A Pair of Jacks (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Free Page B

comments. And trust me, we’ll hear them.”

Chapter Two
     
    Marie wanted to think Jack’s kiss was the last thing on her mind during the occurring events, however it wasn’t. She couldn’t help but wonder how a man could put that much feeling into acting. He should be on stage winning an Oscar for that performance. Her lips still felt swollen from the pressure of his mouth and she wanted to taste more of him, but the security team’s leader marched them down the hall and into the employees’ cafeteria, motioning for them to take a seat in the back.
    “Is everyone accounted for now, Robbins?”
    “We’ve got seventy-five names on the roster. Seventy-five people seated, sir.”
    Jack cast Marie a sidelong look. If their presence made seventy-five, where were the other two people who should have been in the same spot?
    “Listen up,” the leader of the team said. “Each of you signed a security agreement when you took this job. If you want to retain your employment, you will not discuss any details of what has happened here today. Is that clear?”
    Everyone nodded. Marie was aware the support personnel believed they worked for a high security computer firm doing contract work for the government. Only a handful of people knew the building housed the GSA and ran a team of covert operatives in addition to the other government contracts.
    “I want you all to exit the building immediately. You will proceed to your cars and leave the parking garage in an orderly manner. Is that clear?”
    A few people nodded, some said, ‘ Yes, sir,’ as if answering a drill sergeant, but most remained quiet. Jack and Marie stayed in the silent group, hoping they wouldn’t be noticed by anyone who asked who they were.
    “Dismissed,” the team commander said.
    The room immediately emptied in a mass exodus toward the parking garage. It would be nearly impossible for a sniper to single any one person out in the clot of uniforms and flurry of activity. Marie admired Jack for his quick thinking to get them safely out of the building.
    He hurried her to a dark colored SUV with tinted windows. It seemed to Marie everyone in Washington wanted anonymity. There must have been a dozen similar vehicles parked in the nearby vicinity. Jack started the powerful engine and eased his way into the string of cars cleared to leave the parking garage. One by one, the employees passed the guard station before pulling onto the street, getting caught by the light on 25 th . A traffic jam built as the overflow of cars coming out of the parking garage caused a minor buildup of stationary vehicles.
    Jack glanced in the rearview mirror while waiting for the light to change. “They’re releasing the building one floor at a time,” he explained. “Doesn’t look like they’re too worried about hostiles being inside. The shooter was across the street, probably on the roof of the Colfax Building. Who knew you were back in Washington?”
    Marie shrugged. “Xavier, Tina, the President…I can’t think of anyone else.”
    Jack shot her an impatient look. “Think again.”
    “Well…all the people I came in contact with. The people at the airport that processed my ticket would have known I was on a flight to the States. The cabdriver…”
    “This was an inside job,” he interrupted.
    “I think so, too,” Marie admitted. “And so did Xavier, but he wouldn’t come right out and say that.”
    “I’m sorry about Xavier.” Jack shifted gears while he edged into the heavy traffic, apparently confident the car he was cutting off wouldn’t hit him. “I know he was your friend.”
    Marie nodded, turning her face to look out the window, so he wouldn’t see her tears. His sympathy was unexpected, making her that much more emotional. She could handle her grief, but not his pity. It made her feel vulnerable, though she didn’t understand why.
    “Where are you taking me until we get this sorted out?”
    It seemed like a reasonable question to distract