Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

same.”
    “We’l each take a guard inside the fence as soon as Ethan gives us the signal that the tower guards are down,” Mack said. “I’l send each of you to a position, and we’l go at the same time. No shot can be fired. I don’t want any weapons used. Put them to sleep with the darts.”
    “There are ten guards,” Malichai pointed out. “We can’t go in with you. We can’t take any chances of ruining our covers.”
    Mack nodded. “We understand, but we’re down three.”
    “Two, Top; once I’m finished I’l be able to take a guard out,” Ethan reminded.
    Mack flashed a humorless grin. “Sorry, Ethan. I didn’t mean to leave you out of the fun. Thought maybe you’d need a rest.”
    “Don’t insult me, Top.”
    Mack laughed and then sobered, resuming their meticulous planning. “Rhianna, you and I both can use teleportation if necessary. Hurts like a son of a bitch, but we don’t have any other choice. We’l both take a second guard. You up for it?”
    Rhianna nodded curtly.
    Rose raised an eyebrow. “Teleportation? Is that for real? I’ve heard of some extraordinary gifts, but none of the women I grew up with could do that.
    Levitate, maybe, but teleportation?”
    Rhianna shrugged. “It’s spotty. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and it’s always wrenching and pain . . .”
    “Dangerous.” Javier was looking at Mack.
    Rose caught a glimpse of those flat, cold eyes and shivered. Javier had a way of looking without a single hint of emotion, as if he’d gone to another place and he was capable of anything. Kane dropped a hand on Rose’s shoulder, spreading warmth through her.
    “Everything we do is dangerous,” Mack said evenly, ignoring the overt threat. “Teleportation is not exact, but it wil get the job done. Rhee, if you prefer another method, we’l work it out.”
    Rhianna tilted her chin, not looking at Mack but keeping her large, liquid eyes on Javier. “I have no problem with it, Top.”
    Javier didn’t so much as glance at her. “You’d better not have a problem with it.”
    Mack turned his attention back to blueprints, ignoring the little byplay. Rose looked around at the circle of faces. None of Javier’s team seemed concerned. The same thing couldn’t be said of the pararescue men. They appeared uneasy. She shrugged off the goose bumps and leaned forward to study the plans.
    “His remaining soldiers are housed here in this building.” Joe shoved the first blueprint aside and pul ed a second one up. “Two stories and they have an escape tunnel that connects with the tunnel from the main house leading to this exit here.” Again he pushed aside the blueprint to pul out a meticulously hand-drawn map.
    “So those guards have to be disposed of as wel before we enter the house.”
    Joe nodded. “The tunnels aren’t guarded. We’ve gone al the way to both the main house as wel as the barracks. The doors leading into the structures aren’t locked or guarded either. Lopez has gotten a little sloppy with his security. He’s used to everyone fearing his reprisal—even the government. The tunnel in the main house exits into the control room. The control room is bul etproof. When you go through that door into the room, you’l be vulnerable. Both men inside are armed to the teeth, and they won’t be sleeping.”
    Javier shrugged as if men armed to the teeth were of no consequence.
    “No kil ing, Javier, you have to get in and put them out without them seeing you or knowing anything is wrong,” Mack said. “That’s essential to the plan.”
    “No worries, Top,” Javier said and winked at Lucas. Lucas grinned back at him.
    They reminded Rose of two mischievous boys about to play a game they both knew was off-limits but they wanted to play anyhow.
    “This is a hel of a time for you to choose to go after Lopez,” Joe said. “This weekend was the big family reunion . . .”
    Kane grinned at him. “We know. Thought this was a perfect time to pay them a visit.”
    Malichai shook his head. “You’re al a little nuts. He has an enormous family. Right now, in the house, his two brothers and their spouses along with children and bodyguards are present. A grandfather. Cesar’s two daughters, their husbands and children, and his son with his wife and daughter. Al of them have personal bodyguards. They’re al involved in the family business. Don’t discount his wife, who looks sweet but would blow you away as fast as he would to keep her