Page 40 of Power Surge

“You know why, Playboy. Especially now, with your family name plastered all over every paper in this city, you two together would be damn near Christmas Day for the media. Those bloodsuckers are looking for anything to help with their smear campaign against our girl. And before, when she was VP, your relationship with her was frowned upon, but now she's under a damn microscope. Don't go adding that stress to her plate becauseyou’retired of the secrets. Don't ask her to make your relationship public because that's whatyouwant.”

Without any better comeback, I throw my other dirty sock at his face, aiming right between his eyes. The bastard bats it away. With a grumble, I press off the bed. The cold stone floor seeps through my bare feet, calming some of the ache my shoes caused.

“Can I at least walk through the bedroom door, or do I need to sneak through the window?”

“I stationed Smith and Champ outside her door, since they both know about you two after that dumbass stunt you pulled in the Oval Office the other day in front of Smith. I asked both to hang around until you came by, and then I'll switch them out with two beta team members.”

Lifting my arms up high, I stretch until the edges of my dress shirt slip out from the confines of my pants. “He seemed on point tonight.”

Tank follows me as I move into the bathroom. “There's something about him that’s off, but he's damn good at keeping her safe, and that’s all we can ask for.”

“You think there’s a hidden agenda to why the director put him on our team?” I ask around the toothbrush in my mouth.

A slow nod is my only answer, leaving more questions in its wake.

“I’m still trying to figure that part out.” Shoulder digging into the doorframe, he remains silent until I’m done brushing my teeth. “Sleep with one eye open tonight. If you sleep at all, that is.”

Hand towel pressed to my face, I finish wiping the remaining toothpaste off my lips. “You think they’re planning something?” Nerves take flight in my gut, hastening my steps as I slip on a fresh pair of socks and a new pair of shoes.

“Just a gut feeling, nothing confirmed. Hell, there isn’t even any chatter.”

Lips pressed into a thin line, I walk behind him to the door. Halfway down the hall, I cover a wide yawn with a fist to my lips. “As much as that woman turns me on, the thought of sleep is more appealing than anything else. Is it just me, because of my relationship with her, or is this ten times more stressful than our old gig protecting the VP?”

“Twenty times from my perspective. So much more goes into each step she takes and the various angles and supplies and transportation. If it weren't for her, I'd say screw this and step back to our old detail. But it is her, and I'd be more stressed wondering if she's protected and safe if I weren't the one in charge.”

I grunt in acknowledgment.

At a door matching my own room's, Tank pauses and grips the handle. “Radio me if you need me.”

“Sleep with some damn clothes on.” I slap his back and continue down the hall. “No one needs to see your fat naked ass racing through the halls if something does happen.”

“Yeah, best keep my weapon concealed unless we need me to club someone with it.”

My low chuckle rumbles down the hall. Looking over my shoulder, I smile back at my tired friend, who's yet to enter his room. “Hostile takedown by massive dick. That would be a new one.”

“One for the books. Keep her safe, Playboy.”

Hand in the air, I offer a goodbye wave and start my trek to her suite once again. The halls are silent as I make my way through the maze of walkways and rooms. A few of the king’s guards watch me, their gazes monitoring each move I make. I tap two fingers to my brow in a small salute and take a right at a corner, continuing toward my destination.

A cold breeze rushes through an opened window, the sheer curtains framing it floating along, dancing in the shifting air. I walk past only to pause and turn back to the window.

Odd.

Head whipping every direction, I search the empty hallway for the king’s ever present guards but can’t find a soul. Unease churns my stomach at the randomness of the only open window being along this deserted hall. My shoes clip the stone floor as I pick up my pace to a quick jog.

As her suite door comes into view, I let loose a tight breath at the sight of Smith and Champ outside. Smith’s unfaltering gaze zeroes in on me as I continue my hasty approach. After a quick glance over my shoulder, he shoots me a questioning look.

“Open window, seemed odd,” I say, pointing behind me.

Something like recognition flashes across his gray eyes. Before I can get another word out, he's shoving open Randi's suite door without warning. I follow hot on his heels, Champ staying outside guarding the hall, and step around his slim frame to take in the entire room.

Eyes wide, Randi bolts up from the low lounge chair in the far corner of the room, blindly setting her laptop aside before it plummets to the floor.

“What's going on?” she asks. Gripping the edges of her thin silk robe, she tugs them together, closing the gap exposing her chest and legs. Possession blazes through my veins, triggering my temper at the hint of what Smith caught a glimpse of. Even though the tight tank top and soft cotton shorts covered most of her even without the robe, the hard peaks of her nipples standing at attention from the chill in the room are for my eyes only, even hidden beneath a layer of clothing.

I motion to Smith, letting him explain, but he seals his lips shut.

After mentally punching him in the balls, I turn back to Randi. “It’s nothing, Mess.”

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