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“Its going to take some get ing used to, but wel manage. She rubbed her
cheek over the val ey between Blairs breasts, inhaling the lingering scent
of her perfume on the silk T. “I promise to tel you as much as I can,
but right now there real y isnt much to tel .
Blair combed her fi ngers through Cams hair, then tilted Cams head
back and kissed her. “Did you meet with my father today?
“No, just with his security adviser. The president doesnt real y get
involved with the specifi cs of these things.
“Thats a very subtle way of saying he needs to disavow al
knowledge. Cam lifted her shoulder. “Its important to insulate
him.
“Insulate, Blair mused, remembering how it always seemed as if her
father had a shield between him and everyone else, even her. “Yes, thats
a civilized word for it, I guess.
“Baby, Cam heard the unspoken fear, “I wont let that happen
to us.
“When did you learn to read my mind so wel ? Blair lifted Cams T-
shirt and stroked her abdomen.
“Stil learning, Cam said, her voice thickening as Blair untied the string
to her sweatpants and slid her hand lower. “Blair. Dont go there.
Laughing softly, Blair caught Cams earlobe between her teeth and
nipped it gently. “Since when?
“Since Dianes in the kitchen, and if you make me come, shel know just
from looking at me.
“So? She can always tel when you make m e come, and you dont
seem to mind. Blair cupped her hand between Cams legs and teased
her with one fi nger.
“Shes your friend. Cam gasped, and yanked Blairs hand out of her
sweatpants.
“Okay, Blair murmured, sucking lightly on Cams neck. “But only
because dinners almost ready, and I think Diane could use the
company.
“How is she doing? Cam noted the fact that Blair had not asked if the
issue of Valeries disappearance had come up during her discussions with
the presidents security adviser.
“As wel as can be expected, I suppose. Ive never seen her hurting so
much and so much in love at the same time. Blair sighed. “I dont want
her to feel like shes alone in this.
“Shes
not.
“I know, but shes afraid to talk to anyone about Blair hesitated,
realizing they were venturing onto dangerous ground. She wished
desperately that Diane
would talk to
Cam.
Cam felt Blair stif en and leaned back to study her face. “Did something
happen today that she needs to talk about?
Blair stroked Cams shoulder and kissed her quickly. “Lets
go eat.
“Blair, Cam caught Blairs hand as she rose and tried to move away.
“What happened today?
“We agreed we wouldnt talk
about
“What we agreed, Cam said dangerously, “is that what went on between
Diane and Valerie was Dianes business unless she got into trouble.
“Right. Blair centered herself, dropped one leg back and rotated her arm
in a quick, tight circle, breaking Cams grip. It was a standard self-
defense move, and if Cam had been expecting it, Blair wouldnt have
been able to break her hold.
Cams face darkened, but she didnt try to stop Blair as Blair
started toward the bedroom door. “What we di dnt agree on,
she said to Blairs back, “and something I didnt think wed have
to discuss, is what would happen if Valerie involved you in
any way. I didnt think Id have to ask you to tell me.
“Im not involved.
“Then tell me nothing happened today when you were
anywhere around.
Blair hesitated with her hand on the doorknob. “Dont,
Cam. Please.
Cam let her go, because she was so angry that anything else
she said would likely drive Blair into the streets, which is
where she usual y went when she felt threatened or cornered.
Better she left than Blair. Cam laced her running shoes,
grabbed a windbreaker, and stalked through the living room and
out the door. She didnt bother with the elevator, but descended
the stairs two at a time. When she shouldered through the door
into the lobby, she didnt even slow down as she passed
Wozinski, who stared at her in surprise. “If Egret goes out,
dont lose her. If you do, youll answer to me.
“Yes maam, Wozinski said smartly.
* * * * *
Diane turned to Blair at the sound of the door slamming.
“What happened?
Blair drained her wine glass and refi l ed it.
“Nothing.
“It didnt sound like nothing. Diane turned off the burner
and picked up her own glass. “Are you fi ghting about me?
