Ruthless Game (26 page)

“No, I mean out of this creek bed.”

“How am I supposed to do that? We don’t exactly have a lot of options here, Kane.”

He ignored the bite to her voice. The hair on the back of his neck was now tingling, much like the whiskers on a leopard, a kind of radar, and right now, although he couldn’t explain it to her, he knew his warning system was shrieking at him.

“Fucking do it, Rose. I don’t care how. Get us out of here.”

He swiveled around constantly, looking for the threat. Everything inside of him urged him to take Rose and Sebastian and get out of the Humvee.

“Now, damn it!”

Something was just up ahead, just where the creek bed began a long slow, sweeping bend. He strained his eyes trying to see, nearly standing, one hand instinctively reaching out to protect his child, but the sense of urgency was so strong, he covered the child and the makeshift car seat and armor with his own body.

Abruptly the Hummer lurched as Rose fought the wheel, driving them up and over an impossible set of rocks. Kane swung around to look behind them, still protecting Sebastian. Unable to follow, the cartel’s jeep continued on a few more feet and suddenly vanished as if it had never been, dropping down into a large crater, a sinkhole a good hundred feet deep.

Rose swore under her breath as the Humvee rocked from side to side, laboring to climb over the dense shrubbery and rocky incline.

“We can’t make it straight up,” she said. “I’ll try inching my way up, but if they start shooting ...” She broke off abruptly as the hillside above them exploded and rocks and dirt rained down on them. “That’s what I was afraid of. We can’t get back into that creek bed, Kane. They’re going to trap us.”

Kane was already back in his seat, hand on the joystick. They were going to have to shoot their way out. “Keep moving forward, even if it’s running along the bank.”

She complied. “We’re awfully close to that sinkhole, Kane, and we weigh a hell of a lot.”

“I know, sweetheart.” He centered the screen on the mortar gun wreaking havoc above them. “When I say go, move up a few feet and keep running parallel.”

He blasted the mortar gun and all around it, firing round after round, providing cover. “Now, Rose.” He kept it up, pounding the area to prevent them from pitting the canyon wall and destroying any path they might find to take them out or around the stronghold Whitney’s men had established.

Rose was already jolting them forward, the Humvee rolling over the thick foliage and smashing down the displaced dirt.

Where the hell are you, Mack?
Because if his team hadn’t gotten the message loud and clear that he’d left for them in the desert, he and Rose and Sebastian were bound to have to dig in and hold off Whitney’s little army. They had enough water and ammunition to last for a time, but they needed reinforcements—and soon.

Mack had to have sent out a couple of birds to look for signs, and he’d left an abundance of them each night. The last sign had been unmistakable:
Come now.
They had to have seen his messages, and he’d pointed them back to the ravine. Surely ...

The ground around them exploded. Rose swore louder this time but kept the Humvee moving forward. One tire dropped into air on the passenger side, so that they tilted ominously. They kept moving forward relentlessly. Trees were thicker now and much larger than the saplings and thin round trunks they’d encountered, presenting an additional problem.

“Kane.” Rose’s voice shook. “In the air, coming at us. Three o’clock.”

Two helicopters were coming toward them fast, just above the tree line, swooping in low, racing right for them. “Are they yours?” she asked.

Her voice was strictly neutral, but he could see hope flare in her eyes. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, they aren’t.”

She took a breath, her knuckles white as she gripped the wheel hard, guiding the Humvee around a large tree, rolling over two smaller ones. “If this goes bad, Kane, you take the baby and get out of here. He has a better chance with you. They want me alive, and they’ll try to be more careful. They don’t know he’s born yet.”

“Not a chance.” He was already lining up his shot, the first helicopter in his sights, as it came right toward them. He could see the grim faces, the heavy artillery they carried. They planned on hitting the Hummer, knocking it out of commission and forcing it to halt where they could surround and control it. Most likely, they planned to drop their men on the roof.

“They think I’m Carlson James, Rose. He’s disposable. Whitney’s pissed at him. They’ll try to kill me, believing I’m him. I don’t want Sebastian anywhere near me. If it really comes down to it, I’ll buy you enough time to get him away.”

