Read Online Lethal Deception by Lynette Eason - Free Book Online Page B

blessing on this food and these young ones on the run for their lives. Place Your protection around them. Confuse their enemies. Give our new friends safe passage home. In Your precious son’s name, Amen.”
    “Amen,” Cassidy whispered.
     
    Gabe shifted on his seat, the beautiful simplicity of the prayer grabbing his heart. Was God listening? He shrugged off the thought, promising himself that he would deal with it later. Gabe held on to the soggy child while Cassidy finished her food, every once in a while feeding a bite to Alexis, who gobbled it down with delight.
    He couldn’t help stealing a glance at Cassidy every now and then. He realized he admired her. Her maternal feelings for the child were clearly displayed on her face, in her actions, and his chest ached at the thought of someone doing her harm. “You may have your hands full trying to feed this one. She’s got a healthy appetite,” Gabe teased.
    Cassidy’s green gaze rose to lock with his and he had to work to ignore the false feeling of family. The door to the hut banged open and Gabe jumped, his hand reaching automatically for the weapon at his back, his other arm curved around the child. Selena hurried in and shut the door. She held pins and burp cloths that would function as diapers for Alexis. Cassidy took the items, but Gabe saw the worry stamped on the missionary’s leathery features. He asked, “What’s wrong?”
    “There are men on the way. They are powerful men with many guns. Our village does not have a way to defend itself against such machines. You must hide. Jorge, show them where they must go—and tell them about the motorcycle.”
    Jorge jumped up and ordered, “Selena, get rid of the dishes.” Then to the others, “You three follow me.”
    Selena hurried to comply while the others followed Jorge behind the room’s dividing curtain. The old man’s knees popped as he knelt and reached under the bed and pulled out a box, then two more. Finally, he pulled out a piece of wood that was square and about three feet by three feet. It matched the floor’s grooves and lines perfectly.
    Jorge grunted and hurried to explain. “Due to all the violence in this area, Selena and I knew we may need a way out. It’s a tunnel about fifteen feet deep, but once you get down there, it is only about four feet tall. You will have to crouch. It is approximately one mile long. It will lead you to the river. Once there, you will have to climb up some log steps and push hard on the piece of wood covering the exit. It will be difficult because of the growth, but if you push hard enough, it will move. Look for a motorcycle. It’s hidden near the exit.”
    Gabe sucked in a breath. Fifteen feet deep. Great. He kept his thoughts to himself and said, “Don’t fight them. Tell them what they want to know. They’ll kill you if you don’t.”
    “The Lord will be with us.”
    Gabe narrowed his eyes and secretly thought that Kara and Jacob probably thought the same thing. Then he turned his gaze on Cassidy. She stood trembling but holding it together.
    A gunshot echoed from somewhere outside the small hut. Jorge paled and Cassidy jumped. Jorge pushed them toward the floor. “Hurry, go, go. I must cover the hole back up.”
    Gabe took Alexis from Cassidy’s arms and motioned for her to crawl under the bed and down into the hole. She hesitated, terror written all over her.
    Men yelling. Gunshots. The explosion. Then the gun in his ear. Gabe blinked against the harsh flashes and shoved the memories aside. He couldn’t fail again.
    Cassidy finally scrambled under the bed and then Gabe heard her call in a shaky voice, “Okay, send Alexis down.”
    Gabe quickly passed the child down to Cassidy.
     
    Cassidy held her breath and caught Alexis as Gabe eased her down into the darkness. Gabe’s pack and the bag containing the food landed on the mud floor near her feet. She stepped back, hugging the little girl close as she waited for Gabe to follow.
    Coarse shouts