Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

stomach and chest, climbing toward his throat, but his turn toward Kane caused the aim to be slightly off center. He squeezed the trigger as Kane hit him low, taking his legs out from under him. The bul ets spit across the ceiling so that chunks of debris rained down.
    The boy screamed loudly over and over, the bloody knife stil clutched in his hand. Javier batted the weapon away, snatched up the child, and sprinted out the door, running at top speed toward the safety of the desert. It was up to Gideon to protect them now.
    Javier has the package and is coming your way, Gideon reported calmly.
    Men poured into the streets, some half dressed but al armed. The sound of the automatic was loud in the silence of the night. For one moment chaos reigned, and that was the only moment they were going to get.
    Rose! Go! Get out of here, Kane snapped even as he came together with the fal ing guard, jerking the automatic from his hands and tossing it aside.
    The guard gripped Kane’s neck, trying to strangle him, adrenaline giving him extra strength. Rose stepped in close, shoved a knife in the back of the guard’s neck as Kane pressed his gun against the man’s heart and pul ed the trigger. Kane caught Rose by the wrist and jerked her behind him. He didn’t bother going out the front door; they’d never make it. He walked fast through the smal apartment, clearing the doorways visual y and trusting Rose to watch their backs as they moved briskly to the rear of the apartment. There was no way for them to save the teenage boy; they could only hope someone in the apartments rescued him before the cartel members decided to question him—if he was even alive.
    Kane peered out the bedroom window. There was no door leading outside, but the window faced out into a narrow corridor. The only scenery was a wal . Using his elbow he smashed through the glass and then cleared it from the frame. There was no point in wasting time reprimanding Rose for not listening and going with Javier. They had to find an exit and get out of the hot zone. The helicopter wouldn’t be waiting for them. Gideon had to fol ow Javier to protect the packages. He and Rose were on their own.
    He lifted her and she slipped through, crouching down just to the left of the window, giving him room, her gun in her hand. He was a big man, and he had no choice but to break the wooden frame to get through. He muffled the sound as best he could and hit the ground running, Rose behind him. They made it to the door leading outside. It hung on one hinge, paint peeled, splintered, obviously kicked in on more than one occasion. They could hear pounding footsteps coming toward the door. It sounded like an entire army.
    Rose swung around, intending to go in the other direction, but Kane stopped her with a touch to her shoulder, stepping back and throwing the stars at an angle up the wal . He leapt and caught his fingers in a crack, drawing himself up, using the first star, a good six feet above the ground to stand on. He climbed to the next one and reached down for her.
    Without hesitation, Rose jumped, her arm outstretched. Kane caught her wrist and drew her up. They climbed fast. Each time she took a step up, she reached behind her and withdrew the star until they were at the top. Kane went over the edge first, rol ing onto the rooftop. Rose used a one-hand push.
    As pregnant as she was, rol ing was out of the question unless she had no other choice. Landing, she crouched low beside Kane. He could hear her panting.
    You all right?
    She was silent a moment, fighting to catch her breath. A little out of shape.
    Kane studied her face. She avoided his eyes, concentrating on her breathing, but she didn’t look like she would freak out on him.
    We’re away. Mack’s voice was grim. Can you make the alternative site?
    That’s negative. Kane’s voice was as rock steady and calm as ever. I’m activating the tracker.
    Mack swore. You make it out of there, Kane.

    Roger that.
    Kane took a long look around the roof. It appeared clear, but he wasn’t so certain. The smel of alcohol drifted on the slight breeze coming in from the desert. He signaled to Rose to stay where she was and inched his way, using toes and elbows to propel himself across the rooftop. He skirted the large rusty metal housing the cooling system and spotted a guard scooting across the roof toward the edge. He knelt up and peered down into the street. A broken bottle lay beside an open bag. The man must have