Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

a rebel.
    Kane could see the enemy now, see their grim, dark-striped faces clearly. Dressed in desert camouflage clothing, they ran at a steady pace, covering the mile quickly.
    They’re spreading out. Look unaware and sweet and innocent.
    It’s a little hard to look innocent when I’m as big as a house.
    He suppressed his unexpected laughter. She wasn’t as big as a house, not by a long shot. Hell, Rose, from the back I couldn’t even tell you were pregnant. Only your tummy is round. He congratulated himself for being wise not to use the beach bal reference. You might not think you’re innocent, sweetheart, but pregnant or not, you’re very innocent.
    What does that mean?
    It means, he said, once you have that baby, I’ve got a whole hell of a lot to teach you. Before she could reply and tel him to go to hel , that she didn’t plan on sticking around, he gave another report. Flanking you now. One coming around on your left side.
    I can’t see him yet.
    The knots in his gut unraveled a bit at the calm in her voice. He admired her, plain and simple. He was lying prone, rifle in hand, watching the enemy.
    She was a sitting duck. He watched each man reach a position where he was able to see the one side of the house.
    Checking you out now, sweetheart. They’ve gone to ground. Keep reading the book. What else does it say?
    Oh dear. This isn’t good. You know the part where women can have sex as long as there aren’t any complications? Not so much in the last month.
    Sex can bring on labor. My dreams are shattered.
    He loved the laughter in her voice. Her teasing tone told him she was lying her ass off, but he liked that she was comfortable enough to tease him about sex. He was tied to her for life and would never find a woman with quite the same appeal, but she had no ties to him other than the baby—certainly not sex. He wiped his chin on his sleeve and kept his eye to the scope.
    Your dreams? he echoed. I’m suffering here, woman. He shifted just enough to ease his body into a more comfortable position in the sand. Teasing back and forth about sex was dangerous when they had enemies coming at them, but he understood it was simply another form of comic banter soldiers often used to relieve the tension. Now you go and tell me something like that. He had no problems with camaraderie. He could do camaraderie standing on his head—but not when she was putting images of his body locked with hers in his head.
    Sorry, I couldn’t resist. The book actually does say that.
    She hesitated, and his body reacted, tightening in anticipation. She seemed suddenly uncertain about sharing some piece of information. For a woman forthcoming about things, that didn’t bode wel . Tell me.
    She sighed. I think the baby dropped.
    His heart thudded. He blinked, and the man he’d been watching was gone that quick out of his line of sight. Kane marked where their enemy had gone to ground, but that didn’t mean the bastard wasn’t on the move. The baby dropped? he repeated, feeling like he’d been hit over the head with something real y hard. What the hell does that mean?
    When I took my shower this evening, the pressure was off my ribs. I think the baby moved down into the birthing position.
    I haven’t read the book, Rose. He searched every inch of the sandbank where the enemy had disappeared, trying not to panic—not because he’d lost sight of the enemy, but because he had a very bad feeling about babies dropping and what that meant.
    She hesitated again, and that smal hesitation continued to freak him out. He studied the sandbank. Had blades of saw grass moved? There was no wind. Not even a breeze. The night air had cooled, but it was stil warm. Stars were everywhere, glittering like diamonds scattered across the sky. It was a beautiful night. He always marveled how something so ugly as murder could take place in such peaceful settings. The night was made for a man and woman to sit quietly and enjoy the constel ations and each other.
    “I see you,” he whispered under his breath. The saw grass bent toward the house, and he caught a glimpse of the outline of the enemy’s shoulder. On your left, Rose. He’s moving toward you. Don’t look. If he gets too close, he’s a dead man.
    He checked the other three before putting the rifle back on the one closest to Rose. The others were holding position.
    Don’t shoot him. Rose’s voice was tight, even shook a little. They need proof. Whitney wants documentation of