Word of Honor

Dana rubbed her cheek over Emory’s breast, feeling her heart hammer against her ribs. “I know. Let it go. Let it go, baby.”

“Oh God,” Emory cried.

When Emory quieted, Dana eased onto her side and pulled Emory close, her fingers still inside her. “Okay now?”

Emory snuggled her face in the curve of Dana’s neck, her arms draped bonelessly over Dana’s body. “I’ve never felt anything like that in my life.”

“Good start, then.”

“Oh, very good start. Perfect.” Emory kissed Dana’s throat. “I’m sorry. I think I’m falling asleep.”

“That’s okay.”

“Don’t you need to…” Emory faltered, trying hard to think but her mind was so hazy. “Are you excited? Do you need…”

Dana kissed Emory’s forehead. “Yes. I am. But it will keep.”

“For how long?”

Dana laughed. “Until the next time.”

“’S wonderful,” Emory muttered. “Wonderful.”

“Go to sleep now.” Dana rested her cheek against Emory’s head. She didn’t want to go to sleep. She didn’t want to waste a moment of this night. This night that, no matter what followed, marked the beginning of the rest of her life.

Chapter Twenty-two

Monday

Cam rolled over, trying not to wake Blair, and checked the bedside clock. The alarm was due to go off in two minutes. Blair slept with her back to Cam’s front, her hips cushioned in the curve of Cam’s pelvis. Cam shifted closer and wrapped her arm around Blair’s midsection. When she kissed the side of Blair’s neck, Blair murmured and drew Cam’s hand to her breast. The nipple hardened and Blair sighed.

“Baby,” Cam murmured, “we need to get up.”

“Can we cheat?”

Cam laughed. “We could, but I don’t trust those reporters not to show up early. I’d prefer to have clothes on when they arrive.”

Grumbling, Blair rolled onto her back and pulled Cam down for a kiss. “Quickies like last night are nice, but I’m getting that wanting you to make love to me for an hour feeling.”

“If you hadn’t put me to sleep quite so efficiently last night, I would have taken care of that for you.”

Blair grinned. “I love knocking you out. It makes me feel virile.”

“Virile, huh?” Cam smoothed her hand down Blair’s belly and brushed her fingers between her legs. She was wet. “Not the first thought that comes to my mind.”

“I meant like potent and powerful.” Blair tilted her hips and opened her legs. “Five minutes. Five minutes to take the edge off until we can steal a couple of hours to ourselves.”

Cam settled against the pillows. “Come up here.”

Blair got to her knees and straddled Cam’s chest. When Cam cupped her ass and guided her down, she closed her eyes and took the pleasure only Cam could give her.

Matheson wrapped his thin thermal blanket around his rifle and buried it in the snow at the base of a forked pine. He wouldn’t need it for the close-in action he had planned, and the extra few seconds it would buy him not to tip off the agents guarding his quarry would be vital. Next he secured the extra ammo clips for his automatic in the pockets of his jacket. Then he chewed a K-ration bar and observed the shift change taking place at the rear of the cabin. Every four hours throughout the night, the agents had changed. Now an agent in winter BDUs made his way around the side path to the back deck, climbed the steps, and stopped next to the hot tub to speak to the woman who had had the last watch. Matheson smiled, thinking about the hot tub scene. Best surveillance duty he’d ever had. He couldn’t radio his second with an update yet because the Secret Service would have monitoring devices to pick up any transmissions in the area. He estimated he would have five seconds before the agent outside Blair Powell’s back door realized what he had planned.

Emory sat up in bed and ran her hand over the empty place beside her. The space was still warm. She heard water running in the bathroom and relaxed. Dana hadn’t left. The bathroom door opened, and when Dana emerged, naked, Emory smiled. “Hi.”

Dana slid back in bed and kissed Emory. “Hi. How’s your morning going?”

“It’s different.”

“How so?” Dana’s tone was light but she looked worried. “Morning-after regrets?”

“No.” Emory ran her fingers through Dana’s hair. “But I have never been at such a loss as to what I should say. Or do.”

“Anything bothering you?” Dana propped her head on her elbow and caressed Emory’s shoulder and arm with the other hand.

“Not that I can think of, although my mind is a little fuzzy still.” Emory stroked Dana’s hip.

“Sleep okay?”

“In between waking up to have sex with you?” Emory shook her head, not quite believing how many times she’d come and amazed that she wanted to again, already. “I feel great. Should I apologize for not letting you get any sleep?”

“Hardly. Everything about last night was fantastic.” Dana dipped her head to kiss Emory’s breast, then rolled her tongue lazily around the swiftly hardening nipple. When Emory moaned and held her head more tightly to her breast, Dana ignited, just as she had every time Emory had reached for her in the night. Emory was magic in bed. As wary as Emory was out of bed, she was equally unreserved in it. She asked for what she wanted and seemed to delight in pleasuring Dana, leaving Dana endlessly hungry for her. Dana moved to the other nipple while continuing to toy with the one she had abandoned.

“You make it really really hard for me to think,” Emory complained weakly. Needing more contact, aching for Dana in a way she had never before experienced, she pulled Dana on top of her. She kissed her, fusing their centers while massaging the strong muscles in Dana’s shoulders and back. “Oh God, that’s good.”

Dana braced herself on her arms, thrusting harder and faster between Emory’s legs. Emory’s nails dug into her skin, raked the length of her back, and clutched at her ass. Emory’s eyes flew open and the awe and pleasure skating across her face made Dana’s clit swell and pulse.

She groaned.

“Oh, you’re going to come, aren’t you,” Emory said, wrapping her legs harder around Dana’s hips. “I love it when you…oh. God… I’m…”

“You too.” Dana gasped and her eyes slammed shut. “Oh Christ.”

They clung to one another, straining, shivering, crying out. Then Dana’s arms folded and she collapsed into Emory’s embrace. Emory stroked her hair, the back of her neck, her shoulders.

“I love what you do to me,” Emory whispered.

“You kill me.”

Emory smiled, physically satisfied and supremely content. She thought about what she’d said last night, that if she made love to Dana, kept control, she wouldn’t lose herself. How foolish she had been. She hadn’t been able to keep Dana out of any part of herself. She hadn’t known what true need was until Dana had awakened it in her, and answered it. “God, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Dana raised her head, a frown forming between her brows. “About what?”

Emory traced Dana’s mouth with her fingers. “About you. About this hunger I have for you.”

“It’s new for me too,” Dana said. “But last night feels like a beginning. I’m not going anywhere.” She glanced at the clock and grinned ruefully. “Well, not permanently. But I have to go now.”

“Work?”

“’Fraid so.” Dana rolled out of bed.

Emory missed her immediately.

“I have a pre-press interview scheduled with Blair, and if I don’t get going, I’ll be late.” Dana kissed Emory quickly and grabbed her clothes before she gave in and did what she wanted to do, which was taste her and tease her and make her come again. And again. She pulled on her jeans and T-shirt. “Can I see you later? Alone.”

“Yes.” When Dana leaned down for another kiss, Emory curled an arm around her neck and, unable to stop at just a light kiss, plunged into her mouth, drinking her in. When she let her go, she knew she would ache for her for hours. “But I can’t promise I won’t attack you the instant I see you.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Dana ran a hand through her hair and shook her head. “Jesus. I really don’t want to go.”

Emory yanked the covers up to her chin and clutched them to her body. “Go now. Go, or I’m going to drag you back down here and I’m not going to let you up again today.”

Dana backed away, her eyes devouring Emory. “Think about me.”

“You have no idea.” Emory sighed. “I haven’t been able to think about anything else since the moment I saw you.”

Dana slipped out the bedroom door and Emory collapsed into the pillows. Her body was in turmoil, but her mind was as clear and calm as it had ever been. For the first time in her life, she didn’t have to understand something to know it was right.

Matheson watched Cameron Roberts stride down the path toward the lodge just as another agent he didn’t recognize headed toward the cabin. That made three agents stationed somewhere in the vicinity of the cabin. He was neither surprised nor deterred. The president’s daughter was never alone, but there were usually fewer people around her while she was in her private quarters than out in public. That’s why he had organized the first strike on her loft. This cabin wasn’t much different. The main lodge was crawling with agents, and according to the White House press bulletin the previous day, a press conference was scheduled later on in the morning. His window of opportunity to get to her was very small, and would never be perfect. Fortunately, surprise was on his side. And of course, so was God. If he’d wanted to kill her, she’d be dead by now. For the moment, at least, he would attempt to deliver what his foreign friends had requested. He removed the Glock from its holster and set off into the woods. If he approached the cabin from the side farthest from the lodge, he would be invisible most of the way.

He drew in a deep breath of sharp mountain air. It was a great day for a hunt.

“Morning,” Dana said to Paula Stark as she climbed the steps to Blair’s cabin. She indicated the door. “I’m expected.”

“Morning.” Stark knew the day’s schedule, including the media circus that was planned for noon. Nightmare was more like it. Controlling traffic up and down the mountainside was going to be a challenge, and despite ID checks and required press passes, limiting Blair’s exposure to the press and the curious was essentially impossible. Short of keeping Blair inside, absolute security was unattainable. Nevertheless, it was Stark’s job to provide just that. “She’s waiting.”

“Thanks.” Dana knocked and Blair answered immediately. “I hope I’m not too early.”

Blair smiled. “You’re right on time. Come on in. I just put fresh coffee on.”

Dana stepped through the door and removed her jacket. She’d barely had time to grab a shower, pull on fresh jeans, a T-shirt, and pullover before rushing back to Blair’s. When she had passed Emory’s cabin, it took all her willpower not to detour for just a minute. She’d resisted because she knew that a minute was not going to be enough, and she could hardly keep the president’s daughter waiting. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help wondering if Emory had gone back to sleep, curled around the memory of their night together. Pushing away the images that threatened to stir her up and wreak havoc on her concentration, she indicated the coat tree. “May I?”

“Of course.” Blair headed back toward the kitchen. “Hungry? I’ve got bagels to go with that coffee.”

“Sold.”

As Dana followed, she heard a thump on the back porch. Snow sliding off the roof, most likely. A new storm had blown in sometime before dawn, and already several new inches had accumulated on the path.

The guard on the rear deck jerked to attention when a figure appeared around the corner of the cabin. Without hesitating, he stepped forward, his hand sliding inside his jacket. “That’s far enou…”

Matheson raised the pistol and fired. Blood blossomed on the agent’s forehead, and he fell. Before the body landed, Matheson reared back, kicked the back door open, and vaulted into the kitchen.

“Good morning,” he said pleasantly as he leveled his gun on the first daughter. “Is that coffee I smell?”

“Who are you?” Blair quickly backed up into the doorway, hoping to shield Dana from the intruder’s line of sight. If he didn’t see her, Dana might have a chance to get out. She judged the distance to his gun hand. Not enough room for a roundhouse kick, but with luck a well-placed snap kick might work.

