Power Play: Power Play Series Book 1
Page 20
“Was that a poor imitation of Nixon?”
I groan and throw my hands into the air in exasperation. “What the hell is wrong with me? I give the best speech of my life and then go do that shit.”
“That was pretty bad, Mess.” Trey chuckles, his signature smirk pulling at his lips. “Other than that though, I'd say you nailed it. Great job.”
Our heavy footsteps echo through the otherwise silent lobby. Trey and T step into the elevator with me, the other guys staying down to secure the area.
“So now what?” I ask, flicking my gaze from Trey's reflection to T's.
T drapes a heavy arm across my shoulders. “Now we wait.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Trey
November 8th
She paces from one side of the condo to the other, rich brownie colored hair floating in her wake. Fingers steepled beneath my chin, I track each of her movements while monitoring the TV plus the two computer screens set up along the coffee table.
Election Day.
“I’m going to puke,” Randi says for the tenth time in the last hour. “Can someone ask that doctor lady to prescribe me some Xanax?”
Tank chuckles from the nest he set up hours ago. Candy wrappers litter the floor around the chair. He's a nervous eater, what can I say? “Come on now, Randi. We have hours left of this. Sit down, relax.”
“Relax?” she screeches. I cringe at the sharp sound cutting into my eardrums. “I think I'm having a heart attack. What are the signs again?”
“Do not WebMD it,” I say over the TV. “You're fine, Mess. I agree with Tank, sit your ass down.”
“You two are the worst friends ever. I'll go die alone in my bedroom so I don't interrupt whatever you're doing which makes you too busy to be concerned about my failing health.”
Wow. I roll my eyes to the ceiling. Sure as hell hope Randi’s daughter didn't get her dramatics.
The bedroom door slams shut. Tank looks to the closed door, then back at me.
“Give her some time. She's fine,” I mutter. “When do we need to leave for that watch party she has to attend?”
“Few hours from now. It'd be nice if we knew before we left. Not sure the partygoers are ready for that.” He jerks a thumb over his shoulder toward the bedroom. “She's living up to the name you gave her.”
I smirk and turn back to the screens. As the California numbers scroll across the bottom, the hairs on the back of my neck stand, a tingling feeling of being watched itching up my spine. Peeling my gaze from the screen, I meet Tank’s dark eyes.
“Creeper. What?”
“How's that going?” He tilts his head back. “Ending it with her.”
“Motherfucking terrible,” I grit out. “I don't blame you though, if that's what you’re worried about.”
“I'm not. I’m worried about my friend, actually.” Aw, big guy has a big heart. “I know how hard the shit with Rachel affected you. That's why I didn't stop you two, the flirting. For the first time in a year, you were acting normal. Don't let this drag you back down.”
I sigh, lean back against the couch, and scrub a hand over my face. He's right about the gloom cloud that hung over my head after Rachel left me for Shawn. Even more right about Randi being the one to snap me out of it.
“I won't,” I say after a beat.
“Don't let it distract you either.”
“I know.”
“Do not give me a reason to fire your ass, Trey.” I whip my head to the right. “You know I'd have to if you break the rules, even if you are my best friend. Don't put me in that situation, got it?”
My chin dips in a minuscule nod.
I have to be strong and keep my hands off her if she wins. No, when she wins. I can't risk the entire team's job, her safety, and my relationship with my best friend. Even if staying away from her hurts like a motherfucking kick to the balls with a steel toe.
Part of me hopes they don't win; that way, I won't have to be around the one woman I want but can't have day after day. I'm already dreading the torture those four years will turn into.
But the other part wants her to win. To smear her success in the faces of all those fuckers who doubted her, who made fun of her as a kid. Hearing the long, detailed version of her childhood that day ripped my heart out of my chest, her tears shattering my one resolve to never kill for pleasure.
“I’ll be fine.”
No more untrue words were ever spoken.
* * *
Boisterous cheers pour out of the ballroom into the hallway where Tank and I stand stationed at the door. I catch his eye and smile.
“That's a good sign,” I mutter, going back to scanning the long, empty halls for perceived threats.
“I've never wanted to know the outcome of an election more,” he says with an annoyed huff. “Fucking killing me.”
“Easy, big guy. We'll know soon enough.”
Almost on cue, the doors fling open, a teary Randi marching through.
“We did it,” she breathes, clapping her hands in front of her chest with a hop of pure joy. “We won.” Midhop, she turns to Tank. “We won!”
“Congratulations, ma'am.” True happiness warms his tone, tugging his lips in an almost smile. “Looking forward to the next four years.”
