Deadly Game

The first time, yes. I wasn't strong enough to give her up the second time, and I had to learn more about myself than I ever wanted to know, and that was a good thing, Ken, because I learned I could control the things that would hurt Briony. I don't want to see her disappointed or hurt by something I say or do.

And if you couldn't control it?

How do you know if you don't try?

Ken's eyes glittered with menace. I know I don't want to take a chance with her life. You saw me acting like an animal. The things I want to do to her scare the hell out of me. If I end up hurting her, don't you think that's a win for the old man?

You would never hurt her. I know you better than you know yourself. Jack suddenly turned his attention to Lily. 'What do you know about post-traumatic stress, Lily? Can a child suffer a trauma that would cause the symptoms? What about years of tracking and killing enemies? And torture. Lily, would that bring out the symptoms?'

Logan and Ryland glanced at Ken's face, the gridiron mask of scars disappearing into the neckline of his shirt. For the first time in his life, Ken felt color rising and was utterly aware of his patchwork skin. He looked like a freak show, sewn together to keep his body from falling apart. 'Go to hell. Jack.' His tone dropped to a low caress, a growling purr of warning.

'Of course a child can suffer trauma.' Lily said. 'Post-traumatic stress disorder is very common in men who go into life-and-death situations. It's usual to have nightmares and not be able to sleep. Often someone experiencing PTSD has feelings of detachment and a belief that they have no future.'

'I don't want to hear this.' Ken said.

'I do,' Jack persisted, keeping a wary eye on his brother.

Lily took a deep breath and continued. 'They can easily become irate and have outbursts of seemingly irrational anger. They might become increasingly vigilant and can become paranoid that a loved one may be in danger, so their reaction is intense to the extreme.'

'This is bullshit. Jack.' Ken warned. Anger swirled close to the surface, threatening to break through the icy calm he presented to the others in the room. If you're spoiling for a fight, I'll oblige, but not here, not around the women, he added.

Are you listening to either Lily or yourself? You hardly ever sleep. You have nightmares all the time. You pace half the night.

So do you.

Not anymore. Briony is there now.

Yeah, Jack, thanks for the vision. I don't want to hear any more. Leave me the hell alone.

Beside him, Mari stirred, her hand sliding across the bed until she found his arm.

You okay? Cuz I'm a little sore here. I feel like someone beat the holy hell out of my chest, but if you need backup, I'm all over it.

Her voice was soft and carried a tinge of humor and even more determination. His heart did that curious overheating-and-melting-into-a-puddle thing he was beginning to recognize only Mari managed to induce in him.

Shh, honey. Go back to sleep. Everything is fine.

Was I asleep? I thought I was dead, but then I thought maybe you needed me so I came back to you. Her thoughts were completely unguarded, entirely open to him when she reached out to make the connection. I think you need me, Ken. I've never actually thought about being needed, or having a home.

Did she sound wistful? Ken only knew he wished they were alone together. Go to sleep, Mari. I'll be right here.

Don't beat the crap out of your brother. My sister wouldn't like it, and then I'd have to stick up for you and we'd get into a big thing and it would all turn ugly.

The tension eased in his belly and shoulders. The pounding around his temples lessened. We wouldn't want that. I'll let it go this time, hut he's being a hit of a bastard. Jack can be like that sometimes.

He was looking down at her face, and even though her eyes were closed, she smiled, her full, sexy lips curving into a smile that took made him want to kiss her.

Jack can be a bastard sometimes? Who would ever have thought? He isn't at all like you, now, is he?

Maybe, he conceded. He slid his hand up her arm to her shoulder, caressed her neck, and tunneled his fingers into her hair. 'We're disturbing Mari. She needs to rest.' It was a good excuse to shut his brother up.

Lily stood up immediately and once again checked Mart's heart and pulse. 'She'll be fine. She does need rest. We can go into the other room and let her be.'

'We'll have to lock her down.' Logan reminded. 'She nearly escaped.'

Ken shot him a warning glare. 'I'll stay here with her. She's not going anywhere.'

'Actually she's going to be very weak. GhostWalkers have a tremendous capacity to heal, but their bodies can only take so many traumas.'

Ken tried not to wince at the word. He knew what Jack was trying to say, but if he took a chance and kept Mari. and he was like his father, she would be the one to suffer.

Lily led the others out of the room, leaving Ken alone with her. He knew he should go to. She was temptation and he was weak, but he couldn't bring himself to give her up quite so soon-and she was safe from him in her weakened state, he was fairly certain.

Chapter 9

'So, you're all set to beat up the world for me,' Ken whispered, stretching out beside Marigold. He turned toward her, scooping her close to him with one arm, trapping her leg with his thigh.

'Mmm.' Her voice was drowsy. 'Of course. It's the least I can do. After all, you did save my life when your brother was going to shoot me with that gun of his. He needs help, you know. He can't just go around offing people he doesn't like.'

Ken smiled, for the first time in a long time feeling it was genuine. 'I've been telling him that for years.' He found the drowsy note in her voice unreasonably sexy.

'What did they do to me?'

'A little torture. We tried extracting names, but you held firm.' He watched her face, and sure enough, he was rewarded with that same brief, intriguing smile.

'Good for me. I would have sung like a bird if you'd tried to make me eat peas.' She gave a little shudder and opened her eyes, blinking up at him. 'That's how all the interrogators get information from me.'

'I've made a note and we'll go that route next time.' He wrapped his arm around her, holding her close to his body heat. 'You scared the hell out of me, Mari. That was close. Way too close.'

She shifted toward him. wincing a little. 'I think the Zenith did the job healing gunshot wounds and broken bones, but I feel like a truck ran over me.'

He ran the pads of his fingers down her face in a small caress. 'You'll feel better in a couple of days. You need lots of sleep.'

Mari's lips tightened and her dark eyes went somber. 'You know they'll come for me. Ken. Everyone, including Lily, is in danger with me here.'

'We know. We're taking precautions.'

'They'd better be darn good precautions. Don't underestimate them.'

'We won't,' he assured.

She liked having him lying beside her. 'I've never lived anywhere but the compound. I've never been away from