Street Game (16 page)

Mack’s eyes went flat and cold. A muscle ticked along his jaw. He kept working on Jaimie’s face, his touch tender. “I’ll be talking to you about this when we’re alone, Kane.”

Jaimie’s heart lurched. She brought up both hands to his wrist and stopped him—waited until he looked down at her. “Don’t be upset, Mack. He was right and you know he was. If it was anyone but me . . .”

“But it is you.” He stared down at her for a long moment, and then leaned forward to brush a kiss along her forehead. “And at least you know that.”

“I know. Come on, we know we’re all safe. Let’s buy you both a bed.”

There was a moment. A heartbeat she thought he wouldn’t let it go, but the grim reaper in his eyes disappeared and he smiled at her.

“Now you’re talking sense.”

She smiled back. “I usually do. I’m quite a bit smarter than you, you know.”

Instead of taking the bait and teasing her like he usually did, he slipped his arm around her shoulders and nodded. “You always have been. I should have listened to you.”

Everything inside her stilled as Mack followed Kane down the aisle toward king-sized beds, taking Jaimie with him. A capitulation. He’d said it so casually.
I should have listened to you.
She looked down at her hands as she pretended to be interested in the talk about mattresses. Mack had never apologized. Not in all the time she could remember being around him. Was he beginning to realize the enormity of what Whitney had done to them all? If so, she felt sorry for him. He would lay the blame squarely on his own shoulders. Mack believed in taking responsibility for his own actions.

“What do you think of this?” Mack asked Jaimie, drawing her out of her reverie. He propelled Jaimie across the room toward a king-sized waterbed.

“Oh, no,” she was very decisive, backing away from the massive polished frame. “I will not have that monstrosity taking up space in my bedroom. It probably weighs enough to drop through two floors.”

“You’re crazy, woman. You’re living in a former car garage.”

“A warehouse. There’s a difference,” she countered indignantly.

Mack’s answering snort was pure disdain. “I saw a couple of oil stains, Jaimie.”

“Heavy equipment. Forklifts. If you make one more crack about my beloved little home . . .”

“Little?” His eyebrow shot up.

“You’ll be sleeping on the roof with the pigeons, and I’m not kidding you.”

“Oil stains, Jaimie.”

“One more crack, Mack,” she threatened.

He turned his hands palms up in a gesture of surrender. “We’ll compromise, I’ll give up the water if you’ll go with the size.”

“King-sized?” She almost squeaked it. “It would take up all my space. I need wide-open spaces.” She glanced at Kane for help, but he was rolling around on a mattress and moaning in a loud, orgasmic manner. She rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh.

“Jaimie,” Mack said patiently, “that third floor is probably five thousand square feet. There’s plenty of space for anyone. A king-sized bed is appropriate for that kind of space.”

“A double bed is perfectly adequate.” Jaimie was snippy about it, one hand on her hip. “Twin beds would be even smarter.”

“Forget it.” Mack was firm. “We’ll settle for the double bed. Find one you like and we’ll have them deliver. We’ll need sheets, blankets, pillows, the whole bit. And not those silly eyelet things you like.”

“We need two beds, unless you plan on sleeping on the couch,” Jaimie pointed out, pinning him with a steely gaze.

Mack smirked, black eyes running over her with male amusement. “You concerned about the sleeping arrangements, honey?”

Her chin lifted. “You could say that.”

“Personally, I thought they were fine.”

“You would.” Jaimie crossed her arms and tapped her foot. “You take up too much room.”

“I wouldn’t in a double,” he protested.

“I’m not sharing my bed, it’s out of the question.”

He grinned at her. “Don’t trust yourself, huh?”

“That’s right, Mack, I’m liable to smother you with a pillow in the middle of the night.”

He circled her waist with his arms, drawing her stiff body against his, laughing openly into her upturned face. “You know you’re crazy about me, Jaimie, you may as well admit it.”

“Crazy’s a good word,” she agreed, leaning away from him, her blue gaze avoiding his. Her heart was pounding, her pulse racing. “I’m considering kicking you very hard right in the shins. I’m giving you fair warning.”

