“You had no way to know that, Nick. Most people, when they’re arrested on a charge of attempted murder, are scared and chastened.”

“Stahl isn’t most people. He’s a fucking lunatic, and she’s known that for a while now.”

“Still, you can’t blame yourself for what someone else did.”

“It eats at me to know I can’t protect her.”

“I feel the same way every time Tommy leaves for work. It’s an awful feeling.”

“You understand it better than most people do.”

“So how’s the new job?”

“It sucks.”

“Really? I didn’t expect you to say that.”

“I didn’t expect Nelson to basically ignore me until something happened to my wife. Now he’s all up in my grill.”

“What do you mean about him ignoring you?”

“He has no intention of using me for anything other than a boost in the polls. Derek says he hasn’t heard anything to that effect, but they wouldn’t tell him. They know we’re friends.”

“If they’re going to ignore you, then it seems to me that perhaps you should set your own agenda, and if they don’t like it, you could say you assumed they wouldn’t care.”

“I like the way you think. You’re sure you want to stay retired?”

“For now, but I’m always available to you. I hope you know that.”

“I do. Thank you, and I like your idea. A lot.”

Brant came into the kitchen. “Pardon the interruption, Mr. Vice President, but Director Pierce is on the phone and would appreciate a word with you.”

“Sorry,” Nick said to Christina.

“No worries.”

“Tell Sam I’ll be right out.”

“Will do.”

After the door swung closed behind her, Brant handed the phone to Nick and then left the room.

“Director Pierce.”

“Mr. Vice President, I hope you’ll excuse the bother when I’m sure you have other things on your mind today.”

“Not a problem. What can I do for you?”

“I was hoping we might get together tomorrow or perhaps the next day at the latest to discuss your wife’s situation and how we might be of assistance.”

“Is this coming from you or above you?”

“This is coming straight from the top.”

“Sure, we can talk if you’d like to, but I don’t expect anything to change.”

“Mr. Vice President, with all due respect, everything has changed.”

“Not from where I’m sitting. Sam has a job to do, and she can’t do it with a detail in tow. It’s that simple.”

“It’s hardly that simple. This has become a matter of national security.”

“Why? Because the media is saying it is?”

“I would think, after what happened yesterday, that you’d want to protect her—”

“Don’t talk to me about protecting my wife, Ambrose. You’re so far out of line with that insinuation it’s not even funny.”

“Again, all due respect, sir, but protecting you and your family is my job. I’m trying to do the job the people hired me to do.”

“My wife is not and will not be protected by the Secret Service, so that means she’s not your job. I made that very clear before I accepted this position.”

“Then I’m afraid we have a problem, and you’re going to need to consult with President Nelson. He’s very upset about what happened to her and the attention it has called to her lack of protection.”

“I’ll take it up with him as soon as I’m able to, but the only possible thing that’s going to change is who his vice president is. Thanks for the call, Ambrose. I appreciate your concern.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Nick hit the end button and put Brant’s phone on the counter. He was hardly surprised by the call or the concern from the administration. They had a valid point. He’d never deny that. However, they’d made a deal, and he was going to force them to adhere to it, even if he agreed with them.

He wanted Sam to have protection after what’d happened. He believed she would be at far greater risk than she’d ever been before now that the whole world knew she didn’t have protection. But he could never ask that of her. He couldn’t and he wouldn’t. He’d resign before he’d take away the career that meant so much to her.

Scotty came into the kitchen, skidding to a halt in front of Nick. “Sam is looking for you.”

“I’ll be right there, buddy.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s all good.”

He eyed Nick skeptically. “You said that same thing to me yesterday when it wasn’t good. It wasn’t good at all.”

“I didn’t want you to worry.”

“I know that, but still.” He bit his lip and glanced at Nick almost shyly, which reminded him of when they first met.

“What do you want to say? Whatever it is, it’s okay to say it.”

“We’re a family now, right?”

“You bet we are.”

“I want to know what’s going on. I’m not a little kid, and I don’t want you to treat me like one. It scared me more to hear about what happened to Sam from the O’Connors than it would have to hear it from you. When they told me, I thought maybe it was because something had happened to you too.”

Nick winced. “You’re absolutely right, and I’m sorry. I know you’re not a little kid, and I didn’t mean to treat you like one. I didn’t know for sure what was going on with Sam when I left the office yesterday, and I didn’t want to say anything until I knew more. But I should’ve told you what I knew, and I will if anything like that ever happens again.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t. That guy is freaking nuts.”

“He sure is.” Nick put his hand on Scotty’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, okay?”

“Yeah, it’s cool. I don’t mean to make a big thing out of it, but I want to know what’s going on.”

“Fair enough.”

“I think she’s tired but she doesn’t want to tell everyone to leave.”

“We can do that for her.”

Scotty smiled at him. “They brought a ton of awesome food, so we need to be nice about it.”

Laughing, he said, “Yes, we do.” Nick followed Scotty into the living room, where most of Sam’s squad and her entire family, less her niece Brooke who was in school in Virginia, were gathered around her. He took a close look at his wife and saw that Scotty was right—she was fading fast. “Hey, guys, I think the patient needs a nap.”

“No, I don’t,” Sam said.

“Yes, you do.”

“He thinks he’s the boss of me.”

“Someone needs to be,” Malone quipped.

“Ain’t nobody the boss of her,” Gonzo said to much laughter.

“Bite me, Gonzo.”

“I prefer my bites sweeter,” he said, slipping an arm around Christina, who gave him an elbow to the ribs.

“We should let you get some rest,” Lindsey said. “We’re all so damn relieved you’re okay.”

“Thanks, Lindsey. And thank you all for coming over and for bringing enough food to feed an army.”

“That’s the best part,” Scotty said.

“I made the brownies you love,” Angela told him.

“That’s why you’re my favorite aunt.”

“Hey!” Tracy put him into a playful headlock. “You better take it back, mister!”

Laughing, Scotty said, “You’re tied for first.”

“Look at him,” Terry said. “Already a diplomatic politician.”

“He’s a chip off the old block,” Graham said. “We’ll leave you all to get some rest. Sam, honey, don’t scare us like that again, you hear?”

“I’ll try not to, but something tells me...”

“Don’t finish that thought,” Nick said.

The private smile she sent his way lit up her battered face and made him melt on the inside. She was his kryptonite. There was nothing he wouldn’t do or give up to make her happy. Seeing her alive and well and acting like herself was all he needed to be happy.

“Hey, Jeannie,” Sam said.

Jeannie took Sam’s outstretched hand.

“I’m so sorry to hear about the continuance. Goddamn defense attorneys.”

Jeannie shrugged but the haunted look in her eyes belied the casual gesture. “What’s six more weeks after all this time?”

“An interminable delay,” Sam said. “But don’t worry. We’ll get him, and he’ll spend the rest of his life behind bars where he belongs.”

Jeannie leaned in to hug Sam. “Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”