Lethal Deception

“We’ve got to go. They’re here.”

Gabe’s tight whisper in her ear brought her joy crashing down. She quickly stood and picked up the child, whispering reassurances in her ear. Alexis didn’t protest.

Anna appeared next to Gabe. “Come on, you three, no time for goodbyes. There’s a jeep around back in the garage. I don’t know how great it runs, but it should help you put some distance between you and them.”

Cassidy looked up at Gabe. “Now we can head west.”

Gabe cranked the vehicle and felt responsibility sit heavily on his shoulders. How was he going to get them out of here and safely home? He punched the gas and the jeep lunged from its hiding place in the ramshackle garage. Gabe’s knuckles turned white from his grip on the wheel and Cassidy struggled to hold on to the squirming child and keep the seat belt around both of them.

“Hang on!” Gabe shouted.

“Behind us!” she yelled.

Gabe spared a quick glance in the rearview mirror. Rafael sat on a seat with his head sticking out above the roll bar, balancing a rifle against his shoulder. Gabe spun the wheel to the right and swerved around a fallen tree. The jeep followed.

Gunshots sounded and Gabe ducked and hollered, “Put Alexis on the floor and cover her with your body. Keep your head down and hold on tight!”

Cassidy fumbled to obey. Gently but firmly she put the child on the floorboard, then bent over her to keep her own head down and Alexis covered. Cassidy winced as Alexis screamed her fury. Gabe continued to do his best to keep them on the makeshift road, one of the government’s many unfinished projects, and out of range of the bullets. His only hope was to outdistance them. There was no way he could get his gun out, drive and shoot all at the same time.