Free The Midnight Hour by Brenda Jackson Page A

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