Jess leaned in to pause the recording. "That's Senator Ed Freeman. This had to be made before he was shot. Who's the other man?"

Neil shook his head. "I have no idea. I've been trying to match the voice with voice prints I have, but so far, no luck."

"The senator sounds almost as if he's afraid."

"Listen to the rest of it," Neil suggested and once more activated the sound.

"Whitney's going to keep going until he's killed. There's no other way to stop him. You've got to kill all the women in his breeding program-all of them. We can't have them adding to this mess."

"He doesn't trust me. I think he's trying to have me killed."

"He must know you were instrumental in sending out a couple of his GhostWalkers to the Congo. Get it done. And when I say all the women have to die, I mean all of them."

"Violet is helping us," the senator hissed.

"She's the one who told him about Higgens. If she hadn't tipped him off we would have gotten the bastard then. Instead, Higgens is dead and Whitney is in the wind."

"She didn't..."

There was the sound of a knock on a door, hinges creaking, and then more footsteps. Both men went silent instantly. Chairs scraped.

"No, no, keep your seats."

The recorder went off abruptly. Jess and Logan looked at each other. The tension in the office rose.

"Was that who I thought it was?" Logan asked.

"That was the vice president," Jess said. "He has a very distinctive voice. He just walked into that room. You don't think whoever was talking to the senator is in the White House, do you?"

"Could the rot really go that high up?" Logan took a deep breath. "They're talking about selling out our country from the White House."

"We're dead men," Neil said, "if we don't find these people."

"They're traitors," Jess snapped. "Fucking traitors and we're going to find them. Isn't Higgens the man Ryland had to kill?"

"He must have been part of a much larger ring and we thought we got it, but we didn't even get the tip of the iceberg. When you're talking senators and someone working in the White House..."

"Or the Pentagon. The recording could have been made there as well."

"We know the conversation takes place somewhere the vice president would visit. Neil, can you isolate any background noises?"

"I tried. The recording was damaged. I don't know who could have put the recorder into Louise's private safe."

"The senator's wife? She's a GhostWalker. But she also had made some kind of deal with Whitney to save her husband's life. Whitney put out a hit on him. When she made the deal, she sold out the girls in the breeding program."

"It was one of Whitney's soldiers who put a bullet in his head," Jess confirmed, "although any of us would have been happy to. The senator is responsible for Jack and Ken's capture and torture. He handed them over to Ekabela in the Congo. Prior to that, Whitney had targeted the senator for assassination using Saber. She escaped instead of carrying out the order."

Jess took another drink of coffee, his frown deepening as he tried to puzzle it out. "So we've got two factions. We have Whitney who is a madman, making weapons for his country and thinking he's as patriotic as all get out."

Logan nodded. "And we've got some group, small or large-I'm guessing large-selling our secrets to the highest bidder. They're in top government positions and we know they're also in the military-at least some of them."

"The bastards who went after my sister were army," Jess confirmed. "We need to talk to Ryland Miller as soon as possible and get this information to his team."

"Whoever was talking to the senator is the one giving orders to the admiral and the general, sending our teams out on suicide runs. It has to be him. We've got his voice now. We should be able to nail the bastard," Neil said. "I'll keep working to clean it up and see if I can enhance it even more."

"And try again to get something on the background noises, see if we can maybe figure out exactly where the conversation is taking place, which building," Logan added.

Neil nodded. "I doubt I'll get too much more. It wasn't easy cleaning it and pulling up what I did get."

"Was there any more of the conversation?"

"Not that wasn't damaged beyond my abilities to recover. I can ask Flame, she's a genius with this kind of thing, but I wouldn't count on getting much more. I think the man must have been standing a distance from the recorder."

"He couldn't have known the conversation was being recorded," Logan said.

Jess snapped his fingers. "But the senator might have. Listen to the things he said. Short answers. Nothing too incriminating. He might have been the one recording it. Violet would be likely to urge him to get some insurance. I don't know how the senator got involved with them, but I'll bet he wanted out."

"Then he tries to bargain with Whitney, an exchange of information-especially if the senator's wife is targeted to be killed," Logan filled in. "Whitney didn't sell out those women, nor was the senator going to rescue them, he was trying to show Whitney what he knew, that he'd keep quiet in exchange."

"Then why did Whitney have him killed?" Neil asked.

"We don't know if he's dead."

"It was a confirmed head shot. I doubt if he survived, and if he did, he's a vegetable."

"Then Violet is going to want revenge. She can't go home to Whitney and she can't come to us. She's out there alone with everyone wanting her dead," Jess said. "So what's she going to do? She plants the recorder in Louise's office, because she's heard the rumor that I'm conducting some kind of investigation."

"We're making a big jump here," Neil said.

"Maybe," Jess agreed, "but it fits."

"Talk about a pissed-off woman," Logan said. "See, I have a point. She's a loose cannon and no one knows whose side she's going to come down on. In the meantime, everyone had better watch their backs. Now you see what I'm talking about with these women. Gun or no, she's dangerous as hell."

