At the sound of the president addressing Jamie, everyone on Alpha Team turned to focus on their commander-in-chief. The uplink with the CIA director had been closed, but the one with Nazari was still live.
“Sir,” Jamie replied woodenly after a long pause.
“Your actions on behalf of your country during the fight are commendable,” the president said, choosing his words carefully. “Director Nazari has requested Alpha Team be pulled from the field. I’m sending you back to base.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you for your service.” That dark gaze swept over all of them, and Sean found himself straightening his shoulders beneath that weighty regard despite his exhaustion. “All of you.”
No one said a word, merely saluted at the praise none of them wanted. The team didn’t move until Jamie did, and they followed him out of the bunker. They were heading for the stairwell at the end of the brightly lit corridor when Liam called out to them.
“Wait.”
Sean pressed himself against the wall, as did the others, to give Liam room. He didn’t hesitate to pull Jamie into a hard hug, not bothered by the fact that Jamie didn’t reciprocate.
“You aren’t alone,” Liam said fiercely. “Remember that.”
Jamie didn’t respond, and Sean could see Katie’s mouth drawn in pain. Whatever she was doing to hold Jamie together, he had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to keep it up much longer. Liam let Jamie go and retreated back to the bunker. The rest of them made it back upstairs out of the restricted area and out of the White House.
Burwell, the Secret Service special agent assigned to Jamie’s security detail, was waiting for them up above.
“We have vehicles ready for all of you,” he said.
“Thank you,” Katie said.
The SUVs in question were parked at the North Portico, guarded by the Secret Service. The team split up, and Sean found himself riding in the SUV with Jamie and Katie, Donovan behind the wheel.
“Good luck,” the empath said as she shut the door after Katie climbed inside.
Donovan started the engine and drove forward. Sean looked over his shoulder at where Katie and Jamie sat in the middle bench seat.
“Any news?” Sean asked quietly.
Katie closed her eyes, pain lining her face. “The FBI is at the CIA headquarters in Langley to arrest Bennett and those aiding and abetting him.”
“He won’t be there, and that’s not what I was asking about.”
“I know. Put a call through to base and have them get Alexei on an uplink.”
Sean did as he was told, accessing the control panel on the vehicle’s dash while Donovan slowly navigated them through the security lines and checkpoints laid down by multiple agencies and the military.
It took close to ten minutes for someone back at base to track down Alexei and get him on an uplink. No video, because Alexei didn’t accept that option, and Sean’s heart sank.
“Lyosha?” Sean said, not knowing what more to say.
Alexei’s answer didn’t come in words, but in a painful-sounding sob.
Sean clenched his hands into fists, feeling tears prick his eyes, wanting so badly to be where Alexei was in order to hold him.
In the rearview mirror, Sean watched as Jamie hunched over and covered his face with his hands, shoulders shaking as he cried. Katie reached for him, dragging Jamie close in order to hold him, her own tears falling silently down her cheeks.
Donovan kept a white-knuckled grip on the wheel that never loosened on the long, long drive back to base and the heartache waiting for them there.
They parked outside the emergency room doors of Medical, where a group of doctors and nurses in scrubs were waiting for them. They didn’t immediately approach the vehicles, giving them some last bit of privacy before they were all seen to.
Sean looked over his shoulder at where Katie was still holding Jamie, catching sight of her reddened eyes. “I need to go.”
She nodded, and Sean slipped out of the SUV, hurrying toward the entrance. He waved off the first doctor who came forward, ready to assist, and stepped through the sliding doors. He approached the nearest elevator, glad to see it was empty.
