Page 66 of State of Retribution

“I’m sorry it slows you down, too.”

“I’m with you, kid.You set the pace, and I do what I’m told.”

“Right, that’s all you do, along with a significant amount of backtalk and sarcasm.”

“I learned from the master.”

Vernon’s two minutes quickly became five.

“I put up with this because Nick asked me to, but sometimes it’s hard not to lose my shit and start screaming my head off in the middle of Adams Morgan.”

He glanced toward a group of people with cell phones who’d spotted the first lady on the job.“Don’t do that unless you want to be the lead story on the news tonight.”

Sam turned her back to the phones.“It’s getting harder all the time for me to do this job.”

“It’s intense right now because of the incident with the drones.It won’t always be like this.”

“What if it’s like this from now on because of that?The Secret Service director asked for a meeting with us tomorrow.What fresh hell will that bring to my life and Nick’s?”

“Their only goal is to keep you and the kids safe.Whatever it is, keep that in mind.”

“I tell myself that a thousand times a day, but at times like this, that doesn’t make it easier.”

A loud cracking sound cut through the air.

Before Sam could begin to react, Jimmy fell on top of her.

Freddie landed next to them.

“What the hell?”Sam asked, her voice compressed by Jimmy’s weight.

Something warm and wet landed on her neck.

A gurgling noise came from above her.

Then Vernon was there with other agents.Someone was screaming, “Agent down.”

No.No.No.

Jimmy was moved off her.

Sam was hauled to her feet and hustled to the SUV by Vernon and another agent.“Jimmy…”

“We’ve got people with him.We need to get you out of here.”

“No!Not until we know if he’s okay!”

“They’ll let us know.Are you hurt?”

“I don’t think so.”She’d have bruises from landing hard on the pavement, but that didn’t count as hurt.

Vernon slammed the door shut and jumped into the driver’s seat, the other agent clambering into the passenger seat.Vernon activated the vehicle’s lights and sirens, made a U-turn and punched it to get them out of there.

“What about Freddie?”

“He’s with Jimmy and the others.He’s okay.”

“Is Jimmy… Is it bad?”

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