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He shook his head curtly. No. I m staying.
All right, she whispered, laying everything out in front of her and reading the card. Through force of
will alone, she managed to keep her hand from shaking as she picked up the key card and swiped it
through the console in front of her. Enter six, three, seven, three, five, seven, six.
The image of the captain could be seen punching in the numbers as directed. Destruct protocol in
place, he told her dutifully.
Dev stared at the man in something close to awe. I don t know what to say to you or your crew.
He sniffed once. There s nothing to say, Madam President.
Thank you, Captain. Dev s jaw silently worked for a few seconds. It felt as though 10 men were
standing on her chest. God bless.
A computer-generated voice began a count down. Destruct sequence initiated.
In five, Dev s voice cracked as she laid her hand on the button that she herself was required to push.
She quickly made a fist, trying to wipe the sweat from her fingers. Four, three, two... As she said "One"
she pressed the red button and the link went dead.
Dev closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. She felt a little light headed, but appeared the
very picture of calm, contemplative leadership.
The entire room was silent for more than two minutes, each person s breathing sounding unusually loud
in the quiet room. Finally the Secretary of the Navy handed her a piece of paper. The boat is destroyed,
ma am.
* * *
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It was two hours before dawn by the time Devlyn made her way back to her quarters. She d cleared her
calendar for the following morning and left word with David that she wanted to visit the houses of each of
the now-deceased servicemen as soon as possible and that the press was not to be informed about the
trips.
She slowly pushed open her bedroom door, glad to see Lauren had decided to stay. The younger
woman was lying in an uncomfortable position, her glasses still on, her small computer perched on her
chest as she slumbered.
Dev used her feet to push off her shoes, then sat down heavily in a red wingback chair near the bed,
staring at Lauren with dull eyes as she watched her partner s chest rise and fall with each peaceful breath.
She tried to focus on the woman in front of her, but the night s events were still too raw to be pushed
from the forefront of her mind, no matter how much she tried.
Destruct sequence initiated. Stop it! Please ta& take care of Mom for me. Her eyes began to burn.
In five, four, three& STOP IT! She leaned forward, her elbows on her knees and brought her palms
to her eyes, feeling her breathing hitch. I m sorry. God, I m so sorry.
Devlyn, came the sleep-husky voice. Lauren struggled to sit up in bed, temporarily confused at waking
up alone but in the President s room. She pushed her small laptop onto the floor. Darlin ?
Dev glanced up at Lauren in agony.
Lauren scrambled out of bed and dropped to her knees in front of other woman, gently brushing her
knuckles against Dev s cheek as she worriedly searched her face. What s wrong? The bolt of worry
that lanced through her was nearly enough to make her dizzy. She d never seen Dev look quite so
undone.
The softly spoken words so full of concern did it. The tears that had been brutally pushed back all night
rushed forward with a vengeance. Dev s breathing hitched again and then she began to cry.
C mere. Shoving down her own panic, Lauren stood and led Dev back to the bed by one hand. She
quickly adjusted a pillow and then climbed in, silently asking her lover to join her with a pat on the bed
next to her.
Dev eagerly complied, lying down with her head on Lauren s chest and feeling strong arms wrap
themselves around her in silent support. I m& I m sorry, I didn t mean
Shh& Lauren admonished gently, her heart aching for her friend. You don t have to apologize for
this. She kissed the top of Dev s head.
It took a long time for the tears to slow, then stop, as the exhaustion that always follows a good cry
began to take over. Lauren whispered words of reassurance and comfort the entire time, one hand gently
tracing Dev s back in a calming motion. Finally, the sky began to take on the faintest hint of pale purple
and she knew, without looking at the clock, that it would be dawn in a few moments. Do you want to
talk about it? Lauren asked in a low voice, punctuating her question with a soft kiss near Dev s ear.
Did she? Dev was surprised to find that she did. And so, leaving out many of the classified details,
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Devlyn told Lauren the entire story. Ending with a ragged, Geoff s& Oh, Jesus, Geoff s nephew was&
was on board. I m sorry. I m& the words trailed off into a mournful sigh.
Lauren s eyes shimmered with tears, and it took a moment to speak around the lump that had grown in
her throat. Was he there? Geoff, I mean. She felt Devlyn nod against her, moving her T-shirt, which
was now damp with tears. Oh, God, she whispered, tightening her hold on Dev. I can t believe you
had to do that. How horrible.
Dev shifted a little, her body stiff from lying in the same position for so long. Don t feel sorry for me,
she said flatly. I wasn t blown to bits.
Stop that, Lauren responded gently but firmly. Of course I hurt for you, Devlyn, she murmured
emotionally. I hurt for you most of all. God, she didn t just order it done. She did it herself. Lauren
shivered inwardly, horrified. Half of her was angry that Dev couldn t have delegated this soul-numbing
task to a soldier whose job it was to kill. But the other half of Lauren was fully aware of how selfish that
was. And that Devlyn would never expect someone to do something that was her responsibility. Problem
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