Before Blair could try, Matheson rushed her, spun her around toward the living room, and shoved her with a fist to the middle of her back. “Move.”

Blair shouted a warning to Dana before crashing into an end table. Matheson clubbed Dana in the temple. As she fell, the front door burst open. Stark raced inside, shouting into her transmitter, her gun sweeping the room.

Matheson opened fire.

As the red-alert signal came over her receiver, Patrice Hara jumped up from the small dining room table, knocking her coffee cup to the floor. “Greg!”

Wozinski crashed through the double doors from the kitchen. “I heard it!”

“Someone advise Commander Roberts!” Patrice raced for the door.

Seconds later, she and Wozinski sprinted down the snow-covered path toward Blair’s cabin. Vaughn ran up the trail toward them from the far side of Blair’s cabin. Patrice shouted into her radio. “Stark? Julio? Status?”

“Jesus,” Wozinski panted when his receiver remained silent. “Where are they?”

Patrice caught movement out of the corner of her eye and pivoted, her gun extended. Cameron Roberts ran toward them over the hard-packed snow in her shirtsleeves, her weapon out, her face a study of eerie calm.

“Report?” Cam barked, never slowing her pace.

“Don’t know.” Patrice stepped aside as the commander barreled past, then rushed to catch up. “I got an interrupted transmission from… oh Jesus.”

Everyone except Cam skidded to a halt. Blair stood framed in the doorway of the cabin. A man in winter BDUs stood behind her, watching them approach. He held an automatic pistol to Blair’s temple.

“Hara, Wozinski, stay back,” Cam shouted, halting at the foot of the path that led to Blair’s cabin. Then she leveled her weapon on the man in the doorway. Matheson. At last. “Let her go.”

Matheson smiled. “I don’t think so.”

Cam’s head felt like it might explode. She was going to kill him for touching Blair. Not now. Later. She would kill him later. She forced back the terror at the sight of the gun against Blair’s head. Not like Janet—Blair, not Janet. Blair. He would not take Blair. Cam eased slowly forward in the unblemished snow, one step at a time, her weapon steady in a two-handed grip. “What do you want?”

“That’s far enough.” Matheson pushed the gun barrel into Blair’s temple, and Blair winced, coming up on her toes to relieve the pressure.

Cam was close enough to see the expression in Blair’s eyes. Fear, yes, but above all, fury. Good, Blair would need that anger to keep her head clear. Cam halted. Dead man. You’re a dead man.

“What do you want?” Cam repeated calmly. If he’d wanted Blair dead, he would have shot her and been long gone.

“Tell the president to expect a call.”

“I can help you get what you want.” Cam took another cautious step forward. Twenty yards. She was good at twenty yards, but not good enough. Always trade for something. She would have to break a few rules, but this was Blair. “Let’s work together here.”

“Why should I do that? I hold all the power.” He looped an arm around Blair’s neck and jerked her against his chest, shielding his body further. “I have her.”

“You know how it works,” Cam said, playing to his ego. “Show of good faith. You give me something, I make a call to the right person.”

“And what would you want?”

“I need to come inside. Then I’ll make some calls.”

“No,” Blair cried, her voice muffled from the pressure of Matheson’s arm on her throat.

Matheson laughed. “We’ve got enough people inside already.”

“Then I’ll trade places with her. I’ll be a lot more useful to you than her. I know who holds the power in Washington. Do you really think it’s her father?” Cam laughed and took another step. Almost close enough. If she could just draw his fire. She was counting on her team to have gotten someone into position with a sniper rifle. “Me for her.”

Blair struggled in Matheson’s grip and cried out when he fisted his hand in her hair, yanking her head back. His expression hardened. “Maybe everyone will feel more inclined to be helpful if I put a bullet in her.”

“All right, all right,” Cam shouted. “If you hurt her, you’ll have nothing to bargain with.”

“I’ve got a lot to bargain with. One of your agents is bleeding out on the floor just inside,” Matheson said conversationally. “And I’ve got another one who’s going to have quite a headache if she ever comes to.” He smiled. “I’ve got plenty of currency.”

“You know what I’m talking about,” Cam said, standing rigid, her gun still trained on him. She didn’t raise her voice, but it carried through the clear cold air like steel slicing flesh. “Hurt her, and God Almighty could be in that room and it won’t save you.”

“What makes you think God isn’t in this room?” Matheson dragged Blair backward into the cabin. At the last instant, he turned his gun on Cam.

Blair’s scream was lost in the sound of gunfire.

Chapter Twenty-three

For the span of a heartbeat, Cam stood her ground with bullets singing around her head, praying for a one split-second glimpse of Matheson’s unprotected body. But the bastard was smart, and he held Blair so close that only an inch or two of head and torso was visible. She was a good shot, but not good enough to risk Blair’s life. Cam held for another heartbeat, petitioning the universe to bend to the force of her will, but it would not yield. She dove to the ground chest first, barely registering the pain lasering through her bruised ribs. When silence fell, she rolled to her knees, breathing hard, and trained her weapon on the closed cabin door. She wanted to storm the cabin, she wanted to be in that room with her hands around Matheson’s neck. She wanted to shout that if he hurt her, if he so much as touched her again, she would tear his still-beating heart from his chest with her bare hands.

“Commander,” Hara called from somewhere behind Cam. “Commander, take cover, for God’s sake.”

Cam stood up, her gaze riveted to the cabin, and slowly backed away. Take cover. What kind of cover did Blair have inside that cabin with a maniac? When Cam reached the trail in front of the cabin and saw no activity from inside, she holstered her weapon and sought out her people, who had taken positions in the trees around the clearing. Hara and Wozinski had been joined by the other members of Blair’s security detail along with Steph and the rest of Tanner’s team. All told, a dozen formidable professionals. Someone, probably Hara, had deployed them to cover the cabin should Matheson try to escape, with or without the hostages.

Cam needed to formulate a counterattack. Matheson was going to move fast, and he had the advantage as long as Blair was alive. That he intended to kill her was a given. At some point, Blair would no longer have value as bargaining currency, and then Matheson would execute her. Cam had only one option—kill him before he ever had that chance.

“Steph,” Cam said, “put your best sniper on that door. Put another on the rear. I want only you, me, and Hara to have a channel to them. I give the go.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Make sure we have a tight perimeter on the cabin. Then evacuate the other cabins, get everyone into the lodge, and post someone on all the entrances. No one leaves without my say-so.”

“On it.” Steph spoke into a throat mic as she ran toward the closest cabin.

“Hara.”

“Commander?”

“I need aerial surveillance. Have Wozinski contact the president’s advance team in town and tell them we’re canceling the press conference because we need extra time to secure the road up here. Do not apprise them of the situation here. Then put Greg and one of Steph’s long-range shooters into the air in our bird.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Hara started away.

“Hara,” Cam said.

Hara looked back. “Ma’am?”

“If I go down, you have the command.” Cam stared at the cabin. “He’s going to try to move her. Soon. He’s going to come out and she’s his ticket to freedom. Do not let him put her in a vehicle. Give the sniper the green light to fire at will.”

“Understood.” Hara’s voice was raspy with tension.

Hara disappeared and Cam signaled for one of Steph’s men to take up the position that Hara had vacated. Then she went in search of Mac Phillips. She found him hunkered down behind a boulder, an assault rifle trained on the cabin. “Stark’s down.”

“Could you tell—”

“Status unknown.” Cam fisted her hands. “Dana Barnett’s in there too. That’s all we know.”

“Jesus.”

“Do you have people on the back?”

“Two teams.”

“Good. Who was on the back door?”

“Julio.” Mac shook his head without taking his eyes off the cabin. “There’s a body on the porch. Must be him. No way Matheson could have gotten past him unless he took him out.”

“I agree.” Cam’s head was buzzing, her instincts were at war. Her heart and a good part of her mind screamed for her to get Blair out now, get Blair away from him, get Blair to safety. But her training demanded she be calm and dispassionate—assess the situation, plan for contingencies, and ultimately, execute a counterattack. The Secret Service did not react, it acted. She could not allow Matheson to dictate the plays. She knew that. But she wanted to be inside that cabin with Blair more than she had ever wanted anything in her life, and she didn’t care if she died trying. Not the way she needed to be thinking. She closed her eyes and directed every bit of willpower she possessed into resurrecting her professional shields. She would do this by the book, until she had no other choice.

“You think he’s alone?” Mac asked.

“Looks that way. So far.” Cam’s nerves settled as she focused on the problem. “No covering fire when any of us took position, and these kind of guys don’t pass up a ready target. Besides, I think the only way he could have gotten this close without being detected was to come alone or with one or two others.”

“Bold plan but makes sense.”

“The lone gunman,” Cam said bitterly. “The hardest to defend against. Christ, he could have skied to within a hundred yards of here from almost anywhere on the mountain and we wouldn’t have known.”

“What does he want?”

“What do any of these fanatics want? Someone to listen to them. The semblance of power.” She raked a hand through her hair. She was afraid it was more than mere political fanaticism this time. She feared his true target was Blair and always had been. Her shirt, wet from her dive into the snow, had frozen and chafed her skin. She shivered. “He’ll tell us soon enough. In the meantime, I need you back inside the lodge.

Set up a command post and monitor any and all transmissions in or out of this area.”

“With respect, Commander, I think I’ll be of more use out here. Maybe you should take the inside—”

“No,” Cam snapped. “He’s got partners somewhere. He wouldn’t walk into this if he didn’t have someone on the outside waiting to help him disappear. The more we know, the more we limit his options. I don’t want him to think he’s in charge.”

“Right. Okay.” Mac looked uncomfortable. “Are you going to call for backup?”

Cam shook her head. “We have all the people we need right here, and I know just how good they are. We bring in hostage rescue or a spec ops team and we’ll have chaos. I’m not putting him under that kind of pressure. Not with our people inside that cabin with him.” Not with his gun on Blair.

When Mac looked like he would say more, Cam cut him off. She knew she’d probably lose her creds over the decision. That didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except getting Blair and the others out. “What’s Valerie and Renee’s ETA?”

“They should be landing right about now.”

“Good. Go ahead and brief them, then I want to see them both.” Cam scanned the area, checking to be sure she had people in appropriate vantage points. “Double-check that everyone has radios and put them on delta frequency. Then get back to the lodge, Mac.” She tore her eyes from the cabin and met his. “That’s where I need you. I need to know what he’s doing. I’m blind out here.”

“Yes ma’am.” Mac crouched, ready to move away, but still he hesitated. “I’ll send a vest and a dry shirt down for you.”

“I’m okay.”

“You might be out here for a while.”

Wordlessly, Cam nodded. She would be here until Blair was safe. Time was immaterial.

