Ruthless Game (GhostWalkers #9)(86)
Author: Christine Feehan

She looked around her at the circle of faces. They all nodded. Some of the tension eased. She couldn’t help smiling. Even as they reassured her, they were sliding weapons into clothing, readying for battle. There seemed to be an armory on every floor, hidden of course, but well stocked with just about any weapon they might need. She knew they went armed everywhere outside the house, probably in it as well.

“You good?” Kane asked.

They were all looking at her, waiting for her answer. Not, she realized, to get it over with, but because they genuinely cared and were ready to do whatever it took to make her comfortable with their future. She took a deep breath, not wanting to disrespect them with an easy answer. Was she? Probably not yet, but she was beginning to believe. She could see the genuine affection they all gave to one another. More than that, she could see that the same intense loyalty that had drawn her to Kane was in each of them.

“I will be,” she said honestly. “I need to start training and feel as if I’m part of the entire unit. More than anything, that will make me feel part of everything.”

Top! I found it. I’m still searching around looking, because it’s a tiny camera and I’m betting someone’s watching, Gideon said triumphantly.

Long or short range? Javier asked.

Rose’s heart began to pound. “It has to be Whitney watching. He wants to see the baby. What if Eric put a camera that small on our floor? He’s visited several times. He could have easily done so.”

Kane took the baby and cuddled him close. “There’s nothing for him to see right now, Rose. Sebastian’s stronger than most babies at this age, but there is no way the camera can capture the intelligence and awareness we’re seeing. Gideon can search our home. Eric wasn’t allowed in our bedroom . . .”

“Of course he was. He examined you daily while you were recovering,” Rose pointed out. “He didn’t get to examine Sebastian, but he was there.”

Gideon, I’m sending Javier. He’s going to check the camera as subtly as possible for range, and then we’re going to look for Whitney. You’ll have to check Kane’s entire home for possible cameras.

Gideon groaned. This was a bitch to find.

Now you know what you’re looking for. Ethan, I’ll need you on the roof, Mack instructed. Lucas, use the tunnel and come out on the other side of the street. Blend in. And Javier, whatever you do, don’t kill anyone. We’ve already got a bloodstained SUV parked outside our warehouse. The last thing we need is more bodies to try to dispose of.

Rose lifted her eyebrow at Kane. “Does he have to tell Javier not to kill anyone?”

“Every damn time,” Kane said. “It’s just a precaution. Javier tends to take the easiest path, and if someone’s in the way . . .” He shrugged.

“I can’t imagine that he’s a hothead,” Rose said. “He seems like he’d be cool under fire no matter what.”

“Ice water runs in his veins. He’s not quite like everyone else, baby. But he stands. And he obeys Mack. Javier’s a good man, just a little misunderstood at times.” Kane shot a quick grin at Mack.

Mack scowled at him. “Misunderstood my ass. I need to sit on that boy.” He looked toward the stairwell, and even though the tent was in the way, he lowered his voice. “Jaimie heard Rhianna was back in the States. She sent word to come home, that Brian was down, and that you have a son.”

Kane’s breath hissed out. “She what?”

“She needs to come home, Kane,” Mack said. “It’s time. She’s part of us, and Javier and Rhianna have just got to come to terms with whatever the hell is wrong.”

“He’s still not talking?” Kane asked.

Mack shook his head. “Not one word, but I’m not surprised. Javier has always been one to play things close to his chest, especially when it comes to Rhianna.”

Rose made a noise in her throat to remind them she was still there.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” Kane apologized right away. “We all grew up together. We formed a family and sort of had each other’s back. There were only two girls, Rhianna and Jaimie. They were both quite a bit younger, and we were overprotective any way you looked at it. Rhee was different, her background far worse than the rest of us, with the exception of Javier. She didn’t always feel comfortable, although she always stayed with us.”

“Javier put a lot of pressure on her, and eventually she rebelled. He sort of rode her all the time, little digs, you know,” Mack said. “Very unlike him. He’s the strong silent type, but he didn’t like her around other men, and he got pretty ugly with a couple of guys. They had a fight a few months back, and she asked to be reassigned without telling any of us first. He’s been a bear ever since.”

“So he doesn’t think of her as his sister? Or he’s an overprotective brother?” Rose asked.

Mack shrugged. “He doesn’t act like a brother, but who knows with Javier. Rhianna is the only person in the world who can shake Javier up. He’s arctic cool until she comes around, and then we can cut the tension with a knife.”

Top, he’s across the street in the apartment building. I’m guessing second floor, but it could be the third floor. I can’t pinpoint the room.

Best guess, Javier, Mack said.

Middle windows either floor. If I was Whitney, and I knew what Gideon and Ethan are capable of, I’d choose second story and my escape route would be the far fire escape away from this warehouse where neither has a shot.

Jaimie, Marc will take over in there. I need you at the computer. Check the recent rentals on the building across the street, Mack ordered. Paul, go too, just in case I need Marc in the field.

Immediately there was a flurry of activity as if Jaimie had called both Marc and Paul because Brian had taken a turn for the worse. Whitney would recognize the two of them as healers and believe something had gone wrong.

Jaimie, the consummate actress, backed out of the tent in full view of the camera and then went around the corner, behind the tent, to her bank of computers.

“I keep an alert on the real estate agency that handles that rental property. It flags all new tenants.” She was all business, settling in front of her bank of computers, fingers flying over the keyboard.

Rose was fascinated—actually a little awestruck—at the amount of information pouring over the various screens in front of Jaimie. There were ten large computer screens, and data flowed over each of them, coming in from various sources and agencies around the world. She was certain much of what she was looking at was data that was all at a security level far beyond hers. Her existence might be top security, but she obviously didn’t have the kind of clearance Jaimie and the others had—not yet. More than ever she wanted to be an official member of the team.