Predatory Game (GhostWalkers, #6)(82)

“It’s too big a risk for you to take.” Because he damn well wasn’t losing both of them. “Give her to me and we’ll make a run for it.”

“She doesn’t have that kind of time.” Saber ignored him, drawing air into her lungs and breathing away her fear of killing Patsy—her fear of losing Jess. The only thing that really mattered in that moment was saving Patsy’s life. And she was Patsy’s only chance. For once, she would try to use what gifts she had to help someone.

She felt the jolt as her own heart squeezed hard, shifting off rhythm. Her chest hurt, the pain worse than expected, but she fought it back and concentrated on her own rhythm, steady and true. Patsy moved weakly, bringing up her hand to cover Saber’s. Fingers fluttered against the back of her hand, and Patsy’s mind moved against hers. Tears burned in the back of Saber’s eyes as she felt Patsy’s acceptance of their merging. Rather than fight her, Patsy was trying to rise above the pain and fear to help connect.

For a moment it worked, Patsy’s heart following direction, settling into a steady beat, but almost at once the jarring pain was back, squeezing down on both of them. Saber moistened her lips, her mouth suddenly dry. She had no choice. If she was going to keep Patsy alive, she was going to have to shock her heart back into a normal pace.

She put her other hand on top of Patsy’s, the only warning, and sent the jolt sizzling through her body. The heart stuttered, bumped, picked up the beat, falling into a steady tempo once again. Saber waited, silently counting the seconds, aware of Patsy’s heart and the ebb and flow of blood through her veins. She had no idea she was whispering until Jess touched her shoulder and she jumped, shocked that it was her chanting—please, please, please—aloud.

“Patsy?” Jess said softly. “Can you sit up?”

“Not yet,” Saber said. “Give her a few minutes.” The pain was beginning to recede, the tight bands in her chest easing.

We don’t have the time, baby. I can hear them coming. I can hold the door against them for a few minutes, but they’ll know we’re in here. They could burn us out or simply stand at the top of the stairs and spray the basement with bullets. We don’t know what kind of firepower they have.

She hated that he was right. She was exhausted, and her body still felt as if she’d been in a train wreck. Tell me what you want me to do.

Jess hated the utter weariness in her voice. He had to ask more of her, although he knew the drain of using psychic abilities. She had just risked her life to save his sister and she’d felt whatever pain accompanied a heart attack with the same intensity Patsy had. And Patsy…Patsy had been tortured and terrified, driven into having a heart attack—all because of him and his choices in his life. It was a hell of thing for a man to have two of the most important women in his life in jeopardy while he—a man who’d spent his life working to save others—was helpless to save them.

“Can you two make it to the vent leading under the house?”

Saber’s swift intake of breath told him she knew what he planned. “We’re not leaving you, Jesse. That’s not an option.”

“Saber, I’m trusting you to get Patsy out of here.”

“Not without you. No way. I mean it, Jesse.”

He reached out and snagged the nape of her neck, his fingers settling around her to give her a small shake. “Don’t f*cking argue with me when we’re all about to die. Get Patsy and get the hell out of here.”

She caught his arm with both hands and rested her head against him. “I can’t leave you. I can’t.”

“Baby, do this for me. I need you and Patsy safe. I can take care of myself, but I can’t take care of the two of you. Hurry. We’re out of time.”

Saber spun away from him and crawled to Patsy. “Can you walk?”

“If I have to,” Patsy said, her voice strained.

Saber reached down and took Patsy’s arm to help her up. Without looking at Jess she helped Patsy toward the screened vent. It was easier for her because she could “feel” where objects were in the dark. “If you aren’t with us in ten minutes, Jess, I’m coming back for you.”

“Make it twenty.”

“The hell with that.” She yanked at the screen until it pulled from the frame. In the dark, no one was going to notice it, not when Jess would be sitting down in the basement in plain sight like a sacrifice. She wanted to scream and throw things in protest, but instead, she pushed Patsy through the opening.

“Where’s Jess?” Patsy asked.

Saber took her hand and yanked her forward. They had to go slow, bent over, and find their way. “We have to hurry.”

Patsy came with her obediently but she was beginning to be more aware. “Where’s my brother?”

Saber kept dragging her along. It was difficult to determine the correct direction, especially since her mind was on Jess rather than on their escape. “Just hurry, Patsy.”

Patsy suddenly swung in front of her and stopped, forcing Saber to do the same. In the dark, she reached out and touched Saber’s face, feeling the tracks of tears. “He isn’t coming with us.”

“No. He could never have made it through here with the chair and he wanted us safe. I’ll go back as soon as I know you’re out of danger.”

Patsy pressed a hand to her chest. “We can’t just leave him. Those men…” She trailed off and a sob escaped.