Page 72 of Between Love and Honor

“Not really. They’re going to trade it to Ronoff.”

His body stiffened behind hers. “Why?”

“It’s all a bluff to flush out the traitor,” she explained.

“But if it doesn’t work, my parents and the others on that list will never be safe as long as the seller remains at large.”

He said nothing. But she took comfort in the smell of his signature cologne and the feel of the heat from his body radiating beside her.

“I must get word to my parents to go underground until this mess is cleared up,” she continued. “Can you do that for me?”

“Yes, of course,” he reassured her.

She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear the soothing kindness and stability of his voice until she felt the knots in her muscles begin to uncoil.

“Is there any news on the identity of the traitor?”

“No,” he responded. “Let’s hope the Yanks have better luck.”

She did her best not to wilt with disappointment. Ben would have to confront Alexi, after all.

“When are the Americans making this supposed trade with Ronoff?” he asked.

“Tonight some time,” she replied. “I’m not exactly sure of the actual plan. But they have assured me he won’t get his hands on the list.” She heaved a sigh. “But, as we know, nothing is foolproof.”

“This will be over shortly, my dear. But I worry about you. You’d be well advised to seek asylum at the embassy.”

“I can’t. Not until I know the traitor has been eliminated and the list is destroyed.”

“Don’t be brash,” he argued. “Let the Americans handle this. Do what you do best. Disappear until this all blows over. Otherwise, I won’t be able to help you any longer.”

With those ominous words, he rose from behind her on the bench. She listened carefully for his retreating footsteps before slowly releasing the breath she was holding.

Do what you do best. Disappear.

The words stung. Mainly because they were true. Disappearing was what she was best at. Retrieving intelligence and then fading into the shadows and shedding her alias so she wouldn’t be linked to the take down. How many times had she done that over the past decade? But she didn’t want that life any longer. Instead, she was going back to the White House. To Ben. And his friends.

If they would have her.

With any luck, this would all be over quickly and she could photograph Josslyn’s wedding. Then she and Ben could get on with that future they’d planned so long ago.

No doubt he was furious with her disappearance. But she had some ideas of how to smooth things over. She smiled just thinking about them.

First things first, however, there was the matter of the El Nino flowers to iron out. After all, the plants were her alibi, not to mention her pass to get back inside sixteen hundred Pennsylvania Avenue.

* * *

“I’D FEEL BETTER if we involved the rest of our national security team,” the president said.

Secretary Lyle exchanged a look with the chief of staff, who heaved a resigned sigh.

“She’s right to run this op solo, sir,” he said. “Until we discover who’s doling out classified intel, we don’t know who we can trust.”

“For heaven’s sake, you don’t think someone on my national security team is involved?”

“No, Mr. President,” the secretary said. “I don’t think it’s someone high up at all.”

Ben studied his boss carefully. Since she’d glanced at the list of names earlier, her demeanor had gone from intense to practically melancholy. He had the niggling feeling she knew more than she was saying.

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