Read Online Morgan's Rescue by Lindsay McKenna - Free Book Online Page B

up here, and she knew every back alley and side street. She drove relentlessly, making sudden turns to avoid red lights. For nearly an hour, they wove their way through the city, until finally they were out in the country once more, the lights of Lima behind them.
          Pilar had been trembling for half an hour. Wind whipped through the damaged rear window, chilling her taut nerves. She could feel Culver's tension as if it were her own. Her mouth dry, she managed to say shakily, "I think we've lost them, don't you?"
          Culver glanced at Pilar in the dusk. "I think so," he said, noting how pale she looked with the wind whipping her hair wildly around her face. He could see small rivulets of blood near her temple where flying glass must have struck her. Her lips were parted, her eyes huge with terror. Without thinking, he reached over and stroked her cheek, wiping at the blood. "You're hurt. . . ."
          Pilar gasped as Culver's rough fingers touched her, sending electric tingles racing across her skin.
          Jerking back his hand, Culver cursed richly. He hadn't meant to touch Pilar. She'd made it all too clear that she wouldn't welcome it, and now that same look was on her face, making him feel like hell.
          "I—I'm okay. It's just a scratch. Are you okay?" Pilar whispered tremulously.
          "I'm fine," he snarled. Relaxing for the first time, he said, "It looks like your friend Hector screwed us royally."
          Gasping, Pilar darted a look at him before returning her eyes to the road. As darkness fell, the traffic around them became very light. "What are you saying?"
          "That Hector gave us up to Ramirez's men."
          "No!" Pilar cried. "No, that is impossible!"
          "Do you have a better explanation of what went on?" He glared at her.
          "Not right now. But we need to stop. I need to call Hector."
          "Call him?" Culver couldn't keep the derision out of his voice. "You want to call him so he can run a trace on where we are and finish us off?"
          "Listen to me, Culver, Hector is not our enemy!"
          "Yeah, and at one time I thought you loved me, too."
          Pain sheared through Pilar, so unexpected and shattering that she braked and pulled the car abruptly off the road onto the berm. Turning toward him, she rasped, "I can't help the past, Culver. I live in a hell because of it. But that was then, and this is now. We must call Hector. He's our only contact in the government. Without him, we're alone, and we're going to need coordinated help if we have a prayer of rescuing Morgan. You know that!"
          Culver was breathing hard, the air seeming to sear his lungs as he held Pilar's raw gaze, taking in the anguish that burned in the depths of her eyes. Her voice was raspy, and as a flash of headlights momentarily illuminated her, he thought he saw tears glistening in her eyes. No, it was impossible. The seemingly innocent college girl who had played him for a fool would hardly be crying now.
          "Look, the Peruvian government is riddled like buckshot with moles," he said in a low, guttural tone. "You know that and so do I. Hell, that's what damn near got me killed eight years ago, Pilar. Or have you conveniently forgotten that, too?"
          Pilar felt as if he'd slapped her. "Stop it! Stop it! I have forgotten nothing, Culver. Do you hear me? Nothing! " She was sobbing for breath. Fists clenched, she rattled, "I know our government isn't trustworthy. But Hector is!"
          "We should head out to your village in the jungle," he snapped. "Leave Lima , Hector and everything else behind."
          "I can't do that."
          "Why the hell not?"
          "Because," Pilar rasped, "my daughter is at my apartment in Lima . I must go back, Culver. I can't leave her there."
          Culver raised his eyes heavenward. "For God's sake, why didn't you tell me that?"
          "I was going to leave