He put a sleek tablet with Gray Box branding in her hands. “Start searching.”

  “For what?”

  “An island getaway,” he suggested with a shrug. “A place in the mountains would do.”

  Astonished, she stared at the phone. “Are you saying we need an escape hatch?”

  He laughed, resuming his latest cat and mouse game with the hacker. “Only if you’re wrong.”

  She groaned. What if she was wrong?

  “You’re not wrong,” he reassured her as if he’d read her mind. “We’ve talked about it, verified his skill set, access and behavior. We can track all of the trouble right back to the day he visited your office with his father last year. You were convenient. Your system was a conduit he used and exploited. Every layer we peel back confirms your analysis, Madison. Jonathon Liu is the root of this mess.”

  “His father will be devastated,” she murmured.

  “Rightly so,” Sam said. “There are consequences for interfering and tampering where you shouldn’t be.” He shot her a glance over his shoulder. “I know from experience, remember? I can promise you this kid is not a normal hacker. He incited people to violence and to do the legwork he couldn’t. He needs to be stopped and then he needs help.”

  She knew he was right. “I won’t snap,” she said, coaching herself more than anything else.

  “You exemplify fortitude,” he said.

  Her jaw dropped at the compliment. She didn’t mind at all that he’d delivered it in that distracted manner he used when he was concentrating on something else. In fact, it somehow gave the compliment more credibility, as if it was as basic a truth as two plus two equaling four.

  “Islands,” he murmured. This time he wasn’t talking about a getaway. “Damn. His creativity is off the charts.” Sam’s fingers flew over the keyboard.

  She didn’t hover, forcing herself to sit down with the tablet and do as he asked. Hawaii was lovely. At the moment, it wasn’t far enough away.

  When Spalding had Jonathon in custody, she wanted to go somewhere she’d never been. Somewhere isolated. She glanced at Sam, hoping he’d be willing to go with her. She studied each location, making sure the amenities he appreciated would be available. There were the Calendar Islands in Maine and summer was the best time to head out there. The Caribbean was never wrong and if he wanted seaside cliffs, there was always Ireland.

  While he murmured at the screen, her attention was divided between the island debate and how to break the news to Mr. Liu that his son had turned into a criminal.

  She heard the chime as the elevator arrived. Glancing up, she saw Rush striding over. “How is he doing?” he asked.

  “He’s in his element,” she said. Holding up the tablet, she added, “He gave me a toy because I was hovering.”

  “She was pacing,” Sam interjected without skipping a beat. “Hovering would’ve gotten her kicked out.”

  Rush grinned at her and then turned to Sam. “Have you found him yet?”

  “Getting closer,” Sam answered. “I know he’s in town. I just have to prove it.”

  Rush caught her eye. “And if he’s in the consulate?”

  It was the biggest point of concern with their plan. If Mr. Liu’s son was causing this trouble from somewhere inside the consulate, it would require a delicate negotiation to stop him. The consulate was technically outside US legal jurisdiction. “My boss has been assured China will respond swiftly even if we prove the culprit is in the consulate.”

  Rush moved closer to Sam’s desk for a moment, then returned to her. “Officially, do you trust that assurance?”

  “I have to.” It wasn’t ideal. She’d had a nightmare, dreading Mr. Liu’s probable reaction to the news. “No system is perfect,” she added softly.

  Rush winked. “We’ve made sure Gray Box comes pretty damn close.”

  “If you were looking for an island, where would you go?” she asked, needing a lighter subject.

  “Don’t answer her,” Sam said. “It’s her choice.”

  “To buy or to visit?” Rush asked, ignoring him.

  Madison looked up, saw he was serious and laughed. Rush and Sam were both so easygoing and down to earth that she occasionally forgot they were both billionaires. On the rare occasions when the super-wealthy mind-set appeared, it caught her off guard.

  “To visit,” she answered politely.

