Ghostwalker 07 - Murder Game

do something she loved.

    "When I come back, we'll both go. I'm good at carrying equipment. Trained for years in it. I'll have dinner ready when you get back to camp every night."

    Her eyes lit up, and he knew he wanted to see that look on her face for the rest of his life.

    "Good then." She surprised and pleased him, capitulating without further argument, as if she knew that when it came to her safety, he couldn't compromise. "I'm not into big weddings, but I'm a fairly traditional girl, and torturing you with a formal dress and tux sounds like a good idea, just so we start off right."

    He blinked. A muscle ticked in his jaw and there was no way to stop it.

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    Her smile widened.

    "You aren't nice."

    "Just making sure you know what you're in for." She tilted her chin a little with a i
    m xture of challenge and defiance. "Did you tell Tucker and Ian the puppet master threatened my parents again?"

    "Of course I did. We've stepped up security. Three more of my team members are arriving today to help Tucker and Ian, although the location is secure and I doubt they'll really need it. I wanted you to feel comfortable with their security. Did you want to call your mother today?"

    She looked away from him, carefully setting the tea mug on the end table and plucking at imaginary threads on her jeans. "I think I'll wait another day or so."

    "She'll be worried about you," he persisted. "You've always called her. Your mother is as u
    m ch a victim here as you are, Tansy." He kept his voice low and gentle, a stroking caress rather than judgment.

    "I know she is. I just don't know what I'm going to say when she wants me to talk to my father. I'm not ready for that, and I don't want to say or do anything that would hurt her."

    He wanted to argue with her. The longer she waited, the harder it might be for her, and if she didn't call, her mother would become more upset and probably ask more questions, but her hurt was too raw, too painful, and he let it go. He'd force the issue another time for her sake, but not now, not when she was so pale and her eyes looked like two bruises.
    He crossed the room and took the seat at the opposite end of the couch, reaching for her bare foot and pulling it into his lap so he could begin a gentle massage.

    "Are you up to giving me details about the puppet man and Hawk? I've been compiling notes and we have quite a bit already." He worked his fingers along her heel and up into her ankle and calf. "Once we finish that, I think I can find the others just by identifying the ones we already have."

    Tansy's face stilled; her gaze jumped to his face, and any semblance of a smile was gone.

    "No. We're not done until I handle every piece and gather as many clues as I can. We have to be certain who these men are. We can't take a chance of identifying the wrong person, or leaving one of them out there to kill more people."

    "I'll find them," he said, his voice confident.

    Her eyes flashed silvery violet, and she drew her leg back toward her, trying to get her foot back. His fingers tightened around her ankle, holding her in place. Tansy shoved her braid over her shoulder and glared at Kadan. "My leg is injured not my brain. Quit ABC Amber LIT Converter
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    treating me like I'm about to breakin half."

    He appeared unmoved, other than lifting an eyebrow. "Maybe I'm the one about to break in half. The last thing I need is for some freak to be trying to play mind games with you."
    While one hand held her tight, the other began to massage her foot again.

    Her glare deepened into a scowl. "This isn't about you. We're supposed to be finding killers, remember? If I can handle it, then so can you."

    His hands stilled on her foot, his eyes darkening like a thundercloud. "You're feeling very sure of yourself now that you think I can't—or won't—retaliate."

    e
    H r heart jumped. She had been sure of him, of the way he was treating her like a porcelain doll. A ghost of a smile teased her mouth before she could stop it. She liked this side of him, all ferocious and ready to pounce. "You won't."

    He leaned forward, hand spanning her throat. "Maybe not this minute, but your hip will heal soon and then you aren't going to be so lucky."

    She turned her face into his palm,