Page 61 of Power Term

Keeping the gun raised, Trey restarts our trek through the house. Every so often he hides us around a corner, keeping us out of the direct path of the firefight or from others’ view. He does all this, fighting our way to freedom, while mumbling all the dirty-ass things he wants us to try once we’re out of here and back at the White House.

The frequency of shots slows, creating a bubble of hope in my chest that the terrifying day is almost done. A long hall looms ahead of us, a door at the end with the top glass shattered. Trey takes a step down the hall, then another. The door busts open, the wood splintering at the hinges before falling to the floor with a loud crash. I shout in terror, curling closer into Trey as men dressed in all black and armed to the teeth pour through the door like ants at a picnic.

I knew this was too good to be true. We’re not making it out of here alive. I’ll die in this hellhole. Panic rising, I barely hear Trey’s shouted words over my own thundering heart.

“Was wondering when you special boys would join the party,” Trey says above me. His arms relax a fraction, the gun barrel dipping to the floor.

No one responds to his quip as they continue streaming past us, marching through the house and rounding each corner gun first in a uniform precision only military training can perfect.

Ten feet from the door, I relax my near choking grip on Trey’s neck. Half-moon indentions and a few slices from broken nails mark his skin.

Five feet from the door, I breathe easy, accepting that it’s all over and we’re safe.

Three feet from the door, a massive shadow lengthens down the parquet hall floor as a mountain of a man blocks our exit.

Trey trembles behind me, a silent sob catching in his throat.

Me? My smile is so wide all the cuts along my lips reopen, but I don’t give a damn. Happy tears leak from my eyes.

“I told him you weren’t dead.”

Chapter Nineteen

Randi

Tsmiles wide as he holsters the gun into his shoulder harness. Trey’s heart thunders against my side, his grip tightening a fraction, putting pressure on my hurt ribs. A pushed breath hisses through my clenched teeth as I fight through the pain; Trey’s too focused on his best friend being alive to notice he’s nearly squeezing me to death.

“Why don’t you pass her over to me,” T murmurs, keeping his attention on Trey. “I’ll get her to the ambulance that’s waiting.”

“You’re here.” Tipping my chin up, I try to read Trey’s expression. “The fuck?” He barks a laugh. “I saw them—”

“It’s a long story, but yeah, I know what you saw, Benson. Now hand me the president, because Smith and I have a present waiting for you.”

At the mention of the other agent, I turn back to the door. Smith now stands beside T, leaning against the doorframe dressed in similar tactical clothing as the small army still sweeping the house.

The house that smells like death and smoke.

Smith’s nose twitches as those all-seeing eyes scan the house like he can see through the walls. “Did you set the house on fire?”

I attempt a shrug, but Trey’s tight hold prevents the movement. “That was my idea.”

“Of course it was.” T sighs.

“What’s my present?” Trey asks above me, curiosity in his tone.

“Hand over the president and I’ll show you.” When Trey doesn’t make a move to pass me off, T sighs. “You’ve protected her, got her out alive, but we need to get her checked out by a doctor. I’m sure some of that dried blood is hers, right, Madam President?”

His pointed tone urges me to respond. “Uh, yeah?”

“And you need to see a doctor, right?”

“Yes?”

“And you’ll be safe and protected if Benson here puts you in the ambulance and lets them look you over.”

“Well, yeah. T, just spit it out. What are you getting at?”

“Look at him, Randi. Really look at him.” With a sigh, I do as he asks. Scanning Trey’s blood-streaked face I don’t see anything off—well, besides the blood—until I reach his honey brown eyes. There’s a wildness swirling, one I haven’t seen before. “He’s not himself, not after seeing… hell, I don’t want imagine what he saw or did to keep you alive.”

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