Honor Under Siege - Radclyffe

distraction.

Forcing herself to focus on Diane, Valerie found her looking more

pale than usual. She knew Diane hadnt slept the night before, even

though she had tried to pretend she was sleeping. Eventual y theyd both

admit ed they were awake and had made desperate love until morning,

when Valerie had silently slipped away while Diane slept.

“I want to be at the rendezvous point wel before he arrives, Valerie

said.

“What about the others? Theyl be with you, wont

they?

“Theyl fol ow a short time later. Dont worry, theyl be there

long before anything happens.

“Can I come with you to the

marina?

Valerie shook her head as she tucked her long-sleeved T-shirt into her

jeans. “Im riding down with one of Tanners crew and they wont be

coming back here. She kissed Diane softly. “I dont want you get ing

marooned out there in the middle of the night.

“I dont mind waiting. Diane rose and clasped Valerie lightly

around the waist. “Im going to go slightly stir crazy waiting here.

“You need to stay here, Valerie said gently, pul ing Diane

close. She brushed her mouth over Dianes ear. “Its important

that you stay close to Blair in case you have to leave quickly.

Diane stiffened. “You mean if something goes wrong out there.

“There are any number of reasons why Stark might want to

move

you both, and it wont necessarily mean that anything has

gone wrong. Just promise me youll do whatever Stark says.

“Im not leaving here without

you.

“You may have to. Please, love, I need to know that you will do

what Stark says. Valerie cupped Dianes cheek. “I need to

know youre all right so I can concentrate on doing this thing.

Can you help me?

Diane took a deep breath. “Yes. But promise youll call me

or come find me as soon as you can?

Feeling Diane tremble, Valerie murmured softly and kissed her.

“I

wont disappear. I wont do that to you again. No matter

what.

Diane nodded. “Wheres your gun? Youre taking your gun,

arent you?

“Yes. Valerie released Diane and went to the dresser where

she kept her weapon. She clipped the holster to the waistband

of her jeans. “Hell expect me to be armed. She didnt add that

he might also ask her to relinquish it as a show of good faith.

Diane didnt need more to worry about.

“Im sure there are things I should be doing or saying, but I

forgot to ask Blair for pointers, Diane said shakily.

Valerie gathered her close again, drawing deeply of her

scent, imprinting the shape and feel of her body and the way

she fit so seamlessly into her own waiting places. “You dont

require any advice on giving me exactly what I need. I love you.

“I love you too. Ill see you

soon.

“Yes you will, Valerie said gently. She kissed her and was

careful not to make it feel like goodbye. She would not leave

Diane with

that memory.

* * * * *

Cam reached for her shoulder holster but Blair got to it first

and held it up so Cam could shrug into it. She pressed against

Cams back, caressing the tops of her shoulders and down

her arms. When she reached her hands, she slid her fingers

between Cams.

“Tanner was here earlier. I think she wanted to come with you.

Cam shook her head. “Were using more civilians than we

should

already, but since I know I cant keep Tanner from sending her

people out on the water to do perimeter surveil ance, I asked

her to head up that part of the operation. But theres no way Im

letting her get anywhere close to Henry.

“I wish you didnt have to get close either, Blair said, meeting Cams eyes

in the mirror over the dresser. What she saw made her tighten her

hold on Cam, wrapping their joined arms around Cams middle, as if

she could keep her safe within her embrace, forever. “Youre worried

about something. What is it?

“The problem is we cant real y get close enough , Cam said, “so were

going to be relying on some pret y dicey technology. Thats not the way I

like to do these things.

“No, I know, Blair murmured. “You like to be right there yourself. Is it

selfish of me to be glad that youre not going to be able to stand in front

of her if someone starts shooting?

