Garrett and Tony sprinted out of the Oval Office and across the south lawn toward the guard shack. They arrived just as three trucks with Angie’s Catering stenciled on the side pulled to a stop. The guards took their paperwork and began the necessary inspection. Garrett knew they would find nothing unusual.

Preston had been careful. All three trucks most likely had false sides, backs, and floors. The guards would take a cursory glance at the supplies and then motion each truck to move forward. Once they started unloading there would be even less scrutiny as the Uniformed Division Secret Service agents had allowed them on the grounds.

“You sure you can trust this guy?” Garrett quirked a brow. “Now is not the time I want to get my ass blown off.”

Tony smiled and handed him a visitor’s security pass. “I take it you and Haley aren’t getting along. I heard you two split and she had moved to Baltimore.”

“Yeah, we couldn’t make it work. She doesn’t like the fact that I’m away from home so much, doing such a dangerous job. She worries like a mother hen.”

Tony chuckled. “Abby’s exactly the same way. We have more discussions about what I do, how I do it, and why I do it, than anything else. You know, Garret, it’s actually quite simple. This is who we are. We can’t change. If Haley can’t except that, then you’d be wise to move on.”

“That’s easier said than done. Dammit, I love her and she’s the woman I want to come home to. I just can’t see myself leaving Falcon.”

Tony patted him on the back. “Let’s get this mess settled, then you and Haley can take some time to work things out. Every one of us knows it’s tough, that’s why there are so few of us doing it.”

They walked over to the delivery center and Tony banged on the door of the lead truck. The driver opened his door, slid out, and handed him a clipboard with some paperwork attached. “You’ll find everything in order.”

Tony took the paperwork and looked at it. Odds were, it would be fake if he took the time to check it out. He smiled at the guy. “You’re fine.” Tony pointed to the left. “Things are little congested right now. Just park the trucks over there and we’ll move you closer to the entrance when we free up some room.”

The guy didn’t seem to like that, but he complied and let his other two drivers know they had to move. Tony knew they were on a tight schedule and wanted to get as close to the State Dining Room as possible, but he wasn’t about to let that happen.

Not yet, anyway.

Frank joined them and the three of them stood watching the driver position the trucks. “You’re sure this is on the up and up?” Frank asked. “Are you sure you can trust that guy.”

“We’re about to find out. I figure any minute now they’re going to get moved over close to the entrance. That’s when they’ll make their move.”

“I noticed there’s four guys in each truck,” Garrett observed. “I imagine they claimed the extra hands are here to help set up.”

Tony turned his back to the trucks, pulled out his weapon, and made sure he had plenty of ammunition. “No doubt. They’re planning a bloodbath.”

Brody joined them. “The president and Haley are safely secured.”

“I’d feel better if one of our agents was with them,” Frank remarked. “In operations like this, one never knows if things can go sideways. And we can’t afford that. Not at this point.”

Garrett looked back at the security unit by the gate. “Secret Service and all of our agents have been advised, right? Everyone knows what to do?”

Frank followed his gaze. “They better, or none of them will have a job when this is over. The White House is on lockdown. No one goes in or out.”

“All other deliveries have been diverted to the other side of the building,” Tony noted. “This way we have these three trucks isolated and there’s less chance of anyone getting hurt.”

Garrett looked at Frank. “You ready to move them forward?”

Frank let out a breath. “Let’s get this over with.”

Preston sat in his elegant penthouse and fought the urge to jump excitedly. Finally, after many years of waiting patiently, his dreams of vengeance were about to come true. He’d been meticulous, and even with the small delay caused by that fucking Albanian, everything had gone according to plan. He still planned to kill the bastard just to show the rest of them he’d messed with the wrong person.

By now the trucks would be at the White House and were probably starting to unload. Once they were empty, his men had orders to arm themselves with the weapons that they had painstakingly hidden and start shooting. Preston no longer cared who lived or who died. He wanted everyone to suffer.

He’d received word that several Falcon agents were with the president. All the better, he thought gleefully. He’d like to wipe out that entire organization. Then ISIS would have a better chance of taking over America.

Although not a huge outfit, Falcon Securities was extremely powerful, and Frank Hamilton had enough authority that he, along with several high-ranking generals, could take over the military in times of great peril.

