Desperate Rescue Read Online Free PDF

Deborah, the prophetess. I was to reveal knowledge that he’d been secretly feeding me.” Despite her derisive tone, her voice quivered. “I could barely handle it.”
    “But you did.”
    “It was either that or he’d kill Trisha.” Her voice shook. “So I ended up doing as he said.”
    Eli glanced at her. He should pull over, take her and hug her. Tell her it’s over; she’s safe from Noah.
    But was she? The border crossing had just appeared ahead of them. There was no turning around now. They were headed right back into the very danger from which she’d escaped.
    He was as cruel as his brother was.
    The border guard checked their identification and asked some basic questions that Eli answered just as briefly.
    The whole time, Kaylee remained silent, probably thinking of the last time that she’d crossed the border, having escaped from the compound. Trisha had paid for Kaylee’s freedom with her life.
    And now he was taking Kaylee right back into that den of evil.
    The guard handed back their identification and wished them a pleasant day.
    Eli drove into the United States. Within minutes, they reached the main highway that ran parallel to the international border. A few moments later, he pulled into a small, rural service station.
    “We need gas,” he told her.
    Kaylee peered warily around her. When she caught his eye, she explained, “I know what you’re thinking. It’s over. There’s no way that Noah can hurt me again. Still…” She offered him a watery smile.
    He found his heart pounding at her small smile. “I won’t let my brother hurt you again. We’re doing the right thing here, reaching out to Phoebe. I know if I can just talk to her…”
    Except he didn’t know. He was just hoping…hoping for a miracle.
    He glanced again at Kaylee’s face. Tears flowed down her cheeks and he felt his heart clench suddenly.
    “I—I’m sorry,” she stuttered out, while swiping her face with the back of her hand. “I don’t think I can do this, Eli. I’m not just scared of Noah. But also of myself.”
    Wariness prickled the hairs on his neck. “What do you mean?”
    “There’s something you should know.”

THREE
    K aylee wished she could wipe away the alarm growing in Eli’s expression. But he deserved to know the truth. Something she hadn’t told a soul and had barely begun to acknowledge herself.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked.
    She gnawed on her lower lip. “Going back there…I mean, it’s not going to be easy. You have no idea…” She couldn’t form the right words.
    Eli reached across the console and took her hand. His palm felt warm and comforting on her cold skin and she wished she could cling to him.
    No. He was a stranger, a brother of the man who’d killed her sister. As much as he, right this minute, offered warmth and comfort, she knew she’d have to be crazy to be swayed by his charisma. One forceful Nash was enough for any lifetime.
    “Talk to me, Kaylee. Tell me what’s going on.” His voice turned smooth, soothing her raw nerves. She liked the way he said her name.
    “Noah convinced everyone I was a prophetess,” she whispered. “And, yes, he threatened me with terrible things to get me to say what he wanted. But it wasn’t completely like that, not toward the end.”
    “I don’t understand—”
    She pulled back her hand, unable to focus on her thoughts while he held it. A tendril of her hair had worked loose. When it dropped against her cheek, she hastily tucked it over her ear and was glad for the distraction. “At first, some of the women asked Noah to kick me out because I was so adamant about being there against my will and they were tired of listening to me. But Noah refused. He was insane and power-hungry. To him, I must have represented the secular world and he wanted to be able to control it. I think he also must have thought that if he managed to tame me, it would send a message of dominance to the rest of his cult.”
    Eli’s blue eyes snared hers.