She licked her lips and forced herself to try to carry on a conversation while subtly pulling at her wrists. “This Whitney would work against the United States for the enemy? Do you really think he has the power to know your orders and to get word to the enemy that you were in the vicinity?”

Wyatt acted like he didn’t even notice she was in a small struggle with him for possession of her hands. She sighed and gave up, curling her fingers into his shirt. Into that heated rock wall. She felt the definition of his muscles behind the thin material and it did things to her body she hadn’t expected.

Wyatt smiled down at her, a cocky, masculine grin that might have meant he knew he wasn’t only curling her fingers but also her toes.

“Absolutely he does. He’s still workin’ for the government, or some covert branch of it. We can’ uncover who has his back. We chop off one head and two more seem to grow. I was wounded. Several of us were, and around that time, probably the moment Whitney heard we were safe and back in the States, he issued a termination order on the babies so you’d grab them and escape. The timin’ is just too coincidental for me to stomach. He brought you here, created a reason for you to escape and a reason for me to come home.”

She closed her eyes briefly. He was making sense. She was so screwed. How could she fight alone against a man who could set up an ambush of a rescue helicopter in Afghanistan? The thought was absolutely, utterly, terrifying.

“How could he know your grandmother would go out to harvest plants at the precise time the sirens went off?”

“Why did they go off? Were you spotted?”

She shook her head. “I heard the sirens and rushed to the laboratory hoping the other two babies had made their escape. I wanted to help them.”

“So all he did was wait for Grand-mere to go to the swamp to harvest and then he set off the alarms. His idiot guards did the rest for him, and she called me just like she knew he would. The question is, why did he do this? Is there a trap inside that laboratory waitin’ for me?”

His thumb slid over the pulse beating rapidly in her wrist. The brush alone sent her pulse rate up and blood rushing through her body. If he thought to check if she was lying that way, he would never get an accurate reading.

Chapter 6

Wyatt looked around the table at the two men and his grandmother, the people who would be most affected, other than Pepper, with his decision to try to get the other two babies out of the laboratory. Ginger sat in the hand-carved high chair that had been his, the only thing left of his grandfather’s, before the man had passed away leaving his wife to care for the four young boys alone.

“I’m lucky to have all of you,” he said. “But we have to be realistic. Ginger, honey, I’m goin’ to talk in front of you, and hope you can understand most of what I say.”

“Wait.” Pepper staggered into the room, her skin covered in tiny beads of sweat. “I’m not going to miss this.”

She carried the bag of fluids with her. Clearly she’d been to the bathroom already. She’d tried to tidy herself up, but she looked as if she might fall over any moment. Wyatt had felt her determination, and several bursts of pain, but he hadn’t realized she’d gotten out of bed – and he should have. She just didn’t seem to give off the GhostWalker energy – or she was very adept at shielding herself.

He was immediately aware of her. Of everything about her. And he knew both Ezekiel and Malichai were as well. It was impossible not to notice how her clothes clung to every curve, how her skin looked petal soft and her beautiful eyes held pain she was desperately trying to cover up. She looked small and fragile, very vulnerable, and his every instinct rose to protect her.

Before either of the other two men could go to her aid, he was on his feet, gliding to her with purposeful steps, his body language not so subtly warning the others off. He swept his arm around her waist possessively, pulling her into his body, taking most of her weight. She trembled. Her eyes met his. The impact hit him with a low, wicked punch.

This isn’ a good idea, he whispered softly into her mind. His grin said he didn’t give a damn whether it was or not, he was glad to have her there pressed close to him.

I know. I’m sorry, but I need to hear.

He acknowledged to himself that he would have been the same. Whether or not the children were hers biologically, she’d been their only mother and she loved them. She had the right to hear what he had to say.

“Zeke, would you mind gettin’ a more comfortable chair from the parlor? Stick it in the corner there where I can hang this bag for her.” He didn’t take his gaze from hers. He let her see he was devouring her. Savoring. Keeping her.

She blinked rapidly and glanced down to his arm, rubbing her hand over the tattoos there.

If Ginger doesn’ understand and wants to, sign for her as best you can. I want her to know I want her here and so does Nonny.

Pepper scowled at him with a quick shake of her head. You can’t take her away from me. That’s not right.

Who said I was? Pipe down for a minute and think logically. You can’ handle all three of them alone as they’re growin’ and you know it, nor can you run with three babies in tow. Seriously, woman, you’re enough to make a man crazy. I’m keepin’ them and I’m keepin’ you.

But…

You’re in my world now, babe. Go with the flow.

He lowered her into the chair, fussed over the bag of fluids and examined the catheter in her arm. He knew he was touching her skin because he had to feel it against his own, not because he was being any kind of healer. He should have felt guilty, but all he felt were the sensations pouring into his mind and body. Whatever she was, he felt as if she had been made for him.