Cam eased out of Blairs embrace and turned. “No, its not selfish. I

wouldnt feel any dif erently if the positions were reversed. This is

just one of those times when its actual y bet er to be close to the line

of fire. Cam kissed her before

walking to the closet to retrieve her windbreaker. “But we have an

experienced team, and with Stark and Mac here coordinating and

Tanners people on the water, weve got al the bases covered. Itl be

fine.

“Wheres your vest? Blair said

sharply.

“In

the

truck.

“Tel me youre going to wear

it.

“I wil . Cam grabbed Blair and kissed her again, harder this time. “Wel

need to debrief as soon as were done, so it might take awhile before I

can cal . Dont worry, okay?

“Il

try.

She stepped back, but kept a grip on Blairs forearms. “If for any reason

Stark wants to evacuate, it might be tomorrow or the next day until we

reconnect.

Blair narrowed her eyes. “Why might Stark want to

evacuate?

“We dont think Matheson will try to hit here, but its not

beyond the realm of possibility.

“Is that the only reason?

“Blair, Cam said pleadingly.

“Cameron. When will you stop trying to protect

me?

Cam shrugged rueful y. “Probably never.

Blair stroked her face. “All right. Good enough. Then just

answer when I ask, if youre not going to volunteer the

information.

“If Stark loses communication with us for any reason,

weve agreed that she will get you out. It might be something as

simple as the satel ite link going down, so theres no reason for

you to worry if it happens.

“You cant honestly believe that.

“The only person at risk here is Valerie, Cam said. “Thats

the truth.

“Dont think I dont care about what happens to her, Cam,

Blair said, “because I do. I like her. Diane loves her. I

dont want anything to happen to her. Blair tangled her fingers in

Cams hair. “ But you are my lover, and you come first, before

anyone. Before Diane. Before my father, before this country.

Cam held Blairs face as gently as she could and caressed

her mouth with her lips. As she kissed her, she whispered, “The

same is true for me. Ill be back as soon as I can.

* * * * *

“Hows the leg feeling? Paula asked as she buttoned her shirt.

“Good. Steady. Renée slid an extra clip of ammunition into

her

jacket pocket. “Did you post extra people on the

beach?

“Yeah. Paula threaded her belt through her holster and

snugged the buckle down. “We tightened the perimeters and

doubled the guards. Matheson is not coming ashore without us

knowing it.

“What about the road? Renée sat on the bed to lace her boots.

It still hurt to squat down or bend over. Fortunately, she wasnt

going

to be doing much moving once they got on board the

boat.

“We put up roadblocks diverting everything except local

traffic, and weve got two people there to check any cars coming

through. Fortunately, island traffic is real y light this time of year.

“Yeah, I know. If this had been summer, it wouldve been a

nightmare. Renée walked to Paula and snaked her arms

around Paulas shoulders. “Dont take any chances, okay? I dont

have to tell you how good Mathesons people are.

Paula thought back to the at ack on the Aerie and the insane few moments

when the automatic weapons fire was al she could hear. It

seemed almost incomprehensible that six short weeks ago an at ack like

that had been beyond imagining, and now she was preparing to protect

the first daughter of the United States against a possible assault by a

group of US extremists as if it were business as usual.

“The commander was right moving us here. Its more defensible than if

we were almost anywhere else. But dont worry, at the first sign of

any problem, Im moving her.

“Good. Renée kissed her quickly. “Il see you in a lit le

while.

“Hey, Paula said, stopping Renée with a hand on her arm. “I know you

want this guy. We al do. Justjust dont take any chances, okay?

For the first time, Renée recognized that Paula was worried. Worried and

trying not to burden her by saying so. For the last two days, they had

both been so caught up in planning the operation that theyd barely

had a moment alone together. When they had taken a break, theyd had

lit le energy to do more than fal into bed to catch a few hours sleep

before get ing back to work. And, she had to admit, she was excited

about another operation and thinking about nothing else. She was

eager to get back into the field, and hungry, aching , for

payback. Ever since 9/11 shed felt impotent, and the thwarted

raid on Mathesons compound had only added to her sense of

helplessness. Now she had a chance to set le the score, and that was al

shed been thinking about.

