Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

out of here?”
    “We’re going to climb out. Straight up, honey. Whitney’s boys aren’t going to shoot you or Sebastian.”
    “Are you out of your mind? We’re going to go up a rope into a helicopter with the backwash from the blades, sharpshooters taking potshots, and a baby ?”
    He grinned at her. “Sounds like a fun date, doesn’t it?”
    She shook her head, a smal , answering smile curving her soft mouth. “You real y are nuts. You’d better hope Whitney wants us as bad as you think.”
    “My boys can keep the peace,” Kane said with absolute confidence.
    The Humvee limped over the pitted terrain heading doggedly toward the east and freedom. The first helicopter had circled and was coming in for another try.
    This an exclusive party, or can anyone join?
    Mack McKinley’s voice fil ed his mind.
    A second helicopter burst out of the night sky, silent and lethal, no running lights. From the open door, a rocket streaked through the darkness, trailing vapor, seeking a target.
    The enemy’s helicopter tried to maneuver, but it was far too late; the rocket was on top of them. The helicopter burst apart, spil ing wreckage and flames in every direction.
    “Find us stable ground in an open area,” Kane yel ed, fending off the soldiers with his heavy caliber weapon.
    “I’m doing my best,” Rose shouted back. “There aren’t a lot of open areas here; that’s why we chose it, hoping for cover. There’s the creek bed, but I’m not certain we can trust the surface.”
    Can you spot an open area, Mack? We’re a little pushed for time down here.
    Creek bed is the only area possible for us to drop down to get you. You’re nearly past the sinkhole. We’re coming in.
    “Get down into the creek, Rose. It’s our only option.”
    She turned her head. Her dark eyes met his, and there was stark fear there, not for herself but for their child. She resolutely turned back and took the Hummer bumping and bouncing back into the creek bed. She drove a few yards to get as clear of the trees as possible and then abruptly leapt up to crawl back to the baby.
    Kane fired repeatedly, cutting a wide circle around them. From above, he could hear covering fire as wel . Once Rose made up her mind to do it, she was al business, paying no attention to the battle taking place outside. She gathered up the baby, strapping him into a front pack in order to leave her hands free. It took a few minutes to wrap the large bul etproof vest around both of them.
    Kane paused just long enough to make certain it was secure. She leaned down and caught his face in her hands. “You’l be right behind us, right? Right behind us. No hero crap. You’l get into that helicopter no matter what.”
    “I’l be there.”
    “Promise me. Say it. I promise, Kane. I need to hear that.”
    He leaned forward and kissed her mouth, uncaring that bul ets were flying. She needed reassurance, and he was giving it to her in the only way he knew how so that she could read his honesty. “I promise.”
    We’re in position, but we’re sitting ducks. Get moving. Mack’s command was a definite order.
    Kane put his hand where the baby’s head was hidden by the vest. “Go.”
    He went back to giving covering fire, trusting his men to do the rest. Gideon Carpenter had eyes like an eagle and could shoot the wings off a fly. Javier Enderman—wel he just looked where he wanted to shoot, and that was as good as pul ing the damned trigger.
    Rose pushed open the heavy door to the roof and cautiously put her head out. Once she caught that rope, she would be committed. Kane expected hesitation. She didn’t know the men in the helicopter the way he did, but there was no vacil ation, and that told him a lot about her. Once she made up her mind, she fol owed through. She’d pul ed on thin gloves, and she caught the rope, one foot looping it.
    She went up as fast as possible. She was strong—after al she was a GhostWalker—but she was a sitting duck and expecting someone to shoot her at any moment. The backwash from the helicopter blades was hel acious. The rope spun a bit, and that made it difficult to keep Sebastian facing away from the biggest threat. They were using a pul ey system as wel , which helped move the rope up even faster.
    She was halfway up the rope before she realized the night had gone eerily silent. No one on the ground fired at them. Not a single soldier—as if a cease-fire had been declared and everyone was abiding by it. She climbed faster,