Page 61 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)

A s Sam walked back toward the residence, she was surprised to see Shelby coming toward her with Roni.

“What’re you guys doing here on a Saturday?” Sam asked them.

“Supervising you,” Shelby said as Roni laughed.

“Those are her words, not mine,” Roni said.

“Oh please, if anyone needs supervision, it’s me. You’ve really popped since I saw you last, Roni.”

She patted her pregnant belly. “Six weeks to go, if I make it that far.”

“I can’t wait to meet your little one,” Sam said.

“Me, too.”

Sam’s heart broke at the thought of Roni giving birth without her late husband by her side.

She hoped that Angela reached out to Roni at some point, because the two of them had far too much in common.

Roni and Angela were living Sam’s worst nightmare, and she admired them both more than she could say for their courage, resilience and fortitude in facing the future without their loves.

She’d been delighted to hear that Roni had been spending time with their sweet friend Derek Kavanaugh, who’d lost his wife, Victoria, to murder almost two years ago.

Sometimes the universe brought the right people together, she thought as she walked with her friends and Vernon, who’d come in for the day, to meet the kids outside.

They’d scored a gorgeous, sunny spring day with tulips in full bloom and a fragrant, floral scent in the air.

Armed guards were positioned around the perimeter of the White House grounds for the first time that she’d noticed. They’d be on high alert until Offenbach was in custody.

Scotty and the twins emerged through a different door, along with their Secret Service details and Skippy the dog in hot pursuit.

Seeing Sam by their swing set had the twins running for her in adorable navy blue outfits.

Aubrey wore a V-neck sweater with a skirt, and Alden had on a matching sweater with shorts.

“You guys look so cute,” Sam said as she hugged and kissed them.

“Shelby said we can’t get dirty,” Alden said, “because we gotta take pictures.” His wrinkled nose indicated his thoughts on the matter.

“You can get dirty after the pictures,” Sam said.

“We’ll get out the squirt guns,” Scotty said.

Alden brightened at that.

“Adrian, we’re all yours,” Sam said. “How do you want us?”

Sam focused on the kids and was almost able to forget they were being photographed as she pushed swings, waited at the bottom of the slide and supervised the monkey bars.

Playing with them was the most fun she’d had in ages, and the laughter brought by Skippy trying to catch the kids only added to the comedy of it all.

She couldn’t wait to see what Adrian had captured.

When they moved inside, they changed into new outfits for photos in the residence. Adrian took group shots along with individual photos of Sam with each of the kids, reading, coloring, cooking and cuddling. They’d bring in Eli and Candace for photos the next time they were home.

At one point, she smiled at something Scotty said just as he grinned up at her. She had a feeling that one might end up in a frame. Adrian also got some of Scotty and Skippy that she couldn’t wait to see. They’d be a huge hit on Skippy’s Instagram account.

Nick joined them right before lunch for family shots and a few of just the two of them in casual poses.

“Are you ready to stab someone with your rusty steak knife?” he asked her while Adrian switched lenses.

“It hasn’t been terrible. I just wish I’d hear something from Avery.”

“I was told in the morning briefing that the raid is on for today.”

“Yes, I talked to Avery earlier.” She rested her hand over her abdomen. “I have a pit in my stomach a mile wide waiting to hear that he and his team are okay, and Offenbach has been neutralized.”

“I want this over for everyone involved.”

“I feel guilty sitting in my gilded palace surrounded by security while my colleagues are in danger.”

He pulled her in closer and kissed the top of her head. “I get that, but I’m so glad you’re in the gilded palace and not out there in danger.”

“Yeah, I know. It just feels wrong to me, though.”

With every minute that went by, she became more anxious about hearing something from Avery.

Avery gave the order at eleven eleven, hoping that would bring some kind of luck to an operation that needed all the luck it could get.

Agents stormed the perimeter of the twenty-acre property, coming in from all sides simultaneously as choppers flew overhead, tracking the location of the body heat coming from deep in the woods.

Everything was going according to plan when a frantic message came over the radio indicating the presence of hundreds of drones. “They’re everywhere,” the agent cried, “and they’re shooting at us.”

Motherfucker.

The commander in charge of the drone unit replied in a calm tone that went a long way toward reassuring Avery. “We’re on it. Shooting them down.”

Avery held his breath as the crackle of gunfire echoed loudly through the radio.

“Agent down.”

“Marshal down.”

“Holy shit.”

Fuck.

Screams.

Groans.

Sharp cries.

Nonstop gunfire.

Avery glanced at George, who was monitoring the progress with him. The situation was too volatile to send in EMTs to assist the people who’d been shot, which only added to his anxiety.

“Fucking hell,” George said. “This is going sideways fast.”

“Get the girlfriend.”

They’d waited for her to arrive before sending in their people.

Savannah was about five feet three inches, curvy, young and beautiful, with light brown hair, brown eyes and a flawless complexion.

George escorted her into the command vehicle.

“We need you to talk to him, Savannah,” Avery said. “Call the number he used to contact you. Ask him to surrender.”

She made the call and put the phone on speaker.

It rang eight times before he picked up.

“I’m busy.”

“Dylan, honey, please… I’m so scared for you.”

“You ought to be scared for them .”

“I thought you said you loved me,” she said between sobs.

“I do love you. I’m doing this for us so we’ll have a future.”

Avery glanced at George, raising a brow. In what world did he think he had a future with anything other than a cell on death row?

George shook his head in disbelief.

“What about your kids? You said you love them, too. If you come out now, they might let you see them—and me.”

“She’ll never let me see them.”

Over the receiver in his ear, Avery heard one of his guys say, “Keep her talking to him. We can hear him.”

Avery waved his hand to encourage her to continue the conversation with Dylan.

“The kids will want to see you. She’ll honor their wishes. I’ll make sure you see them, and me, too. I’ll never give up on you, Dylan. Please… If you keep fighting, they’ll kill you. I don’t want to lose you.”

“I don’t want to lose you either,” he said, sounding tearful, “but they’re never going to let me out of here alive.”

Avery wrote quickly on a piece of paper. Tell him that’s not true. We don’t want anyone to die. But he must surrender.

Savannah repeated the message. “Dylan? Did you hear me?”

“Yeah, I heard you.”

“Will you surrender? Please? Do it for me and your kids… We need you.”

“I don’t know. I need to think.”

“Drop your weapon and put your hands up!”

“Dylan! Do what they tell you to! Please!”

“Put down your weapon! You’re surrounded on all sides!”

Avery barely took a breath or blinked or did anything other than listen until one of his agents said, “The subject is in custody.”

Savannah broke down.

George smiled and pumped his fist.

Avery closed his eyes and exhaled. “Send in the EMTs.”