Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(61)

"Something has caused this mental break—this acute stress disorder," Leo said. "Perhaps due to the pressure suddenly placed upon him, coupled with the fact that he is likely marked for death—at Phillips' earliest opportunity. You saw how easy it was to get President Sanders out of the way."

"I understand that part. What I don't understand is dismissing the best protection he'll ever have, just so he can go after Phillips on an ill-conceived whim."

"And if he were thinking clearly, he would realize these things. He is not thinking clearly, and as he holds the highest office in the country, he has the power to enforce his ill-conceived whim."

"This is insane," I whispered.

"Not insane, just in desperate need of help, which is something he isn't getting, that's obvious," Leo said.

"Leo, it's insane in the fact that he can cause World War Three if he isn't careful and right now, he doesn't understand that."

"Let me call Colonel Hunter and Director Michaels. We can continue this discussion in Italy, once we have permission to take Nathan with us."

*

"Cori, I want you to come for James," Auggie said over the phone. "I know you have Nathan there with you, and since things are so dicey here, well, you understand what I'm saying. I'm approving an extended leave of absence, and I've sent Laci to her sister's."

"Yeah." I did understand. Auggie was worried about anybody close to him. When Granville's plan went into action, then anybody could become fair game if the Phillips clone survived the attack.

I was also beginning to worry about Norian Keef—we hadn't heard from him or Lendill Schaff in a while.

"I'll be right there," I said.

When I arrived in Auggie's office, James stood beside a packed suitcase and threw his arms around me when I appeared.

"Honey, Nathan's waiting for you," I kissed his cheek. "Stop worrying, okay?"

"Cori, keep him safe," Auggie said. "No matter what happens."

"You know I will," I said. "He's my son."

That caused James to hug me harder. "Come on, honey, let's go. I think we can get you some dinner from Carano's before they close."

Leo had already gotten takeout when I set James down in the villa's kitchen. Nathan lifted him up and gave him a generous smack before setting him down again.

"I think I got four of everything," Leo grinned as James and Nathan took seats at the table. Katya, Sergei and their friends were already seated and waiting. "Wine, too," Leo added. "Want anything?"

"No. Go ahead. I think I just want Val to take me somewhere sunny so we can feed."

"I watch and eat, too," Bekzi declared as he scooted a chair back. "Go. Get sunlight. We be fine."

Val, who'd watched everything with half a smile on his face, offered me a full grin before transporting me to Australia, where the sun was shining the following day.

*

"I guess I'm a woman without a country, now, since the President kicked me out," I said. We sat on a private stretch of beach, both of us naked and shielded. Val wrapped his arms around me while I leaned my head against his shoulder.

"He has no control over you, my love. You must understand that. It is that which he fears—that he has no control. Therefore, he acts irrationally, to exercise the control he can. To him, the world is spinning away from his grasp, making him fear for his life. He knows not how to deal with that."

"Should we go find Mister Norian and company, after we feed?" I asked, closing my eyes.

"Sleep now. When you are rested, we will hunt for him. I will bend time if necessary, to ensure that we find him."

"Awesome," I mumbled and allowed sleep to claim me.

*

"May we come with you?" Sergei asked when I explained that Val and I were going to look for Norian Keef the following morning. Val had let me sleep through our feed and then got me in bed at the villa without waking me. I felt better, at least, after the tiring events of the previous day.

"Val?" I turned to him after Sergei posed his question.

"I think it will be all right—if you wish it," Val nodded.

"Sure," I shrugged at Sergei. "You may get something interesting for lunch, but what the hell?"

"I've had interesting things for lunch before," Sergei flashed a grin. "I'll tell Katya."

*

Half an hour later, we were in Nevada again, where Val worked to coordinate Norian's movements.

"This is how my brothers and I learned to track those important to history, and detail the events surrounding them," he said, closing his eyes and employing his Looking ability to search for Norian's next stop. "Las Vegas," Val opened his eyes and smiled. "We will go to the hotel where he stayed."

The hotel Norian chose wasn't on the strip and didn't house a casino. I assumed he paid cash for his room—I doubted he had any credit cards. "Only one night," Val said as we studied the room. "I must Look again to find his next destination."

"Can you not just use your talent to find where he is now?" Katya asked.

"We don't know where he is," I informed Katya. "He and Lendill dropped off the radar days ago."