Deadly Game (GhostWalkers 5)

Her color deepened, turning an interesting shade of crimson. "Oral sex."

His eyebrow shot up. She looked innocent and almost shy, so much so that he couldn't help but bend down to kiss her. "Oral sex? Is that what you thought that was?" He rubbed the scar splitting his lip with the pad of his thumb. "I don't think so, honey. That was more like gobbling you up. Eating you alive. And just talking about it is making me hard all over again."

The color spread through her body. "Well, regardless, no one's ever done that."

The smile on his face faded. "Never?"

She shook her head.

He scowled at her. "What the hell did this idiot Brett do to prepare you?"

"He didn't care if my body accepted his or not. He used a lubricant for his own convenience, not mine."

Ken swore out loud. "Someone needs to tear his heart out."

A small smile curved her mouth. "Jack likes to shoot people. Maybe we just ought to introduce them."

Ken slid off the bed, pulling up his jeans before finding a cloth. Dipping it in water, he carefully washed her body, deliberately stroking caresses between her legs. "What other things have you managed to miss?"

"Why? I shouldn't have told you that."

"If I don't know what you've missed, I won't know all the things I get to introduce you to." He dried her body with careful strokes.

"I've never celebrated a birthday or holiday."

"When do you get presents?"

She laughed. "What kind of presents? Sean gave me a knife once, but he took it back when I was put in the breeding program. I think they were afraid I'd remove certain portions of Brett's anatomy."

It bothered him. Okay--it bothered him a lot--that she didn't have holidays and fireplaces and presents. At the worst home he'd been in, they still celebrated birthdays. "When is your birthday?"

Once again her gaze slid from his, and she shrugged with exaggerated casualness. "I have no idea. Whitney found me in an orphanage somewhere and he didn't exactly think that date was important, so why would you think he'd celebrate our birthdays?"

Ken's belly knotted up again, but he kept his voice and face expressionless. He cupped her face and leaned in for another heart-stopping kiss. The woman tasted like honey and exotic spice, so addicting he thought about just kissing her until neither of them knew their own names anymore. "He's a scientist. Isn't the age of his guinea pigs important? Let's break into his files and get the information. I'll bet he has it."

She laughed. Really laughed. The sound was very soft, but it made him want to smile. He pulled a chain from around his neck. Made of braided gold, it held a small golden cross. He slipped it over her head, lifting her hair out of the way so that the chain slid along the back of her neck and the medal nestled between her breasts.

"Your first present, one of many. I'm not very religious, but I always like to keep my options open. It will keep you safe when I'm not right beside you."

She inhaled sharply and blinked hard several times.

Ken touched her long lashes and found them wet. She suddenly looked sad, shadows replacing the laughter in her eyes. "Presents are supposed to make you happy. I don't think you're getting the concept here."

Mari slid her arms around his neck. "Surprisingly, this has been the best day of my life. Thank you." She lifted her mouth for his kiss, her fingers gliding over his neck. She struck hard and fast, finding the pressure point with little problem and, using her enhanced strength, digging deep. She could never have done it if she hadn't caught him completely by surprise, but he succumbed, slipping into a black void, slumping to the bed and then sliding to the floor.

CHAPTER 11

Mari jumped off the bed, crouching down to check Ken's pulse. The whisper of warning buzzed in her head like the distant sound of bees. They were here. They'd found her, and if she didn't act fast, they'd kill Ken, Jack, Logan, and Ryland. Lily would be taken prisoner.

She took a deep breath and opened her mind to the team leader. Pull back. There are civilians and innocents here. This team was protecting the senator, not there to assassinate him. Until we know how the wires got crossed, we can't risk killing innocents. She prayed Sean listened to her. She was not going to be responsible for bloodshed, and no one was going to hurt Ken Norton, not if she could help it. If he was conscious, he'd fight to the death to keep her; she knew that much about him.

She had to keep Sean and her team away from this room and away from the others. But how? She had only seconds before someone triggered an alarm or set off one of the other GhostWalker's highly tuned senses. Quickly pulling on a pair of jeans, she laid her hand on the wall as she leaned against the door to listen, hoping to hear if Jack Norton had already been alerted to the danger descending on them.

