CA 46.5 Operation Second Honeymoon Read Online Free Page A
Author: Debra Webb
doctor in my village. I walked here... I didn't know the work had not even begun."
Victoria felt her desperation. So many were without health care in these remote areas. How this poor woman must have felt when she walked all this way only to find a crumbling ruin.
"What's your name?" Victoria gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
"Lavina."
"I'm going for water and help, Lavina. I'll be back soon."
Victoria went through the steps in her head again—she would need Lucas's help. Move Salvadore to safety. Get the water. And bring a child into this world.
All the while praying the enemy outside the walls stayed outside the walls.
Chapter Five
Lucas didn't dare relax. Since he'd taken one man down, the enemy had been quiet. At least one was still out there. It was possible the remaining gunman could have cut and run, but Lucas felt confident he would have heard the engine of a vehicle if one had been started.
Though his full attention remained on the wall and courtyard surrounding their safety zone, a part of him was with Victoria. Had she found a place to hide? Her safety was his top priority. He'd sent a text to Sloan but the communication had failed. Cell service in the area just wasn't reliable. The Jeep was parked inside the gate, the keys likely still in the ignition, but an escape attempt was out of the question without knowing how many assailants were out there. Though it would take only one lying in wait to lose this battle.
Movement on the steps below his position pulled his attention and his aim to the opening that led into the tower. He tightened his jaw and his hold on the weapon. His gaze narrowed. A form rose from the darkness.
Victoria.
Lucas relaxed, instantly lowering his weapon. His heart thumped with equal measures relief and anxiety. If Victoria had risked leaving Salvadore and coming here, something had changed. "How is he?"
"He's conscious and talking," she said softly as she crouched down next to Lucas. "The pain is bad but he's holding up."
Lucas wished he could protect her from this. Victoria Colby-Camp had suffered far too much in her life already. She deserved peace and happiness. "How about you?" He scanned the wall and courtyard. "You holding up okay?" If only he could comfort her. He reached out and touched her cheek.
She leaned into his touch, sending that sweet, familiar warmth through him. "I'm an old hat at this." She sighed. "I would, however, prefer to be armed."
"I only have the one gun, I'm afraid. Any luck finding a place to lay low until this is under control?" He made it sound like a simple operation, but the truth was they were in serious trouble here. All the enemy had to do was wait them out. The chances of someone who might be able to lend assistance or spook the thugs coming to this remote location were zero to none. Odds of getting any sort of communication out were equally thin. They were on their own. His gut twisted with regret.
"There's a hidden cellar," Victoria explained. "It's camouflaged enough to work better than anything I expected to find."
Lucas felt a but coming. "But..he prompted.
"But," she allowed, "there are complications."
Despite the unnamed complications she already had a plan. He knew her too well to believe otherwise.
"A woman, Lavina, was already hiding there. She has her three-maybe-four-year-old son with her."
"Hiding here?" Lucas surveyed the perimeter once more. "Why here?"
"That's the sticky part."
The burden on his shoulders gained a couple of tons.
"She lives in a remote village and she'd heard rumors of the new hospital coming." Victoria sighed. Not a good sign. "She walked all the way here looking for medical attention. She didn't know the hospital was only in the planning stages."
"She's ill?" If she needed immediate medical attention, like Salvadore, time had just become an even greater issue.
"She's pregnant, Lucas. I don't know how long ago her labor started, but there isn't much time."
"What do you need me to do?" A new
Victoria felt her desperation. So many were without health care in these remote areas. How this poor woman must have felt when she walked all this way only to find a crumbling ruin.
"What's your name?" Victoria gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
"Lavina."
"I'm going for water and help, Lavina. I'll be back soon."
Victoria went through the steps in her head again—she would need Lucas's help. Move Salvadore to safety. Get the water. And bring a child into this world.
All the while praying the enemy outside the walls stayed outside the walls.
Chapter Five
Lucas didn't dare relax. Since he'd taken one man down, the enemy had been quiet. At least one was still out there. It was possible the remaining gunman could have cut and run, but Lucas felt confident he would have heard the engine of a vehicle if one had been started.
Though his full attention remained on the wall and courtyard surrounding their safety zone, a part of him was with Victoria. Had she found a place to hide? Her safety was his top priority. He'd sent a text to Sloan but the communication had failed. Cell service in the area just wasn't reliable. The Jeep was parked inside the gate, the keys likely still in the ignition, but an escape attempt was out of the question without knowing how many assailants were out there. Though it would take only one lying in wait to lose this battle.
Movement on the steps below his position pulled his attention and his aim to the opening that led into the tower. He tightened his jaw and his hold on the weapon. His gaze narrowed. A form rose from the darkness.
Victoria.
Lucas relaxed, instantly lowering his weapon. His heart thumped with equal measures relief and anxiety. If Victoria had risked leaving Salvadore and coming here, something had changed. "How is he?"
"He's conscious and talking," she said softly as she crouched down next to Lucas. "The pain is bad but he's holding up."
Lucas wished he could protect her from this. Victoria Colby-Camp had suffered far too much in her life already. She deserved peace and happiness. "How about you?" He scanned the wall and courtyard. "You holding up okay?" If only he could comfort her. He reached out and touched her cheek.
She leaned into his touch, sending that sweet, familiar warmth through him. "I'm an old hat at this." She sighed. "I would, however, prefer to be armed."
"I only have the one gun, I'm afraid. Any luck finding a place to lay low until this is under control?" He made it sound like a simple operation, but the truth was they were in serious trouble here. All the enemy had to do was wait them out. The chances of someone who might be able to lend assistance or spook the thugs coming to this remote location were zero to none. Odds of getting any sort of communication out were equally thin. They were on their own. His gut twisted with regret.
"There's a hidden cellar," Victoria explained. "It's camouflaged enough to work better than anything I expected to find."
Lucas felt a but coming. "But..he prompted.
"But," she allowed, "there are complications."
Despite the unnamed complications she already had a plan. He knew her too well to believe otherwise.
"A woman, Lavina, was already hiding there. She has her three-maybe-four-year-old son with her."
"Hiding here?" Lucas surveyed the perimeter once more. "Why here?"
"That's the sticky part."
The burden on his shoulders gained a couple of tons.
"She lives in a remote village and she'd heard rumors of the new hospital coming." Victoria sighed. Not a good sign. "She walked all the way here looking for medical attention. She didn't know the hospital was only in the planning stages."
"She's ill?" If she needed immediate medical attention, like Salvadore, time had just become an even greater issue.
"She's pregnant, Lucas. I don't know how long ago her labor started, but there isn't much time."
"What do you need me to do?" A new
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