“Me too, T. Me too.” She turns back to face me, and her smile falters. My brows rise up my forehead. “Can I talk to you, in private?” She shoots a worried glance over her shoulder to the now-frowning Tank.
“Fine,” he says like a parent would to a needy child. “Make it quick; I can't make excuses for too long. The bathrooms are down that way. At least make it look like he's escorting you somewhere other than a dark corner.”
Red flush spreads across her freckled cheeks. Ever since the press conference, she's dialed it back on the makeup and big hair, showing off more of her natural beauty.
I swing a hand out and bend at the waist in an exaggerated bow.
“Madam Vice President,” I say with a smile.
Her lips spread wide. We walk side by side down the silent hall. “Wow, this is really happening,” she says halfway to the bathroom sign. “Can you believe it?” Her shining eyes meet mine.
“I can. You deserve it, Mess. You and the people in this country deserve it. Someone like you has been a long time coming.” I give my head a quick shake. “I can't wait to see what you do to this town. It might never be the same.”
She snorts. “I sure the hell hope not. Now the real work starts, I guess.” We pause outside the women’s restroom. Her gaze flicks one way down the hall and then the other. “We haven't gotten a chance to talk… you know, about us and what's next.”
The vulnerability in her voice shakes my soul, rattling the promise I made to Tank about staying away.
“That was then. You're the vice president elect of the United States of America. Things are different now. You're different.”
Tears well in the corners of her eyes. Glancing up and down the hall, I grip her hand and tug her into a side door that leads to a large empty ballroom.
“Don't do that,” I beg, my lips brushing against hers. “You're ripping me in two.”
“I don't want it to end.” Her voice catches. “Why can't we just keep sneaking around?”
“You deserve better than that, Mess. You know you do. And I need this solid line between us, both of us knowing that piece of us is tabled. Not over, just on hold.” I tug her close, sealing her chest against my own. Lips in her hair, I kiss the top of her head. “Don't ask me to choose between you and this job, between you and Tank.”
“I'm not. I swear I'm not. I'm just not ready for it to end. It’s just started.”
“I know, but it’s not really over. I don't know if we ever could be.”
Her shoulder shake, and I hold her tighter.
“Now what?” Lip trembling, eyes wet, she tilts her face up, eyes meeting mine.
The wet skin of her cheeks slides beneath my thumbs as I swipe away her tears. “Now… now
we wait.”
“And run a country,” she says, struggling to smile.
“That's right. We wait and run the country.”
“Together? You'll be there to help me? Tell me when I'm being an idiot and which fork to use?”
Leaning down, I press my lips against her forehead.
“Together, Mess. I'm not going anywhere without you.” Pulling back, I interlace my fingers through hers and give them a gentle tug. “Come on, let's do this.”
Swiping both cheeks with the back of her free hand, she rolls her shoulders and nods.
“Let's do this.”
Trey and Randi’s story continues in Power Twist – Book 2 in the Power Play series.
Coming February 2020!
Also by Kennedy L. Mitchell
Standalone:
Falling for the Chance
A Covert Affair
Finding Fate
Memories of Us
Mine to Protect
Series:
More Than a Threat:
More Than a Threat
More Than a Risk
More Than a Hope (Coming late 2020)
Power Play:
Power Play Book 1
Power Twist Book 2
Power Switch Book 3
Power Surge Book 4
Power Term Book 5
Acknowledgments
There are so many people who made this series possible. First and foremost my two best friends, my tribe, my cheerleaders and alpha readers - Em and Chris, Thank you. You two are, AGH, there are no words for to thank you both enough for all that you do. From the encouraging texts to the slight realignment of the story to keeping my crass ass from being, well, too crass. I wouldn’t be doing this without you. You two are the reason I write and still continue loving this crazy adventure.
Thank you to Hot Tree Editing - especially Kristin my amazing editor. Working with you is a DREAM. Thank you for all that you do to make my manuscripts shine.
Of course the bloggers who read the super duper advanced copies of PP and all those who read it now. This book would be no where without you. What you bring to the indie publishing community is priceless. Thank you for everything you do from reading, writing detailed reviews, and posting the billion teasers. So much of my success is directly linked to you.
Emilie at InkSlinger, thank you for helping me plan out the release schedule! It was so daunting until I worked side by side with you to plan out these five books. Thank you.
And of course Book Nerd Services, who hands down have helped change the course of my career. Thank you for all your hard work and countless PM’s. You two are rockstars in my book.
And last but not least, to you the reader. Thank you for taking a chance on a no name author. Every time I see a page read or a book sale my heart thumps with happiness. I love sharing my stories with you and hope you love my crazy friends too.