Leanne Banks - The Danforths - Marc, Tanya & Abe - The Laws of Passion / Terms of Surrender / Shocking the Senator

Jake looked after her as she strolled down the garden path talking into the phone. “Didn’t hear the phone buzz, did you? She must’ve had it on silent ring.” He turned back to Marc. “She’s the FBI agent Ian’s been telling us about, isn’t she?”

“Yeah. And she’s really something, Jake. Wait until you talk to her.” Marc couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of Dana’s retreating backside. The way her jeans cupped that rounded bottom and the way she swung her hips when she walked were driving crazy images through his mind.

Jake slapped him on the back and brought his attention back to the moment. “It’s easy to see what you think of her. But you need to keep your mind on getting out of this mess with the cartel.”

Marc turned around to his cousin and narrowed his eyes. “What’s happening with the campaign?”

Jake shook his head. “We’re trying to keep it on track. Nicola has planned a final statewide campaign swing. We leave tomorrow for a couple of weeks’worth of whistle-stops throughout the state.”

“Dad’s still running ahead in the polls, isn’t he?”

“By a wide margin. We’ve been trying to convince him to use your arrest to make a statement about family and privacy. But he’s reluctant to bring it up with the press.”

Marc wasn’t entirely positive the word “reluctant” could ever be applied to his father. He’d always imagined that Abraham Danforth made use of every opportunity to discuss his viewpoints with the public. But before he could ask anything else, the terrace was suddenly bustling with activity.

Larissa came back outside with Peter. Uncle Harry and Aunt Miranda, followed by his father and Nicola, made their entrances through the patio doors. And Dana walked back up the path, stuffing the phone into her backpack. At the same moment, Florence stepped out of the kitchen door and told him that dinner was ready and they would be serving it outside shortly, if everyone could take their seats.

Marc introduced Dana to his assembled family members and to Nicola Granville, his father’s campaign aide. After a rather boisterous dinner, Aunt Miranda took Peter inside for his bath. Miranda was absolutely wild about her newly discovered grandson, and Marc had to agree that the kid was really something.

The rest of the adults stayed seated around the cleared dinner table, drinking coffee and talking about Marc’s predicament with the cartel.

His father had been rather silent throughout the dinner. But Marc was never entirely sure what his dad was thinking about things. The two of them hadn’t been exactly close over the years. Their relationship was more like a superior officer to a raw recruit. Marc supposed it was do to his father’s many years as a Navy SEAL.

“Marc,” his father began from the other end of the table. “Tell me what the FBI plans for you.”

“I think it would be better if Dana told us, Dad.”

Dana was sitting next to him and had been particularly quiet throughout the meal. Now she looked up at the assembled group and smiled.

“My superior, Special Agent in Charge Steve Simon, is completing plans for us. His goal, of course, is ultimately to capture Ernesto Escalante. While he formulates his overall plan, Marc and I are to try to find a way into the cartel to discover a direct link to Escalante. That means—”

“Excuse me, young lady.” Abraham Danforth interrupted Dana with his firm voice and commanding presence. “I’m glad the FBI wants to remove Escalante from the U.S. drug scene. And I know his capture would not only take the strain off my family but would be a great bonus for the FBI. What I want to know is what assistance my son, Marc, can expect from the FBI in return for his help.”

Dana looked only slightly taken aback by such a direct assault from a man who, in a few short months, would likely be sitting on the Senate committee that oversees the Treasury Department and the FBI.

“We will agree to turn over all of our unclassified findings to his attorney to help with his defense,” she replied.

Abraham slowly shook his head, frowning deeply at her. “Not good enough. I want total immunity for Marc. I want all the charges dropped…or none of the family will share any information with the FBI.”

“Dad…” Marc was stunned. What his father was asking was only fair, he supposed. But it might be much more than the FBI was willing to give. All Marc wanted was a chance to prove he was innocent.

Abraham ignored Marc’s interruption and continued to stare at Dana. “And…I want an absolute guarantee of his safety. Are you willing to personally make that guarantee?”

Dana surreptitiously straightened her spine and raised her chin to face Abraham Danforth square on. Marc thought she was the most spectacular woman he’d ever met.

“I can promise Marc…and his family…that I’ll protect his life with my own. However, his complete safety will be partially his own responsibility. He must do exactly as he is told, or the FBI cannot promise anything.” She stopped and took a breath. “As for total immunity…I will put your request through the proper channels.”

Abraham steepled his fingers in front of his face. “I expect that you will.” He turned to face Marc. “Are you willing to temporarily go along with the FBI’s plans without having their assurances on your ultimate deal?”

“Yes. I’m more than willing,” he truthfully told his father. “I have to do something, Dad. I can’t just sit around and let other people decide my fate.”

His father smiled at him—one of Abraham’s very rare smiles. It was so unusual to see the man with anything but a fierce expression on his face, that the whole table was speechless.

Everyone but Nicola. “Please tell us your immediate plans, Dana. We’ve been arranging a statewide campaign swing but perhaps we should stay in town to help Marc.”

Dana relaxed her shoulders. “I talked to my boss right before dinner, and he is still convinced that for the time being Marc and his family should go about their business as if nothing unusual has happened. SAC Simon thinks the cartel will be more likely to contact either Marc or Ian if they think things appear normal.

“Apparently Marc’s brother, Ian, is willing to have him pretend to come into work everyday,” she continued. “As long as I’m there to give him protection.”

Dana hesitated for a second in order to give everyone time to absorb that information. “We’ll be using some of the Danforth office space to set up our investigation. But…” She hesitated yet again. “The biggest problem with the scheme will be the tabloid reporters. I haven’t had a chance to speak to Marc about this, but he’s going to have to find a good excuse for why I’ll be with him at all times and…make it seem normal.”

“You could be his new administrative assistant,” Jake offered.

“No,” Larissa contradicted her husband. “That’s no good. They could be seen together anytime, twenty-four hours a day. The gossip would begin immediately.”

“Well, speaking from an image standpoint, your best defense is a good offense,” Nicola said softly. “Marc and Dana will have to appear to be lovers, about to be engaged, and so much in love they can’t leave each other’s side…even for the work day.

“I’ll schedule a press briefing for first thing in the morning,” Nicola offered. “The tabloids have been trying to find out what Abraham thinks of Marc’s arrest. A good way to deflect it will be if he begins by declaring his son’s innocence and then goes on to announce Marc’s engagement. That’ll change the focus for a while.”

Dana had been afraid someone was going to come up with that solution. There was no way she could ever pass as someone Marc would marry. She didn’t belong to the same social circle. Not even close.