“Are you willing to continue to lead Mrs.Cappuano’s detail?”
“I am, sir, and Agent Quigley will be filling in while Agent McFarland is on medical leave.”
Sam remembered meeting Quigley before and how he was so young, he still had acne.She felt a twinge of anxiety over asking another young agent to take her on at this dangerous moment.
“Agent Quigley has been fully briefed on the current situation?”Pierce asked.
“He has, sir.”
Pierce let out a deep sigh when he realized he was outnumbered.“I know this may go without saying, but our entire focus is on keeping you and your family alive.Anything we recommend is with that goal in mind.”
“We appreciate you all more than we could ever say,” Nick said.“I hope you know that, but we also have lives to live while I’m in office.I have to believe we can find a balance between your goals and ours.With that said, I want to add that we’re aware of your recommendation to send Scotty to a private high school, but Sam and I are very much in agreement that he’ll attend Eastern in the fall.We’d like you to do everything within your power to make that work for him.”
“He should be made aware of our recommendation,” Pierce said.
“He will be,” Nick said with a touch of annoyance.“Neither of us has a single doubt what his reaction will be.”
Pierce stood somewhat abruptly.“Then I guess we’re done here.Thank you for your time, Mr.President, Mrs.Cappuano.”
“Thank you, Ambrose, Brant, Vernon and Debra,” Nick said.
“Yikes,” Sam said after they’d closed the door behind them.
“Right?”
Sam was filled with anxiety.“I feel unsettled.I have to be honest.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re going against their recommendations, which means if one of the agents is hurt—or, God forbid, killed—while protecting me or Scotty, then that’s on us.”
“No, it isn’t.It’s on the person who does the killing.What is it you’re always telling me?Don’t take the blame for stuff that isn’t your fault.”
“But if we’re doing things they’ve deemed unsafe, then it’s partially on us if one of their people is harmed.”
“Pierce said they can choose not to be on your details.”
“True, but it still makes me queasy to think of one of them being hurt or killed.”
“That could happen at any time, regardless of current events.They know that, or they wouldn’t be in those jobs.”
“I guess.”
“It’s true, Sam.They understand they may have to take a bullet for us the way Jimmy did yesterday.And speaking of him, I want to do something for him and his wife to thank him.What should that be?”
“They’re having a baby soon.Something for the baby?”
“Something big, like a college fund or something.”
“That’s a bit extreme.”
“He saved the life of my precious wife.Nothing we do for him or them would be extreme.”
Sam leaned in to kiss him.“I’ll give it some thought and get back to you.In the meantime, I think I have permission to get back to work.Don’t tell anyone, but I’m outta here.”
“Please be careful out there.You’re the sun, the moon, the stars and the whole damned world to me.”
She fanned her face.“Hot.Asfuck.”
