Kane noticed Javier’s body was angled toward Rose, half in, half out of the shadows, making him a difficult target, and the tiny knife was still concealed in the palm of his hand. He smiled at Rose and joked, but he was ready for any trouble, those cold, cold eyes never leaving his prey. Kane shifted his weight, subtly moving to cut off Javier’s angle of attack. Javier glided slightly as well and shook his head.
You know better than that. Mack would skin me alive if anything happened to you.
Rose sighed. “Nothing is going to happen to him. I’m Rose Patterson, by the way.”
“Javier Enderman, ma’am. Pleased to meet you. You reading my mind?”
“No,” Rose said. “I’m smart. I know what you’re both thinking.”
“Then you know I’ve got to get him out of here in one piece, ma’am. And that none of us wants you to hurt him.”
Kane huffed out his exasperation. “You’re making me sound like a two-year-old you all have to babysit. Tell Mack we’re on our way, and let’s get it done.”
“They’re armed to the teeth,” Rose said. “And they have trip wires strung around the windows and in the hallways leading to the apartment. You’re not going to get in through the ground floor.”
Kane made a strangled growl in the back of his throat and crouched down in front of Rose, catching her chin in his hand. “You scouted them out with my baby in your belly?” He bit out each word through clenched teeth.
“Yes,” she said very calmly, her dark eyes sober. “Before I made the decision to call in reinforcements. I told you I’d decided I couldn’t rescue them alone. Did you think I made that assessment from here?”
“Damn it, woman. You do something like that again, and we’re going to have trouble.”
She looked at him a long time. You have the same eyes. A different color, of course, but you both can look very scary.
It was the first time she’d used the more intimate means of telepathic communication. He knew Javier frightened her, and he wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her close to comfort her. It took a minute to realize he frightened her. She wasn’t showing it, but he knew.
“Rose, neither of us wants to send you back to Whitney or to harm you in any way. You’re close to delivering the baby, and you’re going to need help. Stay and wait for us here.”
“I said I wouldn’t run.”
Again she looked him right in the eye. He couldn’t detect any evasion, but still ... Kane sighed and stood up. “I’ve got work to do. I’ll be back to get you.”
Rose nodded. She remained seated in the chair as Kane started back to the bedroom. Javier never took his eyes from her, even as he backed toward the bedroom, his body between her and Kane.
Stop trying to intimidate her and let’s go, Kane snapped.
You first. And I’m smiling, Javier shot back.
Like a snake, Kane pointed out and went out of the apartment the same way he’d entered. Javier followed him into the night.
CHAPTER 2
The moment that Kane and Javier were gone, Rose covered her face with her hands and allowed herself a brief moment to shake uncontrollably. She had to drag in several deep breaths to keep from crumbling completely, to keep from shedding ridiculous, stupid tears. She’d always been so fearful in comparison to the other women she’d grown up with. They had no problems or qualms with their training—she’d always been tentative, forcing herself not to show fear when at times she’d been terrified—like now.
Kane Cannon. She remembered every moment of their time together in vivid detail. The way he smelled. His incredible strength. The feel of his skin against hers. She had chosen him for the father of her child because she knew she had no choice. Whitney had grown impatient with her, and when he knew she was fertile, he would send his choice. Kane Cannon was ruthless and dangerous, capable of swift violence. He was unrelenting and merciless if need be, but one of her psychic gifts was the ability to know when someone lied to her. Kane had been the first man who hadn’t lied.
He found Whitney and his experiments distasteful, and when he was drawn into the breeding program and realized the women were virtually prisoners—that they hadn’t volunteered but were forced into the program—she knew everything in him rebelled. She had known the moment she spoke to him that he would risk his career—his very life—to reveal Whitney’s vile experiments to the authorities. Time had run out on her, and she knew Whitney was determined that no matter what it took, he would get his supersoldier baby from her, so she had chosen Kane.
She’d been so frightened and horribly saddened, wanting her first time to be with someone she loved. She had been terrified of Kane when he’d entered the room. She knew Whitney was watching and listening. If she didn’t cooperate, they would tie her down, and she honestly wasn’t certain she had the courage to go through with it. The first thing Kane had done was smash the camera and recorder, and then he’d disposed of Whitney’s listening device and sat down on the edge of her bed.
He’d looked so big. He towered over her with his height, his wide shoulders, and large hands. Everything about him was intimidating, especially his piercing green eyes. She shivered uncontrollably as if she were still locked up, waiting for the inevitable to happen. Her heart thundered in her ears and pounded in her chest, but she’d been determined to at least have the best man possible for the father of her child. Kane was a good man in spite of the fact that he could be deadly when needed. She’d watched him for weeks before she’d made her decision. If circumstances were different, she knew she would have chosen him anyway, but right then, she was terrified.
And then he touched her. Exquisitely gentle. There was nothing rough about him when he brushed the hair back from her face. “This is bullshit, Rose. I’ll find a way to get you out of here. We don’t have to do this.”
