Honor Under Siege

by Radclyffe

  to turn it of . She found the sheet and pul ed it over them. “Because Im

  not let ing you get up. Maybe not for a couple of days. She turned

  on her side again and wrapped an arm around Cams middle. “Im so

  glad youre here.

  Cam stroked Blairs hair and held her tightly. “I need to be here. I

  need you.

  “Im 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

  Thursda

  y

  M atheson 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 of to one side of the rotunda as a maintenance worker began

  polishing the stone floor with an electric buf er. The noise made

  conversation dif icult, but it also provided excel ent cover.

  “How are things at the new compound, Colonel? Matheson asked his

  freshly- promoted second-in-command.

  “The men have nearly finished the

  barracks, sir.

  “How is morale? Matheson had lost some of his best of icers 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 bat le might be like.

  Now he needed to rebuild his paramilitary force and relocate his

  base, and some of the menmostly truck drivers and other blue-col ar

  workerswere beginning to realize that they werent 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 were

  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 wil ing to aid the foreign insurgents was to

  further their own agenda. An at ack on American soil was guaranteed

  to ral y 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 wil undoubtedly accelerate their at empts to infiltrate our

  ranks now, so be vigilant, Matheson said.

  “Yes sir. Were screening careful y. 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 mans shoulder. “But, despite

  the unreliability of dealing with bureaucrats and low-level informants, its

  also useful to have sources inside the system. We may be able to deal

  with al our problems another way.

  “Sir?

  “I was advised that the White House press secretary released an

  interesting tidbit last night, Matheson said. “Blair Powel and her

  deviant secret service guard intend to hold a so-cal ed wedding

  ceremony. I imagine the papers wil have that this morning.

  The redhead grunted. “Shes an embarrassment to the entire

  country.

  “But the timing is good for us. If a moral y outraged manor womanwere

  to put a stop to them, wed fulfil our mission to destabilize

  President Powel s administration, and wed cut of a possible return

  route for our missing CIA agent.

  “And we could disavow any

  involvement.

  “Exactly. Lets cal on our friends to activate someone, preferably a

  member of one of the splinter groupssomeone expendable who wont be

  traceable to us or our Conservative Coalition al ies.

  “What should I tel 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, weve lost them temporarily, but Powel s

  of icial schedule of appearances is updated daily.

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

  mildly.

  “All the better, as long as heor shetakes 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 fal en asleep in her arms. Partly, shed

  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 Paulas

  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 shed been fighting to avoid all her life.

  Blair rolled over and opened the bedside table. Cams

  weapon wasnt there, because she was wearing it. Because

  even in this, their soon-to-be new home, they werent 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 didnt. 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 attirechinos and a

  button-down col ar shirtand her weapon.

  “Did you eat something? Blair asked as she placed a hand in

  the center of Cams 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. “Il grab some later.

  Hows your shoulder and hip?

  “Fine. Cam set her mug down and caught Blairs wrist before she

  could slip

  away.

  “Whats

  the

  mat er?

  Blair smiled and brushed her fingers over Cams chest again.

  “Nothing.

  Cam waited unt
il Blair had sipped her cof ee, then plucked the cup

  from her hand and deposited it next to hers on the counter. Then she

  threaded her arms around Blairs waist and pul ed her gently against her

  body. She kissed Blair a little bit longer than her normal morning hel

  o, and then studied Blairs eyes. “Something happen I should know

  about?

  “Just a case of the blahs, Blair said lightly. She nipped at Cams chin.

  “Real y. Go to work.

  “Youl tel me when youre ready, right? Cam murmured, placing

  another kiss gently on Blairs temple.

  “Mmm hmm, Blair

  sighed.

  “Ready

  now?

  Laughing, Blair pressed her mouth to the hol ow at the base of Cams

  throat. “Ive forgot en how persistent you are. I was just thinking that

  what you do, what you al do, isnt confined to some of ice in a building

  in DC or Langley anymore. Its everywhere, wherever you are. Wherever

  we are. Even here.

  Cam caressed Blairs back. “I wish I hadnt had to bring this into our

  home. I

  wish it didnt touch you, or us. As soon as I can, Il move the

  team

  Blair shushed her with a kiss, sliding her hands into Cams hair and

  melding her body a lit le more tightly to Cams. She felt Cams heart beat

  against her breast and the muscles in Cams stomach and thighs tighten.

  She felt the connection that held her secure no mat er where she was,

  no mat er what was happening, and realized that just as the danger was

  part of their life, no mat er where they were, so was their love. And that

  mat ered more to her than any place on Earth. She stroked Cams neck

  as she leaned back in her arms. “Thats not necessary. Id

  rather you and the others work here if its the most secure location. She

  pressed her hand to Cams heart. “This is my safe place.

  Cams eyes darkened and she held Blair more tightly. The next kiss was

  rougher, longer, deeper.

  “Cam, Blair said just a lit le breathlessly. “One

  word.

  “What, Cam growled, sliding her hands under the back of Blairs

  T-shirt.