Emory had heard gunfire before. The first shot had brought her upright in bed as she struggled to make sense of the sound. She knew what it was but her conscious mind refused to embrace the idea. The second and third reports had followed closely on the first, and instinctively she’d rolled out of bed onto the floor, no longer able to deny the reality. The eerie silence that followed was more unnerving than the gunfire. Staying low, out of sight of the bedroom window, she quickly grabbed her clothes and jumped into the bathroom. Hastily, hands shaking, she pulled on jeans, a sweater, and boots. When she dared to peek out the window she saw armed figures moving at the edge of the woods, but she couldn’t make out who they were. Heart hammering, she dashed into the main room and snatched her jacket and cell phone. She wished she had a gun. After the first attack on her life, she’d gotten a license and learned to shoot but she refused to carry a weapon. Despite the threats made against her, she did not want to answer violence and hatred with more violence. She wondered now if she had been wrong.

She knew she was safer inside the cabin than outside, and she knew that someone would come. Crouched on the floor behind the sofa, she hoped it would provide enough cover from an errant bullet. Waiting was the hardest thing she’d ever done.

When a sharp knock on the door was followed almost immediately by a voice calling, “Emory, it’s Steph. Let me in,” Emory jumped to her feet.

“What happened?” Emory asked anxiously as she held the door open just wide enough for Steph to slip inside.

“There’s been an incident at Blair’s. I need to get you and the others up to the lodge.”

Emory grabbed Steph’s arm. “What do you mean by incident? Is she hurt?”

A muscle in Steph’s jaw bunched. “It’s a hostage situation, Emory. I don’t have much time. Let’s go.”

“Oh my God. Dana. Dana was supposed to meet with Blair. Is she there?”

“We’re not sure who’s in there.”

Stunned, Emory glanced in the direction of the bedroom. Was it possible that less than an hour ago she and Dana had lain together in that bed, making love, talking about the next time? What if there was no next time? What if Dana never came back? Emory couldn’t take it in.

Blood rushed from her head and her vision flickered. The room turned gray at the edges and she swayed. “This can’t be. She was just here. We made lo—”

Steph grabbed Emory’s arm to steady her. “Jesus, Emory. I didn’t know about you two. I’m sorry.”

“It’s…we’re…new.” Angry at herself for almost falling apart, Emory shook her head. She clenched her hands until her fingers ached. Better. “What can you tell me?”

“Until we get a head count up at the lodge, we won’t know for sure who’s with Blair. The perp said someone was unconscious. It might be Dana.”

“What’s going to happen?” Emory asked urgently as Steph opened the door and guided her outside with an arm around her and her gun at the ready. Now that they were outside, Emory could see agents shielded by boulders and trees ringing Blair’s cabin.

“We’re going to get this guy,” Steph said resolutely. “Trust us.”

Emory wasn’t used to relying on others to take care of what was important to her. And Dana was very important to her. “I know how to shoot. I practice at the range regularly. I can help.”

“You’ve never shot a person.” Steph led Emory quickly up the path toward the lodge. “It’s a lot different than a paper target.”

“He’s hurt my friends. I won’t hesitate.”

Steph indicated the back door of the lodge. “You’re the only doctor we have. We might need you. See if you can put together an aid station.”

Emory watched Steph hurry away. It wasn’t enough. Caring for the wounded, no matter how necessary, was not going to assuage the terrible anger that roiled in her chest. But doing what she could do might keep her from imagining Dana hurt. Dana had to be all right. They had just begun—only hours before she had held her, loved her. Emory refused to believe she would never have another chance.

Matheson shoved Blair toward the sofa. “Sit down.” Blair hesitated. She wouldn’t have very many opportunities to get herself out of this, and she didn’t have much time. Stark lay slumped on the floor just inside the door. Blair couldn’t tell how many times she’d been hit, but a dark pool of blood spread out beneath her body from an obvious bullet wound in her left thigh. She appeared to be unconscious, but Blair wasn’t certain. Dana lay face down where she’d fallen after Matheson had clubbed her. Either one of them could be mortally injured, and she wasn’t going to stand by and watch them die.

As if reading her thoughts, Matheson said, “If you make a move anywhere except where I tell you to move, I’ll shoot one of them.”

“She needs attention,” Blair said, pointing to Stark. “At least let me see if I can slow down the bleeding.”

Matheson didn’t answer as he collected Stark’s gun, tucked it into the waistband at the small of his back, and sidled next to the front window. With his eyes and his gun still on Blair, he felt for the cord and yanked the drapes closed. Then he stepped over Stark and nudged Dana’s shoulder with his boot. When she didn’t respond, he shoved and she rolled onto her back with a groan. Matheson flicked a glance at Blair. “Who’s this?”

Blair said nothing, and Matheson kicked Dana in the ribs. Blair shot forward as Dana moaned. “Leave her alone.”

“I’d stop right there,” Matheson said coldly. He pointed the gun at Dana’s head. “One more step, and I won’t care who she is.”

“She’s a friend of mine.”

“She’s not carrying, so she’s not an agent.” Matheson motioned Blair back to the couch. “Sit down.”

Dana opened her eyes, blinked, and lifted her head enough to look around the room. Her expression darkened when she saw Stark. “Christ.” She pushed herself to her knees, coughed a few times, and finally focused on Matheson. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

He laughed. “Welcome to the party. Who the hell are you?”

“The name’s Barnett.” She glanced at Blair. “I guess he’s not a friend of yours.”

“Not exactly.”

“Letting a federal agent die isn’t a very good idea.” Dana got slowly to her feet, swaying slightly. She pressed a hand to her rib cage. “How about I take a look at her?”

Matheson motioned with his gun toward Stark. “I want you over there anyhow. On the floor, next to her. If you want to put your hand over the hole in her leg, be my guest.”

Dana inched carefully in Stark’s direction, her eyes on Matheson.

Then she knelt and worked her pullover over her head, exposing the white T-shirt she wore underneath. Pressing the balled-up garment against Stark’s thigh, she said, “She’s bleeding at a pretty good clip. How about if I drag her out onto the porch so someone can get her to a medic.” She leveled her gaze at Matheson. “You can watch me through the doorway. If I try to run, you can shoot me.”

“Thanks for the permission. She stays.”

“I’m the one you want,” Blair said. “I’m all you need, and you know it. Let Dana take the agent outside. There’s no reason she has to die.”

“You might be crazy enough to try coming after me,” Matheson said to Blair. “But if you know I’m going to shoot one of your friends if you so much as sneeze wrong, you just might behave. They stay.”

Blair glanced at Dana. “I’m sorry about this.”

“I’m not.” Dana held pressure on Stark’s leg but kept her focus on Matheson. “Look, I’m an investigative reporter. You must have an important story to tell. Why don’t you tell me, starting with what you want.”

Matheson regarded her with interest. “You might be useful, but I’m not sure I’ll be here long enough to tell you the story.” He smiled and pulled a cell phone from his pocket. “Ms. Powell and I are going for a ride to meet some of my friends.”

Chapter Twenty-four

Minutes, hours, the arbitrary measures of existence had no relevance for Cam. All that mattered to her was the woman inside the cabin. She, she was the touchstone, the focus, the foundation of Cam’s life. Until Blair was free, nothing affected her—not the cold, not hunger, not fatigue, not the pain in her bruised ribs or the cramps in her muscles from remaining motionless for so long. When she heard the crunch of footsteps on snow behind her, she didn’t turn. She kept her eyes and her weapon trained on the door that separated her from her world.

“Requesting permission to relieve Agent Hara,” Renee Savard said stiffly.

Cam glanced at her long enough to see that she carried an assault rifle. “Mac informed you we have a hostage situation?”

“Yes. He said you’d brief me on the details.” Renee stared at the cabin. “Egret. Is she injured?”

“Not so far.”

Renee drew a shuddering breath. “Mac said Paula was on duty.”

“Yes.”

“Do we know her status?”

“No.” Cam wanted to comfort her, but it wasn’t the time. For either of them. “But we think she’s injured.”

“Gunshot?”

“Probably.” Cam spared her another quick glance, taking in the pallor beneath her normally golden skin and her wildly dilated pupils. Her stress level was off the charts. “There’s a civilian inside too. Dana Barnett.”

“How long are we going to wait?”

“Not long,” Cam said grimly. “And I can’t afford to have an agent out here who I can’t trust to follow my orders.”

“I’m all right, Commander.”

“And if I tell you that Egret is your priority, your only priority?”

Renee gave a short, curt laugh. “Paula would kick my ass if I handled it any other way.”

“Take Hara’s place. Tell her she will lead the rear team and to check their positions. I want them as close as they can get.”

“Yes ma’am.” Renee pivoted, then stopped. “He doesn’t deserve to leave here alive.”

“I didn’t hear that. Take your post, Agent. Go.”

Silence fell. Sunlight glinted on the pure white snow and Cam blinked to clear her vision in the blinding glare. She agreed with Renee about Matheson’s fate, but she couldn’t give Renee permission to carry out an action that might later weigh heavily on her conscience—or at the very least end her career. Cam had no such concerns. Matheson had made it personal when he sent a team to assassinate Blair, and she would readily bear the responsibility for delivering justice.

Valerie leaned into the back of the lead Suburban and pulled out a flak vest. Mac had given her a thumbnail sketch of what had transpired when she, Renee, and Felicia arrived. She’d traveled from Manhattan in jeans and boots so all she’d needed to do was exchange her coat for a heavy black sweater she had packed in her luggage. She clipped her holster to her right hip and unlocked the ammunition compartment in the rear of the vehicle. She touched her com link. “Mac, have someone collect all the XM84s from the vehicles.”

“Roger.”

Straightening, she gripped her vest in one hand and a rifle in the other. When she turned, she found Diane, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, watching her. Despite her heavy, knee-length winter coat, Diane looked frozen. “You shouldn’t be out here.”

“I heard you were back.” Diane glanced down the slope toward the cabins. “I know you need… I imagine you… God, I can’t imagine what it is you need to do right now. I know it isn’t talking to me, but…”

Valerie quickly strode forward while shifting her rifle beneath the arm which held her vest, and pulled Diane against her. She kissed her, hard, almost desperately. Then she stepped back. “Mac told me you were all right and inside the lodge. I don’t have any time, darling. I need you to go back inside. I need you safe.”

“I love you,” Diane said urgently. “You understand me? I love you. Please, please be careful.”

“I love you too. I’ll be back as soon as we get our people out.” Valerie smiled softly. “Go back inside now. You’re cold.”

“I’ll see you in a little while,” Diane said, gripping Valerie’s hand. “I will see you.”

“Yes.” Valerie backed away, carefully securing Diane’s image in the private place deep inside that comforted her. Then she cleared her mind of love, of fear, of uncertainty, of anything that could distract or deter her, and went in search of Cam.

Cam made the call she knew had to be made.

“Lucinda Washburn.”

“Lucinda, it’s Cameron Roberts. You need to advise the president’s security detail to go to priority one immediately.”