Preston didn’t want that to happen. If Frank Hamilton were dead, he would have cut off the head of the snake. Like so many before him had found, Hamilton didn’t die easily and neither did his agents.

Either way, today would be a glorious day, for it was destined that Falcon agent Garrett Mann would die. But not before watching the woman he loved tortured before they chopped off her head. Then the infidel would die brokenhearted, crying out for his loved one like his father, his brother, and he had done when the bastard shot and killed his mother and sister.

Preston went to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a tall drink. He needed to settle his nerves and calm down a bit. Taking a sip, he imagined the smell of the Falcon agent’s blood pouring onto the floor, he heard his violent scream for mercy, and then there would be glory when the White House crumbled, the president died, and his revenge was finally sated.

Nagi came into the room and scowled when he saw that Preston had a glass of liquor in his hand. The man was a purist and zealot, and Preston planned to make good use of his inclinations. He was a terrorist at heart and could be easily manipulated. It wouldn’t take much to convince Nagi that dying for his country and his cause would be a great honor.

“From what I hear, everything is going well on Pennsylvania Avenue,” Preston informed him. “It won’t be long until they are inside and the killing will begin.”

Nagi stared at him. “I’m anxious to see this matter taken care of. I want the Americans to die and I want to be a part of making El Hashem’s dreams come true.” He smiled at Preston. “You and I shall become great partners. Together we can do much once we get back to our homeland.”

Preston barked a laugh. He stretched his arms over his head, then took a sip of scotch. “I have no intention of leaving the States. You’re delusional if you think I’m going back to living in a cave. This is my home and this is where I’ll live.”

Nagi scowled at him confused and he backed away. “But I thought you hated America. I thought you were doing all of this for Allah.”

“I plan to honor my father’s name, and to destroy the president and the White House. Once America has been weakened, then our people will have a stronger hold and we can create a new world. Here, in America.”

Nagi paced back and forth. “I thought my destiny was to return to Pakistan and become mujahid for ISIS. That has been my plan all along and nothing has happened to change that.”

“I have a great honor for you, my friend. One that will have your name on the lips of all who worship Allah.”

“We may as well get things started,” Garrett muttered. “Tell them to pull the trucks up to the entrance and let’s get this show on the road.”

Brody left and slowly approached the truck. He banged on the door and the driver rolled down the window. “You can go ahead and back up to the double doors over there and start unloading.”

“Thank you.” The guy immediately relayed the message to the other drivers and they quickly jockeyed the trucks into position.

Brody made his way back, so Tony went inside to barricade the entrance to the State Dining Room. Garrett and Frank moved over to just outside the double doors as the trucks finished backing in. He could see the driver’s reflection from the large side mirror. The man was nervous, and from the way he kept looking behind him and craning his head to look around, they hadn’t expected people to hang around while they unloaded the fake catering supplies.

The men spoke in Urdu, which Garrett understood perfectly. They weren’t giving anything away, but their concerns were evident. Garrett stood his ground and kept his eyes trained on the men as they moved tables and chairs into the fake banquet hall. Two Secret Service agents were inside the building but out of sight. Both were heavily armed and watched the terrorists closely.

After several minutes, the few items they had in the back of the trucks were now securely inside the building. Garrett had watched everyone and made sure that all the men were accounted for. Every door in the room was now locked. They had nowhere to run.

Tony moved up closer while Brody checked to make sure that the trucks were all empty. “Within a moment or two, all hell’s going to break loose,” Brody advised, his hand close to the gun beneath his jacket. “Everyone stay alert.”

The man who appeared to be in charge nodded and all the men jumped in the back of the trucks. They quickly ripped off the thin paneling on the inside, exposing various guns and weapons lining the wall of each truck.

The men quickly armed themselves and surged out of the truck beds. Garrett and the other Falcon agents remained completely still. One man brought an AK-47 up to his shoulder, pointed it at Garrett, and pulled the trigger.

Garrett’s heart had never beaten so fast and he was relieved when he heard the innocent ‘click’ of the disabled gun. Suddenly, the area was filled with hundreds of clicks. The would-be murderers stared at their weapons and then back at Frank, who smiled.

“Sorry to disappoint you, gentlemen, but your guns are useless. We have a security team prepared to arrest you and make sure none of you ever see the light of day again.”

