Lethal Deception by Lynette Eason Page B

screaming bullets. Keeping the baby between her legs, trapping her from moving, she leaned toward Gabe and grabbed the gun from the back waistband of his pants.
    “This situation is a lot different from just holding the gun in the jungle. Are you insane?” If his fury had been fire, she’d have been toast.
    “Probably. Now keep us upright and moving while I try to make these guys back off.”
    Gabe was scared to death. Not just scared of the guys behind him, but that he’d failed once again to keep safe those entrusted to his care.
    Gabe decided to concentrate on driving—and praying.
    Oh, God, why a child?
     
    Cassidy checked Alexis one more time, not bothering to try to take the time to reassure the terrified tot. Hopefully, there would be time for that later once they were all somewhere safe. With the gun in her left hand, she released the safety and leaned out the open window only to pull back in and yell, “When I say ‘now’ you turn the wheel to the right so they’ll come toward this side of the jeep.”
    “You’ll be exposed!”
    “I’ll take that chance, okay?”
    She didn’t wait for his response, just turned to position herself so she could keep Alexis safely pinned to the floor yet have a clear shot as soon as Gabe turned the jeep. Dust and dirt swirled in the air about them, but she thought she could see well enough at the right time…
    “Now!” she yelled.
    Gabe spun the wheel. Cassidy waited for what seemed like an hour but in reality was only a few gut-churning seconds then fired the weapon three times with deadly accuracy.
    Several shots from the jeep behind zinged wildly by.
    Cassidy pulled in from the window and leaned back with a grunt. Gabe waited for more bullets to come their way, but the only sound now was the rushing wind, Alexis screaming and the jeep’s whine.
    “Did you get them?”
    “I don’t know about them, but their two front tires are out.”
    Sure enough, the men behind them had stopped and Gabe quickly pulled away to leave the other jeep behind. He looked over at Cassidy, who lifted Alexis from the floor, wiping her tears, cuddling her and offering much-needed reassurances.
    Cassidy prayed and Gabe put as much distance between them and the rebels as he possibly could, considering the fact that he couldn’t go much over forty miles an hour due to the road conditions.
    But after a few miles, the jeep sputtered, choked and died. Gabe whacked the wheel with the palm of his hand and muttered, “Not now.”
    “What’s wrong?” Cassidy said.
    Gabe didn’t answer, just pushed the jeep as far as it would go, then finally let it roll to a stop between two trees on the side of the makeshift road. Cassidy absently shifted Alexis to her other knee. The child’s cries had finally slowed to a whimper every now and then, but her big blue eyes followed the adults’ every move.
    Gabe leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. “The jeep’s done, but I’ve got to ask. Where’d you learn to shoot like that?”

EIGHT
    G abe hopped out of the jeep, wondering how much time they had. He rounded the front of the vehicle and popped the hood.
    Steam hissed.
    “Guess that’s not a good sign, huh?” Cassidy said as she came into view. She had Alexis on her hip. Tear tracks streaked the little one’s cheeks, and she scrubbed a grimy fist against one eye.
    Gabe grunted, “Nope, not a good sign and I don’t have the tools to fix it. Wonder how far we are to the next village.”
    “Here, hold her and I’ll raid the glove box for a map. And to answer your question, Micah taught me. Said it might come in handy one day.” A sad smile flickered across her face. “Guess he was right. Here.”
    Before Gabe could respond or protest, he found himself clutching the toddler. Alexis reared back against his hold to stare him in the eye. She poked her bottom lip out and frowned. Gabe frowned back, unsure what to do with her. Finally, she whimpered and turned to watch Cassidy,