Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

edgily.

“I dont believe I said that. Cam traced a fi ngertip along the rigid arc of

Blairs jaw. “I was thinking that twenty-four hours ago you almost

looked relaxed. She smoothed her thumb over the crest of Blairs

cheekbone. “Now youre looking a lit le weary.

Blair snatched Cams hand away from her face and bit her thumb hard

enough to make Cam wince. “Dont try to distract me with your slick

moves.

“Ow.

“Let me guess what youre going to be doing while Im painting pret y

pictures on a remote island. And Diane is doingcross-stitch.

Cam smothered a grin. Blair had been pale moments before. Now she

was fl ushed and her eyes were bright. Anger looked good on her, but

then, it always

had.

“Youl be playing super sleuth in Washington or New York or God

knows where, chasing down maniacs who would be happy to kil you,

and themselves, and anyone in the vicinity. Blair pushed at Cams

shoulder. “I already know youre going to take my fathers of er. Just

what else do you have planned?

“Im not sure. Ive been out of the intel loop since the raid. Ive got to

assemble a team and do some catching up. Cam risked diving in for a

quick kiss. “And its possible Il need to travel.

Blair sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees. “Where? And dont

you dare say anywhere in the Middle East. She focused on Cam, her

face set. “I mean it. If someone has to go there, fi ne. Thats why we

have the CIA and al the other spies. She fi sted her hands so tightly Cam

thought her fi ngers must be get ing numb. “Ive never asked you not to

do something, Cameron. But Im asking this.

“Thats not where I meant, Cam said, prying Blairs clenched hands

open and clasping her fi ngers. “I was thinking Paris.

“Paris? Blair echoed.

“Why?

“Because Foster made more than a few trips there in the ten months

before the assault on you. Maybe theres a connection. Cam shrugged,

frustrated. “I dont know. Thats the problemnone of us know,

because none of us expected anything like what happened.

“Do you think Valeries in

Paris?

“Valerie? Cam circled Blairs shoulders and tugged her down onto the

bed. She stroked Blairs hair even though she could feel Blair resist her

caress. This wasnt anger. This was fear. Fear and something else she

couldnt quite get a sense of. “I suppose its possible. She knows as much

as I know about what happened in

the at ack at the Aerie and who might be behind it. Thats part of the

problem. Shes knows as much as I do, or more, and shes one step

ahead of us.

“Youre taking this assignment with OHS to fi nd Valerie, arent

you? Blair asked.

“No, Cam said. “Im taking this assignment because Stark doesnt need

me, and neither do you, not professional y. And theres no way Im

going back to providing security for presidential hopefuls or visiting

diplomats, and Im sure as hel not going to chase bad money, even if it

is funding drug cartels. There are bigger threats than drugs to worry

about now.

“And of course, you want to go after the biggest and baddest. Blair rol

ed on top of Cam and braced herself on her elbows. She very gently

touched Cams face. “Im surprised youre not in the military. Youre such

a patriot.

Cam smiled and kissed the tips of Blairs fi ngers. “I thought about it when

I was younger, but I dont take orders al that wel . At Blairs snort of

derision, she shook her head. “No, I dont. Not real y. I understand the

chain of command and I respect it. But I need the freedom to cal my

own shots in my day-to-day work.

“You avoided my question about Valerie. You do want to fi nd her, dont

you? Blair was aware of treading careful y. She did want to know what

Cam planned to do. As much as Cam could tel her. Cam was her lover,

and she needed to know what mat ered to her, what drove herwhat

danger she would put herself in and why. But she didnt want anything

that Cam might tel her to be an unwitting betrayal of their trust.

“I want to fi nd her, Cam agreed, “and I need to fi nd her. Shes either in

danger or a potential danger to others. Either way, shes not safe out there

alone.

“Im not going to use Diane to help you. Blair didnt know why she was

surprised that the words came so easily. There had never been any doubt

about what she

would do. Or wouldnt

do.

Blair started to sit up, but Cam held her close. “I never thought that you

would. You know I wouldnt ask you to, right?

Silently,

Blair

nodded.

“But just hear me out,

okay?

“You might not ask me to, but you might want me to. Blair rested her

head on

Cams chest. “I dont want todisappoint

you.

“Disappoint Cam tilted Blairs chin and met her eyes. They were

cloudy and troubled. She hated that her lover had been caught in the

tangled web of divided loyalties. “Baby, its my job. Not yours. Lucinda

was wrong to ask you to get involved.

“What

about

national

security?

“Wel have no national securityor any other kindif we resort to spying

on our friends. Cam shook her head. “I trust youl tel me if Diane gets

into any trouble.

“I wil

.

“And you have to stay out of it. Cam held Blairs jaw more fi rmly,

delving into the blue eyes that glimmered with anticipated resistance.

“Okay?

“Okay. Blair hesitated. “Can you tel me why you think Valerie might

be in danger? Diane real y loves her, Cam.

“Ah, Jesus, Cam breathed. “What a

mess.

