Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

men like Fargo and Carlson? “Al right then. You won’t go after him. Then you watch the baby and I’l go. Because, Kane, one of us has to do it.”
    Kane shook his head, no expression on his face. His eyes had gone flat and cold, something Rose recognized as trouble. “I thought about it. How could I not? Fargo wil find some poor woman and drag her back ...”
    “ Rape her,” Rose said. “Just say it, Kane.”
    “Damn it, yes, but you and I both know Carlson wil be coming here tonight. I can’t leave you and Sebastian unprotected. It’s a hel of a choice, but it’s my choice. You and Sebastian come first every time. I’ve had to make worse choices, and I’ve lived with them.”
    He was not going to apologize for choosing her over a stranger. Carlson would come for her, he knew it with every breath in his body, and he damn wel wasn’t leaving her and the baby to the depraved, diseased mind of Carlson James.
    Rose took a breath and let it out. It wasn’t quite the easy decision for Kane as he was making it out to be. She could see the distaste in his eyes.
    He held up his hand, preventing her from speaking. “I’ve thought a lot about this before I ever told you, Rose. Carlson wil come. I’l take care of him and then— only then —I’l go after Fargo.”
    “I understand why you think it’s necessary to protect us from Carlson, but real y, it isn’t, Kane.” How could she convince him? He was a man’s man. He believed that it was his duty to protect her, and in truth, she liked that quality in him. Right at this moment, though, it was a bit bothersome, but it didn’t make him less appealing to her. “I don’t want any woman to spend five minutes in Fargo’s hands. I trust you to go out there on your own and stop that man.
    Do you real y have less faith in me?”
    Kane opened his mouth and shut it, scowling at her.
    Rose shook her head, continuing the attack while she had him. “I have no doubts that I can protect Sebastian. If Carlson makes an appearance, have no worries; this time I won’t be tied up and helpless when he comes to visit.”
    She remembered every single moment of his visits. His foul-smel ing breath. The depraved look in his eyes. His hands roving her body freely as if she were his possession. He had never gotten the chance to actual y have sex with her, but he’d certainly treated her to a taste of what he would do given the chance. She despised the man. “He touched me, and I wanted to throw up. I’m not going to al ow some other woman to have that happen to her if I can prevent it. You can glower at me al you want, but we’re wasting time here.”
    He shook his head. “You can’t go, Rose. You know you can’t.”
    “Then you have to. It’s either you or me. That’s the only choice.”
    He swore. “Then I’l kil Carlson now, go after Fargo, and we’l leave tonight. We’l be one day ahead of Whitney.”
    Rose glanced toward the bedroom where the baby slept. “Whitney can track us because of my tattoo. He’l send his men after us, Kane. Go after Fargo. You can make him disappear. If Carlson doesn’t make his try, we can give your unit another day to find us. Carlson wil have to report to Whitney that Fargo went into town.”
    She saw his jaw harden. His eyes went so bleak and cold she shivered. There were depths to Kane she didn’t know yet. He looked unyielding, but he took a step toward her, wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck, forcing her to step into him. She smel ed him, that faint masculine scent that was al outdoors and predator. The scent enveloped her. Her heart skidded to a halt and then began to pound. He lowered his head and took possession of her mouth.
    Her body, of its own accord, melted into his. She felt every single weapon imprinted on her skin, but most of al , she felt the explosion of heat from his mouth to hers. Fire raced down her throat and entered her bloodstream, melting her from the inside out. When he lifted his head, she stared at him a little dazzled, uncertain what to think or even how to think.
    “Get the baby ready to leave. Fol ow the tunnel to the end and check out the Humvee in case we need it. Pack supplies and everything warm you can for Sebastian. Choose weapons we both can handle with as many rounds of ammo you can find for them. Don’t forget water.”
    “What are you doing?”
    “Whatever is necessary. You’re a soldier. Figure it out.” He turned and left her standing there, her heart