Lethal Game (GhostWalkers 16)

Agony blasted through his body. His leg felt as if it had shattered. The pain was so severe, his stomach rebelled, bile rising fast. He fought it down. There was no way he could put that foot on the floor, not yet, not when the explosion of pain was so blinding. He breathed deeply and forced his mind to control his body. He felt Owen the second’s eyes on him and knew he had to put his foot on the floor, or the soldier would discover his weakness.

He backed farther into the room, knowing he had to get rid of Owen the second so he could aid Amaryllis. He palmed the knife he kept in his boot and sent a small, silent apology to Marie that her floor was going to be one hell of a mess. He kept the blade hidden along his wrist and the handle in his fist, where it was unseen. Deliberately, he backed away from his opponent, seemingly stumbled, and instantly the supersoldier was on him, his massive fists coming straight at Malichai’s face. Getting hit wasn’t an option. One punch and he was going down.

Malichai slipped under the punch and slammed the blade of his knife deep into Owen the second’s armpit. It was one of the few areas he knew wasn’t protected by armor on Whitney’s supersoldiers. He twisted the knife as he brought it out and leapt back as blood sprayed across the room.

Owen the second howled, a long wail of obscenities, and then he rushed Malichai, furious, determined to kill him. He had the original Owen’s temper, and it showed. There was fury in his eyes, so much so the eyes glowed a deep red, making him appear diabolical. His big fists punched the air several times around Malichai’s head. Once his left hand punched the wall, driving a hole the size of a grapefruit into the wood. Blood spurted from his knuckles and from under his armpit, but he didn’t seem to notice.

Malichai kept moving in a loose circle, forcing Owen the second to turn continually with him like a dancer. All the while Malichai waited for another opening. It took patience. He had to block out all thoughts of Amaryllis and what was happening with her, of Marie’s guests returning, or of Cayenne and the babies in the basement. He had to think only of his opponent and wait for that one chance to bring him down. He knew Gino was working with that same patience to be able to kill Owen the first.

“What the hell is going on here?” Billy Leven’s voice cut in. “Malichai, do you want me to call the police?”

“Stay back,” Malichai said, inwardly cursing. The last thing he wanted was for Billy to see Gino fighting with him, or either of them using GhostWalker enhancements, which they were going to need in order to defeat Owen Starks and his clones.

“Amaryllis.” Billy almost breathed her name, shocked that anyone would try to punch her, especially a man who appeared to be twice her size.

“Don’t get near him, Billy,” Amaryllis warned.

Malichai ducked under Owen the second’s attack and plunged his knife into the supersoldier’s right armpit, again twisting the blade as he brought it out. Blood pumped out with each ragged breath and rushing step the clone took. The walls looked as if an artist had gone a little crazy painting dark red stripes everywhere. Owen the second shuddered and then abruptly sat on the floor, rocking back and forth.

Malichai left him there, rushed past Gino, who was essentially using the same strategy on Owen the first that he’d employed on Owen the second, but the first supersoldier appeared to be a little faster and definitely smarter than the one Malichai had to deal with.

Billy came up behind Owen and pulled his gun, using a two-fisted stance. “Stop right there. If you don’t, I’ll shoot you.” The warning was real. There was no doubt that he would do exactly what he said.

Malichai dove to bring him down, to get him out of harm’s way. Owen was on Billy before Malichai, slamming him to the floor, taking the blast in his chest, his armor absorbing the bullet. He grabbed the gun and turned it on Billy as Malichai landed on Owen. Malichai caught Owen’s big head in his hands and tried to wrench it.

“Owen, don’t!” Amaryllis cried out.

Owen actually shifted his gaze to her, smiling, as he pulled the trigger. He never seemed to notice Malichai using his enhanced strength to try to wrench his neck. Billy’s chest exploded into blood and mangled flesh. Owen dropped the gun on the floor right into the pool of blood, all the while looking at Amaryllis. Billy fell back, his gaze on the two combatants as Owen punched Malichai’s injured leg repeatedly in an effort to dislodge him.