Iris Johansen - Star-Spangled Bride

"You planned all this?"

"Gabe planned it. There was no way he was going to let Pilsner grab you." He made a face. "Though I take credit for spending two very uncomfortable hours in that toilet stall ducking a stream of ladies while I was waiting for you to appear."

The elevator doors opened and he ushered her quickly through the lobby to the car waiting at the curb.

"Gabe figures it will be at least fifteen minutes before they send someone in to check on you." He glanced at his watch. "That gives us ten to get out of the city." He motioned to the driver to go as he got into the car beside her. "Gabe will stall them as long as he can, but when Pilsner starts getting nervous, he'll slip away." He stared at her pale face. "Are you taking any of this in?"

She nodded. "How will Gabe get to the helicopter?"

"There's another car around the corner and two blocks down the street. We were afraid the timing would be too close for him to have it wait in front of the hospital. He didn't want to be followed to the helicopter." He smiled gently. "Don't worry, we've got it all covered. You'll be back in Tanadahl in no time and Pilsner will be wiping egg off his face."

Gabe arrived at the helicopter thirty minutes after Dan and Ronnie, and by that time she had emerged from her emotional stupor enough to be worried at the delay and very relieved at his appearance.

"How did it go?" Dan asked as Gabe climbed into the helicopter.

"I had no trouble evading Pilsner, but I had to run six blocks north and double back to get away from the reporters. Let's get out of here." As the helicopter lifted off Gabe asked Ronnie, "How do you feel?"

"I'm not sure. Everything has happened so fast."

"I had to get you out of there."

"I know. It's just…" She leaned back and closed her eyes. "Will you get into trouble?"

"We'll have to see. Pilsner wasn't pleased. We'll face that when we have to."

"I never meant to get you into trouble. I just had to see Evan."

"One good rescue deserves another, and any risk I ran was a drop in the bucket compared to what you did in Said Ababa." He loosened her seat belt and pulled her sideways to rest againsthis shoulder. "Try to sleep until we get back to Tanadahl."

She doubted if she could sleep, but she relaxed against him. She could hear the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. He was all the comfort she had never had, the emotional safety Evan had never given her. He was an anchor that would hold steady through the years. Yet he was also excitement, passion, humor, and challenge. She could have it all.

If she was selfish enough to take it at his expense.

Evan had been that selfish. He had taken and never given. Not even in that last moment…

"Come on." Gabe lifted her out of the helicopter and half carried her across the courtyard. "You're out on your feet. Let's get you to bed."

"I don't want to be like him, Gabe," she murmured as she stumbled down the corridor toward their bedroom. "He always thought that he'd make a big stake that would set him up for life, the big bonanza. But he would still have been alone. Because he just took and never gave back."

He was quickly undressing her. "You're not like him."

"I hope not. I don't want to be alone."

"You'll never be alone." He slipped her beneath the sheets and lay down beside her, holding her. "I'll always be here."

"You didn't undress."

"Later." He brushed her hair back from her forehead. "I just want to hold you."

She wanted him to hold her. She wanted him to hold her and never, never let her go.…

When Ronnie awoke, Gabe was gone. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table and found she had slept for over twelve hours. It didn't surprise her. She had felt wounded both emotionally and bodily as she lay in Gabe's arms last night. She had not gone to sleep for a long time and had gradually felt the desolation seep out of her. Strange how Gabe could heal her, rid her of fear and unhappiness just by being there. He had first accomplished that magic in Mekhit, and since he had come back into her life, it had begun happening again.

She slowly got up and went to the bathroom. She felt sad and a little empty, but the shock ofEvan's death was gone, leaving only the resolution she had made before she went to sleep last night.

After showering and dressing she went in search of Gabe.

Dan was sitting at the kitchen table reading a newspaper. "Hi, you look better."

"I feel better. Where's Gabe?"

"I took him to Marasef to see the sheikh. He sent me back to take care of you." Dan grinned. "He didn't want you to starve to death. Would you like breakfast or lunch?"

"Just toast and coffee. Even I can make that."

"Sit down. I think you can stand a little pampering after what you went through yesterday."

"I put you and Gabe through a lot too," she said soberly. "I'm sorry, Dan. It was something I had to do."

"I know." He filled the coffeemaker. "Actually, it was kind of exciting. I haven't had that kind of action since I was a reporter covering Beirut."

"Will you get into trouble with the authorities?"

"Gabe says no." He put bread in the toaster. "You should see the coverage we got fromyour great escape. You've become a folk heroine. Pilsner's definitely shown in a bad light."

"But he won't give up." Pilsner had felt genuine sympathy for her at Belsen, but had not shifted in determination. This humiliation would only reinforce it. "He'll never give up."

Dan nodded. "He returned to Sedikhan last night. He's staying at a hotel in Marasef and trying to convince the sheikh to make an exception to his extradition policy and surrender you."

"What are the chances?"

"Not good. The sheikh and Gabe are good friends and His Majesty has an intense dislike of being pressured."

She made a face. "Cripes, I'm an international incident."

"Yep." He set the coffee and toast in front of her. "And I've never known a more interesting one," he said gently. "It's going to be fine, Ronnie."

"Yeah, sure," Ronnie said. "Except that Pilsner's been made to look foolish and he wants my head on a platter." It couldn't go on. The problems she had brought to Gabe were growing by leaps and bounds. "When is Gabe due back?"

"He said to tell you he'd be back in a fewhours. Dave's flying him here in the helicopter." Dan looked at his watch. "Anytime now."

She finished the coffee and toast and stood up. "When he gets here, will you tell Dave to wait before he flies back to Marasef?"

Dan frowned. "Wait for what?"

"For me." She started toward the door. "I'm going with him."

She was almost finished packing when Gabe strode into the bedroom.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I'm leaving. What does it look like?" She went to the closet, got her leather jacket, and tossed it on the bed beside the open suitcase. "It's over. Kaput."

He stood in the doorway and watched her as she threw a pair of jeans into the suitcase. "You're going to a great deal of trouble for nothing. I'm not going to let you go."

"You have no choice in the matter. It's my decision. Our relationship is history."

"Why?"

"Because that's the way I want it."

"Bull. Where are you going? You don't have a passport."

"I have contacts. I can buy another passport on the black market."

"Not an American passport. You're too hot to handle."

"Then I'll buy a French or a Spanish or-" Her voice broke and she had to wait a minute before she could speak again. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine. I'm not your responsibility."

"You are my responsibility," he said as he crossed the room toward her. "Just as I'm yours. That's the way it goes when you love someone."

"But I don't love you. How many times do I have to tell you? I don't-"