Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

“I hope you dont mind, but Im going to slip out a lit le

early.

Emory shook her head. “Please, you dont need to explain. She

glanced at a woman who pointed a camera in their direction. “Theyre

hungry tonight, arent they?

“Tonight? Blair laughed. “Im real y glad we got to meet. I thought your

speech was dynamite. If theres ever anything I can do, just give me a cal

.

“Thank you. Emory walked Blair to the far side of the stage where the

crowd on the floor was thinner. “I might just take you up on that

someday.

Blair smiled. “Good. Im

serious.

“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, too, Emory said,

waiting until

Cam was close enough to

hear.

“Thank you, Cam and Blair said

together.

“Il walk out with you, Emory said, “and we can trade phone

numbers. She looked over the several hundred people in the banquet

room and sighed. “Ive stil got another hours networking to go, and I

could use a break.

“Come on, then. Blair grinned. “Im an expert at sneaking out of things

like this.

Cam motioned to Stark. “Let the team know were ready to leave. Il get

Diane and Savard. Were stil using the planned exit?

“Yes. Il have the cars move around now. Stark murmured

instructions, then said to Blair, “Five minutes, Ms. Powel .

At the appointed time, the smal group took the elevator at the rear

of the building to the ground floor and headed briskly down the

service corridor toward an exit used by the hotel staf . Blair couldnt

see anyone in the alcoves and smal er hal ways branching of the main

corridor, but she was certain that members of the security team were

stationed along the way. She leaned close to Emory.

“If you real y want to break ranks, you can come back to the hotel with

us for a drink.

Emory laughed. “God, dont tempt me. Unfortunately, fundraising is a

necessary evil and Ive got enough to worry about without adding money

problems to my list.

“I can imagine, Blair said. “Dont worry too much about anti-stem cel

research legislation. I can tel you my father does not support measures

to restrict your work.

“Thank you.

I

“Stark, Cam said sharply as a man in a three-piece suit rounded a

corner twenty feet in front of them and strode rapidly toward them.

Even as she spoke, she started to step toward Blair. He raised his arm.

“Gun!

someone

shouted.

Blair barely heard the warning before the hal way erupted in gunfire and

she was

knocked to the floor. As she fel she grabbed for Cam but could not reach

her. Then she was on the floor with a tremendous weight pinning her

down. She pushed and struggled to get free but was only able to turn

her head. She saw a hand and part of a sleeve stretched out on the floor

a few yards away. Cams hand. She screamed but couldnt get enough air

to emit more than a choked sob. Someone groaned.

Then Blair was yanked to her feet, then off her feet, and propel ed

down the hal way by someone she couldnt see. Someone big. She final

y twisted enough in the iron grip to make out the features. Wozinski.

“Cam, Blair gasped. “Where is

she?

Wozinski didnt answer as he shouldered his way out into a narrow

service al ey. The metal service door banged against the stone building

façade with a sharp clang.

The limo idled directly in front of the exit with the back door

open. Hara crouched beside it, her gun extended in both hands as she

visual y swept right and left. Blair jerked in Wozinskis grasp and

almost wrenched free, but he dragged her across the sidewalk, pushed

her head down, and shoved her into the backseat.

“Cam, Blair shouted, immediately trying to climb out of the vehicle.

Dianes body blocked her way as she too was pushed inside. Savard

fol owed, the door slammed, and the vehicle careened away.

Blair stared at Savard, whose face was bone white. Her own heart was

racing so quickly her chest ached. She took a breath and then another

and dug her fingers into the leather seat. “What do we know?

“Nothing, Savard said

tightly.

Beside her, Diane sat rigidly upright, her arms wrapped around her

torso, her

pupils dilated so much her blue eyes looked black. She said my God, my

God

over and over in a hushed

voice.

Blair heard sirens, and then tires squealed behind them and she hastily

knelt on the seat to stare out the rear window. Renée leaned across the

space between the seats, grasped her shoulder, and gently pul ed her

back down.

“Please stay away from the

windows.

“Wheres Cam? Blair took a shaky breath. “Wheres

Paula?

“Paulais down. Im not sure about the commander, Renée said in a

monotone. For an instant, Blair couldnt decipher the meaning of what

she had just heard.

Paula is down. Down. Shot? Her mind veered away from the thought.

Cam.

Cam wasnt wearing a

vest.

“Whos behind us? Blair careful y enunciated each word and forced

herself to think calmly. Her only hope of get ing to Cam was to maintain,

or take, control. She wasnt about to become an unwil ing captive of her

own security team ever again.

“Mac. Im not sure who

else.

“Cal

them,

Blair

demanded.

“Protocol is for radio silence, Renée

said.

“I dont care. Cal them now. Consider it an order, Agent

Savard.

Savard stared at Blair for a long moment, then punched two numbers

on her handy talky. “Status?

