Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

be the commander. “We werent prepared for what happened in the

Aerie, but we wil be now. They failed, which just shows you how

good your security was, even against the unexpected. Now it wil be

even bet er because we know the game has changed.

The

game

has

changed.

Blair suppressed a shudder. Yes, the rules of engagement had

definitely changed, and she was an unwil ing player in a game

where the stakes were higher than shed ever imagined. She glanced

toward the door as Cam walked in. Her black hair was wet and slicked

back, making the sharp planes of her face stand out even more. Even

in a loose black T-shirt and blue jeans, her body looked taut and

fighting ready. Blair could tel from the set of her jaw that shed heard

the last part of the conversation; she had that intense, hard

expression she always got when the subject of Blairs vulnerability came

up.

“Im not worried. Blair said, “We have the winning

team.

Cam leaned down and brushed a kiss over her cheek, then regarded

the tea with a raised eyebrow. “Is that for me?

“Yes, Blair said with exaggerated seriousness. “And theres honey

on the counter. Put some in. It wil help your throat.

“I think cof ee wil do

fine.

“Cameron.

Blairs

eyes

glit ered

dangerously.

“But tea is probably bet er, Cam amended as she retrieved the jar of

honey. Paula watched the exchange with apparent interest, then looked

quickly away as

Cam gave her a pointed stare. She rose without finishing her cof ee. “Il

be in the

command

center.

“Wait, Paula. Blair kept her gaze on Cam, thinking how much she loved

going to sleep with her every night and waking up with her in the

morning and having her around during the day. Just being with her. Not

being guarded by her, not being worried over. Just being in her

company. But this week had been an anomaly, and they both knew it.

Softly, she said, “Ready?

Cam

nodded.

“Paula, Blair said. “I think we bet er make that

cal .

Chapter Two

I just sent a transport plane to Lexington for you. In her usual

rapid-fire fashion, Lucinda Washburn continued, “It should be there in

two hours. Come on over to the of ice when you get in.

“Hi, Luce, Blair said sarcastical y. “Hows your day

going?

“About the way theyve al been going for the last

month.

Blair was surprised by the weariness in Lucindas voice. She couldnt

remember ever seeing her tired. In fact, she wasnt certain shed ever

known Lucinda to actual y sleep. “Is everything al right?

“As al right as can be expected. A smal , impatient sigh filtered down

the phone line. “Come home. Wel talk.

Home. The White House would never feel like home to Blair, because it

wasnt, even though her father and Lucinda were there. True, she had

no other family home. Her father had sold the house she had grown up

in when her mother died. Blair was twelve at the time, and after

that she had lived in the governors mansion or whatever other

house came with her fathers political position. Lucinda had always

been like family. Shed been a close friend of both Blairs parents before

Blairs mother died, and shed been a constant figure in Blairs life ever

since. Not a mother figure, but strong and capable and comforting, for al

her demands. But Blairs home was her loft in Manhat an, and that

had been nearly destroyed in an at ack that had come at the same time as

the devastation at the World Trade Center. She didnt have a home now,

and the memories of terror and death chil ed her. She glanced at Cam,

who watched her pensively. Cam. Cam was home.

Blair pushed the images of loss away. “It wil take us a while to

arrange transportation to the airport.

“I can get State Troopers to escort

you.

“God, no, Blair said with barely suppressed horror. “Ive got al the

protection I

need. Just tel the pilot he may have to

wait.

“Al right then. Il see you this

afternoon.

Blair ended the cal and handed the phone back to Paula. “Were

leaving.

“Il let the teams know, Paula

said.

“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.