Sacrifice Read Online Free PDF Page B

convince William Lance, the head of the Secret Service, of my
plan. He in turn has convinced her father that this is the only course they can
take in protecting both of you. I didn’t think you would want this left to
strangers.”
    The mist was rising along the
mountains now, he noticed distantly. Like gentle wisps of fairy dust, easing
along the ground. Soon, they would enshroud the land as night took over,
bringing an eerie comfort to the darkness.
    “How high is the risk?” he finally
asked her, keeping his voice carefully even.
    “They aren’t certain yet. But you
know how these things are. It could be rumor; it could be fact. I didn’t think
you would want to take the chance with her life, though.”
    Never. There could be no risk.
    “How many are on the team with
her?” he asked her quietly.
    “Four, though two of them are iffy.
I attempted to get them pulled, but when William approached her father with the
idea he was vetoed out of hand. Their records aren’t as good as I would have
preferred.”
    He nodded slowly. “I have several
of the men who were with me in the Forces working here. I’ll pull them in to
the house and set up safeguards. As for the men on Kimber’s team, I’ll need
their records as well as any intel on them.”
    “I have everything with me,” she
said, smiling back at him gently as he turned to face her. “Do you have any
idea how much you remind me of your father when you stare off like that?” she
asked him fondly. “He solved his most difficult problems here on this porch.”
    Her voice echoed with the memories.
    “He solved most of mine out here,
too,” he sighed. Damn, he could have used his father’s advice now.
    Jared rubbed his neck tiredly. He
had returned from Texas that morning to find his mother awaiting him with the
news that Kimberly’s safety could possibly be in danger and the plan she had
set in motion to protect her.
    “Does Madison know you’re behind
William’s brilliant plan?” he asked her suspiciously. He had a feeling the
Senator only knew what Carolyn wanted him to know.
    She smiled serenely. “Daniel might
not approve of you marrying his daughter, but he’s very well informed of your
qualifications to protect her.” Not exactly an answer, but he knew that tone of
voice well. He wasn’t going to get any more out of her.
    “And how much does Kimberly know?”
he asked her.
    “That she’s to protect you, the
team is to protect both of you. It’s simply a matter of protecting two birds
with one shield so to speak. You are aware of the budget crunch the government
is in the middle of, dear. Cost effectiveness is a major consideration.”
    He snorted at that one.
    “When does she arrive?” He needed
time to go over the information his mother had brought with her and get his own
plans in place.
    “She’s leaving D.C. this evening.
They should arrive here at the farm by morning. Kimberly is less than pleased
with the assignment as I understand it, but I’m certain she’ll settle in
nicely.”
    Jared cast her suspicious look.
“Are you sure there’s nothing you’re leaving out here, Mother?” Carolyn
Raddington was as sharp as a dagger when the need presented itself, and he
could clearly glimpse the sharp edges in the cultured, cool tones of her voice.
    She watched him with a gleam of
laughter in her eyes as her lips curved at the corners in a sedate smile. “I’ve
told you everything I know, Jared,” she said soothingly, causing him to wince.
Damn, he knew there was something she was holding back now. The only thing he
was confident of was that it would be personal information, rather than
anything he needed to keep Kimberly safe.
    He faced her, resignation filling
him now. He had stayed away from Kimberly, just as he had known he should, and
now, for some reason, they were being thrown together in such a way that
keeping his distance would be impossible.
    The need for her was eating him
alive. He tasted her kiss on his lips, could