He bent down, his broad shoulders blocking out everything but his teasing grin, his sensuous mouth far too close to hers, his hungry black gaze devouring her face. “So lucky, honey, saved by the sales clerk.” He whispered it in her ear, his teeth grazing her earlobe, sending a shiver of excitement coursing through her. Mack released her with obvious reluctance, turning to the salesman, stating exactly what he wanted.

Jaimie put her hands on her hips and glared at Kane. “Get up. You talk about me being improper in public. You’re engaging in illegal sex acts with that bed.”

“I’m in love. This is the one. I’m keeping her.”

“I don’t want her in my house. Not with you rolling around like that. Sheesh. I won’t be able to go to sleep worried about what you and that bed are doing.”

“Yeah, well, I have to worry about what you and Mack are doing and that’s just plain wrong for any brother to contemplate. You can live with the bed.”

She stuck her nose in the air and gave a little indignant sniff. “I can assure you, you do not have to worry about what’s going to happen between Mack and me. Absolutely nothing is going to happen.”

“Whoa!” Mack stopped the salesclerk by holding up his hand. “Why does he get this bed? It’s a queen. That’s favor itism, Jaimie. He gets a queen-sized, I get one too.”

She threw her hands into the air in surrender. “Fine. Take up my beloved room and don’t feel at all sorry about it.”

The two men high-fived each other and did a series of male knuckle-punching motions that made her laugh and shake her head. “I don’t think we’re all that far from the caveman era,” she pointed out.

Jaimie watched Kane and Mack double-team the sales clerk until he capitulated and agreed to have the beds delivered that afternoon. “You get your way in everything, don’t you,” she demanded as they fell into step to go from the store.

We’re bringing her out,
Mack sent to his team.

Marc moved into position in front of them and she saw Lucas drop in behind them. Ethan and Jacob were close, she could sense them, but she didn’t spot them. In spite of knowing the team was in place, her stomach coiled with tension. She remembered she’d excelled in all the training, but it was nerve-wracking moving through crowds of people knowing you were a target and those protecting you were people you loved.

She stayed in step with Marc, sandwiched between Mack and Kane, unless they were forced single file, which the two men managed to avoid most of the time. Jaimie knew they looked intimidating and they projected aggressive energy around them and in front of them, forcing people to unknowingly step out of the path.

Coming out,
Mack sent to his team outside.

Clear,
Gideon reported.

They stepped out onto the sidewalk, into the bustling crowd, and began to make their way back toward the wharf district. As she walked between them, Jaimie couldn’t stop the small burst of happiness. Each day had been difficult without Mack, but that aside, their presence gave her the freedom to actually be normal for a short period of time. She could eat out, walk down the street, just pretend, for a few moments, that she was like everyone else.

“You don’t really mind the beds, do you, Jaimie?” Mack asked.

“No. I’d never expect you to sleep in a twin bed,” she admitted. “I was just giving you both a hard time. Although I’m not certain we should let Kane near his bed.”

Mack laughed and Jaimie turned her head to get Kane’s reaction when the first warning seized her. The second assault hit right on top of the first.

In the crowd, Mack, he just dropped in behind us.
Gideon broadcast the warning.
Shooter on the roof. Second building on the left.

Get him in your sites now, Gideon,
Mack commanded.
Ethan, can you get around to us with the car?

Lucas moved up behind Jaimie, closing the gap so no one could get between them. They pushed through the crowd, heading for the corner where Ethan waited with the car. The sidewalk was lined with parked cars and traffic was nearly at a standstill.

No chance. I can get to you on foot.

Stay with the car. We may need it.

I don’t have a clear shot. Get out of there. I’m moving position,
Gideon said.

Break to the right now, Jaimie,
Mack ordered as he turned into a shop, yanking Jaimie in after him. Kane and Lucas followed. They made no pretense of etiquette, but hurried at a fast pace toward the back of the store.
Ethan, bring the car around the block. We’re going out the back.

I’ve got him. He’s moving, trying to get around to get into position for a shot at the car. Green light?
Gideon asked.

Take him out,
Mack commanded grimly, as he kept moving through the store toward the back door.

Fuck! We’ve got another bogey. Another bogey in the field. I think it’s Superman.

