Ghostwalker 05 - Deadly Game

want and I'll get it done."
    "You're going to stay and protect Mari and Briony. Jack's going to climb the mountain and let Sean get a real good look at him. Hopefully he'll think it's me. I'll try to look like Mari and go for a little walk, lead him away from the house to the spring that runs along the bluff. I'm guessing he'll make his try for Mari. If not, he'll go after Jack. Either way, Jack will be waiting or I will."
    "And I babysit."
    "You've got the most important job, Logan," Jack said, coming up behind them.
    "Anything happens to Briony and I'm no good to anyone anymore."
    "I feel the same way about Mari," Ken added. "If he gets by us, you have to kill him. No matter what, he has to die."
    Logan nodded and glanced at the two women as they entered the room.
    "Why the grim faces?" Briony asked.
    Jack took her hand and tugged until her smaller body was up against his. "You're going to have go down into the tunnel, Bri. We have a nasty visitor and we can't take any chances.
    Get your emergency pack and go with Mari and Logan."
    Mari frowned and shook her head. "It's Sean, isn't it? He's found us."
    "That's right, honey, and you've got to get moving," Ken said. "Go with your sister and Logan. We'll take care of this."
    "What? You think I'm going to go hide while you and your brother put your lives on the line for me? Think again," Mari snapped, her dark eyes flashing. She looked furious. "Sean is my responsibility, not yours."

    "Like hell. Get in the damned tunnel, Mari, where I don't have to worry about you while I take care of this bastard."
    "I'm going to stay with you."
    Strobes went off in the house. A soft alarm buzzed. Jack and Ken sent Logan a quick, hard look. "An hour?" Jack said.
    "I don't have time for this," Ken snapped, his voice icy cold. "You'll do what I say. This is about safety, and when it comes to safety, you get in line, no arguments."
    "No one controls me. No one. Whitney couldn't control me and I'll be damned if you do.
    I'm not hiding while you take the risks."
    Ken stepped closer to her, his eyes glacier-cold. "You'll do exactly what I say when I say it, Mari. I'm not fucking around here. I'm not about to let you get shot so that you can prove a point. This isn't about freedom or whatever else you think it is. Sean wants you any way he can have you. He's got to go through me to get to you. If I fail, and Jack fails and Logan fails, you're welcome to blow him away."
    Mari's face paled and she took a step back.
    "Don't you dare look at me like you're afraid I'll hit you!" Ken caught her arm and jerked her toward him.
    Mari's hands came up in a defensive fighting position. "Get off of me."
    "That was really sensitive of you," Jack declared. "Sheesh, Ken, can you be any dumber?"
    Ken ignored his brother and pulled Mari tight against his body. "Last night I was so deep inside you we were sharing the same skin. And today you're going to look at me like I'm some kind of fucking monster." He looked down at his fingers biting deep into her arm, abruptly let go, and looked to his brother for help.
    Jack took great care not to glance at Briony. Baby, you're the brains of the outfit. Do something fast.
    Without hesitation, Briony made a small sound of distress. Instantly everyone looked at her. She wrapped her arms protectively around her large stomach. "Jack. I'm so afraid. Last time…" She trailed off.
    Instinctively Mari went to her. "Sean isn't going to get close to you. There's no way that will happen."
    "They came last time, Mari, with helicopters, and we barely escaped. I can't climb the cliff now. I can't run. The doctor put me on bed rest because I've had a few contractions. I can't fight this time."
    "Mari's a damn good soldier, Briony," Ken said. "She's a hell of a shot and I've seen her fight. She isn't about to allow anyone to get near you."
    Mari shot him a quelling look, but smiled with reassurance at her sister. "I won't let anything happen to you or the babies. I promise. Why don't you lead the way to the tunnel?"
    "Mari…" Ken had no idea what he was going to say, but he didn't want to leave it like this. She was wavering about her decision to stay with him, and ever since he'd brought her into the house she'd been different.
    "Go. Get it done. I need another gun and a couple of clips of ammo, just to be on the safe side."
    "I can show you where everything is," Briony said, slipping her hand into Mari's.
    Ken shook his head and followed Jack out of the house, checking his rifle