Dana pressed a cellophane-wrapped sandwich she’d picked up in the hospital cafeteria into Renee’s hand. She set a cup of coffee on the end table next to her and dropped into a surprisingly comfortable chair close by. “I know you don’t want to eat, but you should. It’s been a long day. It’s probably going to be a longer night.”

Renee turned the sandwich around in her hands as if she’d never seen one before. She still wore her black BDUs and T-shirt, and she looked wild and dangerous. “She’s been in there for almost five hours.”

“The trauma resident told Emory a branch of the femoral artery was nicked. They have to repair that. That kind of stuff takes a while.”

“They said the nerve was okay, didn’t they?” Renee asked for the third time. “Her leg…if her leg…if she can’t…”

Dana had never seen anyone faint while sitting down, but she thought Renee was about to. Her normally vibrant golden skin was a lusterless, washed-out beige, and her eyes were unfocused. Dana quickly knelt in front of her and cupped the back of her neck. “Here, put your head down for a second.”

“Sorry,” Renee whispered. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Dana murmured, rubbing her shoulder. “It’s been a really crappy day.”

Renee laughed weakly and slowly raised her head. Her eyes glistened with tears. “Yeah. Really.” She brushed her cheeks. “She loves her fucking job. If she can’t do it anymore, I think it will break her heart.”

Dana smoothed her hands over Renee’s shoulders, then squeezed. “That kind of decision is way down the road. I think this country needs people like her right now, and the government doesn’t let go easy. They’ll probably rehab her until her ass falls off, but they’ll get her back to work.”

“Yeah. I’ve been there. Rehab’s a bitch.” Renee looked past Dana’s shoulder and stiffened. “Emory! Is there any word?”

“One of the nurses just stuck her head out of the OR. They’re almost done. She’s stable.”

“Do they know anything about her leg yet?”

“It’s too soon to tell, but arterial repairs are usually straightforward.” Emory rested her hand on Dana’s shoulder as Dana stood up. “I won’t say don’t worry, because that’s impossible. But I think we have reason to be optimistic.”

Renee took a shaky breath. “Thanks for everything.”

Emory leaned into Dana. “I think Dana is the one to thank. Keeping pressure on the wound all that time made a huge difference.”

Dana blushed, liking the way Emory touched her in public. She wished they could be alone. With everything that had been going on, they had barely had a chance to see each other since the counterassault on the cabin. Still, whenever Emory saw her, her gaze lingered on Dana’s, and her mouth curved into a small smile. Even the slightest glance made Dana quiver.

Her thoughts were about to wander down decidedly inopportune avenues, considering where they were and how long they were likely to be there, when Blair Powell and Cameron Roberts entered the small waiting area. The president’s daughter looked remarkably fresh and composed in jeans and a plain dark blouse. The deputy director wore a jacket and pants and an unreadable expression. Worried, Dana thought. She doubted Cameron Roberts liked Blair venturing out in public, which probably explained the presence of a cadre of agents close behind them. Dana nodded toward Blair. “Ms. Powell’s the one to thank. She saved our asses.”

Renee jumped up as Blair hurried over.

“Hey,” Blair said, hugging her. “How are you doing?”

“Okay,” Renee said. “How about you?”

Blair’s expression clouded. “I’m so damn sorry about Paula, Renee.”

Renee frowned. “If it weren’t for you, she might be dead.”

“If it weren’t for me,” Blair said bitterly, “she wouldn’t be in the operating room right now.”

“Blair,” Cam said gently.

“It’s true, Cameron, and there’s no way to pretty it up,” Blair said sharply. “Damn it. They were after me.”

“Yes, they were,” Cam said in a reasonable tone, although the look in her eyes was hot and angry. “They were after you, personally, which is bad enough. But by trying to use you as leverage against the president, they were also after all of us, and all of those that we as a nation protect, not just here, but everywhere. Matheson and those working with him were trying to destroy something far greater than you.” She took Blair’s hand. “And I can guarantee that Paula Stark or any one of us, including you, would gladly go down fighting to prevent that from happening.”

Every agent in the room nodded and Blair just shook her head before kissing Cam’s cheek. “I love you, you know that?” She looked around the room. “All of you.”

“Can I quote you on that?” Dana asked.

“Yes,” Blair and Cam replied together.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Diane turned away from the window, sensing a presence despite the utter silence in the room.