“Why?”

“At oh seven thirty this morning Matheson killed an agent, shot another, entered Blair’s cabin, and took her hostage. I have no indication that this is a part of a larger operation, but we can’t discount it either.”

“Hold on.” After several seconds of silence, Lucinda returned. “A solitary gunman?”

“Yes.”

“What does he want?”

“I don’t know yet, but he clearly plans to negotiate for Blair’s freedom. I suspect he’ll want to talk to the president.”

“Is she hurt?”

“No,” Cam said gruffly, forcing the image of Matheson’s gun against Blair’s temple from her mind.

“I can have a strike team from—”

“No. I have teams in place. I don’t need more people. Right now he thinks he has the upper hand, and I want to keep it that way.”

“She’s the president’s daughter. We have to respond with force.”

“Don’t you think I know who she is?” Cam took a deep breath, trying to rein in her temper. “You can’t send me anyone more qualified than the people I have here. We’re all trained for this. Just make sure that the president is protected.”

“I intend to. I want updates. I can’t promise you anything else right now. The president and his security adviser will have to be notified at the very least.”

“I can promise you this,” Cam said. “I’m not letting anyone jeopardize Blair’s safety.”

“That may not be your call to ma—”

Cam clicked off her phone and shoved it into her pants pocket.

Stark clawed her way to awareness through a thick fog of pain. Her chest burned with every breath and her left leg screamed in agony. The bastard had shot her. Her heart couldn’t beat any faster, but a surge of sick apprehension washed through her. Blair. She groaned and tried to sit up. She managed to prop herself up a few inches.

“Stay still.”

Stark struggled to focus. Dana Barnett leaned over her, her mouth set in a grim line.

“Blair?”

“She’s okay,” Dana murmured.

Stark’s strength deserted her and she collapsed back to the floor. She tried to piece the fragments of images she could recall into a picture that made sense. A gunman had breached their line. Back door. She jerked at the realization that the gunman had to have taken out at least one agent. She groaned and struggled to rise again.

“Don’t,” Dana insisted. “Don’t give him a target.”

“What…what does he want?”

“Something I can do for you?” Matheson said from a few feet away.

“She wants to know what you want,” Dana said, keeping pressure on Stark’s leg as she looked over her shoulder at the man who stood equidistant between her and Blair. If they rushed him simultaneously, he would probably only be able to shoot one of them. However, she couldn’t be sure which one it would be, and she didn’t want to risk the first daughter being gunned down. She caught Blair’s eye and had a feeling Blair was thinking the same thing. “I told you I’m a reporter.” “I recognize your name now. You’re good.” “Then now is your chance to say what you want to say.” “First there’s a little business transaction that I have to take care of.” Matheson punched a number on his cell phone and waited a few seconds. “Phase One completed. I’ll await the call.”

He hung up, pocketed his phone, and leaned with his back against the stone fireplace, his gaze alternating between Dana and Blair. “Let me start by saying I’m a patriot.”

“Yes,” Dana said, careful to keep her tone neutral. “I can see that.”

“Cameron.” Valerie crouched down, her shoulder touching Cam’s. She rested her rifle against the boulder that provided them partial cover.

“Hello, Valerie.”

“How long has it been?”

“Thirty-two minutes,” Cam said without looking at her watch. “Is everyone secured at the lodge?”

“Yes. No secondary force?”

“None that I’ve seen. I have a feeling he plans to deliver her to whoever wants to use her as a bargaining chip. Otherwise, he would have taken her out already.”

“I agree. Up until today, his agenda has been assassination, not kidnapping.”

Cam registered the pressure of Valerie’s arm against hers and felt an infusion of strength—unsought but freely given. Her next breath came just a little easier. “Any ideas on who’s pulling his strings?”

“Foreign interests—probably working with Bin Laden, or allied factions.”

Cam’s stomach spasmed and she swallowed back a wave of nausea. She agreed. The stakes had been raised. Matheson was probably

exactly what he appeared, a deranged but clever domestic terrorist whose alliance with those with far more destructive allegiances had turned him into a lethal adversary. “Recommendation?”

“Two four-man teams, flash-bangs followed by rapid entry.”

“We have three hostages at risk.” What Cam didn’t have to say was that a rescue attempt would likely result in casualties. Even given the five to six seconds of overwhelming disorientation Matheson was likely to experience in the chaos created by a million candlewatt flash of light and a 175 decibel bang, he was certain to open fire. Probably indiscriminately. The assault team would have body armor, but none of the hostages would. “He’ll try to take them out.”

“If we let him leave here with her, her chance of survival drops drastically. Right now, he’s on our turf and he’s outgunned.”

“He’s counting on us not launching a counterattack. He’ll kill her if we do, and he knows we know it.”

Valerie said nothing. Cam wondered if she would make a different decision if the hostage Matheson was most likely to kill wasn’t her lover. She didn’t know. How could she? All she knew was what she felt right now. Helpless. Powerless. Afraid.

Blair listened to Matheson talk, her mind rebelling at the insanity of his diatribe. How could anyone believe that mass murder was justifiable for any reason, let alone love of God and country? She had to remind herself that of course he didn’t make sense, because he was a madman. The frightening thing was that he didn’t look or really even sound crazy, until she absorbed his message of hatred and bigotry. She shivered, not from fear but revulsion.

Dana was amazing, drawing Matheson out with her questions and attention. Somehow she managed to engage him, making him feel as if what he had to say was very important. As if he were very important. As Blair watched and listened, she could see Matheson warm to his topic. His voice and face became more animated. He was truly terrifying in his utter sense of righteousness.

As they talked, Blair realized that Matheson’s focus, even his body position, shifted more and more toward Dana. She had a feeling that Dana knew it too, and suddenly, she understood exactly what Dana Barnett was doing. Dana was making herself the target.

Blair suddenly feared Dana would try to draw Matheson’s fire to give Blair a chance to get away. She couldn’t let that happen. And it wasn’t just Dana she was worried for. Paula continued to bleed and appeared to have lapsed into unconsciousness again. They were running out of time. Time.

Cam wouldn’t wait much longer, Blair was certain of it. Cam would come for her, and when she did, she would be in danger. Too many in danger. Women she loved, men she respected, people risking their lives for her. No more. No more.

She took a breath, emptied her thoughts, prepared herself. She felt calm, at peace. This was right. As it should be. No one should stand between her and evil.

It was her fight, as it always had been. She was not going to let one more person die because of her. She would take him on herself before she let that happen. She eased along the sofa until she was poised on the end closest to him. The distance between them was about six feet. If she pushed off hard and fast and launched a flying kick, she would offer less of a target and she might be able to take him down before he got off more than one shot. If he hit her, the shot would probably be in her leg or shoulder—with luck, nowhere lethal.

Chapter Twenty-five

Cam’s cell phone rang. “Roberts.”

“We just received a call,” Lucinda Washburn reported, “demanding the release of fourteen so-called political prisoners who are slotted to be transported from Afghanistan to a U.S. military holding facility in two days.”

“Were you able to triangulate the location of the caller?”

“No, but it wasn’t Matheson. Our language analysts all agree this man is Middle Eastern.”

“What did he say about Blair?” Cam struggled with the frustration of being out of the loop. She hated relying on bureaucrats and desk jockeys. Lucinda was a great political strategist but she wasn’t a field operative.

“He said…” Lucinda’s voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “He said we had thirty minutes to agree to his requests. Once we agreed, he would wait twelve hours for us to release the prisoners.”

“If you refuse?” A trickle of icy sweat ran down the back of Cam’s neck. Despite the freezing temperatures, her hair was soaked with sweat and she had to keep rubbing her forearm across her face to clear her vision.

“Blair will be executed.”

Cam knew it was coming but she still felt as if she’d been punched in the gut. “That doesn’t make any sense. Matheson walked into a situation with no exit, and without Blair, he doesn’t have a chance of getting out of that cabin alive.”

“It’s possible that Matheson and the individual negotiating for the foreign prisoners have different agendas. They may not be following the same game plan.”

“Which makes the situation here all the more volatile.”

“We don’t have time to provide backup for you, other than the members of the president’s advance security team who are already out there. I can call Tom—”

“No, I don’t want them involved. I told you, we have the people.” Cam squinted through the glare at the cabin. It looked empty, and yet it held everything. Everything. “Let me know if there’s any further communication.”

“Cam,” Lucinda said, her voice losing its tight formality. “The president and I trust you to get her out. Whatever you need to do, get her out. Get them all out.”

“I will.”

Cam disconnected and said to Valerie, “The president has thirty minutes to agree to a prisoner exchange.”

“Will he?”

“No.”

Valerie touched Cam’s sleeve. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” Cam laughed hollowly. “Blair would chew his butt off.”

“I would imagine.” Valerie tightened her grip on Cam’s arm. “Matheson will have to move her. She’s his way out of here.”

“Yes.”

“I want you to relinquish command to me now.”

Cam’s jaws clenched. “You know I can’t—”

“You know it’s what should be done.” Valerie’s gaze was steady and her eyes kind. “Trust me, Cameron, and let me do this for you. For both of you.”

“They’re my people,” Cam whispered, wishing she could will herself into their place.

“I know that, but she’s your heart. None of us can think clearly when our hearts are at stake.”

“I have to go in.”

Valerie smiled. “Of course you do. And you will.”

Cam hesitated for what felt like an eternity, agonizing with the decision that would change the course of her life. And because she hesitated, for even a single heartbeat, she said, “Take the lead.”

Matheson interrupted his monologue to Dana when the phone in his jacket pocket started to ring. Watching Blair, he smiled as he answered. “Yes? I see. Forty minutes, then. Godspeed, Colonel.”

Blair didn’t dare risk looking in Dana’s direction, and since Matheson’s automatic was now pointed squarely at her own chest, she held her position. Sooner or later, he was going to want her to get up. Then she would have a chance, probably her only chance.

“It seems that your father doesn’t think you’re all that valuable,” Matheson said.

Blair grinned with satisfaction. “I guess he said no to whatever you wanted.”

“Call your girlfriend.” Matheson tossed his cell phone to Blair, his expression one of distaste. “I have a message for her.”

Blair hoped her hands weren’t visibly shaking as she punched in Cam’s number.

“Roberts.”

“It’s Blair, Cam.” Blair wanted to say, It’s me, darling, I’m all right. Don’t do anything crazy. But she kept her voice neutral because she wouldn’t give Matheson the satisfaction of listening to anything personal between them.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, but Paula is hu—” She gasped as Matheson wrenched her hair back and yanked the phone from her hand at the same time. He pushed her down onto the sofa and held his gun on her.

“Listen carefully,” Matheson said into the phone. “In twenty-five minutes I want one of your armored vehicles in front of this cabin. Don’t tell me you can’t get it down here, because I know you can.”

Blair could barely make out the sound of Cam’s voice, but just hearing the strong, steady timbre gave her hope. She strained to catch a few words.