Her world changed instantly with those words. It was so unexpected after the brutes Whitney had sent to her. She still had bruises from the last one making his try. The worst thing—and what Kane didn’t know—was that she’d chosen him. She’d watched him from the exercise yard, and she’d seen the differences in him. At that point he didn’t even know she—or the breeding program—existed. She’d drawn him in by making him her choice. The shame would last her entire life. She’d brought him into the horror of her world, and now he had no more choice than she did.
Rose covered her face and rocked back and forth. She knew he despised himself for getting her pregnant, for being unable to stop Whitney before he touched her, but he had no idea Whitney would never have considered pairing them if she hadn’t chosen him. Kane felt guilty, but she was the guilty party.
The baby kicked hard, and she automatically rubbed her palms over her swollen belly in a soothing motion. She could barely face him, barely look him in the eye, after what she’d done. She knew about the pheromones, knew once Whitney paired them, Kane would have no choice but to crave her body day in and day out. She’d seen the effect on the other men. They had been willing to kill to get to her. Willing to force her just to have her. She’d done that to Kane, a man with principles and honor.
She crushed down the memories and forced herself to stand. It had taken so much effort to be able to appear cool and in control, but she didn’t have to waste energy keeping up appearances.
“You and me, baby,” she whispered. “I’ll keep you safe.”
She felt very alone and vulnerable, her time too close, and she hadn’t established a safe birthing place. She’d made friends with a couple of women, one she’d been certain could help her give birth, but now the cartel had ruined that. She had to run fast and far, and now Kane had complicated everything—but she owed him. He thought it was the other way around, but she hadn’t been able to bear the idea of one of Whitney’s psycho soldiers touching her. They all made her skin crawl.
She’d watched Kane, the way he moved, the sound of his voice, the way he treated others. And she’d made that fateful decision. The baby kicked again, this time a little harder,
breaking into her thoughts, and she found a small smile on her face as she rubbed her tummy again.
“You don’t like it when I’m upset, do you?” she asked softly. “I’m upset on your daddy’s behalf. I did a very bad thing, and I have no way to make up for it.” She moved in silence to the window and peered out.
Her lights had been off for hours, and she knew she’d established that pattern weeks ago. No one would think it odd. She kept to herself and stayed inside after dark, never turning on lights. The neighbors probably thought she tried to save money by not using electricity, but she had excellent night vision, thanks to Whitney’s enhancements. She stared at the street for some time. Kane and the others would be setting into action their plan to rescue the hostages. She had to quit feeling guilty and sorry for herself; that did no good, and there were two people who desperately needed help. She had seen the extreme violence the cartel was capable of. They would kill the hostages no matter what el presidente did. The GhostWalkers were their only hope.
She was already in dark clothing, and with her ability to camouflage her appearance, she knew she could aid the GhostWalker team should they need it. Her telepathy wasn’t particularly strong, but Kane’s was, and she tapped into the flow, knowing how to do so from when they were together working against Whitney.
She closed her eyes, allowing her mind to expand, to reach out for the flow of energy, into the current Kane generated with his team.
Working my way into position, Mack, Kane reported.
Let’s get this done. Mack was all business, and the familiar voice settled the tight knots in Kane’s gut. There was no way to go into a mission with his brain divided. He had to push Rose out of his mind and concentrate on getting the hostages out as quietly as possible. They expected to leave dead enemies behind, but they wanted to be quiet about it. This was a take-no-prisoners mission and needed complete silence. Moving now.
Mack was a blur, no more than a shadow as he went up the side of the building, retrieving the tiny star stairs as he went up, gaining the roof. In position, he reported.
Kane and Javier managed to gain the sidewalk just outside the two-story apartment building. It was their responsibility to ensure Mack and Ethan had a clear path through the building to the desert. Gideon would protect them from the roof and then make his way along the rooftops to the edge of the desert.
Kane waited, counting his heartbeats while loud voices boomed through the entryway to the apartments and then slowly—too slowly—faded. He bounced pressure waves through the walls. The entryway was empty, but there was a man two stairs up, just leaning against the wall.
On the right, he told Javier.
Javier was smaller, a lean killing machine, and his shadow would be less noticeable. The sentry would feel the draft and look up, but he’d be too late. Kane, knife in one hand, ready for the throw, opened the door with the other. Javier somersaulted in, coming to his feet just a scant distance from the stairs, his knife hurtling through the air to bury the blade in the sentry’s throat.
Kane slipped into the foyer, right behind Javier, allowing the sentry to catch a brief glimpse of him, just enough to distract him from the real threat. As Javier threw the knife, a second guard emerged from a room just to their left. Kane was on him, one hand muffling sound as the other delivered the killing blow with the blade. He shoved the body back in the room, and Javier added the second one. Neither bothered to do anything about the blood spatter. There was old blood on the floors and walls, some very recent, as if the apartments were used to violence.
We’re in, it’s a go, Kane said as he and Javier started up the stairs, taking care to feel each individual step for sound before they placed their feet.
Mack signaled Ethan, and Ethan slipped over the side of the building, making his way to the window, leaving behind the stars for Mack to use. There were no ropes, and no one would ever think they could climb up or down the two-story structure.
Guard on the balcony, Mack, Ethan cautioned suddenly. I can smell his cigarette smoke.