“No, Blair snapped. “Were fi ghting about what weve
always fought about.
“And whats that?
“Cams goddamn job and the fact that she still wants to keep
me tucked away somewhere. Safe and sound like some exotic
animal in a fucking gilded cage.
“She loves you.
“Thats not the point.
“Of course it is.
“I thought we were past this, Blair said
sadly.
Diane picked up the bottle and her wine glass and gestured toward
the living room. “Lets talk.
“I dont want to talk. Lets drink wine
instead.
“Lets do both. Diane tucked the bot le under one arm and wrapped the
other around Blairs waist. “Were too old to drown our sorrows. I
always feel like crap the next morning.
“Are we too old to pick up strange girls in bars, too? Blair said as she
walked with Diane to the sofa.
“Sadly, I think we might be. Diane stood the bot le on the end table next
to the sofa and set led into the corner. The drapes were open, the room
lights of , the city aglow outside. “Is that what you want to do?
Blair curled up next to Diane, their shoulders lightly touching. “When
Im this angry, fucking someone keeps me from punching wal s.
“Not always. I seem to remember a couple of dents in our dorm room
door, way back when.
Blair smiled thinly. “I wasnt as accomplished at picking up girls
back then.
“If you want to go out, Diane said calmly, “Il go with you. If you want
to fi nd a stranger to fuck your anger away on, Il watch your back.
“I cant, Blair said softly. “Goddamn her. I
cant.
Diane eased an arm around Blairs shoulders, drew her close, and
kissed her cheek. “Then lets have some wine.
Blair closed her eyes and tried not to think about how desolate she felt
when
Cam walked out the
door.
Chapter Ten
C am ran, barely registering the driving rain as she pounded south
toward the lights of Union Station. Her windbreaker had no hood, but
she didnt mind the cold water whipping her face and barely registered
the steady trickle down her col ar, soaking her T-shirt. For the first few
blocks, she ran through the nearly deserted streets without thinking, her
mind hazy with anger and an undercurrent of sick fear. She hadnt been
an investigator for more than a dozen years without learning how to
ask questions that left no room for evasion.
Tell me that whatever went on between Diane and Valerie didnt
happen anywhere near you.
Blair hadnt answered, because Blair wouldnt lie to her. And that was
answer enough. It angered her that Blair would keep something like this
from her, but even more it frightened her that Valerie had somehow
made contact and Blairs security team hadnt detected it. Because if
Stark had known, she would have informed Cam immediately. Cam
was certain of that. The ramifications of the scenario were blood-chil
ingly clearif Valerie was a target and someone tried to take her out of
the picture when she was anywhere near Blair, Blair could become
col ateral damage. Blair had been unprotected. Blair had been
vulnerable.
Cams stomach rebel ed at the images her mind projected in a relentless
streama glimmer of movement on a rooftop before a bul et tore into her
chest, a vehicle exploding into a lethal inferno, a firestorm of smoke
and death outside the Aerie. Each time, Blair as the target.
“Goddamn it, she seethed. She felt as if she were always one step behind.
How much longer could her luck hold up? How much longer could
Blairs? Sooner or later, Blair would be caught in someones crossfire,
and Cam couldnt let that happen. The thought was beyond anything
she could even al ow into her consciousness. Blair would just have
to understand that her safety was more important than her freedom.
Cam squinted in the steady downpour as she approached an
intersection and automatical y glanced to her right as she started across
with the light. Headlights shimmered through a curtain of water halfway
up the block, and it wasnt until she was in the middle of the street
that she registered the sound of an engine accelerating. She looked
right again and dove toward the far sidewalk as a vehicle barreled
down on her. The next instant something solid grazed her right hip and
she was airborne. She crashed down, rol ing out of her fal as best she
could while reaching for her weapon. Stunned by the impact, it took
her a second to remember she didnt have her weapon or her cel phone
or even her wal et. Like an idiot, shed left the apartment with nothing
but the clothes on her back. When she pushed herself to her knees,
the vehicle had disappeared around the corner.