“Too much…snow on…between here…parking lo—”

“You forget, I know what those vehicles are capable of. Twenty-five minutes. Back it up to the cabin with the driver’s door level with the porch stairs.”

“What abo…agent…get her.”

Matheson laughed and glanced across the room at Paula and Dana.

“I don’t think she’s going to be of any use to either one of us before much longer.”

“Let her go,” Blair said quickly. “She’s only going to slow us down.”

Matheson ignored her. “The agent stays. Now you’ve got twenty-three minutes.”

The instant he snapped his phone shut, Blair felt the separation from Cam as if someone had sliced part of her body away with a machete. Cam had sounded stressed and worried, but in command. God, she loved her. She wanted to tell her that again, touch her again. Love her again.

Her heart broke at the thought of Renee out there, not knowing what was happening to Paula. She must be out of her mind with worry. She was frantic that Cam was going to come charging in and get herself hurt. She didn’t want Cam to come for her, although she knew she would. She couldn’t live with losing Cam.

“Get over there next to your friends,” Matheson said, taking up position with his back to the fireplace again. From that vantage point, he could easily keep all three of them in his sights.

Blair hurried over and knelt beside Dana. She brushed her hand over Paula’s face. Her skin was cool, pale, clammy. When she pressed her fingers to Paula’s throat, at first she couldn’t find a pulse and a wave of panic crashed through her. Then she felt a faint, thready beat. She looked over her shoulder at Matheson. “She’s lost too much blood. We need to get her some help. There’s no need for her to die.” She took a breath, accepting what she had to do. “Please. Let Dana take her outside. Let them go. I’ll stay with you. I’ll do whatever you say. You have my word.”

Matheson laughed. “If you were a normal woman, I might believe you. But you’re not, are you?” He checked his watch. “We don’t have that much longer to wait. If she can’t last that long, then it must be God’s will.”

“Emory,” Mac said as he stepped into the dining room, which had been designated the aid station, “we might need you in a few minutes. Felicia will escort you if you have to leave the lodge. Here’s a vest. Be sure to put it on and stay with Felicia, no matter what you see or hear.”

“What’s happening?” Emory braced one hand on the long table in the corner where she had assembled the medical supplies several agents had brought her. Fortunately, Blair’s security team traveled with an impressive array of emergency equipment. She had antibiotics, pain medication, and intravenous fluids. Even blood substitute. Everything she needed to stabilize an injured patient, if she got to them quickly enough. The problem was, anyone seriously injured in that first round of gunfire was running out of time. She prayed it wasn’t Dana, nearly choking on the guilt because she didn’t want Paula or Blair to be injured either.

“Just be ready, okay?” Mac said gently.

Diane appeared in the doorway behind him, her face pale and haunted. “I saw people carrying weapons and other…things…heading toward the cabins. Are you going to get them out now?”

“You’re supposed to stay away from the windows,” Mac said sharply.

“Those are my friends down there!” Diane hugged herself. “Do you think I can just sit here and pretend nothing’s happening?”

“I’m sorry,” Mac said. “I have to go. Just stay in the interior of the house. We don’t want any more wounded.”

“I can’t stand this,” Diane cried as Mac disappeared. She slumped against the doorway. “I’m going out of my mind just waiting around, doing nothing.”

“I’m with you.” Emory’s hands shook as she sorted through medication vials. “I’d rather be down there with a gun.”

“God, me too, and I don’t even know which end the bullet comes out.” Diane laughed a little wildly. “I’m sorry, I know I should be better at this. I’ve actually been through this kind of thing before. Except… God, that bastard has Blair. And Paula and Dana…”

“They’ll get them out,” Emory whispered, the panic she had managed to hold at bay while planning for the injured rushing back.

“Hey!” Diane gripped Emory’s shoulders. “You look terrible.”

“I’m…I’m all right.”

Diane peered at her. “No, you’re not. Oh hell, it’s Dana, isn’t it.”

Emory nodded.

“Oh, honey.” Diane pulled her close. “What rotten timing. I can’t even ask for the details yet.”

“Later,” Emory said, resting her cheek on Diane’s shoulder and closing her eyes. The comfort felt wonderful. “When she’s back, I’ll tell you all about it.”

“You’d better.” Diane stroked Emory’s hair. “She’s so hot she makes my eyes ache.”

Emory lifted her head, smiling tremulously. “Valerie is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Diane’s face softened. “She is, isn’t she? I never thought I’d be this crazy in love with anyone.”

“I know what you mean,” Emory whispered. “I just want her back. God, I just want her back.”

“Bring the vehicle down,” Valerie said into her mic.

Cam tensed as Valerie relayed orders, positioning the strike teams. Next to her, Savard’s rapid breathing was punctuated by puffs of frozen air. “You okay?”

“Fine,” Savard replied tersely.

“We’ll have five seconds at most.” As agreed, Valerie had made the decision, and when she had laid out the plan, Cam had concurred. She had given Valerie the lead because she trusted her, and because the only thing she could think about was getting inside that cabin. She couldn’t be responsible for anything else. This one time, with everything at stake, she needed to be a player and not the one standing behind the lines directing the action. “I need you right on my shoulder when we take the door, Renee.”

“I’ll be there. I’m solid. Jesus, I just want to go.” Savard shifted in the snow, her hands restless on her assault rifle.

“I know.” Cam squeezed Savard’s shoulder below the edge of the vest covering her black T-shirt. Neither of them wore coats. Her own shirt was wet under her vest. “So do I.”

Under cover of the Suburban slowly grinding through the snow down the steep path from the parking lot above, two agents with XM84 flash-bangs crept alongside it, out of view of the cabin should Matheson look out the front window.

“Alpha team, go.” Valerie’s voice came through Cam’s com link as the vehicle drew opposite Cam and Savard’s position.

Cam whispered, “On me, Savard.”

And then, finally, with her mind completely clear and every sense focused on only one thing, Cam raced toward the cabin, and Blair.

Matheson edged the drape aside and peered out, grunting in apparent satisfaction. “Our ride is here.”

Blair, on her knees by Paula, inched slowly forward until she was between Matheson and the others. “There’s no way you’re going to get all four of us into that vehicle. I told you I’ll go with you—just leave Dana and Paula here.”

“You have to go with me,” Matheson said pleasantly, as if he were discussing plans for lunch. “You’re driving.” He lifted the automatic. “Your friends are coming. That way, I can be sure you don’t try to be a hero. If you try to drive us into a tree, I’ll shoot one of them. Barnett— it’s your job to get the agent into the vehicle. If you can’t manage it, I’ll put her down like a wounded animal. Mercy killing.”

“You have me.” Dana’s face clouded with anger. “Besides, I want to come. You owe me the rest of the story, and this is a scoop I don’t want to miss. One extra hostage should be enough. For Christ’s sake, leave her here.”

“It’s no wonder we don’t let women serve in combat. You’re all too busy taking care of each other to concentrate on the fight.” Matheson gestured at Paula’s unconscious form. “The two of you get her on her feet. When we move out, she’s all yours, Barnett. Ms. Powell…you’ll be accompanying me.”

“Fine,” Blair said. She would let him shoot her before she got into that vehicle with him. The farther away she got from Cam and the others, the less chance she would have.

Matheson’s cell phone rang, and he smiled. “Saddle up.”

Blair straightened and centered herself. The front door was five feet to her right. Matheson faced her off to the other side, just outside her kicking range. She’d have to hope he didn’t shoot her the instant she lunged, because she needed that one extra step to reach him.

Matheson pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. “Yes?”

Blair was in midair when the front window shattered and the cabin rocked with an enormous explosion accompanied by a flash of brilliant white light. Her leg connected with something hard, but her mind was too scrambled to determine what it was. She heard gunfire, or maybe it was just the echo of that first blast resounding in her traumatized ears. Pain shot through the right side of her face and down her neck, and she suddenly couldn’t breathe. Blinded, dizzy, lungs on fire, Blair arched her back, ignoring the crushing weight on her neck, and thrust both arms behind her. Then, she dropped to her knees and pulled with all her strength.

“Matheson!” Cam shouted, diving into the cabin, her rifle at shoulder height, frantically sweeping the space. Agents crashed through the back door, and the air exploded with yells. She pivoted, her finger tightening on the trigger as her heart stopped. Matheson grabbed Blair from behind, one beefy arm clamped across her throat, and lifted his weapon to her temple. Cam screamed “No!”

And then, in one of the most beautiful moves she had ever seen, Blair dropped into a forward shoulder throw, catapulting Matheson over her head and onto the floor in front of her. With an action born of instinct and years of training, Blair gripped his head in both hands and in one swift, fluid rotation of her torso, snapped his neck.

Chapter Twenty-six

“Clear! Clear! Clear!” The air was charged with the smell of explosives and cloudy with residue. Cam ripped off her protective headgear and goggles and dropped to her knees by Blair’s side. Lowering her weapon, she pulled Blair into her arms. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” Blair said breathlessly. “Paula—”

“We know. Emory’s on her way. We’ll get her to the hospital.” Cam cradled Blair’s head, her gaze darting over her face. A red welt marred her right temple where Matheson had jammed his weapon. She couldn’t quite believe that she was holding her again. She rubbed Blair’s arms with both hands, suddenly aware that Blair was shaking uncontrollably. “Did he hurt you? Baby, are you hurt?”

Blair glanced down at the inert form sprawled in front of them. Matheson lay on his back, his hands lax by his sides, his expression one of mild confusion. “No, I’m…I’m all right. But God, Cam, I think I—”

“Come on,” Cam said, guiding Blair to her feet. She didn’t need to check the body. She’d seen the signature jerk and twitch of his limbs when his spine had been severed. “Let’s get out of here.”

“I want to stay with Paula.”

“As soon as the situation is under control, we’ll go to the hospital.” Cam brushed Blair’s hair with her fingertips. Her hand was trembling. She wanted Blair out of that room, away from the death and the violence. She wanted so desperately to protect her from the ugliness and the hatred, and she couldn’t. “I’m sorry. I can’t let you leave the grounds yet. He may have a partner close by.”

Blair wrapped her arms around Cam’s waist and buried her face in the curve of Cam’s neck. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“God, baby. I love you.” Cam stood in the midst of the milling crowd of agents and contract soldiers, rocking Blair, consoling them both. Valerie appeared in the doorway, the sunlight at her back, her face in shadow. Cam could feel her eyes upon them and she nodded her silent thanks. Valerie tipped her head in response. Then Valerie’s throaty voice cut effortlessly through the clamor of the adrenaline-charged teams.

“We’ve got wounded here and potential hostiles still at large, troops. Alpha team—you’re evac. Beta team—secure the scene.”

As chaos gave way to order, Valerie approached. “Ms. Powell, do you need medical attention?”