Garrett saw in the men’s eyes that they were tempted to try to escape. The Falcon agents tried not to laugh as the men frantically tried to make their weapons work. It wasn’t long before they realized they were trapped. The only place they were going was to jail, where they would be charged with terrorism.

One of the Marine sentries walked toward them. “There’s a man at the gate who wants to talk to you. Says it won’t take long.”

Tony looked at the other agents and motioned for them to come along with him. “I think I know who this is.”

When Garrett turned the corner, he saw a heavyset man wearing a thick overcoat and a tall slender man beside him. Tony walked up and shook the big man’s hand.

“Thank you. You saved a lot of lives today.” Tony smiled. “Gentlemen, this is Sergio Malakoff. He’s the one who foiled Preston’s plans.”

Frank stepped closer. “Aren’t you also the man who sold Jim Douglas those weapons?”

Sergio nodded. “I did, but I wasn’t about to let those terrorists use my product to harm this country. When I found out what this McCoy had in mind, I decided to do a little switcharoo. I wasn’t going to let him blow up the White House. So, while he was depositing money in my account, I had my men remove the firing pin on every weapon.”

Garrett shook Sergio’s hand. “You saved a lot of lives and we appreciate that.”

Sergio pointed to the truck and smiled slyly. “Is there any way I might get my guns back?”

Tony shook his head. “You know better than that. Those are all illegal weapons, and they don’t belong on the open market.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Sergio winked. “I have a very interested party.”

Frank chuckled. “I’m sure you do.”

Sergio shook his head and held out his hands. “There are several thousand freedom fighters in Syria in desperate need of weapons.” Sergio tugged at his coat lapels and lifted his chin. “I thought maybe I make a donation.”

Now it was Tony’s turn to chuckle. “I think we might be able to work something out.” He glanced at Frank. “Don’t you, boss?”

Frank shrugged.

When everyone turned to go back into the White House, Sergio called, stopping them. “I have something else, Archuleta.”

“What?”

“I hear something in the wind.”

They all stepped closer. Frank stepped forward. “What else is going on?”

“A little parakeet told me McCoy has hired two mercenary marksmen. They are already in the White House. I don’t know who or where they are. The danger is not over.” With that Sergio turned, stepped into his limo, and the driver whisked them away.

All the agents ran toward the White House.

Haley had no idea what was happening. Two guards she presumed were Secret Service were escorting her and the president to a safe-room. The minute they got into the elevator, one of the men shoved her against the wall and pushed the president to the other side.

One thing was certain...these men were not there to help them. “Stay still. This will be over soon,” the bigger man growled. Although he wore a suit and had a military haircut, as well as all the other markings of the Secret Service, he obviously wasn’t.”

“What’s this all about?” Demanded President Davis. “You men can’t be serious.”

“We’re dead serious.” The guy had an Australian accent. “And one wrong move from either of you and we’ve been instructed to kill you.”

Haley shoved off the wall and braced her feet. “So, someone paid you to kill the president. What kind of cowards are you, anyway? A person’s life means nothing to you?”

“Shut up,” shouted the Aussie. “I ain’t in no mood to put up with a mouthy bitch.”

The elevator door opened, and they were shoved out into the hall and herded in the direction of the Oval Office. Once inside, they locked the door and instructed them to sit down and keep quiet.

A man sat behind the president’s desk with his feet propped up and his legs crossed at the ankle. “Yes, do be quiet. I’m in no mood to listen to you two run off at the mouth.”

“Who are you?” President Davis demanded. “What do you want?”

He pointed to Haley. “Her.” He grinned. “I want her...first.” He glanced at the president. “Then you, and then the Falcon agent, Garrett Mann.”

“You’ll never get away with this.”

“My men have already infiltrated the White House. I’m sure by now most of the Secret Service is dead, along with your friendly Falcon agents.”

President Davis flashed her a cautionary glance. “I don’t believe you,” he barked.

The man stood and walked toward them, his hands clasped behind his back. “Allow me to introduce myself.”

“I know exactly who you are,” President Davis snarled. “Preston McCoy. Or should I say Amid Tuni.”

A look of surprised flashed briefly across the arrogant man’s face. “Very good. Then you know why I’m here.”

“I have no idea.”

