Page 275 of Incisive

“I have directed the appropriate federal agencies to identify all potential relief we can offer and will be detailing those specifics over the next days and weeks. I’ve also directed the Secretary of Education to work with state education departments regarding options for parents who don’t want to send their children back to school right now, and waiving absentee day penalties.

“Today will no doubt go down in history books as one of the darkest days of our country’s history. But, as we have in the past, we will overcome this, we will recover, we will rebuild, and wewillprosecute the guilty and bring them to justice. Rest assured, I will do everything within my legal authority as the President of the United States to render whatever aid and assistance local authorities request from the federal government. With the exception of criminal investigations, all requests for aid must originate fromlocalauthorities, unless it was a federal facility impacted. We have legal requirements that must be followed, laws that cover incidents such as these.

“What you can immediately do to help regardless of where you are is combat disinformation wherever you see it. Don’t blindly forward things on the Internet without fact-checking them. Don’t repeat rumors. Follow your local government and law enforcement agencies’ social media feeds to get the most current information, and share links to those legitimate, confirmed sources. If a friend or relative is spouting false information, challenge them on it. False information is harmful because it will delay the legitimate investigations by bogging them down with unintentionally false or useless leads.

“At this time I am not calling for a special session in Congress because I don’t feel it’s appropriate since they are currently in the middle of a regular session. I am, however, in close contact with Congressional leaders in the House and Senate and will work with both them and the members of my Cabinet throughout this difficult time. Any conspiracy theories you see regarding members of Congress being ‘arrested’ or other nonsense like that are false. Many of them have been moved to secure and undisclosed locations, depending on their particular ranking and situation, and their respective leadership teams are in communication with their members regarding security and emergency procedures.

“The most important thing you can do at this time is to remain calm and practice patience. My thoughts are with the victims of today’s atrocities, and with their families. If you have the ability to volunteer in any capacity your local authorities request—whether it’s donating blood, or search and rescue assistance, or whatever their needs—please do so.

“Our country has endured and survived dark days in the past. With time and cooperation we will endure and survive this one, as well. Thank you. Bless all of you, and bless these United States. Good night.”

* * *

Well,my husband’spissed.

Not just pissed—enraged.

An hour after my statement, when I’m finally moved out toMarine Oneimmediately before take-off, I climb inside the helo to find Leo already inside and glaring at me in a way I’ve never seen him look before.

Fortunately, we’re not alone in here. Angie, Jordan, Casey-Marie, and Declan are here, too. George is already atAir Force One, waiting with their luggage, which he packed for them.

“This will be a chilly trip,” I snark as I strap in.

That prompts a tongue-click from Jordan, along with a slight shake of his head, his Sir popping out for a moment to rein me in.

“You and Iwilltalk later,Elliot,” Leo grits through his tense jaw. “In private.”

Make no mistake, I heard the impliedpetin the way he said my name. Normally he refers to me as Mister President around others, unless we’re in a strictly personal situation in public, like going out to eat somewhere.

Casey-Marie lets out a low whistle and smirks at me. “I thinksomeonedone pissed off the First Spouse.”

I don’t respond because fortunately we’re lifting off.

I’d make the same decision again. In a heartbeat. Leo’s going to have to understand that I’m POTUS and Secret Service training or not, sometimes doing my job will trump him being my husband and Master.

At least for the next several months.

Fuck, I was sooo goddamned close to leaving office without having to deal with a national security emergency of this scale.

I know we’re fortunate as a country that the death toll wasn’t higher right off the bat. That rapid responses stopped or interrupted several of the attacks before they could successfully complete their deadly missions.

Leo makes no attempt to speak to me for the remainder of our short flight to Andrews. I’m certain he’s not happy about needing two men to safely cart him offMarine Oneso he doesn’t injure his knee, being stuck in a wheelchair and pushed over to the waiting plane by Jordan, or needing to use the scissor lift to be able to get on board.

I watch that process from insideAir Force One, where Leo silently glared and pointed as soon as we set down and the helo’s hatch was opened.

His meaning was clear:You. Go. Now.

No, I didn’t even try to argue with him. And there’s no press on the tarmac to document me not waiting for my husband, or even helping him get on the plane.

Casey-Marie and Declan stride across the concrete with me. “He’s sooo pisssssed.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Gotta say, I can’t disagree with him.”

“Whose side are you on?” I snap a salute to the men at the bottom of the stairs and start up them.

“I’m on the side that’s going to avoid me getting my ass chewed out.”