Page 64 of Power Twist

She gives an exhausted sigh. “That’s ominous. I’m not sure I can take any new shocking news. Do I need to know?”

Tank’s eyes narrow. “No.”

Chewing on her thumbnail, she flicks her gaze to me. “Is this one of those things I need to let go, let someone else handle?”

“Yep,” I respond immediately. I have no idea what Tank's referring to, but if it has anything to do with her safety, then hell yes she should leave that up to us. There's no need for her to worry about things like that when it's our job to keep her safe.

She releases a heavy breath and nods. “Okay.” Smacking her thighs, she rolls her shoulders and stretches out her neck. “I trust you, T. You handle whateverthatis you’re not telling me about plus continuing to handle the security aspects for Taeler in Austin. In my mind, I'm taking both off my worry list.” She arches a brow at Tank. “Happy?”

A broad smile spreads across his face, one I rarely see and never on shift. “Very.”

“But whatcanwe do about whoever’s following Tae?” she asks, the worry back in her voice. “I'm not naïve enough to think I can stop them from trying to hurt me directly or through Taeler. But I also can't just ignore that there’s some guy following my daughter around for fuck knows what reason.”

Tank's dark eyes meet mine from across the room. In the few seconds we hold each other’s stare, a silent conversation passes between us.

“We have to be careful,” I say, drawing her hazel eyes to me once more. “Whether it be Whit or Birmingham, both are dangerous and have unlimited funds, and now we know they have friends in shady places. Once we know the why and we have more proof, then we act, but until then, it's just your word plus some files we shouldn't even have as evidence.” I massage the bridge of my nose and seal my eyes shut to calm the dryness. Fuck, I'm tired. We all are. “We wait, get more information, and then act. Knowledge is power in these fucked up games.”

Randi nods and slides from the couch back to the floor in front of her food. At the obvious conclusion of the meeting the other guys move about the room, murmuring to each other as they prepare to switch the on-duty shift to beta team.

Tank gives his head a slight tilt snagging my attention. I shove off the wall to follow him into another room, where he tells the agents inside to clear out. Once everyone is cleared out, he shuts the door with a quiet click but doesn't turn around.

“The information inside that file proves it’s Whit playing his fucked up mind games by having Taeler followed. Various emails back and forth between the two parties confirm it. It’s not much but enough fucking verification for me. But, now there’s more. Not only is Whit having Taeler’sandRandi’s movements tracked, but it seems the damn president joined in the game too recently.”

“What?” I growl between my clenched teeth, the muscles along my jaw twitching.

“Seems Whit has gathered information on her, having her followed from afar since… well, since she started the campaign, but Birmingham's reconnaissance started recently.” Turning from the door, I can't help but notice how tired my best friend looks. Puffy dark bags weigh under his eyes, and his normal steely expression appears more exhausted than mean. “As in since we landed here three days ago. She mentioned he didn't want her coming to the OPEC summit, but I just thought it was because he told her no and she went and did the opposite. But now?” He shakes his head and moves deeper into the room. Falling into the plush upholstered chair, he leans forward, balancing his elbows on his thighs, his head hanging. “Now I think it’s more than that. He's trying to keep her from something, and he's willing to put a hit out on her to do it.”

“The fuck?” I whisper-yell. “Did I hear you right?”

Tank nods. “The new information the Russians had is different than Whit's. Trey, that fucker wants her dead sooner than later.”

* * *

My clenched fistslams against the thick imported Italian wood door, demanding it to open. It swings forward, permitting a small gap for me to squeeze through with a bit of force. The childhood part of me feels guilty about bypassing Gerard without our usual happy greeting, but the rest of me doesn’t give a flying fuck. Storming through the ostentatious foyer, I march deeper into the house and pause.

“Where is she?” I demand, not turning to look at the old man, afraid of the disappointment I might find behind his caring eyes at my rude behavior.

“Entertaining,” he mumbles behind me. “Upstairs, master bedroom.”

Of course she is. When he saysentertaining, I know for a fact that he isn't referring to my father.

Gerard calls out my name, but it’s lost to the pounding of my boots atop the polished cherry wood steps. Chest heaving from the mounting anger, I pause at the top of the stairs on the third floor, my focus narrowing on Mother’s bedroom door. Slowly I move down the hall, the sounds of shuffling and hushed voices slipping beneath the closed door. Forgoing any politeness, I shove my shoulder against the door as I push the lever down.

A sharp female gasp sounds through the massive room. Sheets clutched to her bare chest, Mother stares in horror while the man frantic to not be caught hurries to get one leg into his suit pants.

“Trey Carl Benson,” Mother screeches. “What are you doing?”

“We need to talk. Now,” I bellow. After a look of pure disgust at the man who just fucked my mother, I turn on my heels and march out of the room.

Oh hell. Maybe some of Randi's dramatics are rubbing off on me. What the hell did I just do?

I shudder at the image of Mother partially naked and the sleepy old guy standing terrified in his tighty-whities. No man should ever be exposed to that kind of horror. I'll probably be scarred for life—more than I already am, that is.

Gerard is nowhere to be seen when I hurry back down the stairs. The earlier guilt rises again, but I shove it down as I make my way through the maze of hallways to the sunroom. Pacing the row of floor-to-ceiling windows, I glance to the door every few seconds, anticipating Mother’s arrival so I can get answers and leave this hellhole. Being in this house does something to me, darkens my mood and maybe even my outlook on my future. With Randi, her positive nature—well, usually positive nature—the way she keeps fighting and striving for more bleeds over to me, making me feel the same. But all the anger, all the hate, the years of lies and deceit soak back into my soul with every second I'm here.

It really is a miracle I didn't end up the way both my parents wanted. If I hadn't gone across the country, released their claws from my life, who knows who I'd be today.

Cracking my neck, I try to ease the tightness in my shoulders that hasn't relaxed since Tank revealed that Randi has a price on her head.

---