Blair eased out of Cam’s embrace, but kept her hand on Cam’s hip. “No, thank you. Both Paula and Dana were injured.”

“She should be looked at,” Cam said.

Blair started to protest, but Valerie broke in. “I agree. But as long as it isn’t urgent, I suggest you take her somewhere secure, Deputy Director.”

Cam wrapped an arm around Blair’s shoulders. “You’re right. Thanks. If you need me for anything…”

Valerie smiled. “I’ll keep you advised, of course.”

As Blair and Cam started away, Valerie said softly, “Would you tell Diane I’ll be a little longer?”

Blair turned back. “I’ll let her know you’re all right. And Valerie, thank you for…” She looked around the room. “For this.”

“Not necessary,” Valerie said, “but you’re very welcome.”

“All clear,” Felicia Davis said to Emory. “You can go in now.” Emory jumped from the Suburban that had pulled in line with the one in front of Blair’s cabin and raced over the hard-packed snow to the porch. She leapt up the two steps and pushed through the open door. The main room was filled with men and women bristling with assault weapons. Just a few feet inside the door, Dana knelt by Paula Stark, both hands pressed to Stark’s left thigh while Renee Savard cradled the unconscious woman in her arms. Dana’s face was streaked with blood and an egg-sized bruise distorted her left cheek. Her pale shirt was nearly black with blood, and for just a second, Emory was nearly consumed with panic. Then her mind registered that Dana was not seriously injured, and as much as Emory wanted to touch her, she couldn’t. Not when Stark needed her more.

“It’s okay, sweetie, it’s okay,” Savard crooned over and over, her lips to Stark’s forehead, her face a mask of abject terror.

“We need a stretcher in here,” Emory shouted to no one in particular as she crouched down. Dana gave her an anxious smile and Emory quickly smiled back before returning her attention to Paula. Her pulse was easily one-fifty and her skin was cold. “She’s in shock.” She raised her voice. “I need resuscitation fluid right now.”

From beside her a man responded, “Here you go, Doc.”

“Cut her jacket and shirt sleeves away,” Emory ordered while she tore the plastic wrapping off IV tubing. Then she inserted plastic catheters in the veins in both of Paula’s arms and connected the tubing to bags of fluid. “Pump these in. Then hang two more.” She looked over her shoulder and saw a collapsible gurney just outside the door. “Do we have MAST trousers?”

“No,” one of Tanner’s team said. “Sorry, Doc.”

Emory shook her head in frustration. “Let’s move her, then.” She inched closer to Dana. “How much is she bleeding?”

“Not much anymore,” Dana said, keeping her voice low. “But she’s bled a hell of a lot.”

“How badly are you hurt?”

“Thump on the head. I’ve had worse.”

“I want you to ride to the hospital and get checked out. I’m going to be busy with her for a while.” Emory feathered her fingers over Dana’s cheek, just below the bruise. “I was so worried about you. Don’t disappear, all right? God, Dana, I need to see you.”

“Just take care of her. I’ll find you.”

“Good. Don’t forget.” Then Emory stood. “Let me put a field dressing on that leg and then let’s get the hell out of here.”

“I’m okay, Dad.” Blair cradled the phone in one hand while stripping out of her jeans and sweater in the bedroom of Diane’s cabin. “Really, I’m fine… What?”

At the sharp astonishment in Blair’s voice, Cam took a step toward her, but Blair waved her away.

“Of course I’m not upset,” Blair said adamantly. “I didn’t expect you to do anything except what you did. God, Dad. You can’t just give in to these fuckers.”

Cam didn’t care if Blair wanted to be held or not. She needed to hold her. When she put her arms around her, Blair sagged into her.

“I’m sorry,” Blair said to her father, her voice shaking. “I’m a little strung out right now. I just want to get a shower. Here’s Cam.”

Blair broke away from Cam and held out the phone. “Tell him… whatever.”

Cam waited until the bathroom door slammed shut and then sat on the edge of the bed. She was exhausted and keyed up at the same time. “Sir, it’s Cameron Roberts.”

“You’re sure she’s not hurt?” the president said.

“She’s shaken up a bit, but uninjured.”

“How bad was it?”

Cam closed her eyes. “Bad. Close call.”

“I want a full report.”

“Yes sir. Of course.”

“You told Lucinda the threat was neutralized?”

Cam hesitated. She’d only told Lucinda in a quick phone call that Blair had been recovered, that they had injuries, and that Matheson was no longer a threat. She hadn’t provided any details. She wasn’t sure how much she wanted to tell the president about what had happened in that cabin.

As if reading her thoughts, Andrew Powell said, “I’m her father, Cam. This is between you and me.”

“Blair killed him, hand to hand.”

The president sighed. “Well. How is she taking it?”

“I don’t know.” Cam glanced toward the bathroom. Not being able to see her, even for a few seconds, was driving her crazy. “If it’s all right with you, sir, I’d like to finish my report later.”

“Take care of her.”

“Yes sir. I will.”

Cam dropped the phone on the bedside table, unstrapped her weapon, and stripped down. She wanted to take the weapon with her into the bathroom, but the last thing Blair needed right now was to feel unsafe. She compromised by placing it on the chair closest to the bathroom door. She knocked, tried the handle, and finding the door unlocked, slipped inside. The shower was running, but Blair stood in front of the vanity, her hands clutching the edge, her head down. Her hair fell forward to cover her face, but it was easy to tell that she was crying. Cam cradled her from behind. “It’s okay, baby.”

Blair turned and wrapped her arms tightly around Cam’s shoulders, pressing her face to Cam’s neck. “It was over so fast. I didn’t think about it. He didn’t care if Paula died. I had to stop him.”

“Are you sorry?”

“No,” Blair said after a few seconds. She raised her head and searched Cam’s face. “Should I be?”

Cam smiled wryly. “No, baby. You shouldn’t be. He murdered one of Tanner’s men, he shot Stark and left her to die. He most certainly would have killed you and Dana once he realized there would be no negotiations. And that was just today.”

Blair smiled weakly. “Have you ever…with your bare hands?”

“No. With a weapon.” Cam sighed. “And I’ve given the order, when I would much preferred to have done it with my own hands.” She stroked Blair’s cheek. “You were amazing. You saved yourself, you saved Dana and Paula. You did exactly what needed to be done.” She kissed her. “I’m proud of you.”

“You’re shaking,” Blair murmured.

Cam squeezed her eyes tightly closed, holding back the tears that rose out of nowhere. “I just need to hold you.”

Blair caressed Cam’s back, smoothed her hand over her hair. “I’m okay. I’m right here.”

“Christ, I was scared.”

“I knew you would come,” Blair whispered. “Don’t cry, darling. I’m never leaving you.”

Cam swiped her face on her arm. “I just want to spend the rest of the day with you in my arms, but we need to get to the hospital.”

“How about taking a shower with me first?”

“I’ll take a shower with you. Hell, I’ll even go shopping with you.” Cam kissed her, hard. “I’m not letting you out of my sight. Ever.” “I won’t complain.” Blair laughed. “How things change.” Cam held open the shower door. “Love will do that to you.”

Dana pressed a cellophane-wrapped sandwich she’d picked up in the hospital cafeteria into Renee’s hand. She set a cup of coffee on the end table next to her and dropped into a surprisingly comfortable chair close by. “I know you don’t want to eat, but you should. It’s been a long day. It’s probably going to be a longer night.”

Renee turned the sandwich around in her hands as if she’d never seen one before. She still wore her black BDUs and T-shirt, and she looked wild and dangerous. “She’s been in there for almost five hours.”

“The trauma resident told Emory a branch of the femoral artery was nicked. They have to repair that. That kind of stuff takes a while.”

“They said the nerve was okay, didn’t they?” Renee asked for the third time. “Her leg…if her leg…if she can’t…”

Dana had never seen anyone faint while sitting down, but she thought Renee was about to. Her normally vibrant golden skin was a lusterless, washed-out beige, and her eyes were unfocused. Dana quickly knelt in front of her and cupped the back of her neck. “Here, put your head down for a second.”

“Sorry,” Renee whispered. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Dana murmured, rubbing her shoulder. “It’s been a really crappy day.”

Renee laughed weakly and slowly raised her head. Her eyes glistened with tears. “Yeah. Really.” She brushed her cheeks. “She loves her fucking job. If she can’t do it anymore, I think it will break her heart.”

Dana smoothed her hands over Renee’s shoulders, then squeezed. “That kind of decision is way down the road. I think this country needs people like her right now, and the government doesn’t let go easy. They’ll probably rehab her until her ass falls off, but they’ll get her back to work.”

“Yeah. I’ve been there. Rehab’s a bitch.” Renee looked past Dana’s shoulder and stiffened. “Emory! Is there any word?”

“One of the nurses just stuck her head out of the OR. They’re almost done. She’s stable.”

“Do they know anything about her leg yet?”

“It’s too soon to tell, but arterial repairs are usually straightforward.” Emory rested her hand on Dana’s shoulder as Dana stood up. “I won’t say don’t worry, because that’s impossible. But I think we have reason to be optimistic.”

Renee took a shaky breath. “Thanks for everything.”

Emory leaned into Dana. “I think Dana is the one to thank. Keeping pressure on the wound all that time made a huge difference.”

Dana blushed, liking the way Emory touched her in public. She wished they could be alone. With everything that had been going on, they had barely had a chance to see each other since the counterassault on the cabin. Still, whenever Emory saw her, her gaze lingered on Dana’s, and her mouth curved into a small smile. Even the slightest glance made Dana quiver.

Her thoughts were about to wander down decidedly inopportune avenues, considering where they were and how long they were likely to be there, when Blair Powell and Cameron Roberts entered the small waiting area. The president’s daughter looked remarkably fresh and composed in jeans and a plain dark blouse. The deputy director wore a jacket and pants and an unreadable expression. Worried, Dana thought. She doubted Cameron Roberts liked Blair venturing out in public, which probably explained the presence of a cadre of agents close behind them. Dana nodded toward Blair. “Ms. Powell’s the one to thank. She saved our asses.”

Renee jumped up as Blair hurried over.

“Hey,” Blair said, hugging her. “How are you doing?”

“Okay,” Renee said. “How about you?”

Blair’s expression clouded. “I’m so damn sorry about Paula, Renee.”

Renee frowned. “If it weren’t for you, she might be dead.”

“If it weren’t for me,” Blair said bitterly, “she wouldn’t be in the operating room right now.”

“Blair,” Cam said gently.

“It’s true, Cameron, and there’s no way to pretty it up,” Blair said sharply. “Damn it. They were after me.”

“Yes, they were,” Cam said in a reasonable tone, although the look in her eyes was hot and angry. “They were after you, personally, which is bad enough. But by trying to use you as leverage against the president, they were also after all of us, and all of those that we as a nation protect, not just here, but everywhere. Matheson and those working with him were trying to destroy something far greater than you.” She took Blair’s hand. “And I can guarantee that Paula Stark or any one of us, including you, would gladly go down fighting to prevent that from happening.”

