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 steadily. “I would protect you with my life, even from yourself, Sam. If this man is betraying you . . .”
“That man is the only father I’ve known.”
“Whitney is the only father Lily has ever known,” she pointed out, refusing to flinch or hedge the truth. “I hope your father is everything you believe him to be, but, Sam, there have been little indications over the course of our investigation that’ve pointed toward him working with Whitney.”
“You investigated the general? Do you have any idea who he really is? What he’s given to this country?” Sam demanded.
“Sam, that really isn’t the point, is it?” She kept very calm on the outside, but inside, for the first time, she was aware she had a great deal to lose. “You know I’m after Whitney and I’m attempting to cut his ties to legitimacy—especially the military. What would you want done if you find he’s betraying not only you but your entire team?”
“You’re telling me that if Daiki or Eiji was betraying you, you’d want me to kill them?”
“I would hope you would want to spare me that great sorrow,” she admitted.
Sam opened his mouth to speak, but closed it, slowly letting go of her arms, as if he was only just aware he was gripping her tightly. “I don’t want to think he’s capable of betraying the men in his command,” he admitted reluctantly. “I shouldn’t be taking out my anger on you. I do believe in him, but once in a while, some little thing will cause me to doubt him and then I get angry at myself. It isn’t you, Azami.”
She put her arms around him and held him for a brief moment. “I know that.”
He dropped a kiss on top of her head. “We’ve got to hustle.”
“Then go, I’m right behind you.” Relief was overwhelming. Their first argument and he hadn’t told her to get out of his life.
She was still that white-haired child expecting to be thrown away. Her father had always told her that her past would haunt her and she’d have to fight it. The past shaped the future. How many times had he said that to her? She hoped it didn’t shame him that she still needed reassurance she was worth something.
She sprinted behind Sam, moving faster now, mapping the tunnel automatically should she ever need to use it. The ground sloped downward, but gently, so that it was easy enough to run. The curving walls were thick and made of concrete and steel. Lily had spared no expense in the building of escape routes.
The tunnel came out at the main house, where the team had already gathered, all armed and spreading out to defend their homes.
“Helicopter approaching,” Ryland said as they entered. He didn’t even blink twice when he saw Azami armed.
“I’ll get my bow,” she said and ran for her room.
“It appears to be General Ranier, although he didn’t schedule a visit with us and always has in the past,” Ryland said, looking at Sam.
Sam shook his head. “He hasn’t contacted me.”
Azami rushed back to her room, noting the halls were empty and Lily and Daniel were gone. All computers were shut down and the building was eerily quiet in spite of the fact that ten men were ready for combat. She snatched up her bow and arrows, shouldering them along with her crossbow, and raced back to the war room.
Sam was already gone, guarding some part of the compound. “What can I do? I’m telepathic, so you can convey your orders to me as well without a radio,” she told Ryland.
“You’re a respected guest in this house.”
“I’m a GhostWalker,” she said. “And Sam’s woman. Let me help. I’m better outside than in.” For the first time she actually felt as if she did belong and she was ready to fight for that right.
“Take the east side of the roof. I’ll let the others know you’ll be there.”
Azami didn’t wait to see if he changed his mind, she sprinted for the roof. She simply poured herself into Sam’s mind and she could hear Ryland giving orders and relaying the fact that she would be defending the property with them.
Helicopter landed.
That was the one they called Nico.
General Ranier and the pilot only. No one else in sight. He’s come in without even his aide. No gunners. He’s alone, Rye.
Kadan, escort him in. Nico, keep an eye on the pilot.
Azami made her way to the roof in spite of the fact that everything looked as if it was all right. She wanted to see the layout of the compound and how much cover was available. Clearly even the roof had been built with combat in mind. There were numerous places for a soldier to stay in cover yet defend the roof and grounds around him. She could see the helicopter on the helicopter pad several yards from the main grounds. Kadan was running beside the man she’d only seen in pictures. General Ranier. She really hoped he was as good a man as Sam believed.
All clear. Assemble in the war room. Nico, keep your eye on the pilot.
The command came several minutes after the general disappeared into the house. Azami wasn’t certain if she was included in the command, but she made her way to the war room. If they threw her out, she’d find another way to listen in. Daiki had planted a tiny camera and transmitter when they’d first been shown around the building. The cameras enabled her to move around without fear of getting hurt when she teleported. She didn’t need them for most of the rooms, she had the coordinates in her mind now, but they hadn’t yet retrieved their equipment, although two of the cameras had been found by the GhostWalkers.
She entered the room in the samurai way, quietly but with absolute confidence. The general glanced up, frowned, and turned to Ryland.
“This is Azami Yoshiie. She’s a GhostWalker, sir,” Ryland said. “She’s one of us.”
“And engaged to me,” Sam added. “We’re going to marry as soon as it can be arranged.”
The general looked as if Sam had hit him with a two-by-four. “What the hell are you talking about? We’re in a big enough mess without you losing your mind, boy.”