“Love tends to get that way, Blair murmured, kissing Cams throat.

“You mess me up.

Stroking the back of Blairs neck, Cam sorted her thoughts. “Until a few

hours before the raid, the only people who knew Mathesons identity

were Valerie, Stark, Savard, and Davis. If Matheson disappeared

from the compoundor never showed up there to begin with because

someone tipped him of there are only a limited number of explanations.

I know it wasnt any of my people and not likely to be anyone on the

assault team. So, either Valerie warned him or someone Valerie told

warned him.

“Valerie must report to someone inside the Company, Cam, Blair

said.

“Of course. Whoever ordered her to infi ltrate our team to

begin with.

Blair closed her eyes. “Then that means theyl know that youre looking

for her. Jesus, this is a nightmare. And youre going to be right in the

middle of it.

“If Valerie wasnt responsible for the leak, once she got wind of

Matheson disappearing, shed know she was the weak link. Shed

have to disappear because shed know whoever tipped Matheson would

be coming after her.

“So youre tel ing me that Valerie isnt safe, and I should help you fi

nd her.

“Thats one way of looking at it, Cam said. “Right now, Im not

sure. And because Im not sure, I dont want you to do anything.

“Except hide out with Tanner and Diane at Whitley

Point.

“That would be my wish. Cam kissed the tip of Blairs chin. “Any

chance?

“I dont know, maybe, Blair said. “Not because I want to hide, but

because I dont want to stay here. And I cant go back to Manhat an,

because I dont have any place to go back to.

“This is sounding good, Cam

said.

“But

“Uh-

oh.

Blair smiled. “Im not going without

you.

Cam frowned. “Im going to be pret y busy, Blair. Ive got to put a team

together, for one thing. Then who knows what Il fi nd once I start

digging into this whole Valerie situation.

“Are you tel ing me youre going to direct the investigation from some of

i ce in DC somewhere? Where anyone could access your fi les or

monitor your activities? Blair made a face. “Even I know thats not

very smart. If you even suspect that theres someone high enough up

to get Mathesons name from Valeries intel igence reports and warn

him, then nothing is secure. She grinned. “Unless youre going to work

out of Lucindas of i ce.

Cam groaned. “You make it sound so appealing. But were talking about

a big operation here, baby.

“You found Matheson working from Whitley Point. That was a big

operation, too.

“Yeah, and someone ferried Valerie of right under our

noses.

“Good point, except Valerie helped them from the inside. Blair saw the

anger and betrayal fl icker across Cams face, knowing nothing she

might say could lessen it. Only the truth could do that. “Youve got to

admit, its going to be more secure there than almost any place around

here.

“Il think about it. At least for a base of operations. Hel , Cam mused,

“we used to do al of our advance surveil ance and intel igence right out

of the Aerie. That was a damn big operation, too.

“Il talk to Tanner tomorrow about speeding up the property purchase. Im

sure she can make it happen. Besides, Blair said softly, “I love it there,

and we need

a place to

live.

Cam brushed her fi ngers through Blairs hair, then drew her

head down and kissed her. She murmured against her lips,

“We do, dont we.

“Is it all right with

you?

“Are you going to be okay having a base of operations where

we live?

Blair laughed shortly. “Cameron, Ive always had some kind

of base where I live. Look at the Aerie. Im used to it.

“If youre sure. Right now, Id feel a hell of a lot better if you

were back there.

“Im going to talk to Lucinda tomorrow about our plans, Blair

said. Cam rolled her over and settled one thigh between

her legs.

“Youre not going to make me go with you, are

you?

“I cant believe youre afraid of Lucinda. Blair curled her leg

around the back of Cams thigh and nestled her center

against Cams crotch. “Itll cost you.

“Anything. Cam slowly rotated her hips between Blairs legs.

“Just name it.

“Lets see how many times you can make me come, Blair

whispered, “while I think about it.

Cam laughed. “Tough duty.

* * * * *

“Hel o? Diane said distractedly, expecting a wrong

number. “Hi. Did I wake you?

Diane sat up abruptly, the sheet fal ing away unheeded. The

sliver of moon and the glow from the surrounding city cast the

room in dim, gray light. She hadnt been sleeping, even though

it was the middle of the night. “No. I was thinking about you.

An indrawn breath and a beat of silence fol owed. Diane

almost said her name, but knew instinctively not to. She

waited, the seconds interminable.

“Are you home?

“Actual y Im Diane thought of all the conversations shed had

over the years with Blair and how theyd always been

careful, even when there was probably no need to be. Now,

with Valerie, there surely was. “Im visiting friends.

“Ah. Anyone I know?

“Yes. Dianes heart pounded and she strained to hear every nuance

in Valeries voice. “Hows your trip going?

“I shouldnt have cal ed, but I missed

you.

Diane caught her breath. “Can I join you? Im in a bit of a

hiatus myself right now.

“Thats not a good

idea.

“Why not? I miss you, too. Terribly.