Iris Johansen - Across the River of Yesterday

You'll probably receive the same treatment he decides to mete out to Gideon."

"I didn't expect anything else."

"Julio has filled you in on our plans?"

"Yes, the bare outline. He didn't have time to go into anything in depth." Damn, this elevator was slow.

"You know that I won't be able to stay with you? I'll have to leave as soon as I deliver you to Mendino."

"Yes, Ross, we've gone over all this. Why repeat it?"

"Because I don't like the idea of you putting yourself in this kind of danger," he said with a scowl. "And Gideon's going to like it even less. To tell you the truth, I'm nervous as hell."

She smiled shakily at him. "Me, too."

His face softened. "It wouldn't hurt to show them you're a little tense. They'll expect it."

The elevator had finally stopped and Serena stiffened in apprehension. "No problem. I don't think I could hide it if I tried."

The doors opened with a whoosh, and Serena's heart jerked crazily and then began to pound in double time. Soldiers, guns-this was the scene she had expected downstairs. The elevator opened directly into the huge sitting room of the suite and there were at least twenty soldiers there.

Coming toward them was a golden-complexioned man in a dark green colonel's uniform. He was thin-faced, his pencil mustache a neat line over slightly pouty lips. A beaming smile lit his face, revealing a space between his front teeth. "Ah, Miss Spaulding, welcome. I am Colonel Pedro

Mendino. We are always happy to assist in reuniting lovers." His glance slowly ran over her, starting at the tips of her white high-heeled sandals, traveling over her slender figure in the slim white skirt and emerald silk blouse and ending as he met her eyes. The smile deepened as he read the apprehension she was experiencing and could not hide. He waved a hand. "There is only one minor formality to be gotten out of the way. Come this way, if you please."

Serena took a deep breath and stepped out of the elevator."

Gideon sat bolt upright in the morocco leather chair as she walked into the suite. "Serena?" he whispered.

She dropped her purse on the floor and ran across the room toward him. Then she was in his arms, pressing quick, loving kisses on his cheeks and throat between words. "Are you all right? I was so worried. What a stupid thing to do."

Mendino chuckled benevolently as he watched them from the doorway. "Is this not a wonderful surprise, Texan? Not only do we supply you with all the comforts, but your woman to warm your bed." He bowed with a touch of mockery and his voice took on a taunting note. "And she is ravishing, every single inch of her. I should know, I supervised the search myself."

Gideon's eyes darkened stormily as he opened his lips to speak.

Serena quickly covered his mouth with her own in a long passionate kiss. She heard Mendino laugh again and then the sound of the door closing behind her and the key turning in the lock. She lifted her lips to breathe softly. "Don't be crazy. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't bad."

"I bet," Gideon muttered. "What the hell are you doing here?"

She glanced quickly around the suite. "Microphone?" she mouthed.

He shook his head. "This was the same suite Dane occupied, and that certainly wasn't considered a high security operation."

"Good." She kissed him again. "You're such an idiot. Why do you have to be so damn noble?"

He frowned. "Why are you here? I'm going to draw and quarter Ross."

"He thought you'd only strangle him," she murmured. "And it's not his fault, it's yours. Did you think I was going to sit with my hands folded waiting for you to be either released or delivered back in a plastic sack? No way." Her arms dropped from around him and she took a step back. "There's something you'd better learn right now, Gideon-whenever you put yourself in danger, I'm going to be right behind you. You're so big on this sharing business, well, make up your mind we're going to share the bad too."

A reluctant smile banished his frown. "I thought I was doing what was best."

"You didn't even talk to me about it." She held up her hand to stop him when he started to speak. "Oh, I know, it's the pot calling the kettle black, but I'm going to change all that as soon as we get out of here. We'll share everything." Her gaze met his and suddenly her eyes were glittering with tears. "I was so frightened. Don't you ever do that to me again."

"I wouldn't dare," he said gently. "You're evidently a rip-roaring lady when you're riled." One finger gently touched her cheek. "Now, I gather you risked coming here for some reason other than the fact that you couldn't live without me."

"You're joking, but it's true, you know," she whispered. "I don't think I could live without you now. You might remember that the next time you're tempted to pull a stupid stunt like this." She forced herself to look away from him. She wanted to keep on gazing at him, touching him, just to assure herself he was really all right and they were together again. "What time it it?"

He glanced at his watch. "Nine twenty-six."

"Oh, Lord, the attack is going to take place in four minutes. We have to hurry. That search took much longer than we expected."

"Just how long did it take?" There was the timbre of steel beneath the silkiness of Gideon's tone.

"It doesn't matter." She hurried across the room to the door. "It's over now."

"It matters."

Serena snatched up the striped purse she had dropped on the floor when she had run into Gideon's arms. "Gideon, there isn't time for your possessive instincts to come to the fore. I need your help." She came back toward him.

"Who else was there besides Mendino?"

'A captain and a lieutenant," she said without thinking, then she saw his expression. "Gideon!"

"Very well, we'll drop it now. I know who they are." He smiled with cold ferocity. "I just didn't want to target the wrong men." He looked down at the purse in her hands. "I assume you're not looking for a compact to powder your nose. A weapon?" His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Intriguing. They must have searched your purse. It would be the obvious thing to do."

"They did." She pulled the two six-inch bamboo handles off the pouch bag and then tossed the purse aside. "These are hollow, see?" She showed him the hole through the center of each piece of bamboo. "It's a blowgun."

"And just what are we supposed to blow?" Gideon asked.

"Hold them for a minute." She thrust the blow- guns into his hand and rapidly unfastened her white skirt. She pulled her skirt and the half-slip beneath it down a few inches. "The appendix scar. It's rather large, but Julio said if anyone questioned it, I was to complain about what a butcher of a surgeon I had." She inserted her thumbnail beneath the top edge of the five-inch white scar and gently worked the adhesive loose. "It looks exactly like an old scar, doesn't it? Julio is really very clever." She had freed enough of the adhesive to gain a hold and with one strong pull she ripped the false scar from her abdomen. Four slender, needle-like darts fell to the carpet.

Gideon laughed helplessly as he bent to pick up the darts. "Only Julio would think of something like this."

"Be careful. Each tip is coated with a sedative strong enough to knock out a grizzly bear." She pulled up her slip and skirt and fastened the button at the waistband. She took one of the blow- guns and two of the darts from him. "Have you ever used one of these before?"

"No, have you?" His lips twitched. "It wouldn't surprise me if you had. You seem to take blow- guns, crazy colonels, and revolutions with amazing composure."

"I've never used one before, but the principle seems simple enough." Her tone was casual as she put one of the darts into the blowgun. "I imagine we'll have to be fairly close, though, and perhaps- Why are you laughing?"