Every agent in the room nodded and Blair just shook her head before kissing Cam’s cheek. “I love you, you know that?” She looked around the room. “All of you.”

“Can I quote you on that?” Dana asked.

“Yes,” Blair and Cam replied together.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Diane turned away from the window, sensing a presence despite the utter silence in the room.

Valerie stood just inside the bedroom door, as if she were waiting for permission to come any farther. Diane hadn’t heard the door open or close, which wasn’t unusual. Valerie appeared and disappeared as if her existence were merely a ripple on the surface of other people’s lives.

Diane wondered when Valerie would trust what was between them and believe that there was nothing about her—not her past, not her present, and not what she might have to do in the future—that would force Diane to turn from her. Slowly, she closed the blinds, then crossed the lamplit room until she was standing in front of Valerie. She took both of her hands, marveling at the soft, subtle strength in her long fingers. With her hair tied back in a simple ponytail, without makeup, in the jeans she so very rarely wore and heavy boots, she looked nothing like the sophisticated, elegant woman she usually presented to the world.

“I like you like this,” Diane mused, tracing her fingertip along the edge of Valerie’s jaw. “You’re gorgeous in anything you wear. Or when you wear nothing at all.” She laughed and draped her arms loosely around Valerie’s neck. “But just like this, you look so strong. Simply beautiful.”

Valerie closed her eyes briefly. “I’ve spent most of my life trying not to be seen. Or at least to be sure that others only saw what I wanted them to see. I’m not sure that what you see is real.”

“Oh, believe me,” Diane murmured, insinuating her body against Valerie’s. “It’s real. You are real. What’s between us is real.”

“I’m very much in love with you,” Valerie said quietly.

“Even if I’m not heroic?”

Frowning, Valerie glided them across the room to the bed and pulled Diane down beside her so they were half lying, half sitting, facing each other. “Where did that come from?”

“I’m surrounded by accomplished women. Brave. Valorous. Warrior women.” Diane shrugged and stared at a spot on the bed between them. “I’m none of those things. I’m frivolous and fainthearted and—”

“Stop.” Valerie silenced her with a kiss. “Bravery isn’t about carrying a gun or even being willing to fight. It’s about being willing to fight, maybe even die, for something. I know you would die for Blair. For any of your friends.”

“For you.” Diane pulled Valerie closer until their legs entwined. They kissed, and she smelled the lingering hints of battle. She held Valerie tighter, aware that she might not have come back. Accepting that this moment, every moment, was precious. “I love you.”

Valerie rested her forehead against Diane’s and sighed. “I’m so tired. So tired of never being able to stop. Of never feeling safe.”

“Come to bed with me. Let me hold you. Let me keep you safe tonight.”

“I will.” Valerie pulled away. “But I have to see Cameron first. There are things I need to tell her. They’re on their way back from the hospital now. I told them to keep your cabin.”

“Fine. Go see her. But then I want you back.”

“As soon as I can.”

Diane didn’t want to let her go. Valerie’s eyes were rimmed with shadow, and the pain of too many lonely years shimmered in them. “I’ll be here. I want to be here. No matter what comes.”

“I want that too.” Valerie cradled Diane’s hand against her cheek. “More than I have ever wanted anything or anyone.”

Diane smiled. “Well, that’s a good start.”

Laughing, looking lighthearted and suddenly years younger, Valerie rolled away and got to her feet. She pointed, shaking her finger. “Stay right there. Better yet, take off your clothes and get in bed. I’ll be right back.”

“Go,” Diane chided as Valerie backed up slowly, her gaze hungry. Diane was afraid if Valerie didn’t leave quickly, she’d go after her, and if she touched her, she might not let her go. “You owe me a night of impossible pleasure, and I plan to collect.”

“Impossible?” Valerie shook her head. “That word does not apply to us.”

Then Valerie was gone, as quickly and quietly as she had entered. She might be used to passing through other people’s lives without leaving a trace, but her presence was indelibly marked on Diane’s heart.

With slow anticipation, Diane undressed.

Emory let herself into the cabin as quietly as she could. She’d sent Dana back to the lodge with some of the others hours before, after she’d taken a good look at her and realized that Dana was about to fall down. She’d made Dana promise to go to bed, and hopefully, she was sound asleep right now. She undressed in the living room and tiptoed naked across the darkened bedroom. When she stood by the side of the bed listening to Dana’s regular breathing, she thought it was the sweetest sound she’d ever heard. Carefully, she eased under the covers.

“Emory?” Dana asked sleepily.

“Hi,” Emory whispered, snuggling close. When she draped her arm around Dana’s middle, Dana drew a sharp breath and tensed.

“What is it?” Emory sat up. “Are you hurt? God, Dana—are you hurt?”

“No,” Dana said, sounding wide awake now.

“Let me turn on the light and look at you.”

“I’m okay,” Dana said, stopping Emory with a hand on her arm. “My ribs got banged up this morning, and I’m a little stiff. It’s nothing serious.”

Emory ran her fingers through Dana’s hair. “Are you sure?”

“Promise. We just have to go easy for a few days.”

“Damn,” Emory murmured, relaxing into Dana’s arms again. “And here I had such plans for you.”

“They’ll keep, won’t they?”

Emory heard uncertainty in Dana’s voice and kissed the edge of her jaw. “Didn’t we say this morning—God, was it only this morning? Didn’t we say that being together last night was a beginning? Today, when I thought something might have happened to you…” Emory’s voice wavered and she had to take a deep breath. “I want you in my life. I want us to find out what that means.”

“I want that too.” Dana kissed her forehead, then her lips. “I’m away a lot.”

“I work a lot.”

“I don’t fool around.”

“That’s too bad.” She danced her fingers down the center of Dana’s chest, over her abdomen, then lower. “Because I do.”

“Let me revise that,” Dana whispered. “I only fool around with you.”

“May I quote you?” Emory asked, gently stroking.

“Yes.” Dana groaned. “Can you…please…oh, God. Can you just keep doing that forever?”

Emory laughed softly. “Well, that’s a start.”

“Drink?” Cam asked as she poured another two fingers of scotch into her glass.

“No, thank you,” Valerie said, quickly scanning the room. “Blair?”

Cam nodded toward the closed bedroom door as she returned to the sofa. “Asleep. As soon as we got back from the hospital she crashed.”

“No wonder. I got word that Stark is out of surgery.”

Cam sat heavily, stretched her legs out, and let her head drop onto the back of the sofa. She had changed into jeans and a sweatshirt after Blair had fallen asleep, and waited, knowing that Valerie would eventually arrive. “All things considered, she’s lucky. The round tore up some muscle but missed the bone and the nerve. If it hadn’t nicked the artery, she probably wouldn’t even have gone down. The blood loss is what took her out.”

“Then she should do well.”

“With a little more of that luck.” Cam grimaced, thinking of the man they had lost. Of almost losing Stark. Of Dana. And God, of Blair. She gestured to the sofa. “Sit down. You must be beat, because I sure as hell am.”

“Our situations are a little bit different.” Valerie settled on the couch a few inches from Cam. “I thought you’d want a report tonight.”

“I do.” Cam sipped her scotch. “I’ll trade you what I got from Lucinda if you tell me you got Matheson’s partner.”

Valerie tilted her head, half smiling. “Which one?”

“Not the one that was making the phone demands to DC. The one Matheson was counting on to get him out of here today.”

“I wondered if you’d figured that out.”

Cam grinned wearily. “I’m tired, but I think my brain is still functioning.”

“No one would blame you for being off your game today, but you weren’t.”

“Yes, I was, and you know it. I owe you…we all owe you…for telling me so.”

“I didn’t want control of the operation because I didn’t trust your judgment, Cameron.” Valerie shot a look toward the bedroom door and lowered her voice further. “If something went wrong, I wanted—”

“I know what you wanted.” Cam tapped Valerie’s arm, a light caress, then drew her hand away. “You wanted the casualties to be on your head, not mine. Especially if one of them was Blair.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Valerie angled sideways on the sofa and her leg lightly brushed Cam’s thigh. “We’re almost even.”

Cam shook her head. “Let’s just say we’ve each saved each other’s lives more than once. Hopefully we won’t have to do it again.”

“Hopefully,” Valerie said pensively.

“So tell me.”

“When Greg was flying a grid over the area in the chopper, he spotted a snowmobile trail cutting through the forest about five miles down the mountain. It didn’t intersect with the main road, but it ran close enough in spots that a heavy off-road vehicle could have reached it.”

“A big SUV like the Suburban,” Cam said.

“Yes. He had the pilot bring the helicopter down where the trail came closest to the road and it looked like the trees were thinner. He found an old fire trail and followed it. Guess what he found.”

Cam drained her scotch and set the glass carefully on the table beside her. “An abandoned snowmobile?”

“Precisely.”

“Matheson knew we would follow him if he managed to get out of here with Blair in the SUV,” Cam said tonelessly. “But all he needed was to be a minute ahead of us—then he pulls off road, reaches the trail where his partner is waiting, transfers to the snowmobile, and disappears into the forest. We wouldn’t be able to see them from the air and we wouldn’t have the equipment to track them on the ground.”

Valerie shrugged. “Simple, but elegant. The best plans always are. I’ve got people out there now following the snowmobile tracks, but I doubt they’ll find anything.”

“He didn’t expect us to risk the hostages by engaging him in the cabin.” Cam stood abruptly, her chest hot with anger. Matheson would have executed the hostages in the forest, she was certain of that. “He thought he could put Blair in that vehicle and drive away, and we’d let him.”

“He was counting on us being cautious because of who Blair is.”

Cam grinned with dark pleasure. “He underestimated her, didn’t he?”

“He did. How is she?”

“Exhausted.” Cam braced an arm on the fireplace and watched flames lick at the logs. “She wasn’t supposed to have to do this herself. That’s why we’re here, to spare her this.”

“Cameron,” Valerie said softly. She went to Cam and rested both hands on her shoulders. “What’s important is that she survived. And she has you to remind her that what she did was right, on every level.”

“Lucinda couldn’t get a trace on the caller.” Cam sighed as Valerie lightly massaged her shoulders. “When he was advised there would be no prisoner exchange, he said this was only the first strike. Then he hung up.”

“We’ve heard that before. We know this is only the beginning.”

“I need you on the team, now more than ever.” Cam turned and Valerie dropped her hands. “I’ve got the best people there are, but you…you know me, and I need that.”

“The agency teaches us to believe that the greatest danger is allowing others to know us.” Valerie cupped Cam’s jaw and kissed her fleetingly. “That was for showing me how very wrong they were. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Cam said softly as Valerie stepped away. Cam squared her shoulders. “Let the others know we’ll be briefing at oh six hundred.”

“I’ll do that. Good night.”

