springs, the clouded leopard launched himself into the canopy and disappeared.
Drake remained motionless, watching the leaves quivering, and then he took a deep breath, let it out and glanced at Rio. "Back off, man, the little runt deserved to be kicked."
"Fritz was attacked by a leopard, Drake. Franz is a little on edge. You could have given him a break."
"I don't understand," Rachael interrupted. "I thought you two were friends."
Rio immediately dropped his hand onto her shoulder. "Drake and I understand each other, Rachael."
"Well I don't understand either of you."
Rio laughed softly. "It has something to do with bad-tempered cats. Come on, let's get that leg taken care of."
"You mean put that homemade brownish paste on it?" Rachael sounded horrified. "I don't think so. I'll take my chances with the care you gave me." She stared at the railing behind Drake. There were fresh claw marks in the wood and she couldn't remember them being there earlier.
"Surely you aren't going to be a coward," Rio teased, picking her up as if nothing had happened. He didn't glance at the claw marks or seem to notice them. All the tension was gone as if it had never been.
"Maybe we could mix a few more petals in with it and change the color," Drake suggested, preceding Rio into the house. "Tama, she doesn't want your healing concoction. Can you change the color to princess pink?"
Rachael made a face at Drake. "I'll go without it, regardless of color."
Kim smiled at her. "It works, Miss Wilson."
"Rachael," she corrected, trying to look dignified when Rio placed her on the bed. She was already tired and wanted to just lie down and sleep for a while. "How fast does it work? And does it hurt?"
"Your leg already hurts," Rio pointed out. "It won't make the pain worse."
Rachael curled up, drawing her leg up as best she could to protect it from any voodoo concoction Tama had whipped up. "I'm a modern sort of woman. The kind that goes with modern medicine."
"Haven't you ever heard the phrase, 'when in Rome...'?" Rio teased.
"Yes, well, we're not in Rome and I doubt if their medicine is that particular shade of green." Rachael glared at him, slapping his hand away as Rio tried to pull her leg out for inspection. "Back off if you don't want to lose that hand!"
"Is she always like this?" Drake asked.
"She gets worse. Don't put a gun in her hand."
"That was an accident. I had a high fever." She shoved Rio's hand away again. "I'm not getting near that stuff. You sure turn bossy when your friends are around."
"Stop squirming around. I want Kim and Tama to see what they can do." Rio sat on the edge of the bed, casually leaning his weight across her hips so she couldn't sit up. "Just do it, Tama, don't pay any attention to her."
"What did she shoot?" Drake asked.
"The radio."
Drake laughed. "Fortunately I brought mine. You can have it and I'll pick up another. We're going to have to go after Kim's do-gooders and get them out of Tomas's camp. That was the real reason we came, you know, not to rescue you, Rio."
"Kim's do-gooders?" Rachael echoed, feigning outrage. "When I'm feeling better, you'll be taking that back."
Rio tried to ignore the black jealousy swirling in his gut. He might come from a primitive species but he didn't have to act like it. He could be civilized. It shouldn't matter that Rachael smiled at Drake. And maybe it didn't. But it did matter that she teased him. He wanted that particular note in her voice to be reserved exclusively for him. He reached inward, searching for a calm center, a place he often went to conquer the part of him that lived by forest rules. Air moved through his lungs. He breathed in and out, determined not to sway from his chosen path. It was all important for him to be in control.
He felt the touch of her fingers. Feather-light. Barely there, the smallest of connections. Her fingers twisted in the waistband of his pants, knuckles pressing against his bare skin creating instant heat. It was a small gesture, but he recognized her need for comfort, for reassurance. And that brought him instant relief.
"Rio, are you going to go after Don Gregson and the others?" Rachael had planned her escape so carefully. She had planned to live her life alone. She hadn't even been that afraid, yet now everything seemed different. She didn't want Rio to leave her.
8
WE can't leave any of those people with Tomas," Rio answered with a heavy sigh. "I don't think we have a choice in the matter."
"This isn't going to be like the other times," Drake cautioned. "We've always done the smash-and-grab and gotten them out of the country while we scatter into the forest. The reward money changes everything."