Silence. Complete and utter silence. That made no sense. She caught the whiff of a peculiar odor, faint, but disgusting, much like rotten eggs. Cautiously, Mari pushed open the door. Bodies were strewn all over the floor. Her heart nearly stopped beating. This couldn't be happening. Were they all dead? Jack, Ken's brother? Ken would go berserk and hunt down every single member of her team and execute them.

What have you done, Sean? My God, the woman is pregnant. You killed them all? She tasted fear and anger. Tears burned her eyes and clogged her throat. She inhaled sharply and knew the smell was a mixture of gases.

What are you talking about?

She could hear a soft hiss as the gas entered through a pipe in the wall. Her heart nearly stopped beating and she ran to the windows, forcing several open before she caught Lily's arm and dragged her into the room with Ken before rushing back for Jack.

Stop the gas, goddammit. I mean it, Sean, stop the fucking gas.

Gas? I didn't--His voice broke off then resumed sharply. Get the hell out of there now. That's an order, Mari.

She ignored the coordinates of the rendezvous point he sent her, and dragged Jack's limp body into the room with Ken and Lily. Ryland was next and then Logan. As soon as she had all of them in the small medical room, she shut the door and sealed the crack using towels and clothing, anything she could find.

Tears streamed down her face, from the gas or because she was so afraid for them all, she wasn't certain, but it blurred her vision. She put a wet cloth on the back of Ken's neck in the hopes of bringing him around faster.

Damn it, Mari, we can't get farther into the building without raising the alarm. You're supposed to be making your way toward us. Get moving fast.

She put an oxygen mask on Lily. If you didn't do this, who did?

Sean swore at her, a long burst of eloquent and dirty curses. Haul your ass out of there, soldier.

I'm not leaving them to die.

We had nothing to do with killing anyone. Sean's voice changed, dropped an octave, held a low plea. Whitney has someone there on the inside. We came to get you out, but he wanted us to kill them all and pull out his daughter, Lily. The orders came through as we were entering the compound. I pretended to be out of range, but he has someone inside supposedly helping us.

Mari crouched down beside Ken again and shook him, wiping his face with a cold cloth to bring him around. He was limp and completely out one moment, and the next he exploded into action, swinging a fist, connecting with the side of her face as she tried to scramble out of the way. She fell back, one hand stretched out in placation. "Stop! Stop, Ken. We're in trouble."

Ken's head was pounding, his vision swimming. He shook his head, saw Mari, clutching her jaw. Realizing what he'd done, he scrambled to his knees and reached for her, catching her face between his hands, his thumb sliding over the bright red spot. "My God, Mari, I could have killed you."

"I didn't have time to stand across the room. Someone is trying to kill them. The room next door is filled with gas and I'm afraid someone is going to toss a match. You have to help me get everyone out of here now. Hurry--we don't have much time."

The headache would last a long time, but his vision was clearing. He didn't reprimand her for kn

ocking him out, or ask questions. He shrugged out of his shirt and handed it to her, hurrying first to Jack.

Mari was a little shocked by the fact that he'd choose his brother over Lily, by the gentle way he lifted Jack onto his back and took him to the window. Mari scrambled out and held out her arms. Ken passed Jack's body to her. With the clean air, he was already beginning to stir, and she hurried to put him some distance from the building before she ran back. She didn't want Jack waking up and attacking her.

Mari! Sean's voice sounded insistent and worried. I'm coming in after you. The others will cover me.

No! Give me two minutes, Sean. I can't let them die. I don't know why anyone would order them killed, but that's not what we do and you know it. If Whitney wants to commit murder, he can send his goons.

She ran with Lily's limp body in her arms, to lay her beside Jack. He was already sitting up, squeezing the back of his neck, coughing and looking around him. She put a hand on his shoulder. "Conserve your strength; you're going to have to run in another minute."

