Sam grumbles something of discontent as Trey tightens the hand still at my back into a fist. Todd just tucks his chin to his chest, avoiding the confrontation altogether. I open my mouth, readying to tell him to fuck off and starting to believe my failing health is his doing, when a familiar face catches my attention.
My jaw drops, the pain in my head forgotten, overtaken by pure disbelief.
I tilt my head one way and then the other, my hair shifting from side to side as I try different angles. Confusion sets in as those innocent blue eyes continue to stare right back into mine from across the room.
“Taeler?”
14
Trey
Whether from the headache or the startling bombshell of seeing her only daughter here surrounded by her enemies, Randi’s first step toward the giddy Taeler falters, almost taking her to the floor.
Sam forces his hand between mine and her back, taking over the role of supporting boyfriend. The role I should be playing, not him. Anger hardens my resolve to get his hands off her, completely forgetting our surroundings. Nothing else matters, just removing that hairy fucking hand pressing against the small of her delicate back, way too close to the curve of her ass.
“Secure the room,” T says loudly beside me, almost like he’s yelling directly in my ear. Who knows, maybe he can see the murderous glint in my eyes as I plot Sam’s demise. “Playboy.” I don't break my focus from the two moving across the room with Todd and Birmingham close on their heels. “Do not let them get too close. Stay glued to her fucking side. Watch what she eats, what she drinks. Hell, watch the air she breathes.”
I nod, already moving forward.
“Mom,” Taeler exclaims, clapping her hands together, having no idea the egregious amount of stress she’s added by being here in the grasps of those who want her mother to fail. “You're finally here. I was beginning to wonder when you'd show up. Who's this?” Her light brows furrow at their joined hands, confusion written over her tiny features, which are nearly identical to her mother’s. Tilting her chin up, she searches the room. Her gaze slides over me only to halt and zero in. “Hey, Trouble.”
“What are you doing here, Taeler?” Fear, pain, and anger bleed through Randi's quivering voice. She rubs a hand down her daughter’s arm in long, comforting strokes.
Once again, confusion takes over Taeler's innocent face.
Fuck, she doesn't need to be anywhere near here.
I stiffen as movement behind Taeler catches my attention.
Gremlin.
A portion of the nearly debilitating tension lessens from my shoulders. At least her protection team is here and has her security covered.
“He said you'd be surprised.”
Randi's mouth opens and shuts twice before she shakes her head and shoots a death glare at Kyle, who simply smiles wider—well, as wide as his plastic face will allow him nowadays—and folds his arms across his chest
“I thought you’d like getting to spend the holiday with your beautiful daughter, Randi. It’s a shame this is the first time we’re all getting to meet her. Isn’t that right, Shawn?”
On cue, Whit materializes next to Birmingham, sporting a creepy, sinister tight-lipped smile.
Without responding, Randi grips Taeler's wrist, pulling her close as she steps between her daughter and the two men. Not liking the small distance between Randi and Birmingham, I step closer, bumping the fool, Todd, slightly out of the way to place me within arm’s length of the two women.
One of the guys chirps through the earbud hidden inside my right ear. “Hallway to your right, Benson. Second door on your left.”
Forgoing any niceties, I shoulder past Kyle, making him knock into Shawn. Both men grumble their displeasure, not that I care.
“This way,” I say under my breath as I spread both arms wide, herding Randi and Taeler toward the hallway indicated by my teammate. At the second door on the left, I pause, turn the knob, and step inside for a quick sweep. Walsh nods as we enter, immediately leaving once the two women are secure inside with me as the sole agent in the room.
The door clicks closed. Turning on my heel, I scan each corner of the formal entertaining room for video surveillance and listening devices.
“What are you doing here?” The fear in Randi's voice slices into my heart. I wince like her pain is my own. “What the actual fuck are you doing here, Taeler?”
