Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

dropped it when he heard the shots.
    Don’t you fucking move, Rose. Kane al owed his anger at her to show. She would have been safe if she’d just gotten on that helicopter. She didn’t respond one way or the other, and he didn’t look at her, concentrating on the enemy.
    If he could kil the guard before anyone realized they were on the roof, they had a chance to escape. It was a slim chance, but they were GhostWalkers
    —they didn’t need a clean walk through the park to make it.
    His order was met with silence. Her breathing was back under control, and when he glanced at her, she looked smal and alone. Probably frightened.
    Maybe he shouldn’t have sworn at her, but damn it al , why didn’t women ever listen? He’d been scared— terrified —for her. He couldn’t bear to look at her with blood spatter al over her clothes and in her hair. She’d been cool though. He had to hand her that. Insane, but cool.
    He didn’t hurry. Hurrying could get one kil ed. The urgency of their situation didn’t matter, only crossing the distance between him and the one man who could tel the rest of the world where they were. He inched his way, taking care to move in complete silence. The guard breathed hard, the sound loud in the night. Below them, the sound of shouts and footsteps echoed through the darkness. Lights flashed as men frantical y searched the yards and apartments.
    Kane patiently inched closer, breathing softly, never taking his eyes from his prey. His heart slammed hard in his chest. He couldn’t make a mistake, not with Rose and his child on the roof with him. She couldn’t fal into enemy hands. The guard shifted, and Kane froze. The man leaned farther over the wal to search the street below, watching the frantic activity. Kane inched closer. He could touch the guard now, but the automatic weapon was over the short wal . If the gun was dropped, the searching cartel members would know their quarry was on the roof. The longer the time went by, the less likely they could get away.
    Kane could hear screams as innocent people were pul ed from their apartments to al ow their homes to be searched. The door-by-door search was loud and ugly, the men furious at having lost their hostages. By now they would have found the bodies of their slain friends. Gideon was gone like the ghost he was, climbing down from the rooftop to the desert edge, where he raced to meet the helicopter. Kane and Rose were on their own with a street ful of very angry enemies.
    The guard muttered something and sank back on his heels, fishing for his cigarettes. The automatic rifle lay loosely in his lap as he lit a match. Kane was on him instantly, rising up, locking his arm around the sentry’s neck, one hand on the back of his head. He applied pressure, snapping the neck with his enormous strength in one motion. Almost gently, he lowered the guard to the rooftop, crushing out the lit cigarette. He’d had plenty of time while inching his way across the roof to ensure the sentry was alone.
    Rose. Kane cal ed her to his side. Let’s get out of here.
    She remained silent, coming to him without hesitation. He caught her wrist. We’re going to have to climb down. Once we’re on the ground, stay in the shadows and head for that truck at the end of the street. It isn’t the best plan, but it’s all we’ve got. You take lead. She was less noticeable than he was.
    They wouldn’t be looking for a woman.
    There was no doubt in his mind that he was going to be captured—or kil ed. But he could get Rose to safety if she just did what he said.
    Rose stepped past him to peer down into the street. Crowds of people were mil ing around, some crying, others silent, most clutching one another in fear.
    You aren’t sacrificing yourself for me.
    We aren’t going to argue about this, Rose. That’s our child you’re carrying. Do you have any idea what will happen to you if they capture you? Start down and get to the damn truck. I know you can hotwire a car.
    She stepped in front of him, forcing him to look down at her, to meet her glittering gaze. I can change our images. It won’t last long, but it will be enough to get both of us through the street to the truck.
    Too risky. He dismissed her offer immediately. Get moving.
    She didn’t blink. She continued staring up at him with her wide, dark eyes, her expression the same.
    Damn it, Rose. This is no time to start acting like a woman. Get your ass down to the street and do what I say. Obviously,