The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed

Author:Terri Reed
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-06-18T22:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Meghan ran after Ryan with Georgina on her hip. She still couldn’t believe he’d found her. God had come through for her. The whole moment was imbedded in her brain, burning in its intensity. One minute she thought her life was ending at the hands of a monster and then Ryan appeared.

She’d never been so happy to see anyone in her whole life. It was more than gratefulness at being rescued that made her heart pound. And made her mouth go dry with a fear far different than that of a physical threat. But now was not the time to process what she felt. They had to get the little ones off the barge and to safety.

Ryan led the way through the dining room and kitchen. He halted as shouts echoed down the outside corridor.

Her guard had been found.

She sent up another plea to Heaven. Lord, You brought us this far. Just a little farther, please.

“There’s a door that leads to the deck at the end of this hall. When we get out, head to the left side of the deck and hide behind a stack of steel drums,” Ryan instructed.

Holding Georgina tighter, she nodded, prepared to do whatever necessary to protect the children.

“On three,” he said.

“On three.”

He leaned close and placed a quick kiss on her lips. Stunned, she took reassurance in the intimate gesture. He would lead them to safety. She trusted him to.

They made it down the short hall to the deck. The minute they emerged, an armed man shouted a warning before pointing a large caliber rifle in their direction. The loud retort of a bullet leaving the muzzles startled Meghan.

Thwack. A bullet slammed into the wood beside Ryan’s head.

“Go!” Ryan urged. “The barrels.”

Protecting Georgina with her body from the spray of bullets pinging off the deck, Meghan flew to the safety found behind the steel drums. Ryan made it behind her. He tucked the carriers with two screaming babies into a nook between two drums. He withdrew his weapon and fired back. The loud noise made Georgina screech. Meghan covered the little girl’s ears with her hands even as her own ears rang from the gun’s close proximity.

More gunfire exploded.

“Halt! Police!”

“Drop your weapons!”

Relief rushed the breath from Meghan’s lungs.

A deathly silence descended.

A man’s shout rang out. “Ryan Fitzgerald!”

“Here,” Ryan said and slowly stood.

Meghan followed suit. Her eyes widened. Uniformed law enforcement officers surrounded the bad guys left standing. Several were on the deck, dead or wounded, she didn’t know.

“We need help with the kids,” Ryan called out.

Officers rushed forward and carried the babies off the ship. Meghan wouldn’t release Georgina as she walked off the ship, careful to shield Georgina’s eyes from seeing the trail of bodies strewn across the deck. She averted her own eyes.

An officer escorted her to a parked cruiser. “It’ll be a little while before we get moving,” the officer informed her before walking away.

Meghan sank into the backseat and snuggled Georgina close. “We’re safe, little one. We made it,” she murmured.

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