“Was that Valerie?” Blair asked when Cam came into the bedroom.

“Yes. Giving report.” Cam kicked off her boots and undressed. She climbed into bed and drew Blair into her arms. “I’m sorry if we woke you.”

“No, I was awake.” Blair tucked her head beneath Cam’s chin. “Is everything all right now?”

“We’re secure.”

“Are we going to be able to find Matheson’s accomplices?”

“Eventually,” Cam said with certainty.

“And until then?”

“We go on with our lives, just as we planned.”

Blair sighed. “My father shouldn’t come out here right now, should he?”

“Ah, baby,” Cam murmured. “I’m sorry.”

“And Paula is going to be in the hospital for another week at least.” Blair inched closer until she was lying on top of Cam. She curled her arms around Cam’s shoulders and nuzzled her neck. “I’m not getting married without Paula there.”

“We’ll reschedule.” When Blair stiffened, Cam caught her chin and raised her head, forcing Blair to look at her. “Postpone. Not cancel. You can’t get out of it this easily.”

Blair laughed. “And here I thought I was going to get rid of you.”

“Never.” Cam grasped Blair’s shoulders and rolled them over, settling her hips between Blair’s legs. She kissed her, sinking into the heat of her mouth and the soft welcome of her body. She whispered against her lips, “I love you, and no one and nothing will come between us. I intend to say that to everyone who will listen.”

“They…whoever they are…probably think they’ll frighten us into hiding. Not just how we feel about one another, but from them. I won’t hide.”

“No, we won’t hide.” Cam spread her fingers through Blair’s hair, holding her as she kissed down her neck. When Blair’s legs came around hers, pulling her in tighter, she felt the familiar surge of arousal that never failed to amaze her. What they shared was more than love, it was life, and no one would take that from them. “Are you too tired?”

Blair found Cam’s hand and brought it to her breast. She pressed Cam’s fingers against her heart. “I need you, in here. Make love to me in here. You’re the only one who can.”

With passion and reverence, power and joy, Cam took what was given and gave all that she had.

Chapter Twenty-eight

One Month Later

“Let me go around and get the door,” Renee said as the Suburban pulled to a stop on the circular drive in front of the sweeping wood and glass house on the edge of the ocean. “Use your cane, all right?”

“I’ve got it right here,” Paula replied, waiting dutifully while Renee jumped out and sprinted around the vehicle to open her door. She really didn’t need the help any longer, but Renee needed to do it. She’d felt the same way when Renee had been shot, helpless and scared. So she didn’t protest when Renee leaned in to take her arm and guide her onto the flagstone walkway leading up to Tanner and Adrienne’s home on Whitley Island.

“Just let me know if you start feeling tired,” Renee said, “and we’ll go someplace and sit for a while.”

“Right. I will.”

Renee hooked her arm through Paula’s as they made their way past terraced gardens that were covered now with snow and the empty fountains that in summer filled the air with cascading rainbows. “I’m hovering, aren’t I?”

“Nope.” Paula nodded to the agents who flanked the staircase leading up to the wide veranda, checking IDs and guest lists. She blushed when several casually saluted her. The notoriety that came with having been shot in the line of duty was embarrassing, especially when she hadn’t even been able to neutralize the threat to her protectee. She certainly did not feel heroic.

“You did your job, sweetie,” Renee murmured. “You made everyone proud.”

“It’s scary the way you can read my mind.”

Renee kissed her cheek. “It’s only because I love you.”

“That’s good.” Paula laughed and hooked an arm around Renee’s waist. “Because I’d hate to think that anybody else would know what I was thinking—especially when you look so spectacular in that dress.”

“Is that a line?”

Paula waited while the agent at the door held it open for them, and once they were inside the great room, which was already alive with activity and the buzz of conversation, answered, “Absolutely. The doctor said no restrictions except heavy lifting. And you’re not heavy.”

Renee laughed and waved to Emory and Dana. “You’ve got two weeks until you start serious rehab. In the meantime, I guess we can work a little on your flexibility.”

“Sounds like just the therapy I need.”

“It’s hard to believe it’s only been a month since that nightmare,” Emory said when Paula and Renee moved off to speak to the hostesses. Her gaze swept over Dana, her lids slowly lowering as her lips curved playfully. “Although I am aware it’s been almost a month since the last time I saw you. Painfully aware.”

“Longest month of my life,” Dana muttered, concentrating on the feel of Emory’s hand in hers. They hadn’t touched in twenty-eight days. Twenty-eight endless days and restless nights. She wished they were anywhere else right now, doing anything other than waiting for the first daughter to get married. She was still officially on this story, although she didn’t seem to be able to pay attention to anyone but Emory. God, but Emory smelled so good, and her dress—a shade of blue the exact color of the Mediterranean Sea—accentuated all her curves and revealed just enough skin as it dipped low over her chest and back to make Dana’s palms tingle. “It’s so damn good to see you. I’ve been living on the sound of your voice over the phone, and as fun as that is sometimes, it’s not enough. I’m dying to touch you.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get away sooner. Knowing that you arrived last night to interview Blair and I couldn’t get here until this morning has been driving me crazy.” Emory leaned closer and whispered, “I want to kiss you. Actually, I want to get you out of that very elegant suit and make love to you for a week.”

“Only a week?”

“That’s round one.”

Dana wondered how she was going to manage civil conversation for the next five hours while she was completely aroused. “I’m due some time off. I never collected on my leave after I got back from overseas the last time. Clive has had me chained to my desk.”

“Your reports on terrorism and what it means for us, all of us, have been amazing. I’m glad the White House didn’t demand a blackout on all of it.” Emory scanned the crowd waiting for the signal to move into the solarium where the ceremony would be held, noting the large number of security guards. “You handled what happened to Blair very sensitively.”

“Even if I didn’t know her personally, I wouldn’t have reported the details of what happened out there anyhow.” Dana shrugged. “I don’t have to give some other bunch of crazies any ideas in order to report what really matters. While Lucinda Washburn and my editor were fussing at each other over First Amendment rights versus national security, I just wrote my story and let them worry about the spin.”

“I loved reading your articles. It made me feel closer to you.”

“Can you get away?” Dana asked, knowing she sounded desperate. “I really need—”

“Yes. That’s why I’ve been so busy. We had funding reports due, and I needed to get my senior people started on an important leg of our current project. Now I can take a break.” Emory squeezed Dana’s hand. “I need time with you too. Will you…will you be going back overseas?”

“I don’t know. It depends on how long that dustup over there lasts. Maybe.” Dana knew it wasn’t easy for people in her line of work to maintain a relationship, and she wanted to so badly. “I know it’s soon and I know my lifestyle isn’t ideal, but—”

“It’s not too soon. And I understand about your job.” Emory kissed her cheek. “I’m not always available either. But you matter—we matter—we’ll find a way to make it work.”

Dana kissed her, a soft kiss of promise. “We will.”

“I’m surprised you’re still doing this part of the story,” Emory said, gesturing to the crowd.

“If it had been anyone else’s wedding, I would’ve found a way to get out of it. But I wanted to see you, and I wanted to be here for Blair and Cam, and”—she gestured toward the door as the president of the United States walked in with Lucinda Washburn on his arm—“this is the story of the hour.”

“Nervous?” Diane zipped up the back of Blair’s cream Armani dress and rested both hands on Blair’s shoulders, studying her in the mirror in front of them. The squared bodice highlighted Blair’s smooth, strong shoulders and the subtle ruching accentuated the flowing lines of her body. “This dress is fabulous. You’re a knockout.”

Blair tipped her head back against Diane’s shoulder and sighed. “I’m not really nervous. Excited, mostly.”

“Tanner has done a great job keeping the press from bugging us this week, and having Dana stay on as the official reporter has really helped.”

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been happy to have a reporter in my pocket,” Blair said with a laugh. “Is everything okay with you? I haven’t seen much of Valerie this week.”

“She’s here, but she’s keeping a low profile, mostly to keep me happy. I know Cam said that with her handler gone and Matheson dead, there’s probably no one in the agency interested in her any longer, but I still don’t want her picture in the newspapers.”

Blair slid in the diamond drop earrings that Cam had given her as an early birthday present. “You’re getting pretty good at the secret agent stuff.”

Diane laughed and shook her head. “I know. Whoever would have thought.”

“But you’re okay?” Blair turned and took Diane’s hands. “You’re happy?”

“More than I ever imagined.” Diane gave Blair’s hands a shake. “Especially since Cam got to you before I could convince you what a great catch I am.”

Blair kissed her cheek, then hugged her. “I love you.”

“Hair! Makeup!” Diane exclaimed in horror, but she hugged Blair back. “I love you too.”

A knock sounded on the door followed by a male voice inquiring, “Blair?”

Diane stepped away. “That’s my cue to go find my lover. I’ll see you downstairs.”

“Don’t get lost. I’m not doing this without you right next to me.”

“That’s where I’ll be, anytime you need me.”

Blair called, “Come in.”

The door opened and the president stepped inside. “Hi, Diane.”

“Mr. President, great to see you.” Diane slipped past him and disappeared outside.

“Hi, Daddy,” Blair said.

“Hi, honey. All set?”

She took his hand. “Yes.”

“Let me do that,” Marcea said, fastening the small emblem of the seal of the United States that the president had presented to Cam for meritorious service to the lapel of her charcoal gray morning coat. Then she smoothed her hands over Cam’s shoulders and down her sleeves. “You look very dashing.”

“No one will be looking at me,” Cam said. At least she hoped that was the case.

“You’re every bit as beautiful as Blair.”

Cam laughed. “Spoken like a mother.”

“Which I am,” Marcea said affectionately. “This is a very brave thing you are doing. I’m very proud of you.”

“Loving Blair is the smartest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Cam said. “Convincing her to have me was the hard part. Everything after that is easy.”

“I know that what happened in Colorado could happen again. But we can’t live in fear, can we.” Marcea kissed Cam’s cheek. “Let your friends help you both take care of each other.”

“I will.” Cam held out her arm to her mother. “If I can be half as wise and brave as you, we’ll be fine.”

“Then I won’t worry about you at all. Ready?”

“I am.”

Blair stepped into the hall with her father just as Cam and Marcea came out of the room opposite.

“Sir.” Cam nodded to the president.

“Cameron.”

“Hello, darling,” Blair said softly.

“Hi, baby,” Cam murmured, stepping close as the president and her mother turned away to say hello.

“Any second thoughts?” Blair asked.

“Not a one.” Cam wanted to kiss her, but she held back. “You look beautiful.”

“So do you.” Blair was surprised to hear her voice shaking. “Just to be clear, I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“I’m yours, forever. Count on it.”

“I do.”

“I do too.”

Blair joined her father. “I’ll see you downstairs, then, and we can say it again for the whole world to hear.”

“Anything you say, Ms. Powell,” Cam called after her as Blair’s laughter filled her heart.