Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 Dana Mentink (e books free to read TXT) 📖

was the confirmation she needed. Switching it off, she handed the device to Nora. “The moment you get out, hit that side button and—this is very important, Nora—say that you’re going deep and mountainside update in four. Got it?”

Nora repeated the words.

“Good. Our voices sound enough alike, it should buy me enough time.” She turned to Henry. “Then you can use the satellite radio on a different channel to get someone to pick you up.”

Nora wrapped her hand around her sister’s. “You’re not coming with us?”

“The only way you’re going to keep me safe is if you let me go for now. If they know you’re coming back with law enforcement, they’ll make this whole place collapse and destroy all those historical buildings before you have a chance, I guarantee it. You’ll be hard-pressed to find any evidence.”

The back of her neck tightened, remembering the dynamite she’d seen.

Henry folded his arms across his chest and eyed Maya. “How much time we talking?”

“I don’t need long at all. You can go ahead and call any law enforcement buddies you want, as long as they aren’t local. I’ll meet you tonight and tell you everything I know. At the lodge.” Maya hesitated. “Nora has to move out first, though.”

“What?” Nora slapped a hand over her mouth, shocked she’d been so loud, as her piercing question echoed through the caverns.

Maya shook her head. “It’s the only way. I need to see for myself you’re not there. As long as I know you’re safe, I’ll spill everything I know.”

“Where do you expect I’ll go?”

“Understood,” Henry said over her question. “She’ll be protected at an undisclosed location until the threat you’re worried about is behind bars. Good enough?”

Maya nodded. “I need to get going and so do you. Nora, be careful.” She took off, practically running away down the tunnel.

Nora squeezed the satellite radio tight and turned to face the other tunnels. Without a headlamp, the darkness intensified. She took her phone from her inside wetsuit pocket. Without a cell signal, she knew it would only be useful as a flashlight.

They made their way in silence, following Maya’s instructions without discussion. Nora’s blood pumped hard and fast. After everything, she was supposed to pack up and move out of the only home she’d ever known on a moment’s notice? That was the last straw for her aunt’s business. The FBI, or whomever Henry called, would take weeks to collect evidence throughout these mines. Murder and drugs, and apparently dirty cops, would mean a firestorm of media. The travel writer would have to be blind to miss that, even if Nora was permitted to still run the rapids, which she doubted. She lost her balance and her shoulder tipped into Henry.

“Do you trust her?” Henry’s voice was soft, punctuated by shallow breathing. The air seemed to get thinner and the walls grew closer. Something dripped ahead in a steady beat.

Nora flinched. Years ago, she would’ve raised a intense defense for Maya before even considering her true thoughts on the matter. Maya was her sister, her only family, but all her defenses had shattered. “I’d like to think so.” She leaned forward to make the incline a little easier on her knees as they climbed. “It’s been my job for so long to…” She huffed a breath. “It’s going to sound stupid to you.”

“Can I take a shot?” He stopped at the top where the paths diverged and put his hands on his head, a trick she’d taught him years ago to help catch his breath quickly. He lowered his arms slowly. “It was your job to keep your sister happy while your mom was working.”

Nora nodded. “Yes, but—”

“And by doing so, that made your mom happy. You’ve worked so hard to make everyone in your life happy, Nora. Even me. But you can’t make anyone be happy.”

Her eyes burned and she blinked back angry, hot tears. “Well, it didn’t work anyway. I’ve lost everyone so far, haven’t I? Dad, Mom, you—” Her voice broke and she inhaled sharply, embarrassed to have included him in the list. She pointed to the right and stepped around him, determined to shove the pain further down. She would not crack. She would be strong.

“Nora,” he said again, softer, pleadingly, “is that what you thought about me?”

She bit her lip, not ready to turn around to face him. Her heart couldn’t take another blow today.

* * *

Henry could see his breath as a white cloud. The faster they could get into the sunshine, the better. The mountain peaks were still covered in snow, and even in the summer months, many mines were known to be close to freezing inside. Maybe the cold had addled his brain and that’s why his tongue had grown so careless. He’d stepped into the dangerous conversation, so he might as well try to get to the other side. “Like you said, we grew apart, I made mistakes—”

She stopped walking and her shoulders drooped, but she didn’t turn around. “We both know you weren’t the only one. I…I think it’s been easier to pick up other’s burdens rather than to figure out what my own are.” She shook her head. “I’ve been so busy taking care of others, sometimes it feels like I don’t even know myself.”

Henry stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. He knew her. He could tell her exactly who she was. But it was like a hand had been placed on his heart, holding him back. Even though it was his instinct to challenge others to rise up and be the best they could be, this seemed like one of those times he needed to check his desires against what God may have in mind for her. He blew out a breath, remained silent, and simply held her in his arms.

If he was honest, he struggled sometimes to be himself. The few times he dropped all the armor in front of Him, though, he became overwhelmed with a sense of freedom and