Captive Heart by Patti Beckman

of how busy I have been 'lately?"
    "Yes."
    "Here, read this." Del Toro handed JoNell the newspaper he had been holding.
    JoNell opened it. "GERALDO GUSTAMENTE WINS ELECTION," said the headlines in Spanish. She recalled that "Gustamente" was one of the names she had seen painted on walls around the city.
    Del Toro explained, "It was a bitter fight between Gustamente and the other candidate, Sergio Mendez de Cardova. I backed de Cardova. It was no secret that I gave him all the support I could muster, which is considerable. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. As you can see, de Cardova lost."
    "But what does that have to do with me?" JoNell asked.
    "Gustamente considers me his most dangerous political enemy in Peru. He knows that after his inauguration, I will not cease to oppose him. He is an evil man. All he wants is power and wealth for himself. As soon as Gustamente takes office, I will be in a dangerous position."
    "I still don't understand."
    "You do not know politics here in South America. Unlike your country, where the will of the people is supreme, in Peru, powerful factions can seize control of the government. It can be very dangerous to be an enemy of the regime in office. Gustamente will surely move to confiscate my business holdings. And he will have the power to do it. In fact," Del Toro said darkly, "my life will be in danger. Gustamente would not hesitate to have political enemies assassinated."
    JoNell gasped and a fleeting picture of Del Toro lying in a pool of blood made her shiver. She didn't doubt for one minute that such a possibility existed. Even in the United States, which Del Toro considered so democratic and civilized, assassinations of well known political figures had taken place during her lifetime. And she remembered reading about the assassinations in Cuba when Castro took over. She knew how ruthless power hungry people could be.
    "I am making plans now to get out of the country," Del Toro went on.
    "But why are you telling me all of this?" JoNell asked a bit impatiently. "Where do I fit in?"
    Del Toro gave JoNell a long, steely look. "I know what you think of me," he said bitterly. "But consider carefully what I am going to say. It could be very important for both of us."
    He hesitated. The room became almost unbearably tense.
    "JoNell, I want you to marry me."

Chapter 5

    The newspaper in JoNell's hand dropped to the floor with a whispered crackle. She felt the blood drain from her cheeks.
    After the way he had kissed her on the beach, she had been prepared for any number of tactical maneuvers on his part. But she had never expected this—a proposal of marriage! She knew it had to be a trick. But for what purpose?
    "It's strictly a business proposition," he went on without emotion. "When I need to get out of the country, as the husband of an American citizen, I will automatically acquire all the privileges of a citizen of the United States. I can live there and work there as a citizen of your country. I can transfer much of my business and financial holdings there. In return for your doing me this favor, I will buy from your father a large number of airplanes to set up a cargo business in the United States and in other South American countries. Perhaps we can also arrange for your father to have a part in the operation of my air cargo business. So you see, by marrying me, you will save me from Gustamente and you will save your father from financial ruin. It is an important decision for you to make, JoNell."
    JoNell felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest. At last, the ruthless, selfish Del Toro was showing his true colors. And for a moment, she had been fooled into believing he felt a genuine concern for her and her family!
    Now, it was clear to her, that he had thought of her as an ace up his sleeve from the very beginning. That was why he had suddenly changed his mind and allowed her to give him flying lessons—to keep her here until he saw how the election turned out! Perhaps he had