Cam stroked Blair’s hair and held her tightly. “I need to be here. I need you.”

“I’m here. Go to sleep now, darling.”

Morning would come soon enough, and when it did, the hunt would begin again. But for now, Cam accepted the peace that only Blair could bring her, and slept.

Chapter Fourteen

Thursday

Matheson smiled at the man who joined him on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He was much younger, a stocky redhead in neatly pressed work pants and a brown leather bomber jacket with an American flag patch stitched onto the sleeve. They shook hands and moved off to one side of the rotunda as a maintenance worker began polishing the stone floor with an electric buffer. The noise made conversation difficult, but it also provided excellent cover.

“How are things at the new compound, Colonel?” Matheson asked his freshly-promoted secondin-command.

“The men have nearly finished the barracks, sir.”

“How is morale?” Matheson had lost some of his best officers during the Special Ops raid on his compound in Tennessee. Unfortunately, many of his ground troops were unseasoned volunteers who had never faced combat or even given any thought to what a real battle might be like. Now he needed to rebuild his paramilitary force and relocate his base, and some of the men—mostly truck drivers and other blue-collar workers—were beginning to realize that they weren’t just playing at being weekend soldiers. There was a war on. And war meant casualties.

“We lost about twenty percent of our original force to desertion, in addition to those who were captured,” the redhead reported. “But we’re adding new men at twice the normal rate since 9/11. The patriots are rising across the nation in response to the attack.”

As we predicted, Matheson thought. The only reason that he and his patriot brothers had been willing to aid the foreign insurgents was to further their own agenda. An attack on American soil was guaranteed to rally the loyal. Now, with more men joining them every day, he and his compatriots could consolidate their power base and expand their sphere of influence.

“The FBI will undoubtedly accelerate their attempts to infiltrate our ranks now, so be vigilant,” Matheson said.

“Yes sir. We’re screening carefully.” The redhead hesitated. “Have we resolved the problem with the security breakdown here, sir?”

Matheson shook his head. “Not yet. Take this lesson to heart, my friend. Never rely too strongly on anyone but your most trusted brothers-in-arms.” He clamped a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “But, despite the unreliability of dealing with bureaucrats and low-level informants, it’s also useful to have sources inside the system. We may be able to deal with all our problems another way.”

“Sir?”

“I was advised that the White House press secretary released an interesting tidbit last night,” Matheson said. “Blair Powell and her deviant secret service guard intend to hold a so-called wedding ceremony. I imagine the papers will have that this morning.”

The redhead grunted. “She’s an embarrassment to the entire country.”

“But the timing is good for us. If a morally outraged man—or woman—were to put a stop to them, we’d fulfill our mission to destabilize President Powell’s administration, and we’d cut off a possible return route for our missing CIA agent.”

“And we could disavow any involvement.”

“Exactly. Let’s call on our friends to activate someone, preferably a member of one of the splinter groups—someone expendable who won’t be traceable to us or our Conservative Coalition allies.”

“What should I tell them about the target, sir?”

“That we want both neutralized, but Roberts should be the priority.”

“Do we have their location, sir?”

Matheson grimaced. “No, we’ve lost them temporarily, but Powell’s official schedule of appearances is updated daily.”

“A public assault is a suicide mission,” the redhead said mildly.

“All the better, as long as he—or she—takes the targets out first.”

“Yes sir.”

The men shook hands. “Godspeed, Colonel.”

“God bless America, General.”

When Blair awoke, she was surprised to discover that Cam had gotten out of bed without waking her. Ordinarily she was a light sleeper, but she had lain awake for a long time the night before, after Cam had fallen asleep in her arms. Partly, she’d still been wound up from worrying about Cam all day, but it was more than that. Felicia and Renée were staying in the guesthouse, which had been transformed into an ad hoc office for the OHS. Her security team had relocated to the main house, and Mac was probably already setting up a command center in the dining room downstairs. Diane remained in the main house at Paula’s suggestion, which made it easier to protect her as well. The new arrangements made it impossible to deny that she was living in a high security complex. And now her lover was a deputy director in a national security organization that had not existed two months before. Blair was faced with the cold hard realization that, even when her father was no longer president, her life was not suddenly going to be normal. This was normal, and it was what she’d been fighting to avoid all her life.

Blair rolled over and opened the bedside table. Cam’s weapon wasn’t there, because she was wearing it. Because even in this, their soon-to-be new home, they weren’t entirely safe. She walked to the window to look out over the dunes to the ocean. There was no one in sight. Even the fishing trawlers were so far out to sea they were no more than dots on the horizon. She was as alone here as she had ever been, and she should have felt free, but she didn’t. With a sigh, she pushed her melancholy aside and went to look for her lover.

She found Cam in the kitchen, leaning against the counter drinking coffee. She wore her casual work attire—chinos and a button-down collar shirt—and her weapon.

“Did you eat something?” Blair asked as she placed a hand in the center of Cam’s stomach and kissed her. Then she sidled around her to pour her own cup of coffee.

“I had some toast. You want some?”

“No thanks.” Blair kept her back turned. “I’ll grab some later. How’s your shoulder and hip?”

“Fine.” Cam set her mug down and caught Blair’s wrist before she could slip away. “What’s the matter?”

Blair smiled and brushed her fingers over Cam’s chest again. “Nothing.”

Cam waited until Blair had sipped her coffee, then plucked the cup from her hand and deposited it next to hers on the counter. Then she threaded her arms around Blair’s waist and pulled her gently against her body. She kissed Blair a little bit longer than her normal morning hello, and then studied Blair’s eyes. “Something happen I should know about?”

