GhostWalkers 10 - Samurai Game

anything?”
    “Another gun. My crossbow’s in my room. I have a mini, but it’s not terribly effective at great distances.”
    She saw his eyes flick to her face, assessing her capability with a gun. She grinned at him, sheer audacity. His features relaxed and he gestured toward the armory.
    Azami had already spotted the small automatic she was most familiar with. It fit in her hands easily. She had small hands, and often a weapon just didn’t sit right in her palm, but she liked the little automatic. She caught up the belt and ammunition and stepped back, indicating she was ready to go. She didn’t like taking an unproven weapon into combat, so she would rely mainly on her speed and up-close fighting if there was need, but the weapon might come in handy.
    The moment Sam closed the doors, they began to jog through the tunnel, heading, Azami could tell, straight back to the main compound.
    My brothers?
    They’ll be in the tunnels with Daniel and Lily. No one will take chances with them
, Sam assured.
    I’m not worried about them. They are samurai. They’ll be an asset to you. They fight with great skill and can handle multiple weapons.
    Azami was unconcerned for their safety as he seemed to think she would be. She knew both Daiki and Eiji would protect Daniel and Lily if anything went wrong. Sam didn’tknow them as she did. She’d trained with them and had no doubts about their skills. They weren’t afraid to die any more than she was, but the world would lose two incredible and intelligent human beings if they were killed.
    What are we facing?
    I have no idea. The signal is just for preparation. Someone is approaching the compound. We don’t take chances, and it’s good practice to stay alert. Most of the time, it’s some lost hiker or a group of hunters, but we’ve had a couple of suspicious vehicles that turn around the moment they realize they’re under surveillance.
    She
loved
that Sam believed so much in her. They’d made love over and over. She could feel his love and support surrounding her, yet he still saw her as she was: a woman who would never go into the tunnels and wait to be told it was all clear. He understood—without her having to explain—that she would have his back no matter what.
    Tunnels run completely underground from our compound to Team Two’s compound and between each of the houses. Each section of tunnel every twenty feet has an activation switch and we can blow precise direction blasts.
    She noted every turn they made and where each overhead opening to escape was. There were no ladders, but she could feel the difference in the air and just make out a black painted hand grip above her head. There was a way to the surface in five places that she’d counted. She didn’t yet know how to use them, but she was grateful they were there. Tunnels could be used to a great advantage, but they could also be terrible traps.
    Are those grips trapdoors to the surface?
    Yes. You have to jump to them. You catch the grip, invert, plant your feet on either side of the trapdoor, and using the rings to brace your body, heave upward.
    So only someone with enhanced strength can open the doors?
    He glanced over his shoulder at her, obviously assessing her size and strength.
That’s it. And they have to knowthey’re there.
He didn’t break stride, jogging at a fast pace down the long tunnel toward the main compound.
    I can do it. Remember, I have cat DNA in me
, she assured.
    I was fairly certain you wouldn’t have trouble.
There was approval, even pride, in his voice.
This branch takes you to Jack and Ken Norton’s compound. It’s farther up the mountain, so you’re running uphill. It’s quite a distance, but if you ever need to get there without being seen, this is your best way. The ground and trees above us keep anyone from finding the tunnels from the sky. You can move freely down here. The passageway may come in handy if we have a houseful of kids.
    The laughter in his voice warmed her. Sam Johnson was no throwaway, and if General Ranier had agreed to trade his life because Whitney needed a diamond, the general was going to die very fast.
    Sam stopped abruptly, so fast she actually bumped into him. His head snapped around and he gripped her upper arms with bruising strength. “You won’t touch the general. Not for any reason.” He actually gave her a little shake.
    A shiver went through her at the tone of his voice. She didn’t struggle against his hold but looked up at him