Lightning Game (GhostWalkers 17)

The toe of a boot smacked him hard in the shin, and he jerked his head up to glare at his brother, who just looked smug.

Woman, you are dangerous. Rubin brushed another kiss on top of her head.

I hate to break this to you, pixie, Diego said, sounding as smug as he looked, but you’re the exact same height as Bellisia.

The boat began to slow as they came up on their destination. Rubin thought it was a good thing as Jonquille drew herself up, her body almost glowing—never a good sign with her. Even her hair glowed and stood out a little from her head. Rubin knew Diego was deliberately teasing her, keeping her from thinking about the things Ezekiel had said about what might happen to GhostWalkers who decided to go against their code of honor. That, and Diego had accepted her as a sister. As his family. He treated her with affection. He meant what he’d said about not losing her for any reason.

Two men waited on the dock. Thirty yards. Tall cypress straight ahead. Sniper, Rubin reported, all business.

Rooftop on taller of the three buildings, sniper, Diego added.

We’ve got eyes on them, Ezekiel assured.

The second boat was nowhere in sight. The team leader, Joe Spagnola, Wyatt Fontenot, Draden Freeman and his wife, Shylah, as well as Trap Dawkins and his wife, Cayenne, had all completely disappeared. Rubin knew they had already made their way around to the other side of the island, shrouding their boat in mist, muting the sound so it would be impossible to detect them as they invaded. Already they would be moving through the woods to protect their fellow GhostWalkers.

Ezekiel and Mordichai exited the boat first, and the two men greeting them saluted instantly, going ramrod stiff when they were introduced. Zeke was no one to mess around with, and it showed when he wanted it to. He was making them aware of his rank in order to take any attention off Rubin, which Rubin detested. Still, he sat quietly, waiting for his turn to get off, watching Malichai manage to step from the boat to the pier with an easy, practiced grace. Rubin knew what that cost him. He knew how hard Malichai worked to make that transition happen.

Diego stood, his body blocking both Jonquille’s and Rubin’s from the line of the sniper in the cypress tree as well as forcing the one on the roof to switch to a different angle if he was trying for either of them. Rubin cursed under his breath, something he rarely did. Jonquille’s hand moved in his.

You have to let him have this, Rubin. Gift it to him. He needs it.

Her voice blew through the fierce anger building in his mind like a breath of fresh air. He pressed her hand to his chest over his heart. I need him to be safe.

You have to look at him. Really look at him without seeing yourself. He’s barely holding on. You’re seeing what you want to see in him, not what he actually is. You see charming and easygoing. You see that he’s fine. Look at him, Rubin, with your eyes and mind open. Don’t be afraid to—I’m right here with you.

Rubin almost pulled away from Jonquille. He didn’t like what she’d said and wanted to deny every word. Her voice was very matter-of-fact, very calm. Her hand was steady in his, just the way her mind remained. Taking a breath, he forced himself to really go over what she asked of him. Had he been afraid to really look deeply at his brother? Was she right about that? He had never been afraid to confront anything in his life. He’d met every problem without flinching. But his brother … Diego …

What had Jonquille asked of him? You have to let him have this, Rubin. Gift it to him. He needs it. She had seen a terrible need in his brother that he had refused to see. She had seen something in his brother he had known all along but had been so terrified of that he had deliberately turned away from it, finding every excuse not to examine it too closely.

Rubin knew Jonquille was right. Diego needed to protect him. Now he had to protect Jonquille as well. He needed her almost as much as Rubin did.

“Let’s go,” Diego said. “I’ll lead to the pier and then step aside. Gino will help you out of the boat on that side, Jonquille. Rubin on this side. Let them. Don’t give them any guff about your abilities.”

“I don’t suppose Bellisia needed …” She broke off and looked around. Bellisia was nowhere to be seen. She wasn’t in the boat, and she wasn’t on the pier.

She’s in the water. She’ll guard the boat. Nothing will get by her in the water, Rubin advised.