Free Morgan's Rescue by Lindsay McKenna

you at the hotel and go pick Rane up." Pilar swallowed hard, her voice sounding worried. "Culver, what if they know where Rane is? They could take her hostage. . . ."
          "Then where the hell were you headed just now?"
          Pilar felt as if she were being physically assaulted, his words raining on her like blows. "I was going to take you to my village, to my grandparents' hut. You'll be safe there."
          His mouth compressed. "And then what? You were going to drive back to Lima alone for your daughter?"
          She smarted beneath his glare. "Yes."
          Culver swore and sat back.
          "I know you don't want to be here. I know you don't want to do this mission with me." Her voice cracked. "I was just trying to make it easier on you—"
          "Easier?" He turned, gripped her shoulders and shook her. "What the hell's easy about this? Nothing. Not a damn thing. But you aren't going back into that snake pit without me. You hear me? Next time, talk to me—let me know what's going on in that head of yours. I'm not a mind reader, Pilar, as you well know. I thought I knew you at one time, but I don't. I never did." He released her and his mouth flattened. "I thought I knew you…but I've learned. So from now on, you tell me what you're thinking, dammit."
          Swiping at the small trickle of blood on her cheek, Pilar drew in a deep, unsteady breath. "All right, I'll tell you what I think. I have to go back to Lima and pick up Rane. I think we should try to call Hector from a pay phone somewhere after we know she's safe. Then we'll take her to my grandparents in the village, where she'll be protected." Her skin seemed burned where Culver had gripped her, but she felt herself drawing an odd sort of strength from his action—and the need to protect her that still seemed to run deep in him.
          "Don't tell Hector where we are or where we're going. Most of all, we have to keep your daughter out of this. Taking her to the village is a good idea."
          Shaking in earnest, Pilar raised her hands and struggled to steady her emotions. "Rane is so young. What if they've taken her? I've tried so hard to protect her, to—"
          "Okay," Culver said harshly, unbuckling his seat belt, "move over. I'm going to drive. Don't worry, we'll get your daughter. She'll be fine."
          Pilar eased her hands from her face and looked at him. She had expected Culver's expression to be harsh and emotionless, but it was anything but. His narrowed eyes gleamed with an unexpected tenderness that she had thought she'd never see again. "Y-yes," she whispered, opening the door. "You drive."

Chapter 4

          P ilar tried to gather her strewn emotions as Culver drove steadily back toward the lights of Lima . It was ten o'clock—dinnertime for most of Lima 's residents—and traffic had once again become light. Taking a handkerchief from her purse, Pilar wet it with her saliva and tried to wipe away the remnants of blood on her temple and cheek.
          Nearly all of her attention was centered on Rane—getting her out of Lima and to some semblance of safety. Just having Culver in the car with her steadied her frayed nerves somewhat. She stole occasional glances at his rugged profile, which reminded her of the Andes —relentlessly harsh yet beautiful, suggesting a stoic loneliness. The tight line of his mouth revealed that he, too, was worried. They hadn't spoken since night had fallen, the darkness like a cocoon in which to hide their thoughts and feelings.
          Culver broke the silence as they once again approached Lima . "Tell me the best way to get to your apartment."
          "We should probably take an indirect route, using small side streets," Pilar suggested.
          "I'm in agreement. We don't want to risk being seen by one of Ramirez's men again."
          "You think it was his men who tried to kill us?"
          "No question in my mind." Culver shot