She arched back, arrowed with pleasure. He gripped her hips, said her name, and let her ride.
Her skin was slick with sweat when she collapsed onto him, melted into him. His arms came around her, holding her there. Her cheek to his heart.
"Sleep awhile," he murmured.
"I can't. I have to go in."
"You haven't slept in twenty-four hours."
"I'm okay," she answered as she sat up. "Almost better than okay. I needed this more than sleep—really, Roarke. And if you think you're going to force a tranq down my throat, think again."
She rolled off him and up. "I need to keep moving. If there's any down time, I'll catch a nap at the crib at Central."
She glanced around for a robe, took his. "I need a favor."
"Now would be an excellent time to ask for one."
She glanced over, grinned. He looked sleek and satisfied. "I bet. Anyway, I don't want Zeke stuck at the station the way he has been, but I need to keep him under wraps awhile longer."
"Send him here."
"Ah…if I took one of your vehicles in, I could leave mine here. Working on it would give him something to do."
Roarke turned his head. Eyed her. "Do you plan to be involved in any wrecks or explosions today?"
"You never know."
"Take anything but the 3X-2000. I've only driven it once."
She made some comment about men and their toys, but he was feeling mellow and let it pass.
*** CHAPTER TWENTY ***
Dear Comrade,
We are Cassandra.
We are loyal.
We are sure you've been watching the bleeding liberal media puppets report on the incidents in New York City. It sickens us to listen to their sobbing, their wailing. While we are nothing but amused by their condemnation of the destruction of their pathetic symbols of the blindly opportunistic society that now holds this country under its rigid thumb, we are angry at their one-dimensional and predictable stand on the issues.
Where is their faith? Where is their comprehension?
They still don't see, still don't understand what we are and what we will mean to them.
Tonight we struck with the fury of the gods. Tonight we watched the scrambling rats. But this is nothing, nothing to what we will do.
Our adversary, the woman that fate and circumstance deemed we face down for our mission, has proven difficult. She is skilled and strong, but we would be satisfied with no less. It is true that through her, we have lost a certain monetary payment, which we understand you had hoped to secure quickly. Do not concern yourself with this matter. Our finances are very solvent, and we will bleed this heedless city to its bones before we are finished.
You must trust that we will finish what he began. You must not falter in your faith and you
r commitment to the cause. Soon, very soon, the most precious symbol of their corrupt and weeping nation will fall. It is all but done.
When this is accomplished, they will pay.
We will see you, face to face, within forty-eight hours. The necessary papers are in order. This next battle to be waged and won in this place, we will complete personally. He would have expected this. He would have demanded it.
Prepare for the next stage, dear comrade. For we will be with you soon to drink to the one who set us on this path. To celebrate our victory and to set the stage for our new republic.