Honor Under Siege

by Radclyffe

  her lap. She clasped her loosely around the waist and kissed her

  throat.

  “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

  with me, you wouldnt have gone

  “Bul shit, Blair, Cam sai
d mildly, stepping out of the shower and

  accepting the towel Blair held out for her. “Baby, if it was anyones fault,

  it was mine. I wasnt paying at ention, and whoever it was probably fol

  owed me from here. I didnt have my weapon or my phone. Fucking

  idiot. Roughly, she toweled her hair until it was dry enough for her to

  finger comb it back out of her face. “Would you mind grabbing me

  some jeans and a shirt.

  “Here, Blair said a moment later. She helped Cam with the but ons and

  zipper even though Cam didnt need her to, because she had to do

  something, other than slam doors and swear. “Il get you some ibuprofen

  too. From the looks of those bruises, youre going to be sore.

  When Blair started to turn away, Cam gently caught her by the

  shoulders and stopped her. “Im okay. Youve given me a worse

  thumping in the training ring.

  Blair turned in the circle of Cams arms. “I might have bloodied you,

  but Ive never tried to hurt you. She rested her cheek against Cams

  shoulder. “God, I cant believe someone tried to run you down. I shouldnt

  have let you go.

  “I shouldnt have gone. Im sorry.

  “I was so pissed off at you for leaving. Blair was starting to

  shake as her anger dissipated. “You beat me to it.

  “Ill make a deal with you. The next time were pissed at

  each

  other, I wont walk if you wont.

  Blair sighed and kissed Cams throat. “I guess I have to

  agree, because I cant stand it when youre angry, and its

  even worse when youre gone.

  “Were going to have to talk about this with Stark and

  Savard. Diane too, a little later.

  Blair met Cams eyes. “Is this about Valerie?

  “I dont know, baby. But we have to find out. She kissed

  Blair careful y, slowly and tenderly. “Tonight was either a

  warning or they were just sloppy. Either way, they made a

  mistake. Were not waiting for whoevers out there to try again.

  Cams eyes hardened. “Were going after them now.

  * * * * *

  Diane placed a cup of coffee on the end table next to Cam

  and handed another cup to Blair. “Theres more in the kitchen for

  when the others get here. Ill be in my room. Her eyes held an

  apology as they met Blairs. “Let me know if you need anything.

  “Wait! Blair caught up to Diane on the way to the guest

  room. “Are you okay?

  “Me? Diane shook her head. “Forget about me. Is Cam okay?

  Are you?

  “Shes banged up, but shell be fine. Blairs voice trembled and