Oath of Honor

counter to expectations—and proves there are exceptions to every

rule.”“And sometimes,” Evyn said softly, her gaze returning to Wes,

“rules are just convenient shields.”

Wes had the urge to get up and run, and she’d never run from

anything in her life. What could be so frightening about a woman

wanting to be close to her? Not just any woman. Evyn. Evyn, who

had provided quiet strength, and tender comfort, and fierce passion.

Evyn—who refused to be pushed away.

“Sometimes reshaping boundaries is slow work.”

• 213 •

RADCLYfFE

Evyn grinned. “I’m patient.”

Wes threw back her head, laughing quietly. “How is it I’ve never

noticed?”

“Never?” Evyn murmured.

Wes’s breath caught. Evyn had been endlessly patient the night

they’d made love—letting Wes lead, despite her inexperience, letting

her satisfy her need to touch and taste and savor. “I remember.”

“Good.”

“Well,” Emory said, as Dana returned, “before Wesley tells me it’s

none of my business, I’ll butt out.” She cleared a space on the table for

the drinks and leaned to kiss Dana as she sat down. “But for the record,

I think you two are smoking hot together.”

Wes groaned and Evyn grinned.

Emory lifted a shoulder. “Just my scientific observation.”

v

Russo walked out onto the back deck of his mountain cabin. His

last two public appearances and the benefit dinners that followed had

been great successes. His supporters had been enthusiastic, and even his

wife had managed to do her part. Now he planned to celebrate properly

with Nora, who should arrive any moment. Despite the frigid air, he felt

totally comfortable. The sky was clear, the stars bright points of light,

the moon a huge flawless globe. Snow cascaded down the mountainside

and layered the bending boughs of the pines with powdery lace. He was

surrounded by natural beauty, and the brisk air stung his lungs with

every breath, reminding him of the surety of life.

Nora’s latest report showed his popularity growing and his strength

with the electorate approaching the point where no challenger would

pose a threat. Still, a substantial number in his own party found him too

radical, too polarizing, and there were large segments of the Northeast

and West where Andrew Powell commanded a huge following. He

needed to shake up the moderates in his own party and create doubt

in the hearts of the centrist liberals who might be persuaded to change

allegiances if the threat to their personal safety was great enough. The

time to prepare the groundwork for that shift in power was now. Certain

of his course, he called Hooker.

• 214 •

Oath Of hOnOr

“Hooker,” the man answered.

“It’s time to initiate our plans with the optimal timetable,” Russo

said. “That doesn’t give us a lot of time,” Hooker said.

“Yes, I’m aware of that, but given the ideal location, you should

have ample time to activate all the parties.”

“I’ll need to confirm with my contact.”

“Then do so,” Russo said calmly. “Unless I hear from you, I’ll

assume we are proceeding as planned.”

“My fee just went up,” Hooker said. “It’s going to take a whole lot

of coordinating to pull this off so soon.”

“I have utmost faith in you. And if all goes as expected, you’ll

receive a twenty percent bonus.”

“That’s very generous,” Hooker said.

“I hope we’ll be doing business for some time.”

“I’ll let you know when I’ve confirmed with my contact.”

“Wonderful. And happy holidays.”

“Yeah,” Hooker said, “ho-fucking-ho.”

Russo rang off without commenting. The new year was going to

be a very good year.

v

“Are you coming to bed?” Blair kissed the top of Cam’s head and

rubbed her shoulders. “It’s getting late and it’s been a long day.”

Cam leaned her head back against Blair’s stomach and closed her

eyes, enjoying the warmth spreading down her back from Blair’s hands.

“Have I ever mentioned I love the way you touch me?”

Smiling, Blair kissed the top of her head again. “A time or two.

What are you doing?”

Cam rubbed her eyes. “Reviewing reports from this morning’s

security update. Looking for anything out of the ordinary.”

“Why? If you think we’re dealing with someone on the inside?”

“The leak may be internal, but if…” She hesitated. They were

talking about Blair’s father.

“It’s a little late to try to shield me, don’t you think?” Blair’s

question lacked the usual heat that accompanied any accusation of Cam

• 215 •

RADCLYfFE

being overprotective. “Lucinda briefed me and you know she doesn’t

sugarcoat anything. If someone is going to try to kill my father, you

don’t think it will be someone close to him? Someone we know?”

“I don’t know a thing for sure,” Cam said, wishing with everything

in her Blair didn’t have to be a part of this. Bad enough Blair needed

to worry about her father, but Blair was going to be right in the middle

of any potential attack. She was almost as much at risk as Andrew, and

there was no way Blair could be convinced not to go on the trail with

him. “You’re going to be there too,” Blair said with her uncanny ability

to read Cam’s mind.

“How do you do that?”