Honor Under Siege

“Exactly. Were compiling extensive profiles of known or possible

contacts, but we need to expand our investigation to include

paramilitary organizations. We might just stumble over him or someone

who can lead us to him.

“Youl need more people for

that.

“Wel need information analysts and data col ectors based here in DC, but

none of them wil require critical security clearance. I want to

keep the core investigation with my personal team working out of

New York City.

Lucinda sat back down. “Who dont you trust

here?

“The bet er question is, who do I trust. Cam shrugged. “I trust you, but

there are too many eyes and ears in this building and al over this city.

Cam laughed bit erly. “Hel , the CIA put people inside an escort

service. You can bet they have them in the White House.

“Its unorthodox to work that far outside the

system.

“Matheson came after Blair, Cam said flatly. “Il do whatever I have to

do with or without anyones approval.

Lucinda glanced at Blair. “It boggles my mind that you havent kil

ed her.

“It was touch and go for a while when we first met. Blair smiled

softly and entwined her fingers with Cams. “Once you get to know

her, of course, you discovershes just as dangerous as she sounds.

“And what about the wedding, Lucinda said dryly. “Considering recent

events, have you two decided to take the prudent course and delay?

Cam eased back against the sofa and said

nothing.

“Were get ing married Thanksgiving weekend in Colorado, Blair said.

“You can try to keep it a secret if you want to, but its going to leak and

we al know it, so you might as wel go ahead and announce the details.

Lucinda shook her head. “Youre

sure?

“Weve been sure for a long time, Blair

said.

“And

until

then?

“Were going back to Whitley Point, Cam said, “to finalize details for

purchasing the house. Wed also like to arrange for renovation of the

Aerie.

“I thought wed decided that the security breach was too severe to risk

Blair returning.

“We need a place to live in Manhat an if Cams base of operations is

there, Blair said. “And thats my home.

“Blair and I talked about it on the flight down here, Cam said. “The

breach wasnt because of an inherent problem with building security,

but because Matheson had an inside person providing him with

details and access. Instead of reinventing the wheel somewhere else, wel

correct for weaknesses there.

“Il discuss it with the president. Lucinda held up her hand when Blair

started to protest. “You can save the damn declaration of independence,

Blair. There are some things he wants to know about, and your security

is one of them. Thats the way it is.

“Okay, Blair said quietly. “But Il talk to him about it,

okay?

“I suppose it i s a father-daughter thing. Lucinda smiled fleetingly. “So,

where are we then?

“Wel , Cam said, “we know our enemy, which is the critical element

necessary to win any war. We have the best people anywhere in the

world working for us. And we have every reason in the world to

prevail, so eventual y, we wil . She smiled at Blair. “As to the

immediate future, Blair and I have a wedding to prepare for.

Blair pul ed Cam to her feet and slid an arm around her waist. “Final y, a

plan I

cant find anything to argue with.

Lucinda laughed. “Wil wonders never cease.

“No, Blair said, kissing Cam tenderly, “not in this lifetime.

About the Author

Radcly f fe is a retired surgeon and full time author-

publisher with over twenty-fi ve lesbian novels and anthologies in

print. She is the recipient of the 2003 and 2004 Alice B.

Readers award for her body of work and has been short-

listed for the Lambda Literary Awards and Golden Crown

Literary Society Awards multiple times, winning the 2005

Lambda Literary Awards with Erotic Interludes 2: Stolen

Moments ed. with Stacia Seaman and Distant Shores, Silent

Thunder and the 2006 Gold Crown Awards with Justice Served .

She has selections in numerous anthologies including Call of the

Dark , The Perfect Valentine, Wild Nights , Best Lesbian

Erotica 2006 and 2007 , After Midnight, Caught Looking:

Erotic Tales of Voyeurs and Exhibitionists

, First-

Timers, Ultimate Undies: Erotic Stories About Lingerie and

Underwear , A is for Amour , and Naughty Spanking Stories 2 .

She is also the president of Bold Strokes Books, a

publishing company featuring lesbian-themed general and genre fi

ction.

Her forthcoming works include Winds of Fortune (Oct 2007),