Page 105 of Be My First

I jerk my eyes to his, and he says softly, “Wait for the Secret Service. They’ll have the most accurate information. The press is just going to speculate at this point.”

I nod. He’s right. I just feel so helpless right now.

Once we’re at the airport, local police have blocked off traffic so we can pass quickly onto the tarmac. Rodriguez drives the car all the way up to the plane. A small army is guarding it. We rush out of the car and up the stairs to the plane. Bode grabs my hand once we’re inside and leads me to a seat. I’m sure I’m in shock. I don’t even feel like I’m in my body anymore. The door shuts, and we start to taxi to the runway.

O’Shay’s phone rings. No one speaks as he answers it. Everyone stays completely silent until he gets off the phone.

“Any news?” I ask.

He nods. I squeeze Bode’s hand so hard I’m afraid I may break it.

“They are fine,” he says. At first, I’m not sure I heard him correctly.

“Elizabeth and James – the kids too. They are okay?”

He nods. “Yes. Some minor injuries. They are treating them on Air Force One, but they are going to be fine.”

My composure cracks. Everything I was holding inside starts to bubble over. Tears pour from my eyes.

“Was anyone else hurt?” Bode asks.

O’Shay nods slowly. “We lost two agents.”

“Fuck.” Bode sits back abruptly.

I gasp. My whole body starts shaking. “Do you know who?’

He blinks a few times. “Brayden and Nichols.”

I feel like I’m going to be sick. Both of them have served on my security team. “Oh my god.”

“There were at least two dozen people injured. There will be more deaths,” O’Shay says.

The tears flow down my cheek now.

“If they hadn’t been in the armored car...” Rodriguez lets his voice trail off.

I can’t hold any of it back now. I keep thinking of how scared the kids must have been. Bode pulls me into his arms, and I bury my head in his chest and sob. I don’t even remember when I stop. At some point, he moved me onto the couch with him so I could lay down and rest my head in his lap.

“Try to sleep.” He strokes my hair. “We’ll see them soon.”

Sterling Family Group Text

James: We are safe. We are all on Air Force One. I want you to know I love all of you, and we’ll meet everyone at the White House.

Zadie: How are the kids? They have to be terrified.

Elizabeth: Vivi is very shaken up. We all are.

Will: Everyone is in route back to the White House. We should all be there by morning.

Brooklyn: Did Juno get out?

Eli: I texted Bode. They are in the air. He got Juno to sleep and didn’t want to wake her. She knows everyone is safe.

Will: That’s good. We all need our rest. Love you all. See you tomorrow.

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