McCoy or whatever his name was, bowed slightly. “At first I thought it best to stay as far away from the destruction as I could. I have no death wish. Then I thought, ‘Why miss all the action?’” The man threw up his hands. “I mean, isn’t this wonderful? Everything I ever desired will be mine today.”

“And where do I fit into all this?” she asked. “I’ve done nothing to you. I don’t even know you.”

“My dear doctor, Agent Mann is in love with you.”

She glanced at the president and hoped she didn’t blush. “What’s it to you?”

“He murdered my whole family, including my mother and younger sister. He killed those I loved and now I’m going to kill the person who means the most to him.”

She scoffed. “Sounds like senseless murder to me.” She crossed her arms. “There is nothing you can say that would convince me that Garrett would kill two defenseless women. He’s not that kind of man.”

“I can assure you, he is.”

Before she could continue to argue, a horrific crash stunned them all and something flew through the window. Before she could open her mouth to scream, Garrett rose up on one knee and fired two shots. The men who’d manhandled them earlier lay sprawled out on the floor.

Garrett bounced to his feet, his gun trained on McCoy. “Don’t move a muscle or you’re dead.”

Garrett walked backwards to unlock the door so Frank and Tony could enter the room. His gun trained on McCoy the entire time. Frank rushed to them. “Mr. President, are you both all right?”

“Yes,” President Davis nodded and put his arm around Haley. “I think you might have got here just in time.”

Haley pushed off the couch and rushed to Garrett. He had several cuts and scrapes on his arms and face, but she thought he looked wonderful. She threw her arms around him and squeezed. “I was scared to death. That man wants to kill me because he said you murdered his family.”

“I did,” Garrett admitted, setting her aside. “I shot both his mother and his sister in the back.” He glared at McCoy. “And I’d do it again.”

“I want you dead, Mann,” McCoy screeched, nearly splitting her eardrums. “You deserve to die like a dog.” He looked around frantically. “Where are my men? Why are none of you dead?”

“We received a tip from a friend of yours. One Sergio Malakoff. He took the liberty of removing the firing pins from those guns he sold you while you were paying him.”

McCoy’s face reddened so deeply, Haley feared he’d have a heart attack or a stroke.

“Nooooo.”

“Shut up, Amid,” Garrett hissed. “You know the truth about your family’s death. I had no choice.”

“You killed two innocent women.”

“No, I killed two women wearing suicide vests who were running toward a busy market place. Your father is responsible for that. He insisted they blow themselves up to restore his name. Here you are doing the same damned thing. When are you going to realize your father was nothing but a common criminal who played both sides.”

“That is a lie. My father was an honorable man.”

“No, he wasn’t,” Frank argued. “We’d had eyes on him for months. He took money from both sides. The reason he wanted your mother and sister to blow up the market was because he’d been exposed and the men coming to kill him were at that market waiting for him.”

“I don’t believe you,” McCoy pounded his fist on the desk. “I refuse to believe your American lies.”

“There’s something else you should know,” Frank said. “Your contact in Brussels, the one with connections to the EU?” Frank crossed his arms and glared at the terrorist. “He’s already in custody.”

Garrett went over and slapped a pair of handcuffs on McCoy before he did anything crazy. Just then another man burst through the door, a bomb strapped to his chest.

Garrett looked up just as a Pakistani man charged into the Oval Office. The man grabbed Haley and pulled her against his body. He had a bomb attached to his clothing and a detonator in his hand.

Haley struggled, but the man was too strong.

“Let her go,” Garrett ordered. He still had his gun out and it was pointed right at Megaza Nagi.

“Put the gun down or everyone dies, and she goes first,” Nagi demanded, his voice shaky and uncertain.

Frank held everyone back. “Let’s all remain calm. There’s no need for anyone to die.”

“Yes, there is,” Nagi said. “My friend’s family honor must be avenged, and I am to become a martyr.”

“Hey, Nagi,” Tony called from across the room. “All that martyrdom stuff isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Not if you die in the process.” He pointed to Amid. “That guy won’t be around to tell your story. And did you know it’s now American policy to not name terrorists in the press? You press that detonator, and the only thing folks will hear around the world is that someone set off a suicide bomb. So really, you’re dying for nothing.”