He took the shot just as the helicopter peeled off. He caught it on the tail, throwing the bird into a spin. Smoke trailed it. The pilot fought hard, but the helicopter began to spin out of control. He took it down as close to the ground as he could, allowing the men inside to bail and run. The helicopter dipped, pitched, rolled to the left, and slammed into trees, sending orange flames and black smoke shooting into the air. The pilot’s screams were cut off abruptly as the helicopter came apart, pieces of metal flying in all directions.

“You can’t play the hero trying to save me, Kane. This has to be about keeping Sebastian out of Whitney’s hands. That’s the only thing that matters.” She glanced back at him, a warning in her eyes. “You know I’m right.”

Kane continued firing now, as Whitney’s men advanced, trying to ring them in. The second helicopter showed a little more respect, but they were taking heavy fire. The .50-caliber tore up everything in its path, and Kane used the weapon liberally, pounding the ground to keep the soldiers from advancing.

“It’s bullshit to even talk about, Rose. We’ll make it. We just have to hold on until Mack gets here.”

Damn it, Mack, you’re late.
Kane sent the distress call, feeling trapped.

He wouldn’t leave Rose behind. He couldn’t do it. He had to find a way to save both Rose and the baby. He knew he could make a stand and buy her enough time to make a run for it, and if Mack and the others were on the way, she’d have a decent chance. They
had
to be on the way.

The Humvee suddenly ground to a halt, sliding slightly toward the upper edge of the sinkhole. They hadn’t covered much ground, and the soldiers were shooting at the tires. If the tires went, they would have the runflats to depend on, but it wouldn’t get them very far or very fast.

Mack. What the hell are you doing?

Damn, Kane, try to live without your daddy for a few. I’m just finishing up my dinner here.

The instant relief was overwhelming. “They’re coming for us, Rose. Mack and my boys. They’re within telepathic range.”

“Helicopter coming in ten o’clock,” Rose said, her voice grim. “He means business, Kane.”

The helicopter filled his screen, and he saw the grenade launcher aimed at them. The first grenade hit just in front of them, and the world seemed to explode. The large tree blocking their escape to their left was blown into the air, splintered, raining branches and leaves all around them. The Hummer lurched as Rose kept it moving straight into the crater the explosion had made. The gunner had inadvertently aided them, clearing the path and at the same time, forcing the soldiers closing in, trying to surround them, to pull back.

Rose bulled their way through the debris and smoke, getting them back on the path, driving straight toward the nearest group of vulnerable soldiers. Kane pounded them with heavy rounds, forcing them to give way.

We’re coming in fast from the east, Kane,
Mack advised.
ETA, three minutes.

Be advised there’s a bird in the sky.

Roger that.

“They’re coming in from the east, three minutes,” he repeated aloud to Rose. “We’re almost there, sweetheart.”

“How the hell are they going to get us out of here?”

“We’re going to climb out. Straight up, honey. Whitney’s boys aren’t going to shoot you or Sebastian.”

“Are you out of your mind? We’re going to go up a rope into a helicopter with the backwash from the blades, sharpshooters taking potshots, and a
baby
?”

He grinned at her. “Sounds like a fun date, doesn’t it?”

She shook her head, a small, answering smile curving her soft mouth. “You really are nuts. You’d better hope Whitney wants us as bad as you think.”

“My boys can keep the peace,” Kane said with absolute confidence.

The Humvee limped over the pitted terrain heading doggedly toward the east and freedom. The first helicopter had circled and was coming in for another try.

This an exclusive party, or can anyone join?

Mack McKinley’s voice filled his mind.

A second helicopter burst out of the night sky, silent and lethal, no running lights. From the open door, a rocket streaked through the darkness, trailing vapor, seeking a target.

The enemy’s helicopter tried to maneuver, but it was far too late; the rocket was on top of them. The helicopter burst apart, spilling wreckage and flames in every direction.

“Find us stable ground in an open area,” Kane yelled, fending off the soldiers with his heavy caliber weapon.

“I’m doing my best,” Rose shouted back. “There aren’t a lot of open areas here; that’s why we chose it, hoping for cover. There’s the creek bed, but I’m not certain we can trust the surface.”