“Don't yell at me,” Taeler shouts back. “It was supposed to be a fun surprise since I haven't seen you in months, Mom. Months.” Her young voice trembles. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch her wrap both arms around her waist in a defensive move.
Not that Randi notices. Oh no, she's too busy scowling at her daughter to realize she's being insensitive to the situation. No doubt her normal sensors to Taeler's emotions have been overwhelmed by the fear for her only daughter.
“Randi,” I mutter and nod to Taeler, widening my eyes.
“Stay out of this, Trouble,” she snaps. Gripping her head, she pushes both palms against either side. “Can someone get me an Excedrin?”
“On it,” I respond and mutter her request into the sleeve of my jacket.
“Okay, let me ask this a different way. Who said it would be a surprise? Who invited you here?” Randi asks, just as tense as before but with less of the fury.
“President Birmingham.”
“What! Taeler, I've told you what a twatwaffle he is!” Raising her hands in the air, Randi then drops both to the top of her head and takes a deep breath. “How did he even reach out to you to extend the invite?”
With an exaggerated groan, Taeler falls into one of the ten stiff leather armchairs scattered around the room. “Someone stopped by the dorm to tell me.”
“What?” Randi and I both shout.
Taeler rolls her eyes, a move I’ve seen time and time again from her mother. “It was fine. Chad and the guys checked out his story and credentials. They even called someone to verify everything was legit. He was some kind of aide for the president, I guess. Anyways,” she draws out the last syllable like the child she is, “the guy said the president wanted to surprise you. Said you've been working too hard lately and having me up here for Thanksgiving would ease some of your worry. And he’s not as bad as you’ve made him out to be, Mom. He’s been great since I arrived, even planned out the whole trip for me and the guys.”
“What was his name?” I demand, moving amongst the chairs until I'm hovering over the one she's sunk down into.
Taeler shrugs, another of her mom’s favorite moves.
“Fine. What did he look like, Taeler?” I try and fail to keep the frustration from my tone.
“I don't remember. Ask Chad.”
“Who?” Randi snarls. “Who is this person you keep talking about?”
“Grem. Damn, Mom.”
“Why did you say yes, Taeler? Ever heard the term ‘stranger danger,’ or did I totally fuck up that part of my parental responsibilities in teaching you not to talk to strange men? Especially ones who invite you to cabins in the woods. Have you ever seen a horror movie? The blondes die first.”
Taeler flicks an annoyed look my way. “Still dramatic as ever, I see.” I’d laugh if the situation weren’t what it is. “And I said yes because I wanted to see you, and Mom, it’s fucking—”
“Don’t fucking cuss, damnit.”
Taeler’s eyes roll to the ceiling. This time I can’t stop my smile at the familiar move. “Anyway, it’s Camp David. I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity. Plus, Chad checked the guy out. So here I am with you yelling at me for trying to do something nice for you.”
“Taeler.” Randi groans. “You have no idea what you’ve stepped into.” Massaging her temples, she sways a little on her feet, catching herself before she topples over.
For the first time since we arrived, Taeler seems to take in her mom. Really see her. The annoyance drains from her features, leaving her blue eyes tight with worry. “You okay, Mom?”
Over the earpiece, som
eone states they’re coming in just as a light knock sounds, halting Randi from responding. Champ strides in, scanning the room as he moves toward Randi.
With a smile of relief, she takes the pill from his outstretched hand and the glass of water from the other. She wastes no time downing the medicine and the entire contents of the full pint glass.
“Are you sick?” The leather groans as Taeler pushes to a standing position. Her steps are hesitant as she closes the distance between her and her mother. “You look terrible, Mom.”
“Thanks,” Randi rasps. “I love that I get to see you, Tae. I really am so, so happy to see you.” With that, she reaches out and pulls Taeler in for a tight hug. Through her daughter’s blonde hair, Randi's focus falls on me, and she mouths, “Sorry.”
“You smell funny,” I hear Taeler say into her mom’s hair.
