Page 68 of Escalating Alpha

The president met Brian’s gaze. “Because he’s a father first. I am too, and I fully understand where his head is.” He looked at me. “Which iswhyI’m here. I want a better future for all ourkids. The country is in trouble and focused on the wrong damn things. And yes, I promise.”

So did one of the agents… Who I recognized. He’d been to Chicago before with a president. He started handing over his weapons and gear to the other guy. That shocked them, but he simply shrugged and said he trusted me more than others in the Secret Service.

Nice.

“How much time can you actually give to this?” I asked him.

“Today. I have to be visible back in DC tomorrow,” he answered honestly.

“Fine, I’ll take it, and you’ll get a real education about us which you sorely need, but I want two more sneaky dayssoonto really learn. Your hate is based in fear.”

“I don’t hate supes,” he corrected.

Brian snorted. “You have supported policies and proposals birthed in hate.”

That was more than fair to say. He was smart enough to not deny it.

“I’m warning his nanny and security,” I told them as I pulled out my phone. I also said to stash Deanna in my apartment if she was there. I was relieved when Maya texted back that she was in the other guest apartment for now resting since they didn’t want to introduce her to Topher without me around.

Perfect. I really loved that woman to bits.

“Good choice on the system,” the agent said as we took the elevator up. “You get this from Noah Drake? I bet he had a field day tricking all of everything out.”

“You sound like you know him,” Brian hedged.

“He trained with us when I was in special forces. Good guy. Really cared most about getting everyone out alive when a lot of the instructors and experts they brought in tried to make us accept losses we shouldn’t have.”

“That’s Noah,” I said, Hagan and Brian saying something similar. It really was. He knew reality, but he would fight for every life and never let them be wasted.

It was something I loved about him.

We had a welcoming party in the hallway and they were all frowning.

“I’m a princess to fae, and they are very protective of our alliance and the progress we’ve made joining together to save people,” I explained. “Plus, Topher’s just the cutest bugger ever.” I looked at the guards. “I don’t think you can pat down the president, but we watched the agent take off his weapons.”

“He still has a knife on his ankle, Princess,” one of the guards bit out.

“Accident,” the agent quickly said. “Truly an accident. I don’t normally wear it.” He kept his hands up and turned to Brian. “Can you please get it, Chief?”

Everyone chilled with that and the president even let himself be patted down. That surprised us, but he muttered that he would want the same with strangers around his kids.

“He is too full of aggression and upset,” Maya said as she practically stared into his soul she was so focused. “I beg you not allow his energy touch the baby.”

I nodded. “She’s been a nanny for hundreds of years. When I realized I was in over my head, we called in the best. That’s better than most parents who are too stubborn or get offended when people try to help them.” I was glad when they seemed to accept that.

Maya was still nervous though.

“A lot of people don’t like supes raising a human. They didn’t—it was different when Brian was human and his father.”

“Oh yes, well, much better to be left with your family who aremonstersinstead of us non-humans. Of course, we’re the ones without the correct priorities.”

Hagan snorted and we went inside.

“Mama!” Topher screeched, saying it again and again as he waved his arms and flailed about from the stroller that they’d put him in for the moment. He got even more excited when he saw Brian and Hagan with me, ignoring the other two.

I rushed over to him and knelt down. “Hey, baby boy. I missed you too.” I already had my ring off and cooed at him while sending him images to not be special and that we didn’t trust these people.

He accepted that, but he really didn’t care. He’d really missed me.

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