Page 50 of Power Twist

“Try to win you back. Make this, us, work.”

My lips pop open, each breath shallow and quick as I try to come up with an answer. I run my tongue across my lower lip, stalling.

“Just think about it. Bye, Rand.”

The door shuts behind him, leaving me alone in the office. At first it’s just a tickle, then a quiet giggle. Soon tears are rolling down my cheeks and my arms are crossed over my flexing stomach as I laugh harder than I have in ages.

Let this day go down in the history books as the day Randi Sawyer finally lost her ever-loving shit.

* * *

The clammy skinof my palms sticks as I rub them together, attempting to bring some heat back into my chilled fingers. It’s a beautiful night here in Austin but the nerves flowing through my system have left me chilled to the bone which is why I asked T to turn the heat on while we wait in the Suburban outside Taeler's dorms.

“You sure they'll be okay?” I ask for the third time since we parked our convoy ten minutes ago. “I don’t trust these guys at all. They let her get out once; who knows who can get in? I get I can’t fire them right now or that would leave her completely unprotected, but maybe you should go up too, T. You know to check on things, and it’s been a while. What are they doing up there anyway?”

“They're fine, promise.” For emphasis, he taps his ear. “I can hear what's going on, remember?”

Nibbling on my pinkie nail, I turn to look out the dark window once again, waiting for the rest of our team to emerge and let me know Taeler’s room is clear. I didn’t trust those other fools enough to do it alone.

Comfortable quiet falls, allowing me to retreat into my own mind and zone out completely until Trey shatters the calm with a statement I wasn’t expecting.

“I heard him when he left.”

Well, hell. I was so wrapped up in my own mess that I didn't even think about Trey and what he thought of it all. Not that it matters, but it kind of does. This is why I shouldn't get involved with him; it makes everything more complicated than it already is. Today was terrible, but adding in the terror of watching Trey confront the Russians alone, plus having to manage his emotions in response to Ben's presence, I can see why T thought our relationship was a bad idea.

“Can we talk about it later?” I ask. “I don't have the energy for that conversation right now.”

“Fine.”

My stomach drops at the annoyance in his voice, but movement down the sidewalk distracts me. T and Trey file out of the SUV, the latter slamming the door a little harder than necessary. Leaning back against the soft black leather, I roll my head against the headrest to watch the group of men deep in discussion. Their figures blur as my eyelids grow heavier with each blink.

A sharp blast of cool spring air snaps me from the light sleep I slid into. Peeling my eyes open, I blink back the dryness and rub at the corners.

“We have a problem,” Grem says, leaning against the door to keep it propped open. T and Trey circle around him, blocking anyone from seeing inside the SUV.

Of course we do, because this wouldn't be my mess of a life if we didn't.

Chapter Thirteen

Randi

I'm going to kill him. Punch him in the nuts, cut off his dick, and carve out his heart with a rusty spoon. I had the whole flight back from Austin and the morning to plan his slow death, and I intend to act on it as soon as the bastard gets out of his damn meeting.

Why would he do this?

Is it connected to the person who was following Tae who the random Russian said they took care of?

Why was there a random Russian eveninAustin watching Taeler?

Pacing up and down the hall in front of the Oval Office I clench and unclench my fists as the unanswered questions keep coming. One of Kyle’s secret service agents eyes me as I furiously stomp, my black heels nearly piercing through the ornate carpet. Whirling around for the hundredth time, my loose dark hair swirling in a circle around me, I march back to the office door and raise my hand to knock, but a quick hand juts out, wrapping around my wrist.

“No,” the agent snarls. “I told you that ten minutes ago when you tried the same thing.”

“Let her go, Kent,” Trey says behind me, his voice deep and menacing.

Reluctantly, the warm palm slides from my wrist. My knuckles arch back, readying to knock, when movement on the other side causes me to pause and take a step back just before it swings open. Four men file out of the Oval Office, three whom I don't recognize and one who I most certainly do.

“Trailer,” Shawn says with his Joker-like smile plastered across his plastic face. “How was Austin?Soundedlike it was an interesting trip.”

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