  His gaze narrowed and he lowered his voice. “Are you looking to move out of the area?”

  “No,” she replied. There was a subtext here she was missing. “Sam mentioned a weekend getaway.”

  Sam snorted. “I’ve promised her a two-week excursion anywhere in the world.”

  “A weekend is definite. The rest depends on my boss approving the time off.”

  Rush’s eyebrows lifted. “After your service record, you think there’s any doubt?”

  “Only in how and when things settle out with all of this.” She swiped the tablet screen and tilted it to show him a picture, desperate to change the subject. “Trinidad and Tobago?”

  “Never been there,” Rush said. “I’ll have to put it on my list.”

  “Got him!” Sam shouted.

  Madison and Rush surged forward to flank him. “Seriously?”

  “He’s in Chinatown.” Sam pulled over a laptop, ignoring them, while he continued working. “We just have to keep him there.”

  Rush held up a hand for a high five and Madison obliged, bouncing a little on her toes. It was almost over. Officially, she was thrilled. Personally, not so much. When Jonathon was in custody and things were sorted out, she’d indulge in that weekend with Sam and then the interlude was over. She’d return to her apartment and career and Sam would do the same.

  “Anything I can do?” Rush asked.

  “Extra eyes would be welcome at this point,” Sam said. “I have it recorded for analysis later, but bring on the real-time assessment.”

  Madison distracted herself, watching them work. They were an excellent team, assessing and adjusting on the fly. Rush might be considered the face of the company and Sam the brain, but these recent days had proven to her they were equally committed and could manage either role well if necessary.

  “Look,” Rush said to Madison, pointing at a monitor coming to life with a grainy view outside an internet café. “Street cam. Live feed. You can watch the takedown.”

  “No view inside?” she asked, suddenly concerned.

  “No.”

  Sam swore. “Hold. Hold. Hold.” He keyed the same message into the FBI communication program.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “He’s one step better than I thought,” Sam groused. “Spring it,” he said to Rush. He pulled off his headset and jumped out of the chair. “Come on, Mrs. Bellemere,” he said, taking her hand. “We’ve got one more performance to give.”

  “What are you talking about?” she demanded when they were in the elevator.

  He kissed her, hard and her body responded. Shamelessly, she leaned into him, her hands on his muscled shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her waist, keeping her close. “I didn’t trust Liu. Jonathon,” Sam clarified.

  “Who would?”

  “Right.” The elevator chimed their arrival. “Follow my lead this time?”

  “Of course.” She nodded, utterly confused.

  They stepped out onto the street-level lobby and Sam answered his phone with a rapid fire string of commands. Was he speaking with Rush or Spalding?

  “We’re almost out,” he said furtively, heading for the front door. He was into the part, his grip on her hand so hard her bones ached in protest. They were in the airlock when Sam swore. “He’s here.”

  He tugged her behind him. When he reached for the door to get back inside, she heard the electronic locks slam into place.

  “We’re trapped?”

  “No,” Sam said.

  Madison knew he was lying. Whatever he’d had in mind, this wasn’t it.

  An image of the South China Sea rippled into focus on the monitor installed to greet Gray Box visitors. “Yes, you are trapped, Mr. Bellemere.” Although the voice was being distorted, she knew it was Jonathon. “And you thought you had all the answers. How fitting to beat you at your own game, right here in the house that hacking built.”

  “Drop it,” Sam shouted, yanking on the doors. “You’ve lost. The FBI knows what you’ve done.”

  “Knowing it and proving it are not the same. I am untouchable. Your laws don’t apply to me.”

  Sam’s face had gone pale under the dark whiskers shading his jaw. “I’m sorry,” he whispered at her ear. “Let her go,” he shouted up at the camera positioned in the corner of the airlock.

  Glass shattered with a shriek and she screamed. Sam swore, covering her with his bigger body. At the sting of splinters lancing her feet, she didn’t want to think about what was happening to Sam. A loud boom brought down another panel in a sickening shower of glass.

