Page 57 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)

“Am I expected to answer that question?” he asked.

“Yes!”

“Um, well, you know how much I love you, right?”

Sam smacked the back of his shoulder, making him laugh.

“I decline to further elaborate on the basis that I wish to stay married to the mother of my four children.”

“Four children. It’s still surreal.”

“Along with you, the best thing to ever happen to me.”

“Same goes, love. Same goes.”

In the morning, Sam took a call from Dani Carlucci. “Morning.”

“Morning, LT. I wanted to give you an update on the search for Offenbach. The FBI has located the camp in the Shenandoahs that his mother’s family owns. They’ve asked me to provide any details of the layout that I can recall, so I’m meeting with them after my tour ends.”

“Are they thinking he’s there?”

“They’re trying not to give away the fact that they know about the camp before they’re ready. When they are, they’ll send in infrared cameras to determine if he’s in there.”

“Which will tip him off.”

“Yes, that’s why they’re waiting.”

“Anything else new overnight?”

“We’ve been working on the full reports on Ramsey and Offenbach you requested, and Gigi just slipped me a note that Offenbach’s ex-wife is asking to see you. She’s at GW.”

“What does she want?”

“She didn’t say, but she said she wants to speak only to you.”

“I’ll go right there when I leave here.”

“Sounds good. I’ll let you know how it goes with the FBI.”

“I hope they give you credit for pointing them in the right direction if they find him there.”

“All I care about is that they get him before someone else gets hurt.”

“Still… If he’s there, this is all your doing.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so, and I’m the boss.”

Dani cracked up. “We’re all thankful you didn’t quit this shit show with everything that’s happened this week.”

“I’m a sucker for punishment, apparently. I’ll talk to you in a bit.”

“Thank goodness and sounds good.”

Sam closed her phone and went to finish getting dressed so she could get the kids off to school and then head to GW to see what Offenbach’s ex-wife wanted with her.

On her way out of their suite, Nick’s small office caught her eye. Feeling mischievous, she ventured in to move some things around to let him know she’d been there. Inside the desk drawer, she wrote Sam loves Nick More on a sticky note.

Smiling, she rearranged every object on the obsessively organized desktop and then walked out, whistling with satisfaction at the simple pleasure that came with messing with his anal-retentive tendencies. At a time when it felt like everything had changed, some things needed to stay the same.

The twins came bursting into the hallway, dressed in their school uniforms and dragging their backpacks behind them.

“I was just coming to get you guys up,” Sam said.

“We did it ourselves,” Aubrey said proudly.

“I see that,” Sam said with a pout. “Does that mean you don’t need me anymore?”

“Don’t be silly, Sam,” Alden said. “Of course we still need you.”

“Oh phew. I was afraid you were going to tell me that next you were getting your own apartment.”

Their giggles made her day, and it had just barely started.

“You’re so silly,” Aubrey said.

In those three little words, Sam caught a preview of what thirteen-year-old Aubrey might sound like, full of sass and sarcasm—if Sam had anything to say about it.

“What’s for breakfast?” Alden asked.

“What would you like today?”

“French toast sticks!” they said as one.

“Pancakes, you say?”

“No!”

“That’s not what we said.”

“I heard pancakes.”

The foolishness and laughter continued right up until the moment she sent them off to school with their detail.

Her time with them in the mornings had become the highlight of her days.

What never failed to amaze her was how every day was a little different from the one before, even if the routine was the same.

They were such a gift, and even as she had that thought, she said a silent prayer for Jameson and Cleo, who would always be close to their hearts as the twins’ parents. It occurred to her that this must be how heart transplant recipients felt… Someone had to die for their dream to come true.

She took that deep thought with her as she went down the stairs to meet Vernon and Q. “Morning, gentlemen.”

“Morning,” Vernon said. “I got your text, and we’re set to take you to GW.”

“Excellent. The former Mrs. Offenbach has asked to see me.”

“Is that strange?”

“Extremely. I’m looking forward to hearing what she has to say.”

Vernon held the back seat door for her. “We’re sending an advance team in to make sure it’s not some kind of setup.”

“I hadn’t considered that possibility.”

“Doomsday thinking is our job. Not yours.”

“And thank goodness for that. Is Jimmy going home today?”

“They released him late yesterday afternoon, and he’s resting comfortably, according to Liz’s update this morning.”

“Glad to hear it. Nick and I want to do something significant to thank him for saving my life. Any suggestions?”

“He would never expect that. He’d say he was doing his job.”

“I know, but we’d still like to do something.”

“I’m sure they’d appreciate anything you did, even as they said it wasn’t necessary.”

“I’ll ask for suggestions from my brain trust—my sisters and Shelby. They’ll know what to get.”

“I’m sure they will.”

Sam sent the three of them a text with her request for ideas.

Something monogrammed? Shelby said. Do we know the baby’s name?

“Is there a name yet?” Sam asked Vernon.

“Austin Michael McFarland.”

“Ah, I love that.” Sam passed it on to Shelby.

I’ll come up with some ideas for you.

You’re the best.

Tracy replied just to Sam. Wanted to tell you that Ethan met with Dr. Christi early this morning and said she wasn’t terrible. Thank you again for the quick help—an appointment this soon wouldn’t have happened without you. I feel a little better just knowing he’s talking to someone qualified.

Glad it’s going well so far. Keep me posted!

Will do.

The George Washington University Hospital had been turned into a Secret Service fortress in anticipation of her arrival.

“Holy overkill, Batman,” Sam said.

“Don’t use the word ‘kill’ when you’re with your detail,” Vernon said.

Sam chuckled. “Apologies, but still… This is a lot.”

“You’ve been threatened by a talented sharpshooter. We’re not taking any chances.”

“Understood.”

“Our advance team has already cleared the way for you to get to the former Mrs. Offenbach’s room, so we’re good to go.”