“Hey, sweetie, Im sorry, Renée said. “Ive been running on autopilot

since yesterday morning. God, I want this guy so bad.

“Do you think youl be able to take Henry alive? Paula

asked.

“Thats going to be Valeries cal , I think, Renée said, sit ing down on the

edge of the bed and pat ing the space next to her. “Sit with me for a

minute.

Paula sat beside her and slipped an arm around her

waist.

“If Valerie reads Henry as still friendly, shes going to

recommend a meeting between the three of themher, Cam,

and Henrysomeplace on neutral territory. If she doesnt trust

Henry or if Matheson shows, I think Valerie is going to make

a different call.

“Thats got to be tough after all the time theyve worked

together, Paula said.

“Shes ice. Renée said it respectful y. “Shell do whatever needs

to be done.

“I know. We all wil . Paula kissed Renée and squeezed her

hand. “Try not to mess your leg up again tonight.

“I wont. Renée smiled, tightening her grip on Paulas hand. “By

the way, I love you like crazy.

“Same here, Paula whispered. “Same here.

* * * * *

“All set? Cam asked as Valerie joined her and Savard in

the kitchen.

“Yes. Where are the others?

Cam tilted her head toward the closed doors of the adjoining

room. “Operations center. Do you want to look at the setup?

“No, Valerie said. “Im sure Mac has everything under

control. Valerie stood next to the table where Savard was

drawing a clear solution from a 50cc glass vial into a 1cc syringe

and unzipped her jeans.

“How does your neck feel? Savard asked as she opened a

foil wrapper and extracted an alcohol swab.

“A tiny bit sore, Valerie said, rubbing a fingertip lightly over

the spot just below her ear where the transdermal microphone

had been inserted that morning. “How do you read it?

“Loud and clear, Savard said, pointing to the wireless receiver

that was barely visible in her ear. “Right leg or left?

“Left.

Savard pulled on gloves, swabbed Valeries upper thigh with

the alcohol, and palpated for the femoral pulse. When she

found it, she inserted the needle half an inch away, drew back

until she saw venous blood, and injected the Neosynephrine.

“Youre going to feel your heart race in a few minutes, but

the peripheral vasoconstriction wont be maximal for an hour

and a half to two

hours. She met Valeries eyes. “Once this starts working, your

skin is going to be damn cold and if he touches you, hell know.

“If he touches me it will only be for a second and I dont think

hell notice, Valerie said as she zipped her jeans.

Savard gathered her equipment. “Wear as lit le as you can on the boat

on the way out to drop your core temperature even more. I dont know

how wel this is going to work. Im just guessing on the dosage.

“I dressed light and Il take my jacket of . Id go in the water, but hel

notice if Im wet.

“We cant risk you get ing that cold, Cam said, shaking her head. “If you

have to go into the water for any reason later on, and you start

out with a core temperature that low, you wont last thirty seconds.

Valerie smiled. “Youl be there before

that. Cam said nothing.

“See you later, Savard said, touching Valerie lightly on the arm before

leaving.

“Theres a car outside to take you down to the marina, Cam said as

she and

Valerie walked toward the front door. “Il ride with

you.

Valerie stopped. “No. Stay here. I know how many last-minute details

there are to check. Im al right, Cameron.

The hal way was dimly lit, and Cam thought Valerie looked almost

ghostlike in the shadows, as if she were already gone. It made her

uneasy, and she unconsciously reached out and touched her cheek.

“Youre not going to be alone out there.

“I know. Im not worried. Valerie covered Cams hand for a brief second.

Then

she drew it away from her face, but kept Cams fingers in her grasp.

“There are many things unsaid between us. You should know that there

were times that your presence in my life was the only thing that

mat ered to me. There was never a single moment when I felt anything

but cared for by you.