Surprisingly, Nagi thought about that for a few moments. Then Amid opened his mouth. “My friend, let me go and I will tell the world. You will be spoken with reverence all over the world, like I promised.”

Garrett realized Amid’s little game. “Is he the one who talked you into strapping that bomb to your chest? Is he the coward?”

“I do it for Allah and for ISIS.”

“Let me go,” Haley pleaded. “I’ve done nothing to you.”

Frank had managed to move so he could whisper in Garrett’s ear. “Mac’s the best shot I have but he’s not here. You’re the next best. Take the shot.”

Garrett didn’t want to inform his boss he wasn’t comfortable about taking such a dangerous shot when Haley’s life hung in the balance.

Amid held out his hands to Garrett. “Undo these cuffs so I can get out of here before he blows the place to hell and gone.”

Not taking his eyes off Nagi, Garrett shook his head. “Don’t have a key, now get back before I kill you myself.”

This would be difficult. He had to hit Nagi in the left eye and hope the bullet reached his brain before his squeeze set off the bomb. Garrett took a smooth breath, ignored all the sound in the room, released the air in his lungs, and blinked twice. He tightened his grip on the gun, braced his body for the recoil, and pulled the trigger.

Haley stood stiff as a corpse in rigor mortis. Nagi dropped to the floor and the detonator rolled away, harmless. He lowered his weapon and ran to her, gathering her in his arms, grateful for the feel of her warm body against his.

“Oh, my God,” she whispered. “I thought we were all going to die.”

“But we didn’t,” Frank reminded her. “We’re safe and sound, thanks to Garrett.”

Haley lay on the warm sand with her eyes closed, listening to the gentle ocean waves. Garrett decided they deserved a little vacation after everything they’d been through, but she knew this was all for her.

He lay next to her, his sunglasses on and a tropical drink at his side. During their stay he’d been absolutely adorable, patient and loving. Exactly the way she liked him.

She was a little sad that this was their last night at the beach. Tomorrow they were flying back to Dallas. She’d decided that she was returning home, no matter what happened to them. She needed her friends and family. He turned over and then leaned down and kissed her, sending her heart into overdrive.

“Let’s go back to our room,” he suggested seductively. “I’m getting sunburned.”

“Liar,” she teased. “I know why you want to go back to the room and it has nothing to do with the sun.”

He laughed. “You’re right.”

She looked out at the water and sighed. “I hate leaving tomorrow. It’s been so relaxing.”

“I’m glad you got your old job back.”

“Me too. That took a lot off my mind.”

“You could’ve moved in with me.”

“I don’t even know where you live.”

He rolled off her and draped an arm across his eyes. “You might not want to know.”

She sat up. “Yes, I do. I want to know about your family.”

“My father is in prison for killing my mother. It happened twelve years ago.”

She was stunned silent. After a moment, she swallowed hard and found her voice. “What did you just say?”

“I said, my father murdered my mother. He was found guilty and is now serving a life sentence.”

“How in the world did you live through that?”

“It was the worst thing that could happen to a family. Since then my two sisters and I have grown very close. We all live in the same neighborhood.”

“Do you...” Her voice choked, and she cleared her throat. “Do you see him?”

He shook his head. “No. After the trial, we decided we’d all be better off living our lives for the future and not focus on to the past.”

“What happened?”

“We’re not sure. He never denied killing her, so we let it go. Our mother is gone and there is nothing we can do to bring her back.”

Haley leaned down and hugged him. “I love you so much.” She straightened. “But I wish you would’ve told me.”

“I was scared you’d be afraid of being involved with a murderer’s son.”

“Don’t be silly. You’re not your father.”

“I’m glad you think that way.”

“But why didn’t you want me to know where you lived?”

“Both my sisters are married and can see my house from their kitchen windows. If they’d seen you around, they’d have had us walking down the aisle in a week.”

She smiled. “That doesn’t sound like a really bad idea.”

He sat up. “You serious?”

“I am. Are you asking?”

“Hell, yes, I’m asking. No, I’m begging you to marry me.” He suddenly looked away. “But what about my job?”

“I’ve had a lot of time to think about that. I’ll still worry my head off, and I’ll miss you, but I now know you can take care of yourself. The world needs men like you, Garrett Mann, as well as the rest of the Falcon agents.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “I love you.”