GhostWalkers 10 - Samurai Game

crept into her. She forced herself to breathe normally, to look as calm and serene as ever. Those strong fingers stroking her bare, inner wrist ceased moving and settled around her arm like a shackle.
    “I
know
she’s the real deal, Ryland,” Sam said, his voice equally low.
    Which could mean anything. Azami didn’t dare glance at him. Her heart had begun a strange pounding, the rhythm new to her. She had an unexpected urge to lean over and lift her face to his. His voice was absolutely honest. His simple sentence meant nothing to Ryland, but everything to her.
    Her eyes burned for a moment, forcing her to lower her lashes. Her father had stood for her. Her brothers were in another room right at this moment listening so that if necessary, they could fly to her aid and all three might have a chance to fight their way out. Never had anyone else stood up for her, and Sam was not only standing but placing himself in front of her. He believed in her to the point that, although he wasn’t being deceptive, he was still deflecting.
    Ryland evidently knew Sam very well. Those steely eyes narrowed. “You’re a damn big help, Knight. If anything,
you’re
full of shit.”
    “I’m telling the absolute truth, Rye,” Sam confirmed.
    “I’m sure you are. What the hell’s going on between you two?”
    Sam shrugged. “I plan on asking her brothers’ permission to marry her.”
    Azami gasped, swinging her head around to look up athim. It was one thing to fight quietly for her, but he was openly aligning himself with her.
    Sam’s fingers tightened on her arm, but his gaze was locked with Ryland’s. “Azami is a GhostWalker. She’s one of us and more than that, she’s the one for me. I want you to know that up front. That’s how certain I am of her.”
    “And you don’t think that there’s a possibility that you’re blinded by your feelings for her? You just met her. Don’t you think that happened just a little too fast?”
    Azami winced. She knew what Ryland was implying. Whitney had somehow managed to pair them together. She kept her head down, long lashes covering her eyes to prevent anyone from seeing distress that might show.
    “So how did that work out for you, Ryland?” Sam demanded. He looked around the table. “For any of you with a wife?” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I don’t much care if Whitney paired me with Azami or not, although I don’t see how he could have, but I know she fits with me. There isn’t a doubt in my mind.”
    Azami shook her head. As much as she wanted Sam for herself, she couldn’t let him sacrifice. “Let’s slow down. There’s something else you should know, something that may be very pertinent to how you’re feeling right now, Sam.” Her lungs felt squeezed for air, but she had to be fair to him.
    “I don’t need to know anything else, Azami,” Sam assured.
    The tears burned again and she blinked rapidly, her throat clogging for a moment.
    “You might not need to know anything else,” Ryland said. “But I do. Please continue, Azami.”
    It was a major concession that he’d used her first name again. His voice had been filled with warning to Sam. She rested her hand over his, a very light measure of caution beneath the table. She didn’t want him to get into trouble with his unit, at least not before he heard what she had to say.
    “Whitney’s pairings so far have seemed to fit. I speculated that perhaps that was part of his psychic gift and he clearly has one. Those of you I’ve tried to study a bit seemvery grounded by one another, but none of you have been placed in a position that might cause you to do something you don’t want to do.”
    “What do you mean?” Ryland asked.
    “Suppose you had to make a choice between your wife and your son?”
    “There would be no question. My wife would expect me to choose my son. He’s a child who needs help and guidance and love right now. If she suddenly went crazy and wanted to get rid of him, which is what you seem to be implying, then of course I would protect my child.”
    Azami didn’t try to hide her relief. “Violet Smythe-Freeman didn’t.”
    “She has a child?” Ryland looked around the table at his men. “Are you certain?”
    “She aborted the child at Whitney’s demand. And she killed Senator Freeman. He was scheduled for the operation. They had taken him to do the surgery at the hospital and Whitney insisted on seeing Violet. They met at a small private airport. He was alone with