She really hated that she had blown it for Rubin and Diego. Part of their advantage was that this group had no idea who they were dealing with. They still didn’t know for certain the brothers were GhostWalkers, but they had to be guessing. Sean was intelligent. She didn’t understand why Rubin was so insistent, but she knew the news had really shaken Sean.
Rubin let some time go by so there was no way to associate the tiny jabs with communication. She noticed that two of the soldiers rubbed their temples. It could have been coincidence, but she’d noticed them before when messages had come in from Rubin. One was called Hudson, the other Andrew.
“We attacked a colonel in the Air Force, his brother who happens to be a lieutenant colonel, and kidnapped the fiancée of the colonel.” Abel rubbed the corners of his eyes. “We’re going to be court-martialed. The keys to our cells are going to be thrown away.”
“We knew going into this that it could go wrong,” Sean reminded the others. “We all agreed it was our only chance. We voted on it. The only thing we can do is go forward and try to talk to the colonel and hope he has some understanding of our situation.” He turned his attention back to Jonquille, his gaze moving over her in a dark, moody way she wasn’t certain she liked.
“Does he have a radio on him?”
She frowned. “Why would he have a radio? He wasn’t lurking around in the woods playing soldier. He’s a doctor. He came to check on patients. He does every year, twice a year. There are people, families, that won’t seek out normal medical attention. Rubin and Diego were born here. They’re accepted and can go into those homes and provide care for those that would otherwise never have it.”
“If the colonel came up here to play doctor, why was he loaded for bear?”
“They always go armed. I’ve never seen either of them without weapons. I don’t go into the woods without weapons. And Diego doesn’t ever go anywhere without his rifle.” The moment the words were out she wanted to clap her hand over her mouth and shove them back inside. It was too late. Far too late.
“Diego,” one of the men whispered, his voice filled with fear. “Sean. That’s not just anyone she’s talking about.” He suddenly glared at Jonquille as if she had deliberately set them up. “Tell us who he is.” He shouted the command at her.
“Hudson, calm down. It isn’t her fault we’re in this mess. What are you worried about?”
“This Diego she’s talking about. The colonel’s brother. He’s known, Sean. He can shoot the wings off a fly. They say he’s a GhostWalker. That he can disappear and then suddenly he’s right in your face and knifes you, slices you from the belly up. Then before you even drop to the ground, he disappears again.”
“That’s what they say about him, do they?” Sean asked, gritting his teeth. He scowled at Jonquille. “Is Diego Campo a Ghost-Walker?”
“If Diego Campo was a GhostWalker, wouldn’t that be considered classified information? Technically, all of you are GhostWalkers, and so am I. By definition, it’s someone genetically and psychically enhanced. I believe we all fall into that category.”
The little flicks were back, rapid but short. Diego had found them. He was lying up on the hillside, Sean in his sights. Give the word, he’d pull the trigger.
No, no, no. She was adamant and fast reacting just in case.
Both Hudson and Andrew rubbed their temples and then the back of their necks. Jonquille winced. She didn’t like that she’d answered so quickly, compounding the problem. She was too close to the two men to use telepathy, not when they would feel what she was doing.
He’s going 2 shoot U.
Her heart accelerated. She remembered his earlier messages to her. She was to treat the shot like a bug bite. That meant she would feel whatever he was shooting at her. She couldn’t believe Diego was right there, out in the forest, so close. She wanted Rubin, which was stupid. Rubin didn’t need to be anywhere near the elite soldiers. Luck eventually ran out, and Diego and Rubin were outnumbered by quite a few.
Where are U. She couldn’t help herself, she had to ask.
On the heels of that burst of fiery flicks, she was shot with a high-powered rifle. The sound was muffled, barely discernible. The sting as the object entered into her body was terrible. She slapped her hand over the entry point and scowled. It burned like hell. A drop of blood told her the tiny object had entered a vein. Or the artery in her neck.
Sorry, I know that hurts, Lightning Bug. It was the longest and sweetest message Rubin had sent her so far. I’m with Luther. All soldiers here departed.