Valerie stood just inside the bedroom door, as if she were waiting for permission to come any farther. Diane hadn’t heard the door open or close, which wasn’t unusual. Valerie appeared and disappeared as if her existence were merely a ripple on the surface of other people’s lives.

Diane wondered when Valerie would trust what was between them and believe that there was nothing about her—not her past, not her present, and not what she might have to do in the future—that would force Diane to turn from her. Slowly, she closed the blinds, then crossed the lamplit room until she was standing in front of Valerie. She took both of her hands, marveling at the soft, subtle strength in her long fingers. With her hair tied back in a simple ponytail, without makeup, in the jeans she so very rarely wore and heavy boots, she looked nothing like the sophisticated, elegant woman she usually presented to the world.

“I like you like this,” Diane mused, tracing her fingertip along the edge of Valerie’s jaw. “You’re gorgeous in anything you wear. Or when you wear nothing at all.” She laughed and draped her arms loosely around Valerie’s neck. “But just like this, you look so strong. Simply beautiful.”

Valerie closed her eyes briefly. “I’ve spent most of my life trying not to be seen. Or at least to be sure that others only saw what I wanted them to see. I’m not sure that what you see is real.”

“Oh, believe me,” Diane murmured, insinuating her body against Valerie’s. “It’s real. You are real. What’s between us is real.”

“I’m very much in love with you,” Valerie said quietly.

“Even if I’m not heroic?”

Frowning, Valerie glided them across the room to the bed and pulled Diane down beside her so they were half lying, half sitting, facing each other. “Where did that come from?”

“I’m surrounded by accomplished women. Brave. Valorous. Warrior women.” Diane shrugged and stared at a spot on the bed between them. “I’m none of those things. I’m frivolous and fainthearted and—”

“Stop.” Valerie silenced her with a kiss. “Bravery isn’t about carrying a gun or even being willing to fight. It’s about being willing to fight, maybe even die, for something. I know you would die for Blair. For any of your friends.”

“For you.” Diane pulled Valerie closer until their legs entwined. They kissed, and she smelled the lingering hints of battle. She held Valerie tighter, aware that she might not have come back. Accepting that this moment, every moment, was precious. “I love you.”

Valerie rested her forehead against Diane’s and sighed. “I’m so tired. So tired of never being able to stop. Of never feeling safe.”

“Come to bed with me. Let me hold you. Let me keep you safe tonight.”

“I will.” Valerie pulled away. “But I have to see Cameron first. There are things I need to tell her. They’re on their way back from the hospital now. I told them to keep your cabin.”

“Fine. Go see her. But then I want you back.”

“As soon as I can.”

Diane didn’t want to let her go. Valerie’s eyes were rimmed with shadow, and the pain of too many lonely years shimmered in them. “I’ll be here. I want to be here. No matter what comes.”

“I want that too.” Valerie cradled Diane’s hand against her cheek. “More than I have ever wanted anything or anyone.”

Diane smiled. “Well, that’s a good start.”

Laughing, looking lighthearted and suddenly years younger, Valerie rolled away and got to her feet. She pointed, shaking her finger. “Stay right there. Better yet, take off your clothes and get in bed. I’ll be right back.”

“Go,” Diane chided as Valerie backed up slowly, her gaze hungry. Diane was afraid if Valerie didn’t leave quickly, she’d go after her, and if she touched her, she might not let her go. “You owe me a night of impossible pleasure, and I plan to collect.”

“Impossible?” Valerie shook her head. “That word does not apply to us.”

Then Valerie was gone, as quickly and quietly as she had entered. She might be used to passing through other people’s lives without leaving a trace, but her presence was indelibly marked on Diane’s heart.

With slow anticipation, Diane undressed.

Emory let herself into the cabin as quietly as she could. She’d sent Dana back to the lodge with some of the others hours before, after she’d taken a good look at her and realized that Dana was about to fall down. She’d made Dana promise to go to bed, and hopefully, she was sound asleep right now. She undressed in the living room and tiptoed naked across the darkened bedroom. When she stood by the side of the bed listening to Dana’s regular breathing, she thought it was the sweetest sound she’d ever heard. Carefully, she eased under the covers.

“Emory?” Dana asked sleepily.

“Hi,” Emory whispered, snuggling close. When she draped her arm around Dana’s middle, Dana drew a sharp breath and tensed.