Captive of Fate Read Free

hope. Alanna chewed on her lower lip, suddenly at odds with herself. Senator Thornton had accused him of being a machine. A ruthless automaton bent upon destroying anything and anyone who got in his way. But he didn’t appear to be that robot right now.
    “Look, maybe I can be of some help. I do speak Spanish quite fluently and—”
    He shot her a flat look of disgust. “An aide to Senator Thornton offering help? I’d rather take a peace offering from an enemy carrying a grenade.”
    Alanna’s temper flared. “I’m not your enemy!”
    “Aren’t you?” he asked wearily, standing with his shoulders slumped forward, his head down for a moment. “God, this is all I need.” He gave a helpless, bitter laugh. “Well, I guess I should be thankful that the old man didn’t come down here himself. At least you’re beautiful. You’re the only thing I’ve seen in the last two rotten days that makes me feel like there’s still some hope left….”
    She bridled, confused again by his sudden change in manner. One moment he was ripping her apart; the next, complimenting her. The man was unfathomable. Alanna gripped her bag tightly and muttered, “You’re stuck with me, Colonel, whether or not you or I like it.”
    Matt looked at her. “What?”
    “I’m down here to investigate reported losses of medicine and supplies from the relief efforts.”
    He shook his head, a cold smile replacing his sadness. “There’s always some pilferage, Miss McIntire. That’s to be expected.”
    Alanna steeled herself. “I’m not talking about petty theft, Colonel.”
    Matt rubbed the back of his neck in a weary gesture. “Yeah, I’m sure the senator would like to pin my hide to the wall by accusing me of some stupid black market ruse. Well,” he said, “you’re barking up the wrong tree. Whoever told him we were losing substantial amounts of supplies is inflating numbers.”
    “That’s for me to decide,” she answered firmly.
    “Not on my time it isn’t.”
    “I’m not asking for your time.”
    “Good. Then be a smart girl and stay in the capital here for a few days, go shopping, and then take a jet back to D.C. I don’t have time for a meddling woman in any way, shape or form. Especially one that thinks she is a detective out to prove I’m somehow involved in peddling relief supplies needed by those poor earthquake victims.”
    Alanna inhaled sharply. “I didn’t say that.”
    He came forward, standing scant inches from her to examine her closely. “The senator has an ax to grind with me. Our quarrel goes back a long way, and I’m sure you’re just as aware of it as everyone else is. He sent you down to do his dirty work, Alanna. I don’t think you realize what he’s handed you. He hates me enough to concoct stories to try to get me court-martialed or publicly embarrassed.” His voice became husky, coaxing, an invisible balm to her shredded composure. He had used her first name, and it sent an unbidden shiver throughout her tense body. “I wouldn’t have been without sleep for the past thirty-six hours if I didn’t care what was happening to the survivors up there on that mountain. Every case of medical supplies is being delivered, I can promise you that. No one knows better than myself the value of morphine and penicillin in this kind of situation, and I wouldn’t jeopardize people’s lives for a little cash on the side. Money doesn’t mean a damn thing to me when it’s measured against people’s lives. Now, why don’t you do us both a favor and find a hotel, get some sleep, and take the next flight home? There’s no story down here.”
    She was mesmerized by the sudden change in him: from tyrant to warm, responsive man whose virility seemed to affect her like a heady wine. Gone was the anger in his gray eyes, his mouth more relaxed, and a hint of a tired smile had replaced his earlier grim look.
    For an instant, she was caught within his web. But Senator Thornton’s voice reverberated through her