Ghostwalker 05 - Deadly Game

say. What the hell kind of man thinks that way?"
    Jack snorted. "Pretty much all of them. We aren't that far from swinging in the trees, Ken." One eyebrow rose in inquiry. "So, if you want to force her to do what you say, why don't you?"
    Ken shrugged, muttering under his breath as they reached their vehicle. "Mari's smart, you know. She's fast and she's efficient and she doesn't fuck around. Man, she put me out so fast I didn't know what she was doing until it was too late." He rubbed the back of his neck, but there was admiration in his voice. "Trying to control someone like that is like trying to hold water in your hand. It just makes a man insane."
    "So, basically, if you locked her up, she might kick your balls right up into your stomach and then smile at you as you're lying on the floor."
    "Basically."
    Jack shot him a grin. "Good for her."

    "Yeah, you can say that. She's not your woman. She was going back to that compound no matter what anyone said, but Jack, she doesn't know me. She only thinks she does. If they hurt her – if they touch her – they're dead men. I won't be able to stop myself. It won't matter if she thinks the women are in danger. Nothing is going to matter."
    "That's not a big surprise, Ken," Jack said. "We both are fairly one dimensional in our approach to solving problems. Freud would have a field day with us."
    Ken sighed. Mari was smart and sexy, far too independent, and as tough as they came.
    She was highly skilled, well trained, and unflinching in battle. She hadn't even hesitated to punch Sean, dropping him like a stone. And she'd known her team was there before he had, even though he'd fucked her brains out and he lay like a limp dishrag, unable to hear anything but his own heartbeat.
    Soft laughter touched his mind. You're just being silly now.
    He had inadvertently connected with her and shared his thoughts. Well, you recovered first when you should have been fainting or something. That's a challenge, Mari. You've challenged me. I can't have you able to think and act after sex if I'm incapacitated. I'll take my time next time. Slow torture. Make you want me so bad you're screaming for me again.
    You have such an ego.
    With good cause. Deliberately he sounded smug. What's your plan? You do have a plan, right?
    We've been working on one. She broke off abruptly.
    Alarm spread through him. Mari? He swore. "I think someone heard us. I kept the energy spillage to a minimum, but Mari isn't as experienced at it. Sean is close to her. He may have caught the energy surge. Damn it. Have Logan give us a report."
    "Ken," Jack cautioned. "We don't want to chance Sean spotting Logan. We've got men all over. Ryland's crew is helping us out. She's got a tracking device they don't know about and can't find on her, even with good electronic equipment. Whitney doesn't have this or access to it. Relax a little. She's not getting away from us."
    "I don't care if the entire navy is watching. I want one of ours to eyeball her and let me know she's alive and well and we're staying right on her."
    The edge to his voice made Jack shoot him another quick glance, as if assessing his mood. He started to protest, met Ken's glittering glare, and shrugged. "I'll let them know.
    But if they blow it, we're in trouble."
    "We're already in trouble." At least Ken was. His gut was a series of hard knots that wouldn't relax. He'd never had a problem carrying out a mission, but he'd never felt anything before when he did. He was always – always – emotionally detached. Right now he was afraid that if anyone said or did the wrong thing near him, he wouldn't be able to control the violence pounding to break free.
    He had awakened from nightmares with his heart slamming against his chest and his body drenched in sweat. He'd awakened with a gun in his hand. He'd even stabbed the mattress a few times, and once, when the flashbacks had been particularly bad, he'd shredded his down comforter so badly he'd been plucking feathers off the floor for weeks afterward. None of those times had felt like this.
    His mouth was dry, his lungs burned, his palms felt sweaty. He was burning in hell for his sins and he had too damn many to count. None of the others would know, but Jack did.
    Jack always knew. He'd cover for him, they always covered for each other, but it was harrowing to suddenly have to contend with the terrifying realization that someone you didn't have in your control could change your life forever.
    "Logan's got a