Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

the child he wanted. Would he take the chance of losing the baby before he could get his hands on him? Just to see if I could truly escape him?
    Kane was coming around to the upper slope. The terrain on either side of the tunnel sloped upward, successful y hiding the fact that there was any kind of opening at al . The Humvee could run down the path between the two hil s for several miles and remain unseen as long as there were no eyes in the sky.
    Someone would have to come to the top of the slope, where they would be skylined. Even lying prone would be difficult to keep from being seen.
    Diego Jimenez had thought out his home and his escape route thoroughly. He had shown the house and truck to Rose, but not the weapons, tunnel, or Humvee. Why? The question nagged at him. It had been al along. Why wouldn’t Jimenez disclose everything about his home if he meant it as an escape route for Rose? Something wasn’t right. Kane knew he’d better figure it out fast.
    He went down on his bel y and slithered cautiously up to the rise, careful not to push any dirt down the other side of the hil . He lifted his head just enough to peer down onto the narrow trail that led away from the house. He couldn’t see the actual entrance to the tunnel from the angle, but it didn’t matter. He was looking for company.
    I just found a letter from Diego addressed to me, Kane. It was in the locker where I was storing extra weapons. Rose sounded worried. He could feel a tinge of fear pushing its way into his mind.
    Tell me. He prompted. But do it in the driver’s seat. As soon as I give you the okay, I want you to drive the hell out of there. I’ll be coming down to you on the driver’s side.
    He took his time, searching every square inch of land around him. He was vaguely uneasy. Something was wrong; he just couldn’t put his finger on what it was. Radar was going off, but he couldn’t find any signs of the enemy.
    He thanks me for taking care of him while he was dying and then goes on to say that Whitney provided money and guns to help him fight the past government because the former president was heavily involved with one of the drug families. He said Whitney was upset that the U.S. was aiding the country in any way as long as that el presidente held office.
    She broke off, and Kane could picture her frowning as she turned the information over in her mind. He said he owed Whitney for all the aid over the years. When the new president took office and declared war on the cartels, Diego was no longer needed but felt the debt had not been fully repaid.
    Evidently, Whitney felt the same way.
    Kane sighed, his gaze restless as he quartered the area for enemies. So you were the last payment to Whitney.
    Something like that, yes.
    Kane could tel she was upset, maybe even crying. He wrapped her mental y in his arms, wishing he could spare her more betrayal. Whitney wanted her to break under so much betrayal. He hadn’t counted on the cartel kidnapping el presidente’s sister-in-law and niece and nephew. He hadn’t counted on Rose doing the right thing and reporting it to the authorities. He hadn’t foreseen el presidente asking the U.S. president for help or the U.S. president sending an elite squad of urban fighters into the country to rescue the hostages in secret.
    He said if I found the letter, that it meant I found the weapons he left as well as the tunnel and Humvee. He felt, after what I’d done for him, that I deserved a chance at least to get away.
    You nursed him through his dying days, Rose. He owed you.
    The sorrow in her hadn’t let up. There was more, and his heart sank. Sweetheart, I’m heading down into the open tube. Drive straight ahead about fifty feet. I’ll meet you there.
    He slid over the side like a lizard, scooting bel y-down, stil not trusting that his gut was giving him false information. Something was a threat, he just hadn’t identified it yet.
    Halfway down the slope, a boulder jutted out of the dirt and sand. Kane scrambled around it, heard an angry buzz, and threw himself into a rol . Splinters of rock rained down, two embedding in his pack as he somersaulted by.
    Sniper, Rose. Three o’clock. He continued rol ing down the slope, knowing a good marksman could hit him. He’d never felt quite so exposed.
    The Humvee tore out of the tunnel into the open, roaring between him and the shooter as he landed hard on the flat trail. He yanked open the passenger door and dove inside. “Go. Go.”
    She