Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

have feline DNA and Rose admitted she did as wel . He has a few traits that make me think he’s developing at a faster rate than most children, but I’m not a baby expert.”
    Kane frowned. “Are you saying he’s part animal? Should we expect claws?”
    Paul hastily shook his head. “No, no, of course not. I’m just saying you might want to expect unusual behavior rather quickly from him. His lungs, heart, every organ is in perfect working order. He’s extremely healthy. Real y. Nothing crazy, no leopard skeletons inside of him, but his intel igence shines through. Looking at him, you get the feeling he understands. When Rose introduced me to him, that alert stare vanished, and he seemed just like a normal baby, checking out a stranger.”
    The explanation tumbled out. Paul talked fast, stumbling over his words, trying to convey something intangible when it was impossible. Kane understood. He’d noticed Sebastian’s strange stare as wel as the too intel igent look the boy often gave him. “Thanks for taking a look at him, Paul.”
    “When I gave him a few strength tests, he pushed back hard, harder than I ever expected a child his age to be able to do.” Again the words fel nearly on top of one another. It was apparent Paul was eager to discuss the baby and al the possibilities he presented, or at least to bounce his ideas off them.
    “You know you can’t mention Sebastian to anyone,” Mack said, startling Kane.
    Rose threw him a grateful glance.
    That pul ed Paul up short. He flushed. “Of course not. Never outside this room and never to anyone not a member of our team.”
    “Our family,” Mack corrected. “Some others consider themselves part of us, but they’re not. You protect Sebastian in the same way we protect one another.”
    “I got it, Top,” Paul assured.
    He looked so awkward, Kane took pity on him. “Coffee’s on, Paul. We were just discussing what Mack’s found out about the threat hanging over Rose’s head.”
    Paul threw him a grateful look and headed to the coffeepot.
    “What exactly is the threat, other than they know my name?” Rose asked. “As far as I know, none of them saw me alive.”
    “There was an old woman,” Mack reminded. “Her name is Olivia Lopez Martinez. Her son was guarding the outskirts of town when the two of you were escaping.
    Apparently you pretended to be in labor. Apparently she took your picture.”
    Rose’s dark eyes went wide. “Damn it. Just damn it. She was my neighbor, and she seemed such a nice woman.”
    “She introduced you to Diego Jimenez.” Kane made it a statement.
    I’d been so alone, felt so vulnerable, there in a foreign country with no real knowledge of how to live day to day without being in a military complex. I gravitated toward the elderly to tap into their knowledge and because they were far less threatening. I can barely believe that sweet old lady was born into the cartel.
    “She did,” she acknowledged out loud. She looked at Kane, wanting to apologize, needing him to understand.
    I brought another enemy straight to their door. It isn’t as if they don’t have too many against them already. I’m so sorry, Kane. I was so scared when it came closer to the baby being born.
    Kane stood up, not quite with his usual fluid grace, but he managed without a cane, and went to her, wrapping his arm around her waist. She moved into him, nearly melting into his skin, slipping beneath his shoulder as if she just, for one moment, needed his strength.
    “I’m sorry,” she said aloud to Mack. “It was stupid of me to trust any of them. She seemed so harmless, and I was about to give birth. I can leave . . .”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. This is your home,” Mack snapped, impatience crossing his face. “We don’t turn tail and run, and we sure don’t throw our family members to the wolves.”
    “They kil everyone. They’l go after Jaimie.”
    Javier had slid back into the shadows; now he stirred, drawing her attention, quite frankly startling her. Kane felt her jump. He was used to Javier disappearing on them, fading into whatever was solid behind him, but Rose scowled.
    “Stop doing that. I’m going to have a heart attack.”
    He flashed a smal , unrepentant grin. “I need the practice. Don’t you worry about Jaimie, Rose. She can handle herself, and she’s got al of us. No one’s going to get to Jaimie.”
    Kane felt a shiver run through Rose, and he tightened his arm around her. Javier is on our side, Rose.