Randi chuckles, the laugh sounding forced. “So I look like crap and I smell. Thanks, Taeler. So glad you could come. Now it's time for you to go back to Austin.”
“I'm not leaving.” Hands on her mom's shoulders, she pulls back at arm’s length. “Something's going on with you that I need to know about, and I miss you. So there are two great reasons for me to stay through the weekend as planned.”
“The weekend?” Randi and I both say at the same time. We share a concerned glance.
Randi shakes her head. “These people are terrible human beings, Tae. I don't want you anywhere near them. Hell, Texas might not be far enough away from their games. It's why I've never invited you to visit me in DC. You’re my main priority. I need you safe. And now you're here, brought here by my manipulative asshat of a boss, and I’m pretty sure he did it to use it against me in some way.”
Realization of the situation seems to settle over Taeler. Swiping the hair behind her ear over and over, almost like a nervous twitch, she shifts on her feet. “How would he be able to do that?”
“To prove that he can get to you without her, or us, knowing.” The two women turn to face me, worry etched across both their faces almost identically. “He wants to prove he can hurt Randi without laying a hand directly on her. He's tried twice—” Randi slicing her hand across her throat freezes the next words in my throat. “He's a brilliant motherfucker, I'll give him that.”
“I need to get back out there and schmooze those jackasses. I can’t let them know how much their plan affected me.” Randi groans, her concerned gaze flipping between me and Taeler. “Trey, would you stay with her?”
“I don't need a fucking babysitter.”
“Watch your fucking language, Tae.” With an eye roll that makes my head hurt, she turns back to me. “Please. I need to know someone is with her at all times.”
“She has her own team, Randi. You need someone with you at all times too.” Lifting the cuff of my sleeve to my lips, I order Grem into the room. After several tense moments, the heavy wooden door swings open, allowing Grem to march through. Neither Randi nor I miss the way Taeler's face lights up when she sees him.
I hide my knowing smirk behind the fist at my mouth covering a fake cough.
“We need at least two men with Taeler at all times while she's here,” I order. Grem responds with a firm nod, lifting his own sleeve to his lips.
“And keep that asshole Shawn and cuntcake Kyle away from my daughter,” Randi adds. “If they so much as get within five feet of her, I want you to pick her up and physically remove her from the room. Hell, from the damn state.”
“Understood.”
Something irks in the back of my mind as I take in our old team member. It hasn't been that long since he volunteered to stay in Austin and lead Taeler's security team, so this awkwardness shouldn’t be between us, or him and Randi. There's no lightness in his presence like there used to be. His back is ramrod straight, and not once has he looked at Taeler or Randi since he entered the room.
An uncomfortable silence settles around the room, inching up my awareness to the fact that something is off with him. Sliding my phone from the pocket of my slacks, I type out a quick text to Tank before slipping it back inside.
“Okay, well, I have to go out there and play nice,” Randi says, drawing out each word while she regards Taeler and Grem.
“I'm right behind you.”
Randi pulls Taeler close, whispering something that makes the girl groan. At the door, I motion for her to step through first, conscious of the other agent stationed on the other side. Halfway back down the hallway, the sounds of the gathered politicians and spouses reaching my ears, Randi slows her steps.
“I think you're right about Kyle, about why he brought Taeler here. And if that's the case, he's crossed a line. He and Shawn and all the other pompous pricks in DC can mess with me all they want, but do not mess with my daughter.” A blazing fire flares behind her eyes. “Those two will regret the day they forced my hand.”
Something resembling pride swells in my chest at the conviction in her words. A bit mixed with fear for the havoc she’s about to rain down, yes, but pride nonetheless. Last time she had this conviction, she was recovering in that hospital bed, and it was about how they’ve treated her and pushed her around. Now that they've fucked up and messed with her daughter, a new type of resolve has chimed through her tone. This time, without a doubt in my mind, she will find a way to make those two pay.
