Leopard 02 - Wild Rain

accommodate the small leopard. “I lay up on a knoll, or in a tree, or wherever I can find and guard my team as they go in to bring out kidnap victims, or pay ransom. I do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Once they’re out, I lay a false trail and lead the bandits away from the team and into the forest.”
    “I’ve heard the bandits have bolt-holes.”
    “There are mazes of tunnels in the cane fields, just about every field. You don’t want to drop into one of them and try to pursue, not if you value your life. We’ve had to go in a couple of times when the bandits used the tunnels to hide their prisoners. We blew up the tunnels in order to discourage them from using them for that purpose. It’s too dangerous to us, although we’ll go in if we have to.”
    “So we don’t want Armando to fall in with the bandits and get the idea of using the tunnels.”
    “If your uncle finds out she’s playing house in the forest with some local yokel, don’t you think he’d come with guns blazing? Especially if the information was given out to you, instead of him, for the million-dollar reward. We have to locate Armando’s mole and let him overhear Rachael’s been found.
    He’ll immediately contact your uncle and Armando will come very quickly to get here before you.”
    “He’ll send his killer after her.”
    Rio shrugged. “Of course he will. He’ll want to confirm her presence and he’ll want me out of the way. They’ll expect an easy kill.”
    “He’ll hunt you, Rio. Leopards make frightening enemies. They never turn aside and they’re as cunning as hell. I ought to know.”
    Rio grinned at Elijah, but it was a particularly lethal smirk. “I’m very aware of what a leopard can do.”
    Rachael curled up in Rio’s lap. Fitting herself to his body seemed perfectly natural. The night had taken on a surreal feel, a dreamlike quality. She couldn’t believe Elijah was sprawled in a chair only feet away from Rio, looking relaxed and at home. How had she ever doubted him? His eyes didn’t look ice-cold and merciless, although she knew they could. Right now he looked like her big brother, just lying around the house talking. She had forgotten that image of him. Elijah at rest. Elijah relaxed.
    Elijah with a faint smile on his face.
    She buried her face against Rio’s chest, confident he wouldn’t say a word when he felt her hot tears against his skin. He would understand the enormity of the gift she’d been given this one night. Rio wrapped his arms around her tightly, holding her close to him, protectively, just as she knew he would.
    He nuzzled the top of her head with his chin, one hand tunneling in her thick mass of hair, just holding her close.
    “This is my territory, Elijah. My realm. Those who enter it are subject to the laws of my people and my laws. Man or beast, it matters little. Armando may be a big deal in South America and in Florida, but he’s no one here.”
    Elijah nodded his head. “I’ve been slowly cashing out our assets and putting the money where Armando can’t touch it. He doesn’t know, of course. But I’m hoping to get Rachael and me free of our estate and go back to my homeland. Unfortunately, there are problems.”
    “You could come here, Elijah,” Rachael offered. Her voice was muffled against Rio’s chest and he couldn’t see her face. “The elders would accept you, Delgrotto already said as much. No one knows you here. You could have a new start.”
    “I don’t even know how anymore, Rachael.” Elijah looked at his sister through long lashes. His eyes were flat and cold. “If I can’t talk to you, my own sister, how do you think I could ever learn to live with others again? Thank you for the offer, but if we manage to remove the threat of Armando, the last thing I intend to do is taint your life.”
    Rachael stirred as if to protest, but Rio’s arm tightened in warning. “Let’s just take one thing at a time.
    Armando is first. Let’s find his mole and put out the word.”
    “He’ll know I’m here.”
    “All to the good. He’ll want to kill Rachael right under your nose. You’ve already established a research camp as your cover so you look as though you’re trying to appear legitimate to him while you search for her. Just search in the wrong areas so he’ll be convinced you’re combing the region for Rachael.”
    “So I’m the dope miles away when he tries to hit Rachael. I don’t think so. If that man sets foot in this country, I’m