  Over Sam’s shoulder, Madison saw Jonathon crossing the street, a device in one hand and a gun held at arm’s length. Where was the backup, the FBI?

  “I am untouchable.” The monitors repeated the phrase over and over until she wanted to cover her ears.

  She knew he intended to kill them. She knew he’d get away with it despite any number of witnesses or security cameras catching him in the act. With diplomatic immunity, he could do anything at all unless China disavowed him and handed him over to the US court system. For Mr. Liu’s youngest son, she couldn’t see that happening.

  “Sam.” He wouldn’t even be here if she hadn’t dragged him into the mess. Tears blurred her vision. “I’m sorry.” She heard the gunshot at nearly the same time the lobby window behind her disintegrated.

  The air exploded from her chest as Sam drove them through the broken window and into the scarce shelter of the wide open lobby. He kept his body between her and the danger behind them. She’d never forgive herself if Sam died protecting her.

  She heard shouted commands and pounding boots and the distorted voice on the monitor ceased at last.

  “The cavalry arrives,” Sam said, turning her face side to side. “Are you hurt?” he asked.

  “No, not really.” She shook her head. Her hands raced over him, came back bloody once more. “You are.”

  “Scratches,” he promised. “I’m fine.” He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her tenderly. “You were so brave.”

  “This was staged?”

  “Not this, exactly. Rush and I agreed to give him an irresistible target,” Sam said. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. If we’d had any idea he’d turn violent, I would’ve left you downstairs.”

  Leaving him to clean up her mess alone. “I thought this was a together thing?”

  He helped her to her feet and kissed her forehead. “It is.”

  “What will happen to Gray Box if it gets out the building itself was hacked?”

  Sam grinned. “Rush and Lucy were handling those details.”

  His confidence soothed her. “His father will be heartbroken,” she murmured, watching Spalding put handcuffs on Jonathon.

  “We’ll give him the proof and hope for the best,” Sam said. “Let’s get some of these scrapes and splinters treated before we give our statements.”

  Knowing he was right, knowing her time with him was nearly at an end, Madison wished Sam would say the words her heart craved. She knew it wasn’t fair to expect so much so soon. Maybe if they took a weekend trip, they could talk about building a true relationship.

  Or maybe she needed to accept the inevitable and allow Sam to return to the quiet, private life he preferred. Hopefully some time and space would make her path clear.

  Chapter Fourteen

  US Diplomatic Field Office, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

  The butterflies in Madison’s stomach were pushing the envelope of aerial maneuvers as she and Sam waited in a formal receiving room. Charles, her boss, had cornered her this morning, asking her and Sam to be available this evening. She didn’t tell him she’d moved back to her apartment after a double-date dinner with Rush and Lucy Monday night. She failed to mention that she’d only exchanged text messages with Sam since Jonathon’s arrest.

  They had both needed the distance.

  When Jake picked her up half an hour ago, Sam had been in the backseat, looking dashing as ever in a soft gray suit. He’d even chosen the tie he’d worn for cocktails. He’d held her hand, casually noted she still wore the wedding set and then reminded her she hadn’t given him a weekend destination yet.

  “Do you know what to expect?” he asked her now.

  She shook her head. “Only that Mr. Liu wants a private word before returning to China.” Without his son. His decision to allow the United States to prosecute still surprised her.

  She couldn’t imagine the disgrace Mr. Liu had to be feeling. Knowing him to be a proud man, she’d found his aloof nature a mask he’d used only on formal occasions. He’d always been kind and warm in their more casual interactions. It saddened her to know his son’s misguided stunt would bring his career to an end. China had yet to name Mr. Liu’s replacement and careful, thoughtful communication would be required to repair the relationship between the countries Jonathon had exploited.

  She hoped the exhibit at the museum would not be withdrawn on principle.

  “Relax.”

