Lethal Game (GhostWalkers 16)

“We have a few regulars who come in during the season for us. I know them. They’ll be there daily to clean rooms and help in the kitchen. They’ve been coming in for the last month.”

Ezekiel nodded as he parked the car in her reserved space. “I’m going to help you walk if you think you can. If not, we’re going in the back way and I can carry you.”

“I just need fluids and a little rest, and I’ll be fine. My body feels like sandpaper,” Amaryllis admitted. She had a whopper of a headache, which came with dehydration, but she didn’t tell him. She sent him a small grin. “We can test the theory that I can walk.”

“My wife is going to love you,” he stated and reached in to help her off the seat. “She looks like this little fragile pixie, but she’s tough as nails.”

Amaryllis heard the love in his voice and somehow, that made her like him even more. She especially liked that he looked after Malichai, and he didn’t hide the fact that his brothers meant everything to him. Now she could see that same protection and love extended to his wife—and would be to her.

Her legs nearly buckled, and she had to hold on to him. Craig Williams stood a few feet from them beside a smooth little Mazda, and when he saw her nearly go down, he rushed over.

“What can I do to help? Should I call an ambulance?” He looked genuinely upset, although clearly curiosity was eating him up.

The van carrying Malichai pulled up to the back door of the bed-and-breakfast and Craig swiveled around, watching as several GhostWalkers exited the vehicle. One opened the back doors and reached in. Amaryllis held her breath. She hadn’t wanted to leave Malichai, but she didn’t have a choice. Now she stared into the van, her heart beating overtime.

The two men, twins it appeared, pulled out the gurney as if they knew exactly what they were doing. They were strong too. Malichai was a big man and heavy with muscle, but they handled the gurney as if it was an easy task. Blood and fluids were still going into Malichai as they carried him toward the back door. They moved fast, as if they did this sort of thing all the time.

Mordichai leapt from the front seat and rushed to open the door. Craig stared after them, his mouth wide open, and then he turned back to Amaryllis. Ezekiel lifted her into his arms and carried her right around the man to follow Malichai and the others inside. Craig abruptly closed his mouth and hurried after them.

Marie came halfway down the hall, saw Malichai on the gurney and, without a single word, led the way to his room, unlocking the door quickly to allow them in.

“Ma’am,” one of the SEALs said as he moved past her with the gurney. “I’m Jack Norton. Thanks for helping us out.”

“Ken, ma’am,” his twin introduced himself as they gently placed Malichai in his bed and hung the equipment as high as possible on the bedpost. He was the more scarred of the two. He had very symmetrical scarring down his face and neck. Every bit of exposed skin showed those scars. “He’ll be fine. Just wanted a little sympathy from his girl and went a little too far. Navy won this round.” He winked at Marie.

Amaryllis thought he was one of the most charming men she’d ever been around. Once he started talking, it was easy to see past the scars to the man.

Marie fussed with Malichai’s pillow before looking up at Amaryllis. “Are you certain he’s going to be all right?”

“It’s his leg,” Amaryllis assured her. “He reinjured it, but with a little rest, he’ll be fine. There’s a little thing in the parking lot, with my car, their cars, whatever. Too many cars, you know how it goes, and not enough parking spaces. Do you think you could go with Ezekiel and straighten it out for me? Zeke is Malichai’s older brother.” She wanted to give Ezekiel his time alone with Marie.

She hoped if anyone was listening in, it would make sense that, even though Amaryllis was engaged to Malichai, his family weren’t frequent visitors to San Diego.

“Of course,” Marie said readily, clearly happy to do something to help out.

Ezekiel was all charm, taking the van keys from the Navy men and then gently putting his hand on Marie’s back as he escorted her past Craig, who lingered in the hallway, staring into the room. Mordichai reached over and closed the door without looking at the man.

The moment the door was closed, Rubin shoved a bottle of water into Amaryllis’s hand. “You need to drink that.” He leaned back in the armchair and downed just about an entire bottle of water.