And honestly, I can’t fucking wait to see it. Yes, it’ll put her life in more danger, and that alone nearly scares me enough to ask her to pull back, but she's changing, and I don’t want to stop the woman who’s evolving right before my eyes. She's tougher than she was even a couple months ago. She's always been resilient, but now she's… edgy. Sharp as a knife and becoming deadly in her own right.
Which—and this might make me a demented freak—is sexy as hell.
Not that I needed another reason to be turned on by her at every turn. At this rate, my perpetual boner might be the reason for my death. Blood loss due to it all being funneled to my dick is a thing, right?
* * *
An exhausted groan rattles in the back of my throat as I sink down into the ugly-ass green armchair across from Tank. Beer in hand, I put it to my lips as I lean back, desperate to get comfortable as quickly as possible. I'm past exhausted. We all are. Even Tank, whose eyes are peacefully closed, hands folded neatly in front of him. But my best friend isn’t fooling me. He’s awake and alert to everything going on around him, even if he appears asleep.
With a mischievous smirk, I reach behind me, gripping the coarse pillow stuffed between the couch cushions and my back. With a hard tug, I pull it loose and launch it across the coffee table straight at my friend’s face. It whirls through the air, its trajectory exactly where I aimed.
Half a second before the stuffed square can whack into his relaxed face, he snatches it midair. He tosses it a few times, like he’s judging the weight, before launching it back across the room with twice as much force behind it.
“Hey,” I complain while dodging the projectile meant to decapitate me. “Mine was thrown with love.”
Tank huffs out a laugh, his chest rising and falling with a deep inhale. “Little shit.” Reaching back, I snatch the pillow off the floor and secure it behind my lower back once again. “Sarah and I don't need kids. We have you.”
My laugh reverberates inside the longneck bottle at my lips. After a long pull, I rest the glass bottom on top of my knee, spinning it as I focus on the sweating brown bottle.
“We didn't talk about my text earlier,” I mutter under my breath so no one else in the house can hear.
A loud sound comes from the direction of the kitchen, the guys’ laughter filling the small living room. I have to hand it to whoever planned this portion of Camp David. Having a separate house for the off-duty agents was brilliant and very much needed. Here we get to relax and let loose a little from the stress of the day while the other team works their protection shift. The few hallways are lined with rooms filled with the basics: single bed, nightstand, gun safes, and a few hangers in
the closet for our suits. It's no Ritz, but it's perfect for working getaways.
The only thing this place is missing is a hot tub to ease my aching muscles and seep the stress from my neck and shoulders.
Tank peeks one lid open. “We didn't.”
“Just saying it was off. Not sure what that means, but just… off.”
He runs a palm across the thick scruff that's sprouted along his cheek since this morning. “Could it be the girl? That relationship?”
I roll the empty bottle between my hands, my gaze unfocused as I replay every movement, every word from earlier.
“No, I don't think so.”
“You'd know what to look for, I guess.”
I nod, smirking. “Sure would. I, out of anyone, would know the signs. No, it was something else. He wouldn't even look at Randi. Hell, he barely glanced at me.” I hush my tone and lean forward. Tank mimics the movement, resting his elbows on his tree trunk like thighs. “Before he left, we were solid, joking around with her, so he knows she's not someone we have to be on guard around. I don't know, Tank. I don't like it.”
For several seconds, he just stares at the coffee table, foot restlessly bouncing against the carpet. “He was there when you beat the hell out of that piece of shit in Boone.”
I nod.
“But he's not on Randi's security team anymore.” He shakes his head like he's trying to clear the fog. “Why would he offer up going to Austin if he was your mom's informant?”
That's the part I can't figure out either. I've racked my brain since the strange encounter earlier today and still none of the pieces fit together.
“Unless that wasn’t part of the original plan and he did it in spite of being my mother’s eyes and ears on the team. But that wouldn’t explain how Randi’s comings and goings with Sam early on were reported back to Kyle. None of this makes sense.”
Power Switch: Power Play Series Book 3 Page 15