“She’s delightful as always.”
“Just like her mama.”
“Aw, thanks.You sound tired, love.”
“I’m beat.”And so wired, he doubted he’d sleep at all.He was beginning to look forward to the day when this shit wasn’t his problem anymore.And that was new—ever since the scumbag Peckhams had broken into his home, threatened his pregnant wife and son and made him question every choice he’d ever made for his life.
“Why don’t you try to get some rest while you can?”
“Yeah, I will.I wish I was there with you guys.”
“We do, too.”
“You set the alarm, right?”
“The second we got home.”
The horror of the Peckhams terrorizing Shelby and Noah would stay with him forever.Leaving them home alone certainly felt different now than it had before that happened, even with them behind a gate inside a secure house.Was anything really secure in this crazy world?
“I love you, darlin’.”
“I love you, too.”
“Kiss our babies for me.”
“I will.Be safe, Avery.We love you so much.”
“Love you just as much.I’ll call you tomorrow when I can.”
“I’ll look forward to that.Good night.”
“Night.”
He set the alarm in case he fell asleep, stretched out on top of the bed and tried to calm the storm raging inside him.But the only thing that would settle him would be the sight of Dylan Offenbach in shackles.Until that happened, there’d be no rest for the weary.
While she waitedfor news from Avery, Sam went ahead with the planned photo shoot at the White House on Saturday morning.She had hair and makeup with Davida and Ginger and nails with Kendra at eight a.m.
Nick would be joining her and the kids for some family photos later in the morning and had left for his security briefing right before Sam reported to the ladies for primping.
Sam felt discombobulated with the FBI preparing to raid Offenbach’s camp, as if she should be briefing someone or plotting worst-case scenarios or doing something other than sitting still while the hair, makeup and nail wizards made her look good for photos that would be used by her communications team throughout the coming year as she pretended to be an engaged first lady when she was anything but.
She said a silent prayer for Avery and his team that they would capture Offenbach with no injuries or loss of life.
When her cell rang, she said, “I have to take this.”
The ladies stepped back to give her space to take the call from an unknown number.“Holland.”
“I, um…” a woman said.“I… I called your office, and they gave me your number…”
“What’s your name, and what can I do for you?”
“It’s Savannah, and I’m Dylan Offenbach’s girlfriend.”
Sam sat up straighter and signaled to the women that she needed a minute.
On the phone, Savannah began to cry.
“Have you spoken to him?”