"At least she's got good cause, and you ought to be happy, Logan, she was protecting her man," Jess said.

"Too bad she had the wrong man. What a waste."

Jess burst out laughing. "You're such a hypocrite, Logan. You say the women shouldn't be enhanced, but if they are, you don't want to share them with anyone."

Logan shrugged. "I'm a complicated man."

"You're a nutcase."

The smile faded from Jess's face. "You're a smart nutcase, Max. Before Saber escaped, she was in Whitney's office and she found two files out. One was on the senator. She didn't talk much about it, but when I ask her tonight, I'm going to bet she'll tell me it documented treasonous acts."

"That would at least confirm our speculations."

"And there was a file on bionics. Both files were in English, typed out and left right on the desk for her to find. Whitney always, always, uses mathematical code. I asked Lily and every single time she's accessed a file on the computer it's in code."

"Which means he wanted her to see those files," Logan said.

"Exactly, but why?"

Logan studied his face. "I think you already know."

Jess was silent for a moment. "You're wrong about her."

Logan looked startled. "That was an abrupt change in subject."

"She saved Patsy's life. There was something wrong with Patsy's heart and Saber knew it. Patsy had a heart attack, Logan. She would have died without Saber. She might be able to kill with a touch, but she can give life as well. You might want to think about that. It could be your life she has to save one day."

Logan held up his hand in surrender. "I don't know why or how we circled back to this, but I'm more than willing to be wrong. I don't like risking you, but if she was mine, I'll admit, I'd risk everything for her."

"We're good then?"

"We're good." Logan shoved out of the chair and set his coffee cup aside. "I'm taking off. It's getting late and she's going to be up soon. She won't want us here."

"She doesn't like you knowing about her past," Jess conceded. "But she'll get over that."

Neil placed his mug beside the coffeepot. "I'm heading out as well. I'll get the recorder to Flame and see what she can do with it. You know we're close if you need us. Martin's taking the watch tonight. And I'd like to point out, and you can tell her, that I don't know, nor do I care, anything about her past. She's one of us."

"Thanks, Neil. I'll make her aware of that." He grinned up at Logan. "It's only Max she has to avoid. And great work, Neil. I couldn't get anything off that piece of junk."

Neil laughed. "Our strange little skills come in handy."

"Yeah, they do." Jess thought of his sister as the men went out. If Saber hadn't zapped her heart to get it going, she'd most likely be dead, or her heart irreparably damaged. Saber could do things with her talent-good things. And he had an idea that that was the reason Whitney had left that file in plain sight for Saber to read. He had a feeling convincing Saber of what needed to be done, though, was not going to be easy.

He sat for a long while observing her sleep. She was curled up like a kitten, her springy curls blue-black against the pillow, matching the color of her feathery lashes. He enjoyed seeing her in his bed. She looked a little lost without his body beside hers, but he liked that as well.

As he sat watching her sleep, his body hardened, began to make demands. He took his time divesting himself of his clothes, never taking his gaze from her slender body. She looked so right in his bed. He dropped his shirt and then struggled out of his trousers, wincing a little as his body tightened and thickened in anticipation. She looked a beautiful invitation with her hair tousled and her lips slightly parted, lying in the too-large bed.

"Stop staring at me." She didn't open her eyes.

"I want to swim."

"Go swim and leave me alone."

"I'm not supposed to swim by myself. My doctor said so."

She made a rude noise, but still kept her eyes stubbornly shut. "You swim by yourself all the time. Since when do you listen to your doctor?"

"Think how bad you'd feel if I drowned."

Her lashes fluttered. "I'm thinking I might help you drown. If you go away, I can sleep for..." She lifted her lashes a bare centimeter and peered at the clock before settling against the pillow again. "A couple more hours."

He rested his chin on his palm, elbow on the side of the bed, leaning in to put his face inches from hers. "Did you know that you're grumpy when you first wake up?"

"Just because your friends left doesn't mean you get to bother me."

He should have known she would be aware of others in the house. The knowledge just made him proud of her. He tugged on the sheet. "Swimming. Exercise. We can skinny-dip."

"You really aren't going to go away, are you?" She opened her eyes and glared, then her gaze widened and she flushed when she saw he was naked and more than alert.

He laughed at her. "Nope."

"You aren't exactly the dream man I thought you were. You're relentless when you want something."

"I'm your dream man." He dragged the covers off of her and slid his hand over her stomach, up to her breast. "I want something now." He bent his head to the invitation, enjoying the way her stomach muscles bunched and her breath caught in her throat when his mouth settled around the offering.

Saber closed her eyes, circling his head with her arms, holding him to her breast while his mouth pulled strongly, sending flashes of fire arcing through her bloodstream. She was all too aware of his other hand drifting down her body, sliding over smooth skin, moving lower and lower. Her hips jerked in anticipation of his touch. He moved his palm to her leg, gliding up and around to her inner thigh.

