You ever think about what your life would be like if you left the Marines when your father first asked you to?Katie asked quietly into his mind.
Sometimes,Jamie replied.
He knew if he had, his life would have ended up like the ones in this room: a life of luxury and politics, never getting his hands dirty or sullying the family name as he’d done over the past couple of years. A life without Katie, without his team, without his convictions.
Without Kyle.
Jamie looked away from his father.But it’s not one I’d ever want to experience.
Oorah,was Katie’s response before slipping out of his mind.
A couple of minutes later people started leaving the Blue Room, getting escorted by White House staff to the large covered pavilion on the South Lawn for the dinner part of the event. Jamie stayed with Gabriel for the transition outside, only half-listening to the conversations going on around him.
It took time for everyone to feed into the long entrance tunnel manned by US Marines in evening dress on duty as ushers and attendants to the guests. The walls of the luxury pavilion were see-through while the peaked roof was draped in soft white fabric.
Names hovered in the air over each place setting on every round table they passed, courtesy of the tech embedded in every centerpiece. The two head tables—one with the president and the countess, another with the First Lady and Prince Samuel—were the most coveted seats. Gabriel would be heading up his own table, and Jamie was glad to see Liam’s name amongst the men and women assigned to dine with them.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Liam said with a wink when he arrived.
He was seated next to Gabriel instead of Jamie, but Gabriel gestured for Jamie to swap spots. “I’m sure you’ll want to catch up with each other.”
“Thank you,” Jamie said, taking him up on the offer.
They got settled as everyone else slowly found their seats. Conversation and laughter created a buzz of white noise that wasn’t quite drowned out by the classical music being played by the Marines in a string quartet. Jamie scanned the room, taking mental note of those he recognized.
The vice president wasn’t present tonight, though if Jamie’s father hadn’t been invited, he probably would be. They were both vying for the Republican nomination, and while the president was publicly rooting for his right-hand man, there was no doubt Michael would prefer Richard winning the race. The vice president wasn’t as charismatic as Richard or Michael, and it showed in his poll numbers. The only reason he ranked higher in the polls than Richard right now was because of the investigation.
“Any news?” Liam casually asked.
Jamie didn’t have to wonder what Liam meant by that question.Viper, link Knight.
The megacity’s facial recognition program hasn’t tagged anyone on the streets,Katie informed them both.
Do you think they’ll come in using stealth?Liam asked.
That’s a high possibility we’re hoping to counter,Jamie replied.We have the Air Force on standby.
Declan had to have a cache of stolen weaponry and ordnance from his time owning and operating North Star International. The Joint Chiefs had ordered a review on use of private military companies in active theaters after last summer, and the discrepancies that had come up in the audits were troubling. Congress wanted an overhaul, but bureaucracy was a lumbering behemoth of slow-moving fixes.
How many agencies are handling defense?
MDF, FBI, and the CIA. Military is on standby.
Liam raised an eyebrow at Jamie.CIA?
We couldn’t cut them out without raising more suspicions. The investigation into them is ongoing and still sealed.
Well, fuck.
General consensus,Katie agreed.We—
Her mental voice abruptly cut out, making Jamie go tense in his seat.Viper?
She came back with a roar in his mind that was very nearly drowned out by the explosiveboomthat echoed through the night air.
We need you, Apollo,she said.
Jamie and Liam stood up at the same time. The Secret Service was already moving into position, swarming the members of the First Family and their high-profile guests. Gabriel was literally lifted out of his seat and hauled away, a frightened look on his face, while the two head tables became impossible to see through a screen of Secret Service special agents.
