A Royal Bride of Convenience. Rebecca Winters

was a lifetime ago. As far as Lise was concerned, marriage was the most individual, sacred matter on earth. To enter into it for any reason but love was anathema to her.

      She’d always believed that if she ever met a man she truly loved, she would seek out Prince Raimondo in secret and end their betrothal. It would kill her parents. She would be forever diminished in their eyes for putting love before them and the crown, but she knew herself too well. A marriage based on anything less would never work.

      Lise knew her betrothed felt exactly the same way. Not once in eighteen years had he tried to make contact. She suspected he nursed the hope she might even have died by now. He was probably going to get his wish.

      As tears trickled across the bridge of her nose, her ears picked up a sound. It wasn’t Celeste. Someone was moving inside the hut with great stealth. Dear God, please help me.

      CHAPTER TWO

      WITH the aid of night-vision goggles, Nic took in the interior of the last hut to be inspected. Aldo was right behind him. There was a body on the floor, another body in the crib.

      While his buddy dealt with the baby, Nic crept over to the mother, who’d been bound and gagged. He knelt down and felt for a pulse at her throat. She was Caucasian. Her dark hair was worn in a braid on top of her head, the typical missionary coiffure.

      She was still alive, but unconscious. No sign of her husband. If she’d worn a wedding ring, it was gone now. Thankfully the air assault had scared off the attackers before they could do her any more harm.

      He removed the gag, then took out his knife to free her hands and feet. Once that was done, he easily swept up her khaki-clad body from the mat covering the floor, noting she was long-legged. Carrying her in a fireman’s lift, he followed Aldo out the door. They half ran through the compound to the area where an open-air bush vehicle filled with wounded locals was waiting. The other one had already gone.

      Time was of the essence to meet the military helicopters at the designated rendezvous. Everything had to be accomplished under the cover of darkness. When the dawn came, there could be no indication that the Raiders had ever been here.

      After setting her on a banquette next to a group of women, one of whom reached for the baby, he and Aldo signaled the driver to take off. They, along with others from the unit, stood on the running board, with their assault rifles positioned in case they met with hostile fire.

      By the time they reached the clearing, one helicopter had taken off. The other one was waiting for them, its blades rotating. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Nic jumped off and started ushering people toward the opening. When he saw that the missionary had recovered enough to hold the baby, he realized she’d only been pretending to be unconscious. She’d done a good job of it.

      Nic helped her into the helicopter. Aldo followed and closed the door for the short flight to El Wak, where the displaced people and missionaries would be given shelter and food. With their mission accomplished, Nic’s unit would board military transport and fly to the Middle East.

      Counting the minutes until the helicopter landed, Nic was first out the door, where he was met by the commander of his unit. It came as a big surprise that he was here rather than with the rest of the unit. Something was up for him to be on hand for a one-night maneuver. After they saluted, he took Nic aside, away from everyone getting off the chopper.

      “We have a desperate situation here that requires your help. We’ve already obtained your father’s backing, but of course it’s up to you. It’s asking a lot of you, Nic, but because of who you are, and your outstanding record of service, I’m going to ask it.”

      “Go ahead.”

      “Intelligence indicates that the woman on board with the baby was going to be held hostage and used as a bargaining tool for the enemy, to gain concessions from the Chakul government. You got here before they could kidnap her.”

      “Barely in time,” Nic muttered.

      “I understand she’s been working in the bush for a number of years, crusading for human rights. They want her silenced.”

      “Naturally,” Nic bit out. The missionaries were an amazing group of human beings. “What about her husband?”

      He shook his head. “We don’t know anything about him, but we’ll find out soon enough. From all the chatter, it’s the woman they’re after. Since she’s been targeted, and we’ve rescued her, neither she nor the baby will be safe until she’s well out of the country. Unfortunately, we’ve learned through our sources that the government has now decided she has inside information that could be of vital use to them, and won’t grant her permission to leave once they find her. Our night raid has foiled the enemy’s plans, but it has put her in the middle of a sticky political situation unless we get her out. Either way, her life’s in danger.”

      The potential to be held as a hostage by any terrorist group put all missionaries’ lives in danger. Nic could only admire them. “What do you want me to do?”

      “Your father’s jet is standing by at a nearby town.” Nic sensed where this was going. The nearest town was a couple of hundred miles away. “Officially it landed for emergency repairs before continuing on to South Africa. Unofficially …”

      He got it.

      “We’ll fly the three of you there in the helicopter. It will land on a deserted road near the airport. A car will be there to drive you to the jet. You’ll shed your uniform and leave it in the helicopter before you change into civilian clothes.”

      “Am I to play the Prince on vacation, then?”

      “Whatever comes to mind. If the car is stopped, you’ll have to get creative.”

      “As long as I have a free hand …”

      “Absolutely.”

       “Bene.”

      “By the time you arrive at the jet let’s hope we’re still one step ahead of the authorities. Your pilot is standing by, ready to assist.”

      Rocco had been a fighter pilot at one time. This kind of intrigue would definitely appeal to his love of adventure.

      “Once you’re on board, you’ll be cleared for take-off. If the Chakul authorities should get word of this, it will be too late for them to do anything. She’ll have diplomatic immunity because she’ll be under King Leopoldo’s protection, and a major international incident will have been averted.”

      It sounded easy enough in theory. “What’s our destination?”

      “Word has reached the head of the mission in Geneva. They plan to meet her there and see to her needs until they can get hold of her family. Are you willing to do this? Remember you don’t have to.”

      They eyed each other soberly. “Was there ever any doubt?”

      “Thank you, Nic. There’s more riding on this than you know.”

      He’d already figured that out. To go to these lengths meant this missionary was important for reasons not even his commander knew, or he wasn’t telling him.

      “Publicly you’ll never be acknowledged for what you’re doing, but behind the scenes you and your father will have the gratitude of many governments working for peace in this area. From my standpoint, the Raiders won’t be the same once you’re out for good next month.”

      “Thank you.” Nic saluted him and headed for the chopper, but his commander’s last comment put him in a dark place where he couldn’t bear to go.

      So far no one had spoken to Lise. She was still strapped to the seat of the helicopter with the baby. Everyone else had got out. There was one soldier who stood guard at the entrance.

      She had no idea who these men were, or where she was, or what was going to happen to her. It was still the dead of night. All she did know was that she was at their mercy—she and Celeste, who was too sick to