Her pulse pounded in her blood. Waiting. Needing. Wanting. He had to touch her. In that moment, with his mouth pulling strongly at her breast, his tongue sending waves of heat crashing through her body and his hand moving over her skin, she saw her future, time stretched out before her clearly. She would never be free of her need of him. She would crave his touch with this same intensity-for all time.

Saber ran her fingers through his hair, keeping her eyes closed to better absorb the sensations. Heat and fire. A coiling. It was amazing how he could bring her body to such life. "This is such a perfect way to wake up," she murmured, still drowsy, arching her back like a cat.

"I agree." He kissed his way down her ribs to her intriguing little belly button. "Do you know how soft your skin is?" His voice was low and rough, that husky tone that excited her, that told her he was focused wholly on her.

She lifted her lashes to see the raw desire etched deeply into his face, the stark need in his eyes-for her. His hands were hard on her hips, turning her body so she lay across the bed, dragging her closer to him, his gaze greedy, centered between her thighs. Her breath caught in her lungs as he opened her legs. His hands stroked caresses along her inner thighs, moving slowly toward her heated center. She ached for him, her body pulsing with awareness and need.

His lips feathered down her abdomen, tongue teasing nerve endings into tiny explosive sparks. He said something low and rough, his voice sensual, eyes darkening, adding to the need building inside of her. The warm, drowsy feeling had been replaced by sheer need. She was shocked how fast desire built inside of her, reaching a fever pitch, and he was only kissing her skin, touching her. There was something sinfully sexy about the harsh stamp of lust on his sensual features as he tugged on her legs, widening her thighs apart, using the width of his shoulders to keep her body open for him.

He lowered his head again and his breath was warm. Her body jerked in reaction but he held her firmly. His tongue stroked a long deep caress and she cried out in a broken tone. His mouth settled over her, his tongue flicking as he suckled at her. He suddenly speared his tongue deep. She moaned and nearly came off the bed. He was strong, stronger than she'd remembered, and he held her hips, pinning her in place while he feasted.

His tongue thrust deep and hard, over and over, circled her clit, and he suckled again, sending fireworks exploding all around her. Her fingers bunched the comforter as she whipped her head back and forth, writhing beneath the sensations ripping through her body as his flicking tongue threw her into orgasm.

"Jesse." Her breath came in ragged gasps. "Slow down. You have to slow down." Because the pleasure was skittering too close to pain, the buildup too fast, the orgasm too furious. She felt out of control and unable to catch her breath or think straight. Already another orgasm was building rapidly, winding her tighter and tighter, taking her higher and higher.

He growled low in his throat, the vibration sending a spasm through her womb as her muscles clenched in need. He shifted again, his tongue sliding over her one last time, tasting her heat. He pulled his body onto the bed and rose above her on his knees, catching her hips in his hands and lifting her.

Their gazes locked. He looked wild, his eyes almost black with desire, his face glistening. The head of his heavy erection pressed tight against her entrance. She swore her heart stuttered. The air caught in her lungs. And then he plunged into her, driving deep through soft folds and tight muscles, lodging so deep she felt him against her womb. He stretched her, invading, forcing her body to accommodate the intrusion of his thick shaft. Pleasure washed over her at the intensity of the friction, through her, rocking her until she wanted to scream.

Jess began a fast tempo that had her rising to meet him, desperate for release. The powerful strokes took her higher, forcing her body into a tighter and tighter coil. The temperature rose, until she felt as if she was burning, melting around him, until the tension in her just kept building beyond anything she could ever have imagined.

"Stay with me, baby," he ordered. "Hold on, Saber. Let me have you. God. Baby. Give yourself over to me."

She hadn't realized until that moment that she was thrashing beneath him, her head tossing, her nails digging into him, hips bucking. She was fighting herself, not him. The gathering storm inside of her was too much, too big, too frightening. It was more than her body, it was all of her, and if she gave herself up, sacrificed everything, trusted him that much...

He held her thighs apart, surging into her, forcing her to keep climbing with him. She could feel her body pulsing, tightening around his, gripping hard, clenching and rippling. There was no stopping even if she wanted to-and she didn't want to. Her vision blurred, her breath came in sobbing gasps as the explosion rippled through her, building like a wave-a series of waves. High. Hot. Continuous.

Her body was tight, fiery tight, her channel squeezing and clamping down, her flesh melting around his driving cock. He felt the first rush of her orgasm, the slick, heated cream, the fierce grip of her sheath around him, and his own release was there, erupting fast and hard. He held her tight while the waves burst over them, and the explosions finally began to subside.

He collapsed over her, his breathing harsh as he fought for air. Sex had never been that good with anyone else, and he was damn sure he wasn't going to take a chance on losing what he had. He rolled over and lay beside her, his fingers tangling with hers. Beside him, Saber gave off heat, her muscles still bunching in the aftermath.

She turned her head and smiled at him. His heart actually jumped in his chest. The sight of her, sprawled out naked beside him, his scent mingling with hers, expression just a little dazed, made him a little light-headed.

"Marry me."

Beside him, she gasped. Stiffened.