“I’m a man, sir,” Sam corrected. “I grew up a long time ago. Azami and I want to get married soon. I thought you should know. She’ll be an asset to us. She’s a skilled fighter.”
“She owns one of the biggest satellite companies in the world,” Ranier corrected. “She’s corporate, not one of us.” He sounded brusque, bordering on rude.
Azami continued to watch him, her demeanor demure and serene. It mattered little to her what he said about her, only what he had come to do here. His visit was obviously unusual. The men, although they knew him and had settled into seats around the table, were still very much on alert, ready for anything.
“Sir, what brings you out to our compound?” Ryland asked.
The general glared at Sam for a few more minutes before he sighed. “It’s classified. You know I can’t discuss it in front of a civilian.”
Sam opened his mouth to protest, but Azami inclined her head and left the room immediately. There was no point in arguing. She put on a burst of speed and made it back to her
room, quickly turning on the small video screen to watch what transpired.
The general pulled a sheaf of papers from his jacket. “This is why I came.” His voice was grim as he tossed the papers down in front of Ryland.
Ryland picked them up slowly, scanned them quickly, and passed them to Kadan. “I pick my own team on any mission, General. You know that.”
Azami was surprised Ryland could keep suspicion from his voice. Her heart sank for Sam. The orders had come down to go to the Congo, she was certain of it, and from what Ryland had just said, the general had specified Sam go, just as she’d predicted. Her heart might ache for Sam, but her determination to protect him didn’t falter.
“Exactly.” The general roared the word. “Why do you think I’m here? I tried to follow this order up the chain, but suddenly, no one is talking. I can see taking a team into the Congo and destroying vehicles and artillery as well as taking out the present leader, that idiot who calls himself General Armine, and the one fighting him for the rebel force, Eudes Ekabela’s brother, Ezekial. Both have got to go if the president in that country is ever going to stabilize it.”
“They want both men taken out?” Ryland asked.
The general nodded. “They want this genocide stopped there, and the ragtag army of rebels just seems to smash and run. They’re good at disappearing. They’re keeping the UN from delivering food to the people who need it most, although, if you ask me, the rebels also are holding the diamond mines hostage and the president wants them back, which is probably more of a motivating factor for him asking for help.”
“And the bit about retrieval?” Ryland asked.
“Ekabela has a package he’s protecting—a large diamond. He claims he would hand it over if Armine is assassinated, giving him control of the rebels. He negotiated a time and place where you’ll meet him and retrieve the package. They want Sam to meet with him.”
Ryland let out his breath in a long hiss of disapproval. “Sam is the sniper who killed his brother, Eudes.”
The general nodded. “He shouldn’t know that. Shouldn’t have that information, but why specifically Sam, if he doesn’t know?”
“That’s a good question, sir,” Ryland said. “Nico does most of the sniper missions for us. It doesn’t make any sense that anyone would specifically ask for Sam.”
The general took another piece of paper from his inside pocket and pushed it across the table to Ryland. “That’s the name of the man I believe generated these orders. I was stonewalled everywhere I asked, but this man has been in my office, and both times, after he left, when we did the sweep for bugs, we found them. I know this sounds crazy, but I met him twice at charity events Whitney held. I think he’s an old crony of Whitney’s and they’re still in touch. I don’t know what these orders mean, but I know we’re expected to carry them out.”
Azami could see Ryland frowning over the name, but he didn’t say it aloud. There were several people she suspected of aiding Whitney and she had them under surveillance.
“Who is he?” Ryland asked.
“He works for the CIA and operates out of Kinshasa. He’s in tight with the president there, so it makes sense that the order would come from him, but I couldn’t get confirmation, which doesn’t make sense. No one keeps me out of the loop. Something doesn’t smell right, Rye.” He took a breath and avoided eye contact with Sam. “I want you to keep Sam here. I’ll take the responsibility for overruling the order.”
Relief flooded Azami. The general could have tried throwing suspicion onto someone else if he was still friends with Whitney, but he, for certain, loved his foster son.
“Sir,” Sam began.
Ryland shot him a warning glance. “That isn’t necessary, sir. Sam was wounded in the battle with the men trying to grab the Yoshiie family. He’s in no shape to go on a mission.”
The general sat back in his seat, both hands flat on the table. “You didn’t think this was information I would have wanted to know?”
“I’ve been concerned that your office may be . . .” Ryland hesitated. “Compromised,” he settled for. “Certainly someone is watching you. We didn’t want it known that Sam was injured. Had he not responded to surgery, we would certainly have sent for you.”
“Azami saved his life, sir,” Kadan added.
“The next time my boy receives so much as a scratch, you send for me,” the general hissed.
Azami found herself smiling. He couldn’t fake that. He was genuinely angry.
“So what are we going to do about this, Rye?” General Ranier asked.
“We follow orders, sir. We go to the Congo,” Ryland said.