Rose stepped out of her apartment to get a better look. She could see the guard on the balcony clearly; he was smoking a cigarette and staring down at the street. It took her a long time, even with her night vision, to spot the man clinging like a spider to the side of the building. Her heart leapt.
He’s directly in line with you. All he has to do is look up once he turns.
There was a moment of silence as each member of the team realized Rose had tapped into their communication through Kane.
Talk to us, Mack made the decision, trusting Kane’s judgment that she was on their side.
Ethan moved with infinite slowness, inch by slow inch, turning upside down right there on the side of the building. He hung with his head down, clinging to the side with his toes and one hand while he, with that same agonizing slowness, took his knife from between his teeth, transferring it to his one free hand. There in the dark he looked like a giant spider, looming over unsuspecting prey.
Mack had already started down the stars Ethan had lodged in the building, retrieving them as he descended. Now he hovered above Ethan, a dark shadow completely motionless, just waiting.
Rose kept her gaze glued on the guard. He used his fingertips to crush the glowing tip and snapped it over the narrow balcony to the street below. He’s turning.
I’ve got him now, Ethan reassured, his voice absolutely calm.
Rose watched, one hand protectively over her baby and the other around the hilt of her knife. They wanted silence. She couldn’t use a gun, but ...
The guard turned and took a step, a single fatal step. He never saw Ethan as he dropped down just like a spider, driving the point of his knife deep. He kept his grip on the guard, easing him to the balcony floor in silence. Mack joined him, shoving the throwing stars into the loops on his inside vest. Ethan stepped back, and Mack took the lead.
The balcony door was open. Inside the room, the television blared loudly. Two chairs, back to back, held the woman and a little girl of ten. They were tied, hands and feet. Both had gags in their mouths. The little girl’s head swung toward them as they stepped silently into the room. Her eyes went wide with shock when she realized the shadows were large men coming out of the night at her. The mother didn’t move, her head hanging as if she wasn’t conscious.
Mack put a finger to his lips and shook his head. The little girl froze. There were tears swimming in her eyes. Ethan crossed to the mother, crouching down beside her. Both eyes were swollen closed. She had cuts on her mouth and chin and bruising around her neck. Her dress was torn in several places, and there was evidence of bruising beneath the garment.
Ethan swore under his breath as he cut the ropes. Her hands were nearly purple. She was barefoot, and both feet were cut and bruised as well as swollen.
She’s in bad shape. I’m going to have to carry her.
That was bad news. Mack was going to have the child, and with the woman needing a ride as well, that put both men in a more vulnerable position. But they were prepared.
We’ll move in ten, Kane announced calmly.
Roger that. Mack cut the child free and lifted her into his arms, soothing her in Spanish. “Your uncle sent us to get you and your mother out of here. We have to be very quiet.”
The child frowned and put her mouth next to Mack’s ear. “What about my little brother?”
Mack stiffened. No one had said anything about a brother. “Where’s your brother, sweetie?”
“They took him away.”
We have a complication. There’s another child. A boy. “How old is he?”
She muffled her cough against his shirt. “Five.”
Kane, the moment we hit the ground running, drop back with Javier and find that boy.
Javier lay at the top of the stairs, his body stretched out on the floor. A low light illuminated the end of the hall and cast shadows down the corridor. A guard sat in front of the door to the third apartment. He had his chair tipped back and his legs
sprawled out in front of him. His weapon was in his lap, and he appeared to be sleeping, but neither Javier nor Kane was deceived. Every few seconds he stroked his finger over the trigger as though caressing his gun.
Will do. Hold. The guard’s alert.
You want us to draw him inside?
Javier glanced at Kane and nodded just once. He eased his body down the threadbare carpet. Anyone could come out of their apartment and conceivably step on him on their way to the stairs. Both doubted anyone would be showing their face with so many armed men in the building.
Get his attention, Kane said.
Mack whispered to the little girl, and she nodded her head once. He moved her closer to the door. “Be brave, sweetheart.”
She swallowed hard, closed her eyes, and pressed herself tight into Mack. “Mommy. Mommy, wake up. Hurry.”
Her voice was scared, hushed, perfect for their needs. Mack positioned himself on one side of the door, and Ethan went to the other. Mack pushed the little girl behind his solid body.
The guard’s head came up alertly. As he stood, he looked right at Kane, who was pressed against the wall, deep in the shadow. The chair came down with a thud inches from Javier’s outstretched fingers. Javier never so much as winced. The guard’s boots were old and worn, thin in places, and Javier just barely missed getting stepped on as the man swung around to face the door, his finger still on the trigger as the other hand twisted the doorknob.
Javier rolled out of the way as Kane moved into position behind the man. The guard kicked the door open and took a step. Kane slammed the knife home with one hand and jerked the weapon with the other, preventing him from firing. Mack whirled around and covered the little girl’s eyes.
“Keep your head down. Stay tight against me. We’re taking you home,” he whispered. “You have to stay very quiet.” He dragged the protective vest from his pack and quickly dressed her in it before lifting her. He waited for Ethan to put the unconscious woman in a vest as well and shift her into a fireman’s carry. They were both vulnerable, packing the hostages out into enemy territory.
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