"You don't look upset," Galen said. "It's the truth, Eve."
She shook her head to clear it. "I know, Galen. Tell me what happened."
"I was cruising around and I spotted someone moving toward the path where I'd left you and Quinn. He was kneeling and aiming his rifle, drawing a bead, when I got close enough to see him. I reached him in seconds but he got off two shots before I put him down."
"You weren't hurt at all?"
He shook his head. "But he wasn't easy and he was a professional. I might not have been able to save your necks if he hadn't been concentrating so completely on the shot."
"Montalvo's men are professionals."
He studied her expression. "You want that shooter to be one of Montalvo's men. Why?"
"It's not that I want it to be him. I have to question everything Montalvo does." Because too much was riding on whether she could trust Montalvo. "What happened after you spoiled that shot?"
"I broke the bastard's neck. Then I ran over to you to see if you were both still alive. By that time Soldono was there checking you out. He called Montalvo and got his guy Miguel, and a team of men out there at top speed. They brought the two of you back to the compound and had their medics do emergency procedures. They sent for Dr. Diego, who lives in the village, and he was here within the hour."
"And the shooter?"
"Miguel thought he recognized him as one of Diaz's men. Paulo Duarte. Very lethal. Very nasty. Diaz saves him for special jobs that require-"
"How do you know Miguel is telling the truth?"
"A good question." Miguel was standing in the doorway with a smile on his face and a tray in his hands. "I would lie for the Colonel. There's no question about that being true." He came forward. "It's also true that I'm very happy that you're looking better. I was worried about you." He set the tray down on the bedside table. "So was the Colonel. He wouldn't leave your side until he was sure you were out of danger."
"I'm sure that wasn't entirely unbiased concern."
"No, of course not. But he does regard you highly. Even if you weren't useful I'm positive he wouldn't want you to be killed."
"How kind."
He chuckled as he handed her a napkin. "I've no way with words like the Colonel. He's always reproving me." He glanced at Galen. "You're going to take her to Quinn?"
"That's my intention. Any objections?"
"No, the Colonel said when I thought she was able that I shouldn't interfere." He headed for the door. "But I'd better check with the doctor. That would affect my decision."
"The hell it would," Eve said. "I'm seeing Joe."
"I have to ask the doctor," he repeated as he left the bedroom.
"Stubborn kid," Galen murmured. "But that kid commanded that troop of men who came after you like a seasoned veteran. Montalvo's lucky to have him."
"Not lucky for Miguel. He hero-worships Montalvo." She was eating the soup quickly. "And, as he said, he'd lie for him without a thought."
"He didn't lie about the shooter being Duarte. I rifled his pockets and didn't find any ID but I took a photo of him with my phone and sent it off to my contact in Bogota. The ID came back six hours later. Paulo Duarte. He's been working for Ramon Diaz for the last three years. One ugly customer."
"And Diaz sent him to kill me."
"Presumably. Montalvo told me the reason why he'd have a motive to do it. You do get yourself in tight corners, luv."
And she'd gotten Joe into that corner too. He was lying in another of these palatial rooms fighting to survive because she'd waded recklessly into this mess.
"No one had to follow you, Eve," Galen said quietly, his gaze on her face. "You told us to stay away. So stop blaming yourself. We came because we couldn't do anything else. You didn't know what you'd be up against."
"I knew it could be bad." She finished her soup and threw back the covers. "I need to see Joe. I'm still a little unsteady. Will you help me dress?"
"My pleasure." He smiled as he picked up the bra on the bed. "Turnabout is fair play. You've seen me naked."
Naked? Oh, yes, she'd almost forgotten that night in Louisiana. "Joe didn't get much pleasure when you told him, you devil."
"He needed stirring up." He helped her take off the nightshirt. "And I'm always willing to oblige…"
Montalvo met her at the door as she walked slowly down the hall toward Joe's bedroom. "It's good to see you on your feet." He nodded at Galen. "I'll take her in to see him."
Galen's brows raised. "Eve?"
She nodded curtly. "I don't care. I just want to see Joe."
"I'll deliver her safely back to her room, Galen." Montalvo opened the door for her. "She won't be long."
"Don't count on it." She went past him into the room that was dimly lit by a single lamp on the bedside table.
Joe was lying in the massive bed across the room. For a big man he looked… small. Small and oddly helpless. It shook her. She wasn't accustomed to Joe looking anything but tough and totally pulled together.
She sank down in the chair beside the bed.
"He's just had his medication," Montalvo said behind her. "He won't be awake again for another couple hours. That's why I thought you might want to go back to your room after you assured yourself that he wasn't any worse than I told you."
"For once you were wrong about me." She took Joe's hand in both of hers. "I won't go anywhere until he knows I'm alive and with him." She leaned back in the chair. "So you might as well run along, Montalvo."
"Soon." He sat down in a chair a short distance away. "I'll keep you company for a time."
"I don't need your company. I have Joe."
"Who's not with us at present."
"He's always with me."
He was silent a moment. "Your history with Quinn must be extraordinary."
Joe holding her through the night in the time after Bonnie had been taken. Joe talking to her, trying to make sense out of the madness. Joe giving, taking, beside her through a thousand dawns and sunsets.
"You have no idea," she said unsteadily.
"No, but I wish I did. I had Nalia for only three years. We had the joy. We had no real time to bond as you did with Quinn. We were cheated of that." He stared down at the carpet at his feet. "And she was cheated of so much more. There was a whole world I was going to show her. She grew up in the jungle and only knew struggle and war. Yet she became… a wonder. Do you believe people are born with souls?"
"Yes."
"I didn't. Not before I met her." He paused. "Your Joe will be fine. I promise you."
Her hand tightened on Joe's. "I know he will. I won't let it be any other way."
He got to his feet. "And I had no part in hurting him, Eve. I gave you your chance. I didn't betray you."
She didn't answer.
"I know you're confused and you don't want to waste any time thinking about anything but Quinn. That will pass. Truth is important. We both realize that in the end there's very little as vital."
"Except your revenge."
"And your revenge." He headed for the door. "I'll have Miguel check on you during the next few hours. He'll get you anything you need."
"I don't need revenge right now. I need Joe to get well."
"I believe that will also pass after he recovers. And you might consider what Quinn's reaction is going to be. Revenge is a very basic desire. How primitive is your Joe Quinn?"
She remembered the Joe who had met her that night in the jungle. Primitive? Hell, yes. "I don't want to think about that right now. Go away, Montalvo."
He smiled. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to disturb you."
"No, with you it comes naturally."
"Perhaps. Or it could be that I'm eaten up with envy of your history with Quinn. But new history is formed every day. Sometimes you just have to put the old history behind you."