  “Briefing. Cam

  hesitated. “What?

  Blair laughed and bumped her pelvis into Cams crotch. “I love to

  make you forget yourself, butwhat time is your briefing with Felicia and

  Renée?

  “Hel , Cam mut ered, tracing the edge of Blairs ear with her mouth.

  “How did you know I had one?

  “Because its morning and you always brief in the morning. Blair

  murmured appreciatively and closed her eyes as Cam sucked her

  earlobe. Cams breath was quick and hot against her neck. Nothing

  aroused her more than Cams desire. “Careful.

  “I was tired and sore when I got home last night, Cam whispered,

  kissing her way down the pulse that shimmered in Blairs throat. “Im

  not anymore. She nipped at Blairs neck when Blair tilted her head back

  with a sigh. “And I didnt 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 decideeither move your hands or be late for your briefing.

  Because if you get me any more excited, Il 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 at ention. She lifted

  her head from Blairs 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

  mut ered.

  Blair pushed Cams hands away and spun around, leaning her back

  against

  Cams

  front.

  “Tanner!

  “I

  was

  in

  the

  neighborhood.

  “Ha ha. You live next door. Blair drew Cams arms around her

  middle and folded hers over them. “Whats up?

  “Wel , I was wondering if you and Diane were up for a lit le trip to see

  what Ive been doing at the marina. She slid her hands into the pockets of

  her khakis and rocked back and forth, stil grinning. “But I get the feeling

  this isnt a good time.

  “Its a great time, Blair said emphatical y. She tilted her head back and

  kissed the side of Cams jaw. “Cam has to go to work and I dont

  have anything planned until this afternoon. Once the lights a lit le bet er,

  Im going to paint.

  “Il let Stark know so she can organize your teams, Cam said as she

  careful y loosened her hold on Blair. She would have preferred that Blair

  stay close to the compound, but that wasnt her cal 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. Im heading down to the

  guesthouse.

  “See you later,

  darling.

  “You wil , 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 of icers here, she requested the ones with

  military training. Combat troops. She turned to face Blair. “I know you

  cant tel 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. Im 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 abut ed

  Tanners estate. They had no year-round neighbors to the north and

  Tanners house, which occupied half of the island, was less than a mile

  down the beachclose by if they needed her, but far enough away for

  privacy. “I feel like Im taking advantage of our friendship. And

  Adrienne shouldnt feel obligated

  “Adrienne is a naval officer. Do you think I could convince

  her that it wasnt 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 didnt let us help.

  Blair rested her forehead on Tanners shoulders. “Youre

  helping. Not just with your security people, but because you

  understand. Thank you.

  “Youre welcome. So, lets get Diane and go cruising.

  Blair laughed at the line that Tanner had always used when

  they were planning to sneak out for a night of partying. She

  squeezed Tanners hand, grateful that despite all the changes, the

  love that the three of them had forged h
ad never faltered. “Im

  afraid this time, were not going to be able to duck security.

  “No problem, Tanner said, grinning. “Ive already pissed off

  your lover once today. Im not about to push my luck.

  * * * * *

  “So, Cam said, taking a chair across from Davis and Savard at

  the sleek glass and wood table that now served as their

  conference table. They had turned the first floor of the

  guesthouse into their base of operations. Davis had the

  computers up and running and networked. The dining room did

  duty as their file room. All things considered, it was a better

  working area than the converted storage closet they would have

  worked out of in the West Wing. “Lets prioritize.

  No one took notes. Everyone understood that there would be

  no reports generated by their work, and the only files would

  be the ones they appropriated from other security agencies.

  “First order of business is to find Matheson, because we have

  to assume that there will be another attack on Egret. He and

  his organization will lose credibility if a failed attempt is

  allowed to stand. Cam careful y kept her voice and face from

  showing her rage. “We can assume he will either establish a

  new paramilitary base of his own or join forces with another

  one. Hell need a network in order to reestablish himself.

  “A guy like that wont give up control easily, Savard said. She

  wore

  jeans and a dark blue polo shirt. Shed pul ed her hair back into

  a loose ponytail, and she looked more rested than Cam had seen

  her in weeks.

  Cam nodded and pointed the pen shed been rol ing between

  her fingers at Davis. “He didnt do much to hide the

  compound in Tennessee because he didnt expect us to come

  after him. This time hell take more precautions. Background

  himhis family by blood and marriage, the military academy and

  its faculty, donors to the school, previous graduatesanyone who

  might have purchased or inherited land. For now, Id prefer a

  covert examination of the academy files, because anything else

  is going to tip him off. She shrugged. “But the academy is the

  logical place to start. We know he recruits there. If I have to, Ill

  confiscate every scrap of paper in the entire place.

  “The FBI should have files on the other patriot organizations, Savard

  said, “and if hes ever so much as made a phone cal to one of their

  leaders, there should be a record of it somewhere. She grimaced. “The

  biggest problem is the files are so decentralized its practical y impossible