Page 16 of Power Term

“You’re boring,” I huff back.

Fuck me. Why can’t I keep my damn mouth shut?

No instigating the sociopath into killing you sooner than later, Randi. There is no unicorn army on their way to save you.

“The poisoning was highly entertaining.”

“Fuck me, you’re still going.”

“You think you’d appreciate me prolonging what’s to come by allowing me to divulge what was going on in the background.”

“And what’s to come again?” I ask, trying and failing to arch my brows.Did I get hit in the face at some point, or is it just swelling due to the heat and whatever the hell they’ve given me?

“Torture, drawing it out by making sure your fuckstick of a boyfriend knows what you’re going through, more torture, then you calling your VP and telling him you’re stepping down.”

“Fuck. No.”

“To what part there, Trailer?”

“Um, all of it.” I shake my head, immediately regretting it as my brain seems to slosh with the movement. “You know, growing up the way I did, where I did, I met a lot of disturbed people in my childhood. But you take the fucking cake, Shawn. The whole damn cake. Meth addicts, drug dealers, slimy-ass men, and yet you… you’re the worst of them all. Parading around in your expensive suits and plastic face. You’re the picture-perfect person on the outside and fucking nasty on the inside. You can’t even consider for a second that I might be a better fit in this role and the VP’sbecauseof my background. You never considered how I could help millions because of how I grew up and finally had a platform and position to do something about it all.”

He scoffs. “Of course I didn’t. Because they don’t matter, just like you don’t. What you’ve failed to see this entire time your poor ass has been in DC is that no one matters but those with the money and power. I have the money. I just needed the power.”

“Then thank the unicorn gods that I took it from you.”

“What the hell did you say?”

“Wait, are you referring to the unicorn comment or that I took it from you?” I swear steam comes from his ears and nose. Seems I’m not doing so great on heeding my own advice of not pissing off the killer in the room. Whoops. “Even through your constant attempts on my life, and whatever sicko plan you have for today, I’ll die knowing I protected the American people from you. I gave them three and a half years of someone actually caring about them and keeping them from your grasp.”

Shawn scrubs at his chin, his dark eyes sliding over my restrained body. The full-body shiver that rakes down my spine causes me to tug on the stiff plastic around my wrist and ankles.

“I didn’t realize your ignorance and stupidity would be this strong, keeping you from seeing the truth about your inconsequence.”

“That’s what you don’t see. It hasn’t been about me. It’s never been about me. My whole damn life hasn’t been about me. That’s where your ignorance and stupidity are keepingyoufrom seeing the truth.”

His chair topples backward, crashing to the ground as he leaps from the seat. In two long strides, Shawn is in front of me, his hand pulled back with a look of pure rage on his face. Leaning as far left as I can, I attempt to shield myself from the brunt of the blow I know is coming.

The impact of the backhand across my cheek sparks stars in my vision. Pain explodes at the twist of my neck as it snaps to the side. I scream as the half second of shock gives way to a new type of pain I’ve never felt before.

Before I can even try to stop, what’s left in my stomach erupts from my mouth and splatters onto the cracked and chipped concrete floor. A shouted curse blasts through the small space as Shawn leaps backward to keep the spray from soiling his slacks.

“You’re fucking pathetic.”

“Feeling’s mutual,” I rasp before gathering what’s lingering in my mouth and spitting it in his direction.

An icy calm mask slides over his features, concealing the inferno I know is boiling beneath with hate. Only someone as sinister as Shawn can be mentally plotting how to remove your organs as painfully as possible while sporting a pleasing yet blank face.

“You will do as I say or your entire family will meet the same agonizing fate as you. Do you hear me, Trailer? At the end of this, you will call Pierce, and you will demand I take his spot as VP when he slides into the president spot after you step down. Then, only then, will the pain stop. Once you do that, I will leave you and everyone you love alone, forever. Give me what’s mine and I walk away.”

My lips part but no sound comes out. I’m torn. Do what he asks and all this stops and I’ll never have to live in fear again. But do what he asks and put not only Sam at risk but the American people too. It would only be for half a year, six insignificant months. Or would it? No doubt Shawn has thought this through and has a plan for fixing himself into the next term too if I give in.

Live or die.

Live for my family, or die for millions I don’t know and half who already hate me.

“I’ll give you time to think it over. I have to go change.” With a smug grin, like he knows the turmoil his options have caused, he marches to a side door I hadn’t noticed and yanks it open, leaving without a single glance back.

The moment the door clicks closed, I slump in the chair, my shoulders rounding as my chin drops to my chest.

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