Honor Under Siege - Radclyffe

“Il cal Tanner and arrange for drivers. Cam hesitated, casting a

questioning look in Starks direction. “If thats al right with you.

“Its fine. Thanks, Stark answered on her way out the back door.

Cam set her tea aside and slid her arms around Blairs waist.

“Whats up?

“I dont know. Blair kissed the tip of Cams chin. “But Lucinda wants

to talk.

“Uh-

oh.

Blair sighed. “I know. She rocked her hips lightly against Cams.

“Have you heard anything from Stewart?

Cam shook her head. Assistant Director Stewart Carlisle was her

immediate superior in the Department of the Treasury, but since shed

most recently been on special assignment reporting directly to the

president, she hadnt been under Stewarts command for some time. “I

dont actual y know who Im reporting to anymore. She glanced through

the back door to the guest house visible partway down the slope to the

beach. Blairs security team was there. The nerve center of al that went

into protecting Blair was there. And she wasnt. “Especial y since Im not

on your security team anymore.

Blair leaned back, hooking her thumbs in the loops of Cams jeans. “It

bothers you, doesnt it. That Stark is in charge now.

“Starks a good

agent.

Blair laughed. “Cameron. Dont even

try.

Cam forced herself to unclench her jaw. “Yes, it bothers me.

I didnt want to be switched from investigation to protection

when they first assigned me to your team last year. But you

know what? She kissed Blair lightly. “Im good at it. And Im

motivated. I like She shrugged. “looking after you.

“Oh, darling, Blair murmured. “You do look after me. In all

the ways that mean the most to me. You love me, and thats

what I really need. I dont need you throwing yourself in front

of me if some crazy person decides they dont like the color of

my dress.

“I know thats not what you need. Cam ran a hand through her

hair. “But its kind of what I need.

“I know. Blair hugged her tightly. It was rare that she could

touch Cam without being aroused, for which she was

pleased and grateful. She hoped that never changed. She

couldnt imagine not wanting her. Just at the moment, though,

she wanted to comfort her because it was so unusual for

Cam to be unsure about anything. And she could sense Cams

unease and uncertainty. “We all need time to get adjusted to the

changes, Cam. But Im always going to need you.

Cam smiled and rested her forehead against Blairs. “And

Im always going to need you.

* * * * *

Paula hurried down the twisting path to the guesthouse.

Under other circumstances she would have taken a second to

appreciate the unseasonably warm early October morning, but

her mind was totally consumed with the myriad details of her

job. She felt the full weight of her new responsibilities

intensely, but beneath the low-level hum of nerves, she was

also aware of the surge of excitement that always accompanied

any operation when Egret, as Blair was official y cal ed, was on

the move.

“Listen up, she said as she pushed through the front door into

the living room. “Egret is flying. She shed the windbreaker

shed grabbed earlier on her way down to the beach and rol ed

up the sleeves of her white button-down col ar shirt. She headed

straight for the dining room where theyd set up their

computers and communication equipment. “Im going to call DC

to arrange ground

transport.

Felicia Davis, a statuesque African-American with features

that suggested she might be descended from an ancient

Egyptian queen, sat in a rattan chair sipping coffee. “Shall

I arrange accommodations?

“Yes. The usual hotel. At least for a night until the

commander until I determine Egrets immediate schedule.

Pushing numbers on her cell phone, Felicia rose and walked to

the

French doors leading to a wide deck with a view of the

beach.

“What about me? Renée Savard reclined on a sofa with her left

leg propped up on an overstuffed hassock. A blue fabric

knee immobilizer with wide white Velcro straps was wrapped

around her knee. “Can I tag along?

Paula held up one finger as she spoke into the phone and

simultaneously entered information into the computer. A

minute passed, then she disconnected and returned to the living

room to sit next to Renée. She skimmed her fingers through

her lovers shoulder length golden-brown hair. “Hows your leg?

“Other than the fact that it feels as heavy as a tree trunk, and

about as functional, its fine, Renée said edgily. Her blue eyes narrowed.

“It would feel a hel of a lot bet er without this immobilizer.

“Just for a few more

days.

Renée waved her away. “Go take care of what you have to take care of.

How soon are you leaving?

“ASAP.

“Wel then, dont waste time asking me about my

stupid leg.

Paula kept her expression neutral. She knew Renées leg hurt, and she

knew that her bad temper was more than pain. “Do you want to hang out

here while were gone? I can get Tanner to arrange a private car to take

you back to Manhat an if you dont.

Tanner Whitley, heir to the Whitley corporate dynasty and the owner of

Whitley Island, was one of Blairs oldest friends from prep school. She

also had one of the best private security forces in the country. Her

crew had been providing perimeter protection during Blairs stay,

ensuring that no one approached the house from the main road

that bisected the island. Stark trusted Tanner completely.

“I dont want to go back to Manhat an. Renée sounded

uncharacteristical y petulant. “Not when I cant work. Not when youre

not there. She leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “Jesus, listen to me.

Im pathetic. Im sure you dont want me underfoot while youre working.

“I dont know how long wel be in DC, or where wel be going after that,

Paula said. “But

“Just go, Paula. Il cal Tanner later and arrange my

own

“But, Paula continued as if she hadnt been interrupted, “if it

turns out were not staying in DC, its just as easy for you to head

back to Manhattan from there as from here. Come with us.

A crooked smile broke the smooth caramel plains of

Renées cheeks. “Sometimes I wish you werent so sweet when

Im being cranky. It makes me feel guilty, which just makes me

crankier.

“Id be cranky too, Paula whispered. “Im sorry its so hard for

you right now.

Renées eyes fil ed with tears and she looked away. “Jesus. I

need to do something. If I sit around much longer, Im going to

real y be crazy.