Gideon rarely swore, and Mack brought Jaimie to an abrupt halt, shielding her with his body. He was not willing to bring her onto the street, although they were going out a door a block away with a building between them and the shooter. Mack didn’t know how many they were up against. He wanted numbers and positions. The longer they waited in the store, the more they lost the slim advantage they’d gained.

Shooter down. I think we both nailed him,
Gideon reported.
That bastard Superman and I are in a standoff, Top. I’m looking right down the business end of his rifle.

Back away. Get off the roof and clear, Gideon,
Mack advised.
I’m sending backup.

No way. This guy’s good, boss. If he wanted me dead, I’d be dead. We’d both be down because I’d take the son of a bitch with me and he knows it. Don’t provoke him. I think he’s watching over Jaimie.

Can you get clear?

If not, and I miss him, hunt him down for me.

Don’t get your ass shot off. I’ll be royally pissed.

Royally pissed? Not just plain pissed?

Jaimie felt the tension coiled tight in Mack’s body. She reached out, knowing they needed the positions of their enemies. She let her mind expand. She felt the violence of a kill, the dark energy spreading like bloodstains through the air, rushing straight at her. Hurrying, she expanded her mind, seeking enemies, tracking her boys, her family, the men guarding her.

There was Gideon on the roof, his energy a mixture of adrenaline, fear, and determination, and she knew she could read him only because he’d pulled the trigger and violence surrounded him like a net. Javier raced through the crowd to come up on their flank as they emerged. Lucas guarded the front door of the shop. Marc sprinted to take up his position to cover them. People were moving around like chess players on a board. She reached even further in an effort to find the hard-core violent energy of intent to do harm.

He’s in the crowd, near Javier. Coming around the block to intercept us.
She tried to get the message out to them all before the killing energy hit with lethal force. The wave blasted through her head, hit her nervous system, nearly driving her to her knees.

“Damn it, Jaimie.” Mack slipped his arm around her to support her. She was bleeding from her nose and another thin trickle leaked down the side of her mouth. “I need you strong.”

“Mack.” Kane’s voice was quiet. Calm. “She told us where he was. Let’s go.”

They ignored the clerk trying to wave them away from the door marked emergency exit only and pushed their way through. Lucas fell in behind them as they burst out onto the street and into the middle of a crowd. Traffic was backed up and snarling, horns blaring and fingers gesturing obscenely as Ethan kept the Cadillac blocking the lane right off the back door.

Mack and Kane half carried Jaimie as she coughed blood onto the sidewalk. Javier burst through the crowd on his skateboard just as Lucas whirled to face the threat coming up behind him. The skateboarder flashed past Jaimie as Mack simply leaned down and shouldered her, sprinting for the vehicle. Javier kept going and someone in the crowd screamed, hands up in the air as blood sprayed over them. A man stumbled and went down, still clutching his unfired weapon in his hand.

Lucas ran to the downed man. “Call nine-one-one! He’s hurt. Does someone have a cell phone?” As a precaution, he pushed the gun away from the limp hand with his elbow, although Javier never missed. His practiced hands went through pockets, Lucas’s body hiding the movement. He came up empty just as he knew he would.

Javier was long gone, lost in the crowd, and Ethan stuck his finger out the window, flipping off the angry drivers behind him, and then put his foot on the gas, taking them out of there.

“He was walking toward me,” the man covered in blood said. “Then he just coughed and looked at me and fell. You don’t think he’s got some kind of disease, do you?”

Lucas jumped back away from the body. “I don’t know, man. He could have come off a freighter. I’m going to wash my hands.”

A siren shrieked in the distance as the circle of people moved back from the slain man. No one had seen what happened, but then, Lucas really hadn’t expected any wit nesses. No one had thought a thing of the teen with his skateboard, weaving in and out of the crowd. He backed off more, allowing the talk to swirl around him, and then he simply did what GhostWalkers did best: He disappeared.

CHAPTER 7

“Okay, honey, you’re scaring the hell out of me. You’ve got to wake up for me.”

Mack’s voice penetrated the layer of pain Jaimie seemed to be drowning in. Her lashes fluttered, but she couldn’t quite pry her swollen lids open. Every inch of her head hurt, even her teeth. She detested psychic overloads.