Ghostwalker 05 - Deadly Game

Sean's voice changed, dropped an octave, held a low plea. Whitney has someone there on the inside. We came to get you out, but he wanted us to kill them all and pull out his daughter, Lily. The orders came through as we were entering the compound. I pretended to be out of range, but he has someone inside supposedly helping us.
    Mari crouched down beside Ken again and shook him, wiping his face with a cold cloth to bring him around. He was limp and completely out one moment, and the next he exploded into action, swinging a fist, connecting with the side of her face as she tried to scramble out of the way. She fell back, one hand stretched out in placation. "Stop! Stop, Ken. We're in trouble."
    Ken's head was pounding, his vision swimming. He shook his head, saw Mari, clutching her jaw. Realizing what he'd done, he scrambled to his knees and reached for her, catching her face between his hands, his thumb sliding over the bright red spot. "My God, Mari, I could have killed you."
    "I didn't have time to stand across the room. Someone is trying to kill them. The room next door is filled with gas and I'm afraid someone is going to toss a match. You have to help me get everyone out of here now. Hurry – we don't have much time."
    The headache would last a long time, but his vision was clearing. He didn't reprimand her for knocking him out, or ask questions. He shrugged out of his shirt and handed it to her, hurrying first to Jack.
    Mari was a little shocked by the fact that he'd choose his brother over Lily, by the gentle way he lifted Jack onto his back and took him to the window. Mari scrambled out and held out her arms. Ken passed Jack's body to her. With the clean air, he was already beginning to stir, and she hurried to put him some distance from the building before she ran back. She didn't want Jack waking up and attacking her.
    Mari! Sean's voice sounded insistent and worried. I'm coming in after you. The others will cover me.
    No! Give me two minutes, Sean. I can't let them die. I don't know why anyone would order them killed, but that's not what we do and you know it. If Whitney wants to commit murder, he can send his goons.
    She ran with Lily's limp body in her arms, to lay her beside Jack. He was already sitting up, squeezing the back of his neck, coughing and looking around him. She put a hand on his shoulder. "Conserve your strength; you're going to have to run in another minute."
    She had to get away before anyone suspected her team was nearby. If Ken or Jack suspected the men were there, they'd blame her guys for the attack. And if one of their friends died, every member of her team would be living under a death sentence. She knew what men like Ken and Jack were capable of. She knew they would keep coming until their sense of justice was satisfied. She went back to the window and pulled Logan out, dragging him as far as she could.
    I told you, they have someone on the inside. He's going to blow the place. You're out of time. We're holding them off to get you clear, but they're balking.
    Mari's heart thudded. Jack was stumbling toward the building to help with Ryland, but Ken hadn't come out. Ken! What are you doing? They're going to blow the building.
    Jack had Ryland slung over his shoulder, his face set in grim lines. Ken was talking to him, she was certain. Ken knew they were going to blow the building and he'd told his brother to run. Jack jerked Logan to his feet, yelled something to him and reached for Lily.
    "Come on, Mari! We have to go now."
    "What's Ken doing?"
    "There are other people working in the building. He's setting off the alarms." Jack was already running as he gave her the information, Ryland across his back. Logan stumbled after him with Lily in his arms.
    Mari hesitated, torn between running to join her team and getting them all away safely, or going after Ken. Ken won. She dove back into the building, landing in a roll and getting up on her feet, sprinting through the room to the hall. She heard shouting and the sound of people running. Lab techs and researchers hurried to get outside. She couldn't see Ken anywhere, and she started down the hall, ignoring a man who caught at her shirt and tried to tug her toward a door.
    The shriek of a siren cut through the air, a loud alarm that drove the tension up significantly. Doors opened and more people spilled into the hall, rushing toward the nearest exit. Ken! Where are you? What if he was still groggy and he'd passed out? What if Whitney's