Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

“I have nowhere to wear them, and nothing to wear them with, but I absolutely love them.”
    Jaimie and Rhianna grinned at each other. “Major shopping time, Rose. Get the boots, and the next time we go out, we’l find the perfect dress. Kane can take you out to dinner, and we’l babysit.”
    “And dancing,” Rhianna added.
    “I don’t know how to dance,” Rose said.
    “We’l teach you,” Jaimie offered as Rose sat down to reluctantly remove the boots.
    Get them, Kane said. If you want them, Rose, we’ll find somewhere nice to go.
    She took a breath and looked at them. She had a child to care for, a home to keep safe. Did she need the boots? No, but she real y wanted them. The temptation was extraordinary. Whitney would have been disgusted with her. That thought tipped her right over the edge. She had to get them, if just to prove to herself that she rejected ful y his brainwashing.
    You’ve got two gang members sitting on the curb directly across from the shop, and one trying to look inconspicuous lounging against the front of the building. He’s got on a coat and his hand is inside of it. A fourth is crossing the street and heading right into the store.
    Gideon’s cool voice delivered the message. Without hesitation Rhianna crossed the store and jerked the cel phone from the persistently silent Irma standing beside the door.
    “That was damn stupid of you,” she hissed. “You should have walked out of here while you had the chance.”
    Irma tried to pul a razor blade from her hair. Rhianna’s elbow connected hard with her face. The crack was loud, and Irma dropped to the floor at her feet. “Get out of here,” she cal ed to the clerk. “Use the back door. These women are gang members, and their men are just outside.” As she gave the order, she pul ed out her wal et and flashed a badge of some sort.
    Rose couldn’t see what it said, but the clerk turned and hurried out of the store. Rose caught Imelda’s wrist as she tried to run toward the door, cal ing out to the man moving swiftly toward them from across the street. Rose delivered a hard chop to the side of her neck, and the girl went down hard.
    I’ve got the shot, Gideon said.
    Let him come in , Rhianna protested. Too many civilians. His buddies probably have itchy trigger fingers . Rhianna stepped to the side of the door.
    Rose noticed no one protested. Jaimie moved behind the counter, pul ing her weapon from her boot. Rose took the opposite side of the door from Rhianna. She preferred her knife. She could throw fast and accurately. And knives were silent.
    That’s Jose Cortina, a real badass. He’s the real deal, Rhianna. Favors a knife. Thinks he’s a ladies’man. Has a taste for hurting women and torturing anyone who thinks about crossing him. Javier informed them. He’ll smile at you, half turn away, and then turn and throw a knife. He’s a lefty.
    The door burst open, and Jose strode in. Rhianna kicked the door closed and stepped in behind him. “Your girl sent you the wrong picture.”
    Jose toed Irma’s limp body, spit on her, and then looked straight at Rose. “I don’t think so. You’re worth a cool mil ion.”
    He looked over his shoulder at Rhianna, his eyes widening in surprise as he took in her face and body. “My lucky day.”
    “You think so? Your boys outside are having a bad one. Take a look.” Rhianna moved slightly to give Jose a better view of the street.
    Jose shifted his gaze to peer over her shoulder. The two men who had casual y been sitting on the curb were now slumped over, looking drunk. Blood dripped steadily into the gutter. The third man, the one armed with the semiautomatic, stumbled out into the street directly in front of a car. The car had no time to throw on its brakes, and the body flew up and over the hood, smashing the windshield. The gun clattered to the street.
    “What the hel ?” Jose turned back to Rose with a smal smile. He turned as if to leave, his hand a blur.
    Rhianna caught his wrist with surprising strength, stepping in close. Jose frowned down at the hilt of the knife sticking out of his chest. “What the hel ?”
    he repeated and coughed blood. It bubbled up around his lips and dribbled down his chin. His knees buckled. Rhianna stepped back and let him fal .

CHAPTER 19
    The helicopter swooped in low over the desert, running without lights. There was little sound, only a muffled thump of the blades as it moved in fast, staying below radar to hover just at the edge