Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

and he was stil considered to be of immense value. After the testimony of several of us, an investigation into his activities was launched. They can’t ignore what’s happening, and it’s driven him farther underground. Don’t get me wrong, he stil has powerful supporters who believe in his work.”
    Rose kept her eyes on the baby, her expression blank. Kane wanted to make certain she knew what she was getting into either way. He’d forced her once to do something no woman should have to do with a stranger, and he damn wel was going to give her every choice he could. He wanted to make certain he disclosed everything to her.
    “Sadly, there is another risk to any GhostWalker, both male and female. Now that some of us have children, I think that risk wil grow, especial y to the children. There’s a contingency in the White House, someone who wants us al dead. It’s no picnic I’m offering you, but those we can trust have banded together, and we look out for one another. We’re also preparing places we can defend with numerous escape routes. We’re pooling our resources to become powerful enough to stop both Whitney and the group who would like to see us al dead.”
    “So you’re saying you wil stay with the military in your present GhostWalker unit?”
    “Yes.”
    “What happens when they transfer you somewhere else?”
    “Because we opted for the experiments, our contracts with the military are a bit different than normal. Without our agreement, they can’t break us up or assign us to anyone else. We try to go where we’re needed when they ask, but we have options.”
    The baby appeared to have fal en asleep. She handed him back to Kane. “I don’t want him getting cold, and I’m suddenly so tired I can barely keep my arms up to hold him.”
    Kane cradled his son close. “Rose, you have to know a few things about me. If you stay with me, I want a commitment. I want marriage, your word that you’l stay and we’l work things out. I’m not an easy man to live with, I know that. Jaimie and Rhianna tel me I’m bossy.”
    She frowned at him. “Jaimie and Rhianna?”
    “My sisters—of sorts. I told you about Jaimie. She’s married to Mack. Eloped. ” He scowled, furious al over again that Mack and Jaimie had run off behind his back. “Rhianna’s off somewhere hush-hush, and none of us has any idea at the moment where, which wil earn her a few harsh lectures when she returns home.”
    A slow smile crept into her eyes. “Kane, you real y are sil y sometimes. You’re the kindest, most gentle man I’ve ever met. You’re not at al like you think you are.”
    He knew his horror showed on his face. “Rose, you can’t think that.”
    “Why not? It’s the truth.”
    “Nothing could be further from the truth. I kil people, and it doesn’t keep me up at night. If another man tried to touch you in front of me, I sure as hel wouldn’t stand there smiling at him.”
    Rose studied his face as he once again looked down at their son. His expression had gone from shock and horror to something very close to tenderness and love. “I wouldn’t want you to smile if another man was touching me, Kane. What are we going to cal him? I don’t exactly have family names I want to give him.”
    “Any ideas?”
    “I thought when he was born I’d think of something, but my mind is a blank. I did put a baby name book in the pantry along with al the what-to-expect books.” She turned her head more closely into the pil ows. She’d never been so exhausted in her life. She wanted to stay awake and watch him with the baby, but she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes open. “I’m tired, Kane.”
    “I know, sweetheart. Let me put the baby down and check to make certain you’re not bleeding too much, and then I’l let you go to sleep.”
    She loved the sound of his voice, especial y when he cal ed her sweetheart. She could almost believe they were a normal couple thril ed to have their first child together, instead of two strangers brought together by a madman. “I’m sorry you have to do al this.”
    “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
    He sounded so sincere. That was one of the things she loved most about Kane—his honesty. He meant the things he said to people, even when they weren’t nice things. He often got the most endearing expression on his face when he looked at her, as if she confused him and he didn’t quite know what to make of her.
    “You real y are an exceptional man, Kane.”