Page 49 of Power Play

The determination in his voice, in the stern look on his face, urges me to listen. Digging my elbows into the duvet, I lean forward and knock his bicep with my shoulder. “Okay, Yoda. How do you propose I fight this when I have zero leverage?”

My heart thunders against my chest as one corner of his lip tugs up. “I have a few ideas.”

Excitement and unease swirl in my belly like a group of butterflies all taking flight at the same time.

Maybe I am as crazy as people think I am, because I’m smiling right back.

Chapter Fifteen

Randi

Rivers of rain stream down the town car’s window, the stoplight above highlighting their path with a bright red backdrop. Elbow on the armrest of the door, I sigh, a patch of condensation appearing atop the dark glass from my breath.

New York City. I would be excited if it weren’t for the crazy nerves hijacking my emotions.

A warm palm slides over my bare knee. I shift my observing eyes from the passing umbrellas lining the sidewalks to the contact.

Fine lines, some from age and some from injuries leaving faint white scars, mar Trey’s tan hand. A simple swipe of his thumb along the inside of my knee sends a chill racing through my veins, having nothing to do with the cool temperature inside the car. I swallow back the building unease, my gaze shifting from his hand to the man himself.

“We'll be with you every step of the way,” Trey says, his tone low, soothing. “If you want to cancel—”

I give him an adamant shake of my head. Peering through the darkness, I meet his concerned brown eyes. “No, I have to do this. You know I do. This is my chance to gain leverage on those assholes. It's a great plan.”

“Some might even call it brilliant.”

A snort tickles my nose. The expensive fabric of my cocktail dress slides along the soft leather of the seat as I adjust, angling my knees toward Trey, who sits inches away in the other passenger seat. “I'll call it brilliant if it works.”

All humor leaves his face. His eyes shift, and I track the path of his gaze to where his hand still rests on my knee, that sneaky thumb still swiping along my bare skin.

He pulls his hand away, the heat that was building between my thighs following suit.

He clears his throat. “Sorry.”

I bite the tip of my tongue to keep myself from begging him to move it back. His touch, the soft yet powerful way his skin feels against mine, is more than welcomed. Not sure what that means, but for the first time in my life, I want a comforting caress from someone besides Taeler. His comforting yet possessive hands holding me close.

In the back seat of the sleek black town car, I meet his intense stare as the passing streetlights filter in and out through the windows. It's only been a few days since we met, but there's something building between us. Something deeper than I've experienced even with people I've known for years. He sees me, the real me. And I see bits of the real Trey Benson. I see the slivers he doesn’t intentionally show. The soft touches, considerate actions, and supportive words.

And I want more.

Want it all.

“Almost there,” T says from the driver seat. I reluctantly pull my gaze from Trey’s to glance out the windshield. The wipers swipe back and forth in slow repetitive arcs. “I still don't like it.”

I bite back a smile. Of course the cautious and careful Terminator doesn't like this crazy plan. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan either, but it's the perfect scenario to kill three birds with one stone. If it works.

No, it will work.

My chest pitches forward as we slide to a stop in front of a dazzling hotel. The brilliant blue lights cast a strange hue over T and Gremlin.

I inhale deep, filling my lungs with the determination and strength to get through this night and finally,finallyhave the upper hand in life. The leather groans beneath my backside as I rotate toward the door, waiting for the approaching bellhop to pull it open.

“Randi?” I turn my chin, glancing over my shoulder to T. “If you feel this won’t work, or if you're scared or… anything, get out. Give the code word and it's done whether we have the information we need or not. Got it?”

My dark hair slides forward across my shoulder at my tight nod.

“What's the code word again?” he demands.

“Pumpkin spice latte,” I say with a grin. That was T's addition to the plan. I wanted 'sparkle the unicorn' as the code word, but neither him nor Trey thought I could find a way to work it into a normal sentence. Just proves they don't know me as well as they think they do.

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