Free Soldier of Fortune by Diana Palmer Page A

hold back the tears. How was she going to manage to work with him day after day now, when he couldn’t help but see how she felt?
    But that wasn’t the worst of it. He was going out into the jungle after kidnappers who could kill him. Her heart froze in her chest. She couldn’t stop him. All she could do was sit there and pray for him.
    All the pleas in the world wouldn’t hold him back, not when Martina’s life hung in the balance. If there was a chance of any kind, he would take it. But if he died…oh, God, if he died, there would be nothing of worth left in Gabby’s life. Tears welled up in her soft green eyes as she tried to imagine a world without him. She wanted to go with him, to risk her life at his side, to die with him if that was what lay in store. But even as she thought it, she knew that nothing would convince him to take her along. He might not love her, but he was fiercely protective of her. He wouldn’t allow her to risk her life. And she couldn’t fight him.
    With a resigned sigh, she got up, combed her hair, and went into the living room where the men were assembled. It took the last ounce of courage she possessed to smile at them. She couldn’t meet J.D.’s searching gaze at all. It would cut her to the quick to see indifference in his eyes.
    There was a new face in the room. It belonged to a dark, lithe man with pale blue eyes.
    “Semson,” J.D. told her, indicating the newcomer. “He’s been out scouting for the past day or so.”
    “Gabby?” the new man murmured and grinned at her. “How do you stand working for this guy?”
    She smiled wanly. “Oh, it has its moments,” she confessed, but she didn’t look at J.D. as she said it.
    J.D. had picked up an automatic weapon something like a machine gun and slung it over his shoulder, but he was carrying the crossbow. Gabby stared pointedly at it and suddenly realized what it was for.
    She looked up, and he seemed to read the thought in her mind.
    He nodded. “Sentries,” he said, confirming her suspicions. “If there are any.”
    She felt her throat go dry. She’d never been in a situation like this, and she could have kicked herself for coming along. It was one thing to watch an operation like this in a fictional TV show. But to realize that any one of these men, especially J.D., might never come back from the rescue attempt…that was altogether different.
    “Hey, Gabby, don’t look so grim,” Apollo chided. “I won’t let this big turkey get himself hurt.”
    Gabby laughed despite herself. “Thanks, Apollo,” she said. “I’ve gotten kind of used to him.”
    “That works both ways. Laremos, take care of her,” J.D. told the other man.
    Laremos nodded. “Be assured that I will. Now, shall we double-check our coordinates and codes?”
    They did, and Gabby felt her palms sweating as she rattled off the codes from memory. She knew how important they were, and that made her more nervous than ever.
    “Calm down,” J.D. said quietly. “You’re okay.”
    She smiled for him. “Sure. You guys take it easy out there, okay?”
    “We’re sort of used to this kind of thing,” First Shirt said with a wink. “Okay, guys. Hit it.”
    And just that quickly, they left. Gabby stood at the front door with her wide, unblinking gaze riveted on J.D.’s broad back. He didn’t turn or say anything to her. It hurt terribly.
    “How long will it take them to get there, Diego?” she asked the man at her side.
    “At least an hour or two, Gabby,” he replied. “The terrain is rugged, and they require much stealth.”
    She glanced up to see that his eyes were concerned. “Are you worried?”
    “Of course not,” he said, but he was lying and she knew it. His smile didn’t reach his eyes.
    “I’ll get a cup of coffee, if I may, and sit beside the radio.”
    He studied her closely. “Archer—you care very much for him.”
    “Yes,” she said simply.
    “Will you believe me if I tell you that of all the men I have known, he is the