Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

stomped on the gas, and the vehicle grabbed and took off, racing away from their haven. Kane slammed the door closed and checked to make certain the baby was surrounded by the bul etproof vests they’d found in the tunnel. He’d lined the makeshift car seat with one as wel . The boy was locked in facing the seat for added protection and appeared sound asleep.
    He expected the shooter to fire a few more rounds, but if the man did, nothing hit the Humvee, and Kane couldn’t imagine facing anyone but a good marksman, which meant the shooter was on the move.
    “Keep straight, sweetheart,” he instructed, checking the loads in the various weapons and placing them strategical y around the Humvee. “He’s out there, and he’s going to come after us.”
    “Is Sebastian al right?” Rose shot one look over her shoulder at the baby.
    The Humvee wasn’t the most comfortable ride, bouncing them al over the place as she went over rocks and patches of thick shrubs. Just as Kane could see in the darkness, so could she. There was no need for lights. The trail was grown over with shrubbery. Rocks rol ed down the slope on either side. She went right over them, gripping the wheel as it jumped in an effort to get away from her.
    “Diego gave me up to the cartel.” Rose’s voice was grim.
    “Are you certain?”
    “It’s in the letter. He told them Whitney would pay a fortune for me.” She leaned forward, peering out the window. “Apparently he has two sons who have been on the cartel’s wanted list. In return for me and his connection to Whitney, the cartel wil leave his family alone. The plan is to ransom me and the baby to Whitney.”
    Kane swore through clenched teeth. Not only did they have to worry about Whitney and his men, but now they might have the cartel breathing down their necks. That information certainly ruled out going back into town.
    “I take it he left the guns and Humvee to clear his conscience before he died.”

    She nodded. “He said he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t at least give me some kind of a chance.”
    “Why did the cartel wait?”
    “I think they were busy trying to find the men who stole their prisoners. I’m a helpless woman, about to give birth, trapped in a house in the desert.”
    Kane narrowed his eyes. “Get out of here, Rose. Right now, go up the slope. I have no idea where this trail comes out, but if he had some deal with the cartel, then my guess is, the moment you left the tunnel in the Humvee, they knew it and they’l be waiting wherever this trail comes out. We have no idea how long it is.”
    She had already started up the slope, angling the Humvee to race up the sandy hil as quickly as possible. The heavy vehicle had no trouble going through the shifting terrain, mowing down shrubs and bumping over rocks. They topped the rise and burst out into the open desert.
    At once, in the far distance, they could see a line of lights, pinpoint lasers slicing through the darkness, bouncing crazily as several vehicles dashed over the sand. The trucks were a few miles away but coming for them. Rose angled the Humvee away from the caravan, presumably the cartel, and made a run for it across the desert.
    “Make a wide circle and head back toward the canyon where we dumped the tracking device,” Kane advised. “At least we’l have cover there to hold them off. Sooner or later my boys wil come to the party.”
    Rose nodded and then pointed toward their left. “That’s got to be Fargo with the woman.”
    A single vehicle wove drunkenly across the sand, sliding sideways, circling and careening down slopes to nearly stal out as it powered up the other side.
    “He’s drunk, Kane.”
    “Damn it, Rose.” His heart sank. She was already swerving to intercept.
    He glanced back at the line of lights piercing the darkness. Stopping to rescue a woman wasn’t on his agenda, but apparently it was on Rose’s. “Damn stubborn woman,” he hissed under his breath and tossed his rifle aside.
    Fat lot of good a gun was going to do him. He couldn’t just shoot the bastard and be done with it. Fargo was driving the vehicle, and he was going at a dangerous rate of speed. If Kane shot him, the car would overturn and possibly kil the kidnap victim. He didn’t think Rose would look too kindly on that outcome. He was going to have to actual y take control of the truck.
    “Come up behind him. Match his speed.” What the hel point was there in arguing with her? She had a look of