“Official y youre still part of the commanders team, even

though youre on sick leave, Paula said with conviction. “So, youre

coming with us. You need help packing?

Renée grabbed the crutches that leaned against the sofa next

to her. “No. I can manage. You go take care of things, Chief.

“Yeah, okay, Paula said, unable to keep her face from

flushing. Chief. It sounded good.

* * * * *

Blair left her suitcases by the front door and walked outside

to take a last look at the ocean. She wasnt sure when shed be able

to come back to the island and she already missed it. The

solitude was good for her art. Shed been able to paint here,

despite everything that had happened to her and the rest of the

world. She had asked Tanner to investigate the possibility of

her purchasing the house; the current owners only used it as a

rental property. The location was perfect isolated, easy to

defend, and close to Tanner, whom she missed and never

managed to visit enough. It was also near enough to Manhattan

that Diane Bleeker, her art agent and best friend, could easily

visit.

She sat down on the top step of the rear deck and punched in

a number on the disposable cell phone Cam insisted she use.

She was half surprised when the call was answered.

“Hi, where are you?

“Still in Manhattan, Diane replied. “How about

you?

“About to head south. There was no reason to think that her

calls were being monitored, but after the constant

admonishments of her various security teams, Blair had

reluctantly accepted the necessity of caution. She avoided

mentioning the specifics of her travel plans in phone

conversations. Diane was used to fil ing in the blanks.

“Ah, Diane said, “back to the real world.

“Yes. Do you have the gal ery open?

“Ive postponed the next show at the artists request. He didnt

think it was the best time, and I tend to agree with him. It

will take a while until its business as usual back here.

“So are you going to take a trip? Blair asked lightly, although

she waited for the answer with a sense of misgiving. Diane

had recently become romantical y involved with a CIA agent who

had disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and Blair

worried that Diane was somehow going to try to find her. In all

the years theyd known one another, Blair had never seen Diane

truly in love before. Now that Diane had fal en hard, only to

be left just as abruptly, she was suffering. It pained Blair to

know that her friend was hurting.

“I havent

decided

yet.

Im waiting

forinspiration.

Shes waiting for Valerie to contact her , Blair mental y translated. “Wel

if that occurs, youl be sure to let me know.

A beat of silence ensued. “Of

course.

“I mean

it.

“How about that other mat er we were discussing? Diane said, overtly

changing the subject. “The celebration Im going to be planning.

Blair smiled, thinking about the wedding. Her wedding. Hers and

Cams. Something shed never anticipated wanting. A commitment to

one woman for life. A formal commitment, a statement to the world.

The idea had once seemed intimidating. But now, when the world had

proved itself to be untrustworthy, capable of shifting dangerously at any

moment, now more than ever she wanted that commitment. “Im going

to discuss that later on today. Il get back to you with a timetable.

Diane laughed. “I wish I was going to be there to

hear it.

The wind had died down and Blair was warm in the sun. She shrugged

out of the black leather blazer shed pul ed on over a scooped neck navy

T-shirt and jeans. “You could come down for a few days. I should stay

for a while once I get there, and I could use the company.

“Real

y?

“Yeah, Blair said softly. She wanted to say more, that right now

it felt good to be surrounded by the people she loved and who

loved her, but she couldnt. She didnt want to remind Diane that

Valerie was gone, not when she knew how hard Diane was

trying to hold on to the belief that Valerie still cared for her.

That Valerie hadnt simply abandoned her after a short,

convenient affair. Worse, that Valerie hadnt used her as part of

her cover story. “Say youll come down.

“Im not stayingyou know where.

The White House . Blair laughed. “Oh, believe me, neither am

I.

Well stay with a friend. With Cam.

“Oh goody, Diane said, sounding like her old self for the

first time. “Sooner or later, Im going to get to watch.

“You just keep on dreaming, honey. Everyone needs a

dream. After a pause, Diane said, “I know. I just discovered that.

* * * * *

Five hours later, the Air Force jet that Blair and the others

had boarded at Lexington Air Force Base northwest of Boston

began its descent to Andrews Air Force Base in Prince Georges

County, Maryland, a few miles southwest of DC. Ordinarily

Blair and her team traveled by corporate jet, but with the

heightened security, Lucinda had dispatched the same transport

usual y reserved for the president, the vice president, high-

ranking dignitaries, and other VIPs. It was another change in

Blairs life that didnt make her particularly happy, but she

understood the need for it.

“How long do you think well be at priority one, Blair

asked, leaning against Cams shoulder.

Cam took Blairs hand and drew it into her lap. “Indefinitely

would be my guess.

“Thats what I was afraid of. Blair sighed. “I detest

military escorts. Do you think theyre going to restrict my travel?

“Are

you

planning

on

going

somewhere?

Blair laughed. “Wel , I was hoping for a

honeymoon.

“Ah. That.

“Youre not backing out are you? Blair shifted on the seat

and studied Cam intently, the barest hint of worry in her eyes.

Cam held her gaze. “Absolutely not. I told you. Name the

time and place, and Ill be there.

“You dont think we should wait, because of everything

thats happened?

“I think the best way for any of us, all of us, to let the world

know that we wont be terrorized is to continue to live. No, I

dont think we should wait.

“Thank

you,

Blair

said.

Cam brushed a kiss over her fingers. “Did you think Id change

my mind?

“You have hit your head a couple of times recently. Blair

leaned over and kissed the corner of Cams mouth. “It might

have been enough to make you forget how much Id hurt you if

you did.

“Just let me know when you plan to drop this little bomb

on

Lucinda, Cam said. “Id like to be somewhere

else.

“Coward.

Cam

grinned.