Page 87 of Power Surge

“Are you sure?” she says into the phone. “When?” Rising to her elbows, she shoves off the bed to sit up. “I have other things in play that need to happen at the same time as what you’re suggesting. I’ll have more information tomorrow on a timeline. Let’s book a meeting with you, me, and one of my military advisors first thing.”

The phone slips from her hand, falling to the bed. Concern shoves the last drops of need from my mind. I push up to sit beside her, putting us shoulder to shoulder.

“Mess?” I say, wanting to pull her unfocused gaze from the floor to me. Worry eats at my gut when she doesn’t respond. “Randi, come on, talk to me. What was the call about?”

“It's over,” she says. A single tear glides down her still flushed cheek. She turns to face me, a wide smile bunching her cheeks. Additional tears stream down her face; she doesn’t bother to wipe them away before they drip off her jaw. “That was the director of the CIA. They’ve located everyone. They identified the group running it all and can take them out at my call. There are seven men and one woman, located around the globe. They found them… all of them, Trey.” The bed bounces beneath us as she hops, clapping her hands in childlike excitement. I’m completely unprepared when she lets out a squeak and launches herself on me, wrapping both arms around my neck.

“And?” I ask.

“At my word, once the Delta Force is in place, they’ll be brought into custody or… well, you know. It's over, Trouble. In a few days, it’ll all be over. Everything Kyle put into place, everything he dragged us into, will finally be fucking over.”

Another high-pitched squeal echoes around the room as I flip us, putting her beneath me once again.

Her happy tears wet my lips as I kiss each one away on my way down to her neck.

“Well, then, we should celebrate.”

Hope fills every cell. Happiness races through my veins, making my own happy tears build.

The shit Kyle left behind for her, for our country, is over.

Now we can focus on our future.

Together.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Randi

June

The stillness of the night offers a soothing caress to the constant anxiety and worry that have been my relentless companions the past few months. Next to me in his large bed, Trey sleeps soundly, his soft breaths deep and even against my bare shoulder. A thin strip of light beams under the bedroom door from the illuminated hallway where I know two beta team agents wait. The darkness surrounding us is a comfort, but only because of the man beside me. For a while, the dark was something I feared because of the unknowns and enemies lying in wait there. But now it provides the peace and serenity I don't have with my overwhelming responsibilities as president.

With the scandal Kyle left behind over, the men and woman responsible in custody or dead, I can breathe a bit easier. Delta Force lived up to their notorious name and took out the few insurgent strongholds with zero casualties on our end and left enough survivors for us to gain information on other terrorist cells. The only regret I have regarding the military force is that I didn’t do it sooner. Vlad and I have spoken, on several occasions, to help me identify other areas where I’m weakest and need additional advisor support. The CIA came through as they said they would. At the end of it all, three of the masterminds were detained, AKA still breathing, and have spilled their knowledge on the scandal helping us ensure we detained/killed everyone involved.

But even with that handled there are more issues and incidences and policies to manage in a day than I have energy to handle.

Add in being a doting grandmother and wanting to spend every moment with that little cuddle bug and there isneverenough time in the day. I’m overwhelmed, overworked, and in desperate need of a full night’s sleep. But these nights, the few a week I sneak to Trey's condo for a few blissful hours, have kept me sane—well, sane-ish. It is still me, after all.

On top of everything else, next year is an election year, which means I have a decision to make: to run again or endorse someone else for my party. The deadline for my decision ticks closer with each passing day, but I can’t decide.

I have no clue what I want.

The moon peeks from behind the clouds. The few soft rays filter through the thin blinds, highlighting Trey's handsome face.

He'swhy I haven't made the decision yet.

I hate the job, but I'm doing well, which makes me want to run for another term.

But I also want him. All to myself. Every minute, every second, us together without any worries or interruptions. If I decide to run again and get elected, then the crazy schedule I keep now will continue another four years, leaving little time or energy for him.

Sighing, I relax back against the pillow and shut my eyes.

The sneaking around would change if we went public with our relationship. Which we could, but at what cost to his life? If we announce our relationship, it either needs to be all or nothing. I can't imagine me introducing him to the country as my boyfriend and then having to come back here at the end of every shift. The media swarm would engulf him daily.

No. If we decide to do this, I have to be all in.

Which I am. Who knows why I'm holding back from saying yes to the question he didn't really ask so many months ago. There's no doubt in my mind he's waiting for an answer. Waiting for me to be ready. Trey hasn't brought it up since that night. Which makes me love him more. He's offering me time, even when he's the one paying the price for my indecisiveness.

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