“Just a case of the blahs,” Blair said lightly. She nipped at Cam’s chin. “Really. Go to work.”

“You’ll tell me when you’re ready, right?” Cam murmured, placing another kiss gently on Blair’s temple.

“Mmm hmm,” Blair sighed.

“Ready now?”

Laughing, Blair pressed her mouth to the hollow at the base of Cam’s throat. “I’ve forgotten how persistent you are. I was just thinking that what you do, what you all do, isn’t confined to some office in a building in DC or Langley anymore. It’s everywhere, wherever you are. Wherever we are. Even here.”

Cam caressed Blair’s back. “I wish I hadn’t had to bring this into our home. I wish it didn’t touch you, or us. As soon as I can, I’ll move the team—”

Blair shushed her with a kiss, sliding her hands into Cam’s hair and melding her body a little more tightly to Cam’s. She felt Cam’s heart beat against her breast and the muscles in Cam’s stomach and thighs tighten. She felt the connection that held her secure no matter where she was, no matter what was happening, and realized that just as the danger was part of their life, no matter where they were, so was their love. And that mattered more to her than any place on Earth. She stroked Cam’s neck as she leaned back in her arms. “That’s not necessary. I’d rather you and the others work here if it’s the most secure location.” She pressed her hand to Cam’s heart. “This is my safe place.”

Cam’s eyes darkened and she held Blair more tightly. The next kiss was rougher, longer, deeper.

“Cam,” Blair said just a little breathlessly. “One word.”

“What,” Cam growled, sliding her hands under the back of Blair’s T-shirt.

“Briefing.”

Cam hesitated. “What?”

Blair laughed and bumped her pelvis into Cam’s crotch. “I love to make you forget yourself, but…what time is your briefing with Felicia and Renée?”

“Hell,” Cam muttered, tracing the edge of Blair’s ear with her mouth. “How did you know I had one?”

“Because it’s morning and you always brief in the morning.” Blair murmured appreciatively and closed her eyes as Cam sucked her earlobe. Cam’s breath was quick and hot against her neck. Nothing aroused her more than Cam’s desire. “Careful.”

“I was tired and sore when I got home last night,” Cam whispered, kissing her way down the pulse that shimmered in Blair’s throat. “I’m not anymore.” She nipped at Blair’s neck when Blair tilted her head back with a sigh. “And I didn’t thank you yet for the massage.”

Blair caught her breath as Cam skimmed her fingers around her sides and over her stomach. When Cam stroked higher, brushing the undersurfaces of her breasts, her nipples tightened in anticipation of a caress. She was dangerously close to not caring if Cam had a briefing or if Diane came looking for her any minute to take a walk on the beach, which was their habit. “You have two seconds to decide—either move your hands or be late for your briefing. Because if you get me any more excited, I’ll have to come, and since you started it, I expect you to take care of that.”

“You started it.” Cam was seriously considering delaying the briefing when a discreet cough from the doorway caught her attention. She lifted her head from Blair’s neck and found herself staring at Tanner Whitley.

“Sorry,” Tanner said, grinning broadly, “but Stark said to come on back.”

“Remind me to speak to her about that,” Cam muttered.

Blair pushed Cam’s hands away and spun around, leaning her back against Cam’s front. “Tanner!”

“I was in the neighborhood.”

“Ha ha. You live next door.” Blair drew Cam’s arms around her middle and folded hers over them. “What’s up?”

“Well, I was wondering if you and Diane were up for a little trip to see what I’ve been doing at the marina.” She slid her hands into the pockets of her khakis and rocked back and forth, still grinning. “But I get the feeling this isn’t a good time.”

“It’s a great time,” Blair said emphatically. She tilted her head back and kissed the side of Cam’s jaw. “Cam has to go to work and I don’t have anything planned until this afternoon. Once the light’s a little better, I’m going to paint.”

“I’ll let Stark know so she can organize your teams,” Cam said as she carefully loosened her hold on Blair. She would have preferred that Blair stay close to the compound, but that wasn’t her call anymore. Plus, the whole team would be heading to Boston the next day for the fundraiser. Maybe if Blair had the opportunity to relax today she might not resent the upcoming restrictions so much.

She kissed Blair lightly. “Have fun. I’m heading down to the guesthouse.”

“See you later, darling.”

“You will,” Cam murmured.

“Sorry about that,” Tanner said after Cam had left. She strode across the kitchen and looked out the back door. A member of her private security force stood guard on the rear deck. “When Stark asked me to assign some of my security officers here, she requested the ones with military training. Combat troops.” She turned to face Blair. “I know you can’t tell me anything, but I just wanted you to know that Adrienne and I are prepared to do whatever you need us to do.”

“You two have done enough. I’m not even sure we should have come back here.” Blair loved the island and she loved this house. But part of what made the property so perfect for their needs was that it abutted Tanner’s estate. They had no year-round neighbors to the north and Tanner’s house, which occupied half of the island, was less than a mile down the beach—close by if they needed her, but far enough away for privacy. “I feel like I’m taking advantage of our friendship. And Adrienne shouldn’t feel obligated—”

“Adrienne is a naval officer. Do you think I could convince her that it wasn’t her duty to assist you in any way possible?”

“God, this is hard.”

Tanner walked over to her and put her arms around her. “It is. But it would be harder if you didn’t let us help.”