Page 134 of Running to You

He shook his head. “Didn’t end well.” And then he met her eyes again. “I don’t believe Keller will stand down. We have no idea how many men he has, how many guns. We have no idea how far he’s willing to go to get what he wants.”

“It’ll be like Waco,” Sam said.

“We don’t want to get into a standoff,” Michael said. “That’s all I’m saying. And I think we can rescue them ourselves.”

Sam was nodding. “I see what you mean.” To Eliza, “I think he has a point. The messiah complex… Well, think about the difference between the true Savior and all the false saviors in history. Jesus died for His followers—died for everyone, even the people who nailed him to the cross. But false saviors…” He trailed his words, but Eliza saw where he was going.

“They expect their followers to die for them.” Her words were a whisper because, God help her, she could picture that. She could picture Jed using Mom and Nicole as shields to protect himself. Even Lola, if he had to. And maybe Levi.

Sam’s hand lifted toward her, and she wanted more than anything to take it, to feel his warmth and strength. But he stepped back. When she looked up at him, his eyes were cold.

His words rolled through her mind. I’d never allow myself to be lied to and manipulated and dragged around like a puppy on a leash…spend my time and talents empowering and enriching and enabling a man like Keller.

She wanted to hate him for those cruel words. If only they weren’t true.

“This is your decision, Eliza,” Sam said. “Your mother, your friend, your son. If you want to call the FBI, then that’s what we’ll do.”

She focused on Michael. “If we don’t, then what?”

A storm brewed in his eyes. “We rescue them.”

“How?”

“Same way we got you. With help. But first…” He nodded toward the front of the store. “We secure the evidence. Unless… What do you want to do?”

The brothers were watching her, waiting for her to make the decision. If she made the wrong one, they could die.

Either way, they could die. Maybe there was no right decision. Maybe the situation was hopeless.

No. God promised His protection. Before she did all of this, He’d promised. She wouldn’t doubt Him now.

Lead me, Lord.

No solid answer came, but she was filled with confidence in these men who’d already done so much for her. Their argument was sound. Even so…

“How do you know so much, Michael?” she asked. “I thought you were in sales.”

His gaze flicked to Sam. “I have sort of a side gig.”

She let her raised eyebrows ask the question. She was trusting him with the lives of people she loved. She needed to know.

“I can’t say. I can tell you I’m one of the good guys. Not a”—his gaze flicked to Sam, and his lip quirked—“terrorist or international arms dealer.”

“I guessed jewel thief,” Sam said.

Michael almost smiled, but it faded. “You can either trust me or not, Eliza.”

There was a tiny breath of peace in her heart, God saying the same thing.

You can either trust Me or not.

I trust You, Lord.

“Okay.” She started toward the copy shop. “Let’s make two copies. Better safe than sorry.”

Inside, Michael headed for the shipping area.

Sam stopped at a copy machine with the envelope while Eliza approached the counter and spoke to the girl behind it. “Do you sell thumb drives?”