She had to get away before anyone suspected her team was nearby. If Ken or Jack suspected the men were there, they'd blame her guys for the attack. And if one of their friends died, every member of her team would be living under a death sentence. She knew what men like Ken and Jack were capable of. She knew they would keep coming until their sense of justice was satisfied. She went back to the window and pulled Logan out, dragging him as far as she could.

I told you, they have someone on the inside. He's going to blow the place. You're out of time. We're holding them off to get you clear, but they're balking.

Mari's heart thudded. Jack was stumbling toward the building to help with Ryland, but Ken hadn't come out. Ken! What are you doing? They're going to blow the building.

Jack had Ryland slung over his shoulder, his face set in grim lines. Ken was talking to him, she was certain. Ken knew they were going to blow the building and he'd told his brother to run. Jack jerked Logan to his feet, yelled something to him and reached for Lily. "Come on, Mari! We have to go now."

"What's Ken doing?"

"There are other people working in the building. He's setting off the alarms." Jack was already running as he gave her the information, Ryland across his back. Logan stumbled after him with Lily in his arms.

Mari hesitated, torn between running to join her team and getting them all away safely, or going after Ken. Ken won. She dove back into the building, landing in a roll and getting up on her feet, sprinting through the room to the hall. She heard shouting and the sound of people running. Lab techs and researchers hurried to get outside. She couldn't see Ken anywhere, and she started down the hall, ignoring a man who caught at her shirt and tried to tug her toward a door.

The shriek of a siren cut through the air, a loud alarm that drove the tension up significantly. Doors opened and more people spilled into the hall, rushing toward the nearest exit. Ken! Where are you? What if he was still groggy and he'd passed out? What if Whitney's man on the inside had already found him and stuck a knife in his back? For a moment she couldn't breathe, utter terror consuming her, the sensation one she'd never known before.

Mari, are you clear? Get the hell out of the building. Where are you? Ken's voice penetrated her mind.

Relief was instantaneous, sweeping through her so that for a moment her legs went rubbery. She leaned against the wall for support, feeling sick, her fist closing around the cross Ken had given her, holding it tightly, as if she could thus somehow keep him close to her.

"Mari!" Sean's voice startled her. She turned to see him running toward her, gesturing toward the exit a few yards ahead of her. "Run."

She whirled around and ran right into someone, bounced off and slid to the floor. Sean reached her. Without breaking stride, he grabbed her by the shirt and yanked her after him. "Run! Come on, Mari, run."

They sprinted for the exit, using blurring enhanced speed, diving out the door and racing across the ground. She knew she was on the opposite side of the laboratory from the other GhostWalker team. She still didn't know where Ken was, but her people were covering them and anyone trying to stop them was going to be shot. She had to go back with them to the compound. No matter what, she had to go. It was the only way to protect her sisters--and Ken. Nothing could happen to Ken.

She kept pace beside Sean, staying to the hedges for as much cover as possible. Sean handed her a gun as they ran, signaling her to go up and over the security fence. She shoved the gun in the waistband of her jeans and leapt to catch the top of the high fence, flip over, and drop to the other side.

Ken would try to follow them. The moment he knew they were gone, he would come after her. And he'd remember that she'd knocked him out. Ken Norton wasn't a man to forget such things. Her breath came out in a little sob, and Sean shot her a sharp glance and fell back to protect her.

The blast was thunderous, debris shooting up and out as the building exploded. The fence burst outward toward them. The concussion blew both of them into the air and sent them flying across a small open expanse of grass to land hard on the ground. The air left her lungs in one awful rush, leaving Mari gasping and wheezing.

Sean crawled to her side. "Can you move? We've got to keep going."

She nodded. Everything hurt. She couldn't hear very well, but it didn't matter. She had to get out of there and she had to get out fast. She climbed unsteadily to her feet, using Sean as a crutch. Her arm was bleeding.

Instead of running, Sean retained his hold on her, inspecting her for damage. He took in the bruises on her wrists and face, the marks on her neck, and the too-big pair of jeans. He stepped closer and inhaled. "Some son of a bitch fucked you. I can smell his stench all over you," he snarled.

