by Deadly Game
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 knocking 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 look 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.
I have one hell of a headache, thanks to you. Veer to the left. I like seeing him sweat. If you go left it gives me more of an opportunity to wing him.
She glanced sideways. Sean was sweating. Droplets ran down his face and his shirt had damp spots on it. You are feeling mean. You don’t need to wing him. And I’d have more sympathy for the headache, except you gave me one first and I think you sort of deserve it.
I’m going to shoot the bastard, Mari.
Fine. I have sympathy. Loads of sympathy.
The son of a bitch didn’t need to slap you.
Her heart jumped again. Ken sounded lethal, all playfulness gone. I need him to help me get the others out.
You really think I’m going to let you go?
You have to, Ken. I mean it. Her heart thundered in her ears. It was only a few more steps. Once they made it into the trees, Sean would be safe from a bullet and she could figure out what was going on with him. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to one of the other women.
There was a small silence. She was counting steps now, trying to judge how many more to reach the safety of the trees.
Mari, if he touches you, he’s a dead man. You’d better know that. And I’m going to be with you every step of the way. Don’t try to throw us off the trail. That’s just going to piss me off, and you don’t want to see that side of me.
No, she didn’t. She knew men like Ken, and they didn’t have that glacier-cold burn in their eyes because they were nice. I’m counting on you following me. I don’t want to get trapped there ever again.
Then you’re both clear.
Relief swept through her. Sean put on a burst of speed, seeing the trees close, and she fell back a couple of steps to help block his body just in case Ken changed his mind. With every step she took, relief turned to dread. Even though it was her choice to go back, and she knew Ken had her back, the idea of being trapped again in Whitney’s nightmare world sickened her. The other women were as desperate to escape as she was, going so far as to plan it, but even their allies within the compound were afraid of Whitney and his bodyguards. The men were cruel and brutal. Brett had been one of them. All had seen plenty of combat and all were enhanced.
You think I’d let you go there alone, honey? Jack and I are right on your hot little tail. We can follow a ghost.
His voice brushed along the walls of her mind like a physical caress, steadying her. She could go back and get the others out. Whitney seemed invincible, but that was only because he’d been the authority figure from her childhood. He had stood watching them all with that dispassionate look on his face, so unemotional no matter what happened, his terrible half smile on his face as he forced obedience.
Ken, most of the people at the compound are good people, following orders and struggling to make sense of it all.
I’m not the devil. But maybe he was. Ken watched Mari disappear into the trees with Sean and reluctantly dropped the rifle from his shoulder. He wanted to pull the trigger. The moment he saw Sean—and he knew the big man was Mari’s Sean—Ken had wanted him dead. The shot he’d taken had been a kill shot, and Mari had to have known that. If she hadn’t punched the bastard and dropped him to the ground, the son of a bitch would be dead.
And why the hell did they need him alive? Mari needed to return to Whitney’s secret compound, and that went against every instinct Ken had, but hell—he was in her head and knew she wouldn’t stop trying until she’d done this. Short of locking her up—and he’d contemplated that very thing—he had to let her go back.
He rolled over, wiping his brow on his sleeve. Jack came up behind him. “How the hell do men do this? Because, let me tell you, bro, it’s fucked. She’s asking for something I don’t think I can give her.”
“Let’s go,” Jack said, his face grim. “You made the decision to let her go and we’ve got it to do now. We can’t lose her.”
“Lily make certain the tracking device is in her bloodstream?”
“Yes. She didn’t like it, but she did it.”
; “How is she?”
“Ryland took her to the hospital to make sure the baby is okay. Everyone’s in place. Let’s do this and get Mari out of there as fast as we can,” Jack insisted.
Ken rose to his feet and followed Jack from their vantage point. “No matter what, we had to put that tracking device in place. You have one in Briony and Lily has one. If Whitney takes them, we can get them back.”
“They wouldn’t like it if they knew, especially Mari.”
“Who gives a damn?” Ken asked. “Mari can fucking well live with it. Asking me to let her do this is bullshit and she knows it.”
“Women don’t go for the word ‘allow’ anymore, bro. It’s not politically correct.” Jack kept his back turned as he listened to his brother spit out curses. Mari might look like Briony, but she wasn’t ever going to act like her. Ken had his hands full.
“I am surprised you didn’t chain her up inside a cave somewhere.”
“Like you’ve done with Briony? Bri has the brains to listen to you. Mari would fight me every inch of the way.”
The tension in Ken’s voice made Jack glance at him sharply. “Ken, I know you’re struggling here …”
Ken shook his head. “Don’t even go there. I wanted to kill that man for just being near her. It wasn’t that he hit her. He was a dead man the moment he did that, we both know that, but I wanted it before he was that stupid.”
Jack sent a small, tight smile in his brother’s general direction. “I wanted to kill him too, Ken. That doesn’t mean either of us is like our father. It means we might need psychiatric help, but it doesn’t mean what you think it does.”
“She makes me crazy.”
“She’s supposed to make you crazy.”
Ken shook his head in disgust. “You don’t know, Jack. I have this driving need to keep her in a little cocoon, wrap her up in bubble wrap and force her to do every single thing I say. What the hell kind of man thinks that way?”
Jack snorted. “Pretty much all of them. We aren’t that far from swinging in the trees, Ken.” One eyebrow rose in inquiry. “So, if you want to force her to do what you say, why don’t you?”