Rachael could feel four pair of eyes on her. She kept her face averted. She should have known the reward would be too large to ignore, especially in countries where people had very little. "Money talks. That's the motto in my family. El dinero pavimenta la manera."
"Money paves the way," Rio translated. He had heard the phrase before, but the origin eluded him. He glanced at Drake, arched an eyebrow in inquiry. "Interesting motto for a family."
Drake shrugged and shook his head. He thought he'd read the motto before, perhaps in the papers, but he couldn't remember anything about it.
"Yes, well, I have an interesting family. Sooner or later, they'll send a representative to bribe your government officials if they haven't already. I'll have to leave the country fast." She tightened her fingers around the waistband of Rio's pants. If he was going to lie across her and hold her down while Tama smeared his foul-looking concoction over her leg, he may as well be of use. Deliberately she brushed her fingertips over his skin, hoping it was a punishment.
"You can't leave the country now, Missy." Tama shook his head. "Tell her Rio. The bandits will close the borders. They have spies all up and down the river, along the borders, everywhere. Most of the people are afraid and just want the bandits to leave them alone. With the reward so high, they'll have more help than usual. It will be better to just hole up and wait until the storm blows over."
Kim nodded his agreement. "My brother speaks the truth, Miss Rachael. There are good people up and down the river, but that much money would bring prosperity to an entire village. It would be easy to justify such a small thing as passing information along. Better you stay unseen in the forest and wait until it is believed you perished in the river."
Rachael went very still beneath Rio. She studied the four men carefully. "I suppose you're right, Kim. It would bring prosperity to an entire village. The government would want the money. Any of you could probably use it too."
Rio's hand went to the nape of her neck, his fingers beginning a slow massage as if to comfort her when they both knew there could be no comfort. Not with the kind of money being offered to betray her.
"You have nothing to fear from my people, Miss Rachael," Kim said.
She smiled at him without really looking at him. "Keep telling yourself that, Kim, and sooner or later you'll be disappointed. People who love you will betray you for less. Money buys everything from food, medicine and education to freedom and power. People kill each other for fifty dollars. Even less than that. Anyone in this room might want that money, and who could blame them? I'm a stranger to all of you."
Rio sat up, adjusting her pillows into a more comfortable position. "No one in this room will betray you, Rachael. Drake and I have prices on our heads. If we tried to betray you to any of the bandits, they would kill us on sight. Kim and Tama have no need of money."
Rachael's dark eyes met Rio's gaze in challenge. "I'd be willing to bet you wouldn't have to deal with any of the bandits. If you give me up to a government officia
l, you'd most likely get your reward."
Rio wasn't going to continue to argue with her. And he wasn't going to admit, even to himself, that her suspicion bothered him. He met her eyes steadily. "I'm sure you're right, Rachael, but for all you know I'm wanted by the government too. You said yourself I was running away from something or I wouldn't be here."
Rachael couldn't pull her gaze away from Rio's stare. He was always direct and focused. Always intense. She felt as if she were falling into the depths of his brilliant green eyes. He was sheer black magic, a product of voodoo and love potions. She was a grown woman with a price on her head. She didn't have flights of fancy and she didn't fall head over heels just because a man had a killer body.
Rio unexpectedly leaned very close to her, his lips against her ear. "You're doing it again. You can't look at me like that. It's going to get you into trouble someday."
Drake cleared his throat. "Why in the world would someone put up a million dollars to get you back?"
Rachael continued to look at Rio. She saw only Rio. His weathered face, the lines etched there from too many missions, too many decisions he didn't want to make. Eyes that held so much focused intensity. Eyes that could be as cold as ice or burning with such heat she caught fire. Eyes that were a vivid green instead of the yellow-green she'd seen so often.
"Well, that is the question, isn't it?" Rachael murmured. "What have I done? What did I steal? Because no one would put up that kind of money without a just cause."
"You forgot the most important question. What do you know?" Rio amended.
Rachael took a deep breath, turned away from his all-seeing stare. "I thought you all had to go rescue the others."
"It isn't that easy. Tomas moves his camp and moves his prisoners all the time. They have tunnels in the fields they drop down into. The cane fields can cover a maze of tunnels that go for miles," Rio explained.