Chapter One
Surrounded by Secret Service agents, President Nick Cappuano and First Lady Samantha Holland Cappuano were hustled through a ground-level door to an area of the White House she’d never seen before.Codes were punched in by agents who were as serious as they’d ever been.
“What’s this about, Brant?”Nick asked his lead agent, John Brantley Jr.
“I’m not sure yet, sir.We were given orders to get you and the first lady to a secure location, so that’s what we’re doing.”
“The kids.”Sam looked over her shoulder as they were rushed toward an elevator.“My sisters…”
“They’re right behind us,” her lead agent, Vernon Rogers, said.
“Where?I don’t see them.”
“Keep moving,” Vernon said.“I promise they’re being well cared for.”
Sam had full faith in him and the other agents, but whatever terrorist threat had been levied against the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House had the agents behaving in a way she’d seen only one other time—when someone had thrown tomatoes at her and Nick when they were out to dinner in Dewey Beach.
The elevator conveyed them several floors down to an area she hadn’t known existed.
“Have you been down here?”she asked Nick.
“Only once, when I was made aware of where it was in case I ever needed to get here on my own.”
Sam wanted to ask where his detail would be if he were on his own, but she probably didn’t want to know the answer to that question.She felt sick with fear and sweaty with nerves over when their children would be brought to them.
“Felt wrong leaving the kids,” Nick said.
“It’s not like we were given a choice.”
“Still.”
“I know.”
He put an arm around her and led her to a sofa while the agents worked secure phones in the room.“Have a seat.I’ll see if I can get you some water or something.”
“All I want is my kids and my sisters and their kids and the others.”Everyone they loved had attended the event, and now she and Nick were safely tucked away while who knew what was happening to their hundreds of guests.
Nick was huddled with his agents, his face tense, which did nothing to calm her nerves.And where was the rest of his team?Why weren’t they here with him figuring out what was happening and what they were going to do about it?
A few more minutes passed before she couldn’t take it anymore.She got up and crossed the room to where he was conferring with the agents.“Where are my children and the others?”
“We’re confirming their locations right now, ma’am,” Brant said, his tone and expression grave.
“You don’t know where they are?” Sam was on the verge of shrieking and didn’t care who was listening.
Vernon put a hand on her arm, which instantly had the effect of calming her.But only slightly.“We’re working on figuring out what’s going on.The kids are with their details, who’ll keep them safe.”
“I want them with me.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”She blinked back tears.“I want my children with me.Right now.”
Vernon activated a radio microphone.“FLOTUS wants the kids brought to them immediately, over.”
“Add that POTUS wants them, too,” Nick said.
“Make that POTUS and FLOTUS requesting, over.”