  Sam’s whisper at her ear launched a fresh flight of butterflies. She told them to wait their turn. This meeting would test her composure enough as it was.

  The double doors opened and Mr. Liu entered, flanked by two men from his security detail. Her boss followed, flashing them an encouraging smile.

  She wasn’t surprised by the formal greeting and deep bow Mr. Liu offered, only that he honored her before Sam.

  “I am thankful to both of you for my son’s life,” Mr. Liu began. “There is no excuse to be made on his behalf. Were he trustworthy, he would be here himself to apologize. In his absence, I extend my apologies to you, Mrs. Bellemere, Mr. Bellemere, for his unfortunate actions against you and your country.”

  Tears gleamed in the older man’s eyes. Madison had to fight the urge to soothe him as a friend. Beside her, she sensed Sam was waging the same war.

  “Mistakes of youth, with time and care, become the wisdom of men grown,” Madison replied.

  Mr. Liu’s son had made a dreadful, misguided attempt to embarrass his father and stir up national ire against countries he perceived as enemies of a supreme nation. As Sam had said, such choices had consequences. All she could do now was trust those higher up and say a prayer that the Liu family recovered from their youngest son’s blunder.

  Mr. Liu turned to the man on his left, who placed a slim box in his hand. “In honor of your superb service and dedication as a liaison to our country, I offer this gift.”

  She opened the box and stared down at a white jade pendant carved with the Chinese character for peace nestled into the center of black silk. Surrounding the pendant was a bracelet of jade beads, alternating white and green and amber, smooth and luminous as pearls, with a centered space for the pendant. She held a treasure and they both knew it.

  “I am deeply humbled and honored,” she said to Mr. Liu. She wanted to toss formality out the window and give him a hug. Only training and his obvious grief stayed her. “You have given me a treasure beyond value, a lasting reminder of what trust and friendship are meant to be.”

  From his station near the door, her boss nodded his approval.

  Without a word, Mr. Liu handed Sam a smaller box. With another deep bow, he left the room with his men. When the doors closed, Madison relaxed and leaned into the immediate support Sam offered.

  “You did great,” he said.

  The praise eased the sadness of her farewell to Mr. Liu. “What is it?”

  Sam opened the box to find a jade tie pin. “Wow. What does this symbol mean?”

  She smiled at him. “Prosperity.”

  “Safe bet. Hope no one’s offended if I have it scanned for any electronic signatures before I wear it to the office.”

  She laughed and elbowed him. “Behave.”

  “Open yours again,” he said. “That is stunning. Should it be in a museum?”

  “Probably, but I’m not giving it up.” She touched the edge of the silk lining the box. “This is my name followed by the characters for deep and abiding friendship.”

  “That covers it,” he said, his palm warm at her back.

  “You think so?”

  “Definitely. It’s how I’ve always seen you,” he said.

  She should be grateful to have that friendship from him. She was grateful. Having had more, she knew it wouldn’t be enough. “I’ll never see him again,” she said, desperate to avoid her personal minefield.

  She closed the box with a snap as her boss peeked into the room again. “You ready for round two?” he asked. “The group from Vietnam is in the elevator.”

  Sam set their gift boxes on the table under the window, near the floral arrangement. “We’re set.”

  The meeting with the Vietnam diplomatic team was far more effusive and genial. They’d brought champagne and made a toast to long life and happiness for Sam and Madison and continued positive relations between their countries. Along with their thanks came more gifts.

  Madison gasped at the long strand of pearls with a spacer for the jade pendant she’d received from Mr. Liu and a large, perfect pearl on a charm clasp that would complete the jade bracelet.

  When they were done, Madison wanted to leap for joy. She kept her face in neutral when her boss walked back in. His relief clear, he extended his hand to each of them in turn. “My thanks to both of you,” he said. “Sorry I don’t have gifts. You two kept the peace in a volatile area. The world owes you, Madison. You too, Sam.”