Page 64 of Power Term

I lean against Trey’s hard thigh. “What do you mean, you have that son of a bitch?”

Smith clears his throat directing our focus to him. “He means we caught the pussy trying to escape out the back when we attacked that shithole behind you. And we… kept him just over there for you to handle.”

“Handle?” Trey’s bicep tightens, curling me to his side. “Any way I like?”

“Any way you like. As long as I get a few… words in too.” T sneers. “That bastard ordered my execution, and I’d like him to know how much I didn’t appreciate that.”

My shoulder vibrates with Trey’s chuckle. “I can do that. Where?”

“Why not in the house that’s on the verge of burning? Less evidence to clean up.” I gape at Smith. He offers a half shrug. “Just trying to be practical. Cleaning up evidence is a bitch, and I’m too tired to deal with that today.”

I bark a laugh that turns into a groan. “I don’t know if I’ve ever heard you this talkative. What happened while I was… detained?”

“A lot,” Trey says above me. “A whole fucking lot. But we can talk about that and how in the hell Tank cheated certain death later. Right now, I want to go have that chat with Whit.”

He starts to pull away only to hesitate.

“I’m fine. The doctors are right. I need to get to the hospital.” I go to chew on a nail only to taste dirt, ash, and blood. “Fuck. I need to set up a press conference, have my press secretary alert the media that I’m okay, talk to Sam, call Todd to reach out—”

“Benson didn’t tell you?” T questions, running a hand over his bald head and giving me a reluctant look.

“Tell me what?”

“Didn’t really have time while we were devising an escape plan and I was dying a bit inside at the thought of my best friend being shot in the fucking head.”

“Damn, you’re dramatic.” T sighs, but a small smile tugs at his lips. “Your secretary of state is dead.”

“What?” I shout. Things still around us, all eyes focused on me as I shove off the bumper. “What are you talking about? Why? I mean….” I sway from the jolt of pain that shoots through me at the sudden movement. “I need more painkillers to handle this.”

Like magic, two white pills appear in a small outstretched hand. Without even looking to see who that hand belongs to, I swipe them from the open, slightly sweaty palm, pop both into my mouth, and swallow. The pills irritate my raw throat, but at least the four bottles of water I drank in the ambulance while they fixed me up soothed some of the scratchiness.

“I’ll tell you everything after we’re done,” Trey says, rubbing a hand down my back.

“Agent Benson, we really need to get her to the hospital for a full-body scan in case of internal injuries,” Ernie says nervously no doubt worried about Trey’s reaction.

Patting Trey’s chest, I sigh. “Trouble, you and the other two go do what you need to do. I’ll be safe. We’ll even take a helicopter instead of the ambulance if that makes you feel better.”

And me too. Not really excited about the idea of being in an automobile again anytime soon.

Trey smiles before sealing a hard kiss to my forehead. “Love you, baby. I’ll tell everyone to follow you out. With ten special forces teams surrounding you, I feel good about letting you go on ahead. I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

With a nod to the other two, he turns and follows their lead into the woods, T already shouting the orders for the units to follow the ambulance to the hospital.

The first dose of painkillers kicks in, making my thoughts fuzzy as I watch the three disappear.

At least that’s what I’m blaming my wayward thoughts on.

Because there’s no other reason for me to think about his hot ass and how badly I need him inside me all while he marches off to kill a man.

Yep, totally the painkillers.

Maybe.

Chapter Twenty

Trey

Last fall’s dried and decaying leaves crunch beneath my feet as I trail behind Smith and my best friend. I’m not looking at where I’m going. No, my focus is on that brilliant bald head. I thought… I really thought I lost him. Thought Tank was a casualty of this job and I’d have to beg Witness Protection to take me in order to avoid Sarah’s wrath.

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