“It’s a damned ambush,” Ranier declared. “There’s no doubt in my mind. Take a look at Ken Norton and see what those rebels do to prisoners.”
“I guess the trick will be not to get caught,” Ryland said.
The general looked as if he might argue for a moment, but instead, he turned his glare to Sam, his bushy eyebrows drawn together in a frown. “So what’s this nonsense about marriage?”
Sam grinned at his foster father, his face brightening. “I’m going to marry her fast, before she has time to think about how crazy it is to marry a soldier, sir.”
“You don’t even know the girl.”
“I know her better than most men know the woman they’ve been with for twenty years.”
Azami knew it was true. He’d been in her mind, saw her character, just as she’d seen his. It wasn’t always comfortable because as they became closer, sharing minds more, they slipped in and out without the other knowing. But, once they’d shared minds, it was impossible not to be lonely without him.
The general made a noise. “Do you have any idea how wealthy that woman is? You’re a soldier.”
Sam just smiled at him.
The general pushed himself away from the table. “I can see I’m not going to do any good trying to stop you. In any case, you need to bring her around to see your mother.” His voice was very gruff. “And you’re not to move from this compound while your team is in the Congo.” He turned to Ryland. “I want you to take your team and follow this directive to the letter. Take that rebel band down. Remove their leaders, pick up the package, take away their vehicles and their guns, and bring back every single one of your men. That’s a direct order from me. Are we understood?”
“Yes, sir,” Ryland agreed, saluting.
CHAPTER 16
“With respect, sir,” Sam said, standing, “I would like to talk to you and Ryland about this.”
Azami’s heart sank. She had known all along Sam wouldn’t stay home quietly while his fellow soldiers took his risk for him.
“We’re done here, son,” the general said and pushed back his chair.
“You would never allow a fellow teammate to go in your place and put his life on the line, possibly blow a mission. You just wouldn’t, sir. Are you really expecting me to do less? I’m a soldier first and always. These men are mine, my family, my friends, my team. You know exactly what that means.” Sam shook his head. “You know I can’t live with myself if someone takes my place and dies.”
The general suddenly looked old. “You’re all we have, Sam,” he said quietly.
“Tucker Addison is not a sacrificial lamb just because he’s not your son,” Sam pointed out. “He’s every bit as valuable to this team as I am. This one is mine. You know I have to go.”
Did he have to be so eloquent? A part of Azami was bursting with pride. She would have done exactly the same thing. He wasn’t about to allow Tucker Addison to take his place and put his life in jeopardy. Sam was a soldier. He wouldn’t hide behind a powerful foster father. She had to be honest with herself. She couldn’t have respected Sam if he hadn’t acted with honor, at least trying to state his case. She loved him all the more for his insistence, even though she was frightened for him. She had no qualms about death; it was merely a part of life. But now she had Sam to lose, and that wasn’t quite so easy to live with.
“You�
�re wounded, Sam. I can’t, in good conscience, send you out in the field.”
She knew the general was going to capitulate. He wouldn’t have even discussed the issue with Sam, he simply would have given the order firmly and left. No, he was listening and admiring Sam, understanding who and what he was, just as she was—and both of them might lose him.
“I had a couple of second-generation Zenith patches slapped on my wounds immediately and I’m nearly completely healed,” Sam continued in that same low, persuasive tone. “I’m in no way impaired and certain Lily will approve me for work. I know you received the report on the second-generation drug and have read the miracle reports on it.”
Azami’s heart jumped. That was it, the link to Whitney. All along she’d suspected Whitney had tapped into Lily’s private computer, but there was no other evidence of it other than that study on second-generation Zenith. It wasn’t Lily’s compound or computers compromised, it was the general’s. Her mind instantly connected the dots. General Ranier had gone to school with the senior Freeman, Scheffield, and Whitney. He’d been friends with all of them.
She wanted to reach out to Sam with her revelation, but she needed to wait. Ranier had gone into the military and served with distinction, moving him up the ranks fast. He was a brilliant strategist. Whitney would admire him and count on his support. Scheffield had become an advocate of diplomacy. She’d been so wrong about Whitney’s reasons for choosing Sam. Completely, utterly wrong. She’d thought it had something to do with her—with pairing them in some way, but Whitney hadn’t thought about her after he dumped her. She was garbage to him and he’d gotten rid of her. She was the one obsessed with Whitney. Whitney truly didn’t even know—or care—if she lived. As far as he was concerned, she was dead. Useless and therefore not worth thinking about.
She let her breath out slowly. There was another reason he chose Sam and that reason was in the war room. General Ranier had remained loyal to the president and his chief of staff. He hadn’t cooperated with Whitney. He hadn’t fed him information nor done his bidding to try to work behind the scenes to forward Whitney’s agenda. Peter Whitney would consider Ranier’s conduct the worst betrayal of all. The general was in charge of a team of GhostWalkers. They were highly skilled, elite men and women with special psychic gifts the rest of the world knew nothing about.
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