CA 46.5 Operation Second Honeymoon Read Online Free PDF Page B

as she would to protect his. She closed her eyes and offered a silent prayer that neither of them would have to sacrifice so much.
    Lavina's body tensed. Victoria steadied herself, carefully supporting the baby. One long, hard push, then another. Lavina's fingers fisted in the old canvas tarp. Her face contorted with the effort of holding back her cries. The baby's shoulders were out and then the rest came quickly, its tiny arms and legs flailing. No matter the dire circumstances, Victoria smiled. A new life wiggled with promise in her hands.
    She wiped the baby's face, cleaned her nose—it was a girl. Victoria quickly placed the infant in her mother's arms and helped Lavina open the front of her dress. If the baby cried out.
    The newborn's wail filled the room.
    Lavina urged the baby's hungry mouth to her breast. Emilio looked ready to cry himself but he uttered not a sound. Salvadore's eyes had gone wide with both wonder and fear.
    Rushing footfalls reverberated overhead.
    Victoria ushered Emilio closer to his mother, pressed her finger to her lips and then extinguished the lantern. The room went black.
    Careful not to make a sound, she reared back into a crouch. She had no weapon, but she would fight to save these innocent lives.
    Two, no, three voices debated what they had heard. One man was certain he'd heard a child's cry while the other two remained dubious of their comrade's assertion. Victoria strained to make out the words. The man speaking sounded as if he were in charge. Their targets had no children in their company, he insisted. More arguing ensued as the one who'd heard the baby's cry stood by his contention. The man in charge cursed his companions for failing to accomplish the simple task of executing the man and woman more quickly.
    An icy mass of realization formed in Victoria's stomach. This was no kidnap and ransom attempt. Those men had been sent to assassinate her and Lucas. But why? Who would do this? They had both made their share of enemies, but none who seemed riled up at the moment. How had anyone learned of their vacation plans? They had been so careful.
    And yet, here they were, waiting in the dark for a deadly confrontation.
    Her gaze roved through the blackness to where she knew Lucas crouched, poised to protect her and the others. She didn't have to see him to know he would stand, battle ready and unhesitatingly prepared to fight to the death.
    A bead of sweat slipped down Lucas's brow. He quieted his heart rate, listening, waiting. They were close now. Gathered in the old, run-down kitchen, desperate to find their missing targets.
    One of the three voices—he had identified three distinct male voices —insisted the woman and two men had escaped and that his colleague was surely hearing things. But the dominant of the three was having no part of that theory. He knew they were still here. Hiding.
    Thunder seemed to rage overhead as the three started to bang on the walls in search of hidden passages. Lucas slowed his respiration and tightened his grip on the weapon.
    At the loud sounds, the boy who had until now been so quiet cried out.
    The makeshift door moved a bit. The obstacles Lucas had put in place held a little longer before the door rammed inward.
    Someone stumbled but quickly caught himself. The beam of a flashlight floated over the stairs.
    Lucas held his position. The light wouldn't be able to reach him until the attackers were halfway down the winding steps.
    He had to make every shot count.
    There was no margin for error and no room for compassion.
    His finger snugged against the trigger. He fired. The first of the three tumbled down the remaining steps.
    Lucas moved forward, putting his body between the path of the flashlight's beam and the others.
    Gun blasts exploded in the dank cellar. The flashes of light from the barrels of the weapons pinpointing the exact location of the shooters. Lucas fired a second time. Another man fell. The golden beam bobbed in the darkness as the