Stif ly, she got to her feet and swayed for a minute until she got her
balance. It al happened so quickly, she could almost believe it hadnt
happened except for the throbbing in her right shoulder and hip,
which had taken the worst of the glancing blow. When she swiped at
the moisture on her face she saw a streak of blood on her hand. She
ignored it, thinking she must have scraped her hand when she hit the
ground. Ignoring the pain shooting through her right side, she turned
back the way shed come and ran as fast as she could. By the time she
reached her building and shoved through the glass doors into the lobby,
she was gasping for breath and staggering from a cramp in her side.
Wozinski
rushed
toward
her.
“Commander!
Cam braced one arm against the desk where the doorman usual y sat
and gasped, “Im okay. GetStark here. Her voice cracked and she
swal owed
against the raw ache that accompanied every breath. Running in the
cold air seemed to have exacerbated the swel ing in her injured throat.
“Savard, too. She glanced toward the elevators, almost terrified to ask.
“Egret?
“Upstairs,
Commander.
The relief was so intense her legs nearly buckled, but she waved
Wozinski away when he took another step toward her. “Just winded.
Make the cal s.
“Yes
maam.
“No one else comes up, Cam rasped on her way to the elevator. Once
inside, she pul ed of her windbreaker and mopped up some of the water
and grit from her hair and face. Glancing down as she crossed the foyer,
she realized the right knee of her sweatpants was torn out. Grimacing,
she tapped on her door. “Blair? Blair, its Cam. I dont have my keys.
After a moment, Cam heard the sound of footsteps approaching. As soon
as the door started to open, she held onto the handle so Blair couldnt
see her. “Im okay, but I took a lit le bit of a spil .
“A spil ? Blair pul ed against the resistance from the other side,
instantly attuned to the hoarseness in Cams voice. “Sweetheart?
Cam leaned against the doorjamb, pale and shivering.
“Rough run.
“Theres blood on your face and neck, Blair gasped, grasping Cams
shoulders. When Cam winced, Blair slid her arm down around
her waist. “What happened?
“Oh my God, Diane exclaimed from across the room. “Should I
cal an ambulance?
“No. Cam struggled not to cough. “I just need to sit down a
second.
“Put some cof ee on, would you, Di. Blair switched on a nearby table
lamp. “Im going to help her get cleaned up.
“Stark and Savard are on their way. I
need to
“Be quiet and let me look at you. Blair framed Cams face and studied her
eyes, some of her fear dissipating when she saw that they were
clear. She gently touched a jagged scrape along the right side of Cams
jaw. “Where else are you hurt?
“Bumps and bruises. Cam tried not to limp as she and Blair started
down the hal way to the bedroom. “Its not serious, baby.
“What happened? Blair repeated as soon as they were in the bedroom.
She quickly got two large towels from the bathroom and tossed them
onto the foot of the bed. Then she gently lifted Cams T-shirt and guided
it of over her head. After draping one of the towels around Cams
shoulders, she untied her sweatpants and eased them down and of .
“Oh, sweetheart.
Gently, she brushed her fingertips over the discolored, swol en areas on
Cams shoulder and hip. “You didnt fal .
“Somebody tried to run me down, Cam said, slowly making her way
to the bathroom. “I need to get a fast shower. Stark and Savard should
be here in a minute.
Blair turned on the water, her motions sharp and angry. She needed the
anger, because the thought of how much worse it might have been made
her want to scream. “Who was it? Did you see?
“No. Cam groaned softly as the hot water hit her rapidly stif ening
back and hips. “Couldnt see a thing except headlights.
“It was deliberate? Blair ran the towel through her hands over and over,
wanting
more than ever to hit something. To hurtno, annihilate whoever had
attempted to kil her lover, to take someone precious from her. The pain
of just thinking of it was so huge she shook.
“Yeah, I think
so.
“Oh sweetheart, Im sorry, Blair whispered. “If you hadnt been angry
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