Bridal Armor by Debra Webb

approached his table. During his days as Thomas’s deputy director of Mission Recovery, he’d served as her contact when she’d been assigned to protect Noah Drake, the man who’d not only married her, but eventually joined her as a Specialist.
    The rest of the guests were divided between dancing, a card game and simply relaxing in good company.
    “Good evening, Lucas. Can I have a minute?”
    “Of course.” He glanced across the table, making sure Victoria was distracted with her own conversation.
    “There was an explosion in a long-term parking lot at the Denver airport a couple of hours ago,” Blue said quietly. “It was on a breaking news update while I was in the lobby downstairs.”
    “As the storm was rolling in?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Director Casey’s flight landed safely. He called me.”
    “I’m glad to hear that,” she said, visibly relieved. “He wouldn’t have a car in long-term parking.”
    “No. I don’t even think he intended to pick up his rental until tomorrow morning. He wasn’t planning to drive in the storm.” No matter that he knew this information, Lucas’s instincts went on point.
    “The authorities haven’t released any names or picked up any suspects,” Noah added.
    Lucas was already mentally sifting through his contacts, wondering who he could call about video surveillance at the lot. He pulled out his cell phone, only to realize there was no signal. “Keep an eye on the news. If you hear anything that you think ties to Director Casey, let me know.” They both nodded and Lucas turned the conversation in a lighter direction.
    If Thomas had been in trouble when they spoke Lucas would have picked up on it. Had something gone wrong after their call ended?
    A waiter moved to his side. “Mr. Camp, I’m sorry to disturb you, sir, but there’s a message for you at the front desk.”
    Lucas excused himself and rose from the table. Moving slower than he would like and leaning heavily on his cane, he made his way out of the great room and to the lobby. His wife caught up with him just as he pushed the elevator call button.
    “Is there a problem, Lucas?”
    He shook his head. “Just a message waiting downstairs. Want to join me?”
    “Always.”
    There were less than a handful of times he’d kept anything from her and he didn’t see any need to add to that short list now. The elevator arrived and as the doors closed, he drew her into his arms. “Having a good time?”
    “It’s wonderful. Cecelia and Casey have outdone themselves with this one. Whoever in our growing family gets married next will have a tough time topping this.”
    “I worried the weather would upset her, but my goddaughter seems to find it romantic.”
    “Everything here is romantic,” Victoria agreed. “As long as Thomas gets here safely for tomorrow’s rehearsal it should stay that way.”
    Lucas smiled as the elevator chimed their arrival at the lobby level. “Nothing will keep him away. Has Casey expressed any concern?”
    “Not yet.”
    He hoped the bride-to-be still felt the same way tomorrow because Lucas had a bad, bad feeling that something was very wrong.
    “Mr. and Mrs. Camp,” the woman behind the desk greeted them. “How are the festivities?”
    “Absolutely marvelous,” Victoria raved.
    “That’s what we like to hear.” The clerk handed Lucas a folded note. “My apologies for the interruption, but we were told this needed to be delivered immediately, rather than placed in your mailbox.”
    Lucas accepted the note, thanked the woman and stepped aside to read it. Victoria waited patiently, but he felt her gaze on him, watching for his reaction. He read it repeatedly; it was only one brief line, but he wasn’t quite sure what to make of the strange message. He only knew it meant trouble was hovering at the edges of the wedding, ready to strike.
    He had suspected as much.
    “Is it Thomas?” Victoria’s hand on his arm accompanied her whisper.
    “No, no. Thomas is fine.” He