Ruthless Game (GhostWalkers #9)(80)
Author: Christine Feehan

“That means everything he came into contact with has been compromised,” Kane said.

“Exactly. Mack wants a sweep of the entire building. I think he planted something at the bottom of the stairs on the second floor. He was running, but he stopped there. At first I thought he might be trying to come up here and changed his mind, but that didn’t make sense. I couldn’t find anything.”

Kane studied her face. Jaimie knew things. All of them, the entire team, had learned never to ignore Jaimie’s gut feelings.

Rose moaned and struggled to sit up. Kane held her down with a hand to her shoulder. “Paul said not to move around yet, Rose. He said once you could sit up, then he wants you drinking water. Lots of water, but he said you’d be unsteady for a while.”

“I’ve got to get this out of my system. I feel horrible.”

“I know, honey, you’re going to be disoriented for a while.”

She frowned at him, clutching the blanket around her. “Kane, I don’t have any clothes on. None.” She looked very puzzled, her gaze jumping from him to Jaimie.

“I had to undress you,” Jaimie explained gently. “You were soaked and freezing. We wrapped you in a blanket and put hot water bottles around you to bring up your body temperature.”

Rose snapped her head around and sat up, dragging the blanket with her. “Sebastian? Where’s Sebastian?”

Kane’s gut tightened. He’d told her three times. She seemed to forget things over and over. He framed her face and looked into her eyes. “Sweetheart, I wouldn’t be standing here chatting if someone took our son. He’s sleeping peacefully in the bedroom. I’d bring him out to show you, but I don’t want him to wake up and need to eat. The drug they gave you isn’t out of your system yet.”

She frowned and touched her neck. “I couldn’t stop them from taking Sebastian.”

“Javier spotted them, and the team went into action. We’ll be having a meeting soon to discuss what went wrong and what went right so we can improve response time and damage control.”

Jaimie sat on the arm of the couch. “No civilians got hurt and, aside from keeping Whitney’s men from taking you and Sebastian, that’s always the main thing in urban situations.”

Kane brushed his mouth across Rose’s lips. “We’re going to be all right, honey. The team came through. We had one casualty. Brian’s in surgery now, but both Paul and Marc are with him, and you know how bossy Mack is. He won’t let Brian slip away on us.”

“I want to take a shower.” Rose shuddered as she rubbed her arms up and down. “I’m itching all over.”

“I can put a chair in the shower,” Jaimie offered. “You shouldn’t try to stand by yourself, Rose.”

“I’ll go in with her,” Kane said.

Fear exploded through Rose’s body. For a moment she could barely breathe. “No!” Rose caught Kane’s wrist and held on hard. “You stay with Sebastian.” She would never forget those minutes, fighting off the kidnappers, knowing she wasn’t going to stop them from taking her son. She’d failed to protect him. All of her training, all of her resolve, none of it mattered. She touched her neck again. “I’m sorry, Kane. I’m so sorry.”

She’d been so certain she could do it all herself. She hadn’t trusted anyone else, other than Kane, not really. She knew Whitney better than any of them; she’d known he’d make a try for Sebastian. Sebastian was everything he’d worked for—all the years of experimenting came down to a child. She knew if Whitney saw him or even got hold of a sample of his blood, he would know he’d been successful.

She covered her face with her hands, her lungs burning. She’d almost lost their child. She couldn’t ever face Kane again. Everything was coming flooding back. Sebastian’s eyes widening as he lay on the floor playing with her. He’d known that she couldn’t protect him. She would never forget that moment when both of them had known she wasn’t going to be able to stop the men from taking him. A sob escaped, and she clamped down hard on it. She wouldn’t cry. Wouldn’t make Kane think she wanted sympathy.

“Rose.” Kane’s gentle voice was her undoing.

He should be railing at her. Yelling. Telling her what a screwup she was. She hadn’t protected her own child from the worst monster alive. She shook her head, unable to look at him. She might never be able to look at him again. She’d failed in the most important mission of her life.

“Rose, look at me.”

She shook her head again, even more adamant this time. Whitney’s taunting voice flooded her mind. Women aren’t of any use; they just don’t have the strength or intelligence men do. Their weakness compromises missions and jeopardizes teams. Men are wounded—killed—because of the weaknesses displayed by women. Even when using their psychic talents they have seizures and can’t function properly.

Baby, do you really believe that nonsense? Any psychic, male or female, without an anchor close by will experience all of those things and more. Some have had strokes. Some meltdowns. It makes no difference whether you’re male or female.

Kane pushed Whitney’s voice out of her mind, filling her with warmth. His tone caressed her, gave her the courage to look up at him. His green eyes had gone nearly emerald, a heated promise that made her breath catch in her throat—made her want to believe the impossible. The moment their eyes met, hers filled with tears of guilt, and she looked away again.

“I’ve put some clothes out for you, Rose,” Jaimie said. “I’m going back downstairs to contact Flame and have her start spreading the word that Eric has compromised all of us so the other teams can take precautions as well. He was inside the compound up in Montana as well as being in Wyoming with a couple of the GhostWalkers there. No one will bother you here for a while, so go ahead and use the shower, and if you want to eat, there’s plenty of food.”

Rose shifted her gaze to Jaimie, alarmed. Had Mack sent for her telepathically because Brian had taken a turn for the worse? She studied her face. No. She was being polite, giving her time to be alone with Kane. She silently shook her head in protest, but Jaimie just patted her shoulder and walked away, leaving her to face her son’s father alone.

She swallowed hard. Guilt and shame were ugly things. She hadn’t even had time to be terrified. She pressed her lips together and shook her head, knowing Kane was willing her to meet his incredible green gaze again. “I can’t, Kane,” she whispered once she’d heard the door close behind Jaimie. “I don’t think I can ever look at you again.”