Leah arched an eyebrow, the look in her eyes reminiscent of their mother’s when she waited to hear what lies they were about to tell as children. “Really?”
Jamie sighed. “No, I wasn’t. Myapologies.”
“So what’swrong?”
He didn’t want to burden her with the news that two members of his team were missing—Jamie considered Sean one of his at this point—but he knew Leah cared about them. She’d come around often enough over the past few years to get to know them. His sister understood, better than their parents, what his team meanttohim.
Jamie still couldn’t open up his mouth and explain how he’dfailedhisteam.
Leah must have seen something on his face, because she leaned in, eyes locked on his face. “IsitKyle?”
“He’s fine,” Jamie saidquietly.
“But someone elseisn’t?”
Jamie would have responded, except Burwell peeled off from his little group of agents. “Your fatherishere.”
Jamie looked over Burwell’s shoulder in the direction of Tremont Street. He could see the flashing lights of his father’s motorcycle police escort through the bare branches of the trees in the park. Jamie automatically scanned the rooftops of the surrounding area, picking out where the Boston PD snipers had made their nests. His mind swiftly ran through the possible locations for counter-snipers, and he wished he had Kylewithhim.
Kyle would know best where to look for the threat. His eyes and battlefield calmness was something Jamie desperately needed right then, and for always. For a moment, Jamie thought about the ring he’d given to Katie for safekeeping while he waited to set up the perfect moment to ask Kyle one important question. In the midst of everything happening right now, Jamie was acutely aware of how waiting might not be the right choice. Safety wasn’t in their job description, and the right time might never happeninwar.
I need to ask,Jamie thought to himself, the decisionsteadyinghim.
As he watched the flurry of movement in the distance that was security preparing to escort his father into Boston Common, Jamie’s comms rang in his ears. He answeredimmediately.
“Callahan,”Jamiesaid.
“We know what city Dvorkin and Delaney are being held in, and as of right now, they are still alive,” Nazari said, foregoing anypleasantries.
The world whited out at the edges at those words. Jamie fought back the lurching lightheadedness that momentarily assailed him. He started walking, brushing rudely past Burwell and heading in the direction of thestreet.
“Where?” hegroundout.
“Boston. Seaport District, at the docks. Alpha Team is wheels up with Gamma Team. They have orders to rendezvouswithyou.”
“Jamie, where are you going?” Leah called outtohim.
Jamie ignored her, swiftly cutting through the clusters of campaign aides, volunteers, and security personnel milling about between himself and his parents. “I’ll meet themdockside.”
“You will wait for them, Callahan,” Nazari orderedsharply.
He barked out a bitter laugh, unable to hold back the anger that seeped into his voice. “I don’tthinkso.”
Jamie cut the line, lengthening his stride. The police had kept this area of the park accessible only to people working on the campaign and to the media. Jamie was acutely aware of the cameras pointed his way as he approached hisfather.
Richard was smiling and shaking hands with local campaign members who had helped organize today’s rally. Charlotte was by his side, smiling just as widely, ever the engaged politician’s wife. Jamie caught his father’s eye as he approached, unsurprised when Richard didn’t stop smiling and projecting a calm demeanor for thecrowd.
“I need to talk to you, Father,” Jamie said when he got withinearshot.
Maybe it was the look on his face, or the tone in his voice, that had the crowd of sycophants and aides quickly getting out of his way. They didn’t go far, attention riveted on a family drama Jamie didn’t want to play out in front of the public, but he had nochoice.
“Jamie—” Richardbegan.
“It’s not arequest.”
Jamie grabbed his father by the elbow and hauled him around, not caring how it would look for the cameras. Charlotte stared at him in surprise before hurrying after them. Richard tried to shrug out of Jamie’s grip, but Jamie tightened his fingers withoutapology.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Richard snapped, too aware of their location and their status to shout out hisfrustration.
