Page 7 of Deadly Force

Micah 6:8.

Most nights, these verses anchor me. Tonight, they feel more like a lifeline I’m barely holding on to.

Beside me, my phone blips, and I smile, knowing there’s only one person who’d be awake this time of night. Sure enough, it’s Delilah.

Howdy! Are you trying to sleep?

Nope. How’s Samantha’s induction going?

Great! Verity let her blow something up tonight.

Sure that’s a good idea?

Oh pish. It was perfectly safe.

Promise?

Pinky promise. So how’s Brooke? Is she freaked?

I glance at the door, frowning at hownotfreaked Brooke seems.

She’s cool as a cucumber.

And that’s what is most concerning about this. Brooke literally writes the news—she can’t be oblivious to the evil in this world.

Wow. She’d fit right in with Verity, Sam, and Adena. I’d be peeing my pants.

I chuckle quietly.

Me too

A yawn overtakes me just as I hear a door close in the room next to me. Brooke. Going to bed after her shower.

I put the Bible to one side. Something isn’t sitting right, and it’s not just the stale burrito I ate on the plane.

I get independent women, but meeting a stranger in the dark with no backup? It’s beyond reckless. I try to relax, but can't shake off the feeling I’m missing something vital. About the threat. About Brooke.About why my chest tightens every time I think about her in danger.

Can you do me a favor before you hit the hay? Check and see if Brooke’s ever had anything happen like this before?

Her reply comes back swiftly.

Need to get some sleep dude, but I’ll let you know around 11 a.m. I’m still going through the info Sam gave us. I still can’t believe she was sitting on that. It must have been worth squillions.

Neither can I. And I’m still slightly in awe of how God has worked to change her heart. I’ve seen some rapid-fire conversions, but Samantha Duke’s was literally in the midst of battle when hers happened.

I let Delilah get to bed, and when my mind won’t still, I pray silently, praising God but asking Him to lead me over the coming days.

My brain flip-flops around, and I wind up back on Brooke, thinking about how and why she has no fear about meeting a total stranger in the dark.

She’s not stupid. Anything but. But the decisions she’s making are.

“Forget it, peabrain,” I mutter. “You’re not here to judge her lifestyle.”

I toss the extra pillow on the other side of the bed and pray the Lord will grant me sleep. But deep down, I know what’s keeping me awake isn’t the unfamiliar room, the strawberry sheets, or even the threat we’re facing.

It’s the growing certainty that protecting Brooke is going to require me to risk more than just my life.

Brooke