Can you spot an open area, Mack? We’re a little pushed for time down here.

Creek bed is the only area possible for us to drop down to get you. You’re nearly past the sinkhole. We’re coming in.

“Get down into the creek, Rose. It’s our only option.”

She turned her head. Her dark eyes met his, and there was stark fear there, not for herself but for their child. She resolutely turned back and took the Hummer bumping and bouncing back into the creek bed. She drove a few yards to get as clear of the trees as possible and then abruptly leapt up to crawl back to the baby.

Kane fired repeatedly, cutting a wide circle around them. From above, he could hear covering fire as well. Once Rose made up her mind to do it, she was all business, paying no attention to the battle taking place outside. She gathered up the baby, strapping him into a front pack in order to leave her hands free. It took a few minutes to wrap the large bulletproof vest around both of them.

Kane paused just long enough to make certain it was secure. She leaned down and caught his face in her hands. “You’ll be right behind us, right? Right behind us. No hero crap. You’ll get into that helicopter no matter what.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Promise me. Say it. I promise, Kane. I need to hear that.”

He leaned forward and kissed her mouth, uncaring that bullets were flying. She needed reassurance, and he was giving it to her in the only way he knew how so that she could read his honesty. “I promise.”

We’re in position, but we’re sitting ducks. Get moving.
Mack’s command was a definite order.

Kane put his hand where the baby’s head was hidden by the vest. “Go.”

He went back to giving covering fire, trusting his men to do the rest. Gideon Carpenter had eyes like an eagle and could shoot the wings off a fly. Javier Enderman—well he just looked where he wanted to shoot, and that was as good as pulling the damned trigger.

Rose pushed open the heavy door to the roof and cautiously put her head out. Once she caught that rope, she would be committed. Kane expected hesitation. She didn’t know the men in the helicopter the way he did, but there was no vacillation, and that told him a lot about her. Once she made up her mind, she followed through. She’d pulled on thin gloves, and she caught the rope, one foot looping it.

She went up as fast as possible. She was strong—after all she was a GhostWalker—but she was a sitting duck and expecting someone to shoot her at any moment. The backwash from the helicopter blades was hellacious. The rope spun a bit, and that made it difficult to keep Sebastian facing away from the biggest threat. They were using a pulley system as well, which helped move the rope up even faster.

She was halfway up the rope before she realized the night had gone eerily silent. No one on the ground fired at them. Not a single soldier—as if a cease-fire had been declared and everyone was abiding by it. She climbed faster, afraid the silence was the lull before the storm.

A man caught her around the waist and hauled her into the helicopter, dragging her deeper inside, not letting go until she was steady. Barely glancing at him, she unstrapped the baby as fast as possible, looking around for the safest, most protected place she could find. She used the vest to construct a barrier around him. She was quick, her movements efficient as she turned back, pulling her automatic rifle back around her neck to the front by the strap, and stepping to the entrance to provide cover for Kane.

“Ten o’clock, your side, Gideon,” someone barked.

Gideon fired without hesitation, the shot ringing out in the night. “He’s down, Top. We’re ready.”

Her stomach tightened.
Every
one was going to be shooting at Kane. These men and she would have to keep the shooters off him. She put the rifle to her shoulder and looked into the night scope. Only seconds had gone by, but it seemed an eternity.

Climb fast, Kane.
She tried not to allow her fear for him to show in her mind.
We’re waiting for you.

Just waiting for Top to give me the okay, sweetheart. I’ll be right there.

His voice was steady, but she knew it would be. Very little seemed to shake the man.

Has to be easier than delivering a baby, right?
he teased, laughter in his voice.

The knots in her stomach tightened with dread. Her mouth went dry. She was rock steady in combat as a rule, nothing fazed her, but deep inside she felt jittery.

Damn straight.

Coming up now, honey. Top just gave me the word.

She glanced down, although she knew she shouldn’t, to see Kane leap up, gripping the rope. She’d never seen a man climb so fast. Hand over hand, he went straight up as the backwash from the helicopter’s blade blew the rope into a whirling frenzy, not nearly as bad as with her lighter weight. His strength was beyond her comprehension, and she had to force herself to stare into the scope to protect him.