It was the last thing she'd expected him to say. "What? No sympathy? No how did they treat you? No wow, you were shot, it's a miracle you're alive?" Mari scowled at him. "Nice of you to get so upset on my behalf, Sean. Too bad you don't feel the same way when Brett comes to my room and you let him in. You're a hypocrite."

"That's bullshit. It isn't the same."

"Why? Because you didn't get to have your usual vicarious experience? What do you do? Stand there and listen while he beats the crap out of me and then gets what he wants? Don't pretend to get all bent because some man touched me. You give the key to Brett whenever he gets a little horny."

"I do my job. You're in a special program. Get pregnant and the visits will stop. I know you're doing something to prevent it. Whitney knows your cycle. You should be knocked up by now, and then he wouldn't let Brett near you again."

Sean slapped her across the face. Without hesitation, Mari punched him hard, turning into it, pushing off with her right foot to use every bit of strength she possessed. Sean dropped like a stone when her fist smashed into his cheekbone. Simultaneously, a bullet whined just over him, right where his head had been.

Don't you dare shoot him, Ken. She should have known the man would never let anyone walk away with her. I have to go back.

Bullshit.

She detested the implacable resolve in his voice--in his mind. You know the way you feel about Jack? That's the way I feel about my sisters. I'm not taking a chance with their lives. So you're not shooting him.

Sean climbed unsteadily to his feet. Mari didn't back up or even flinch, staring him straight in the eye. "I can see you're very torn up about my appearance. The gunshot wound, the broken leg and hand, and by the way, Zenith kills if it's in your system too long--but maybe you knew that already. I died and had to be revived."

"Zenith saved your life." Sean rubbed his face, glaring at her. He inhaled her scent and scowled, still obviously furious over the idea that she'd been with a man. "Some man treated you like a camp whore and you're thinking you might give birth to his baby? No chance, Mari. When you get back, you're going to make damn sure you're not pregnant."

"How do you know how he treated me, Sean? Maybe I jumped him. You just never know with me. After Brett, a monkey might loo

k good."

"I've known you for years, Mari. Why do you think I stay in that hellhole and put up with Whitney's insanity?"

"Because you care? Is that what you're going to say? Save it. You pimp me out to that jerk and then have the gall to pretend we're still friends. No thanks, Sean. You killed that a long time ago. You've been brainwashed by Whitney's 'take one for the good of mankind' speech, but you know, it seems I'm always the one taking it, not you." She stepped close to him, her fingers balled into two tight fists. "And if you ever hit me again, you'd better make damn certain I can't ever get up, because I'll kill you."

She turned away from him and began to jog toward the tree-line, head up, shaking with fury. Sean had been her friend, someone she cared a great deal about. Whatever had gotten into him sickened her. Her vision blurred and she stumbled, realized she was crying, and wiped the tears with the back of her hand.

Ken. Can you hear me? She reached out to him, needing someone. She never needed anyone, but she was shaken and angry and terrified that something could have happened to him.

Sean fell into step with her, sneaking quick, hard glances at her, but she refused to acknowledge him.

I hear you and I've got a rifle trained on your friend, Mari.

She heard the sound of her heart pounding in her ears. Her hand went once again to the cross nestled between her breasts. "Sean. You ever hear of a couple of snipers named Norton?"

"Hell yes. Everyone's heard of them."

"One of them has you in his scope right now. He nearly killed you before. Didn't you hear the bullet when you hit the ground?" You can't shoot him, Ken. If you do that, how are you going to follow me back to the compound?

I'm feeling a little mean right about now, Mari.

Sean's breath sounded like one long wheeze. He looked wildly around. "Are you certain, Mari?"

I suppose you have reason to feel that way, she conceded to Ken. I had to think of something to keep everyone from getting killed, and after all, you did it to me first. I was saving your life, just like you saved mine.

Is that what you call it?

"Oh, yeah. I'm certain," she told Sean. That's what you called it, she reminded Ken. And just so you know, I didn't know about the gas or the building blowing up at the time. It wasn't my team. Someone on the inside working for Whitney did all that.