Blair couldnt hear a response, but only a few seconds passed before

Renée said, “Were secure, and slipped the radio back into an inside

pocket of her

jacket. At the sight of her hand trembling, Blairs stomach clenched into a

painful knot.

“Report?

Blair

asked.

“Al present and accounted

for.

“Whatwhat does that

mean?

“It means no one was left at the scene. Stark and the commander are

in the

Suburban behind

us.

“Are

they

“I dont know, Renée

said.

The tight fist around Blairs heart loosened enough for her to breathe

without each movement feeling like a knife stabbing through her.

“Diane, are you al right?

Mutely,

Diane

nodded.

Blair concentrated on burying her panic. Cam was in the car behind her.

That was al that mat ered. “Where are we going?

“If

Paula

Renée shuddered and for just a second, Blair thought she was going to

break down. Then she squared her shoulders and continued.

“Paula wil let Mac know the exit route, and hel communicate with our

driver. Blair looked out the window and saw that they were heading out

of the city. The

last thing she wanted was to end up in another safe house, but she

realized that

was one decision she couldnt impact. She closed her eyes and wil ed her

mind

to go blank. It didnt work, but it kept her from trying to break down the

barrier between herself and whoever was driving and demanding to

know where they were going. Just when she thought she couldnt stand it

anymore, she felt the limo slow down. She jerked upright and saw a sign

for Interstate 495 South flash by as the vehicle turned into a deserted

truck weighing station by the side of the highway. “Whats happening?

Renée shook her head. “I dont

know.

Blair reached for the handle, but Renée stopped her. She was about to

protest when the door opened and Cam slid in. The limo immediately

accelerated back onto the highway.

“Are you al right? Cam slid her arm around Blairs shoulders and pul

ed her close.

“Am I? Blair laughed shakily and pressed her palm to Cams chest. “I was

afraid

She lost the words and just kissed Cam instead. “Are

you?

“Other than a few sore ribs from ending up under one of Tanners

security guards, Im fine. Cam stroked Blairs hair and looked at Diane

and Renée. “You both okay?

“Yes, Renée reported, sit ing tensely on the edge of the

seat.

“Stark took a round in the chest, Cam said. “Her vest stopped it. Shes in

pain, but shes stil in charge. Shel be okay.

Renée blinked and looked away. “Thank

you.

“Was anyone else hurt? Blair

asked.

“Another one of Tanners people took a shot to the vest in the

process of shielding Emory Constantine.

“Emory! Blair said, momentarily stunned. “My God, is she

hurt?

“She sprained her wrist, but shes tough and taking everything in

stride. Cam glanced at Savard. “We brought Emory with us. Shes in the

Suburban.

“Smart cal , Savard said. “What about the

assailant?

“Hes dead. Stark left Wozinski behind temporarily to coordinate with

the FBI

and police. Cam coughed and

winced.

“Are you sure youre not hurt? Blair said

immediately.

Cam shook her head. “Sore ribs. I got a quick look at the guy. Hes one

of the four on Emory Constantines watch list.

“You mean Emory was the target? Blair

exclaimed.

“Were not sure, but its possible. Cam shifted, obviously trying

to get comfortable. “For now, were not making any assumptions.

“How much of this can we keep out of the press? Blair

asked.

“Starks already been on the line to Lucinda, whos spinning some story

right now about Emory suddenly being taken il to cover her leaving

the banquet. Fortunately, the scene was contained immediately so we

may be able to keep the real details out of the press.

“Good, Blair breathed. “The last thing I want is another story circulating

about me being a target. She took Cams hand. “Youre sure youre okay?

“Yes. Now she was, now that shed seen Blair. Now that some of the

helpless fury at not being able to reach her when shed been in danger

was dissipating. Despite the pain in her ribs, she held Blair more tightly.

“What? Blair murmured, sliding her hand to the back of Cams neck.

“Darling?

“Nothing, Cam whispered. The instant shed seen the assailant, shed

tried to shield Blair, but Tanners man had grabbed her from behind

and thrown her down. If Stark hadnt been there, hadnt moved without

the slightest hesitation, Blair could be dead. Cam closed her eyes, as if

that could obliterate the image in her mind, and buried her face in Blairs

hair.

Blair moved her mouth close to Cams ear. “Im al right. Im

right here.

Cam took a long breath, straightened, and directed her next

comments to Savard again. “Theres been no evidence of pursuit, and

this has the feel of a lone gunman.

“I agree, Savard said. Her color was bet er and her eyes focused and

intent. Beside her, Diane looked exhausted, but calm. “He was probably

staying at the hotel or knew someone who was.

“But how did he know where we were? Blair said. “Or that we were

leaving?

“He could have paid one or even several of the hotel employees to keep

him informed, Cam said. “Its possible he had an accomplice who was a

legitimate guest at the fundraiser. He might have been watching

the limo from some vantage point within the hotel, but I think thats

less likely. Once Wozinski and the rest of the on-site team backtrack his