Page 125 of Dirty Politics

“I tried,” he said, throwing up his arms. “You wouldn’t take a breath.”

“Fine,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “James, when were you going to tell me about this bodyguard?”

James groaned and tipped his head back.

“Zadie, sit down,” he said, motioning toward the couches.

“I was planning on calling you this morning, but I had some things come up last minute,” he said. “I’m sorry you didn’t hear it from me.”

She nodded, her face softening a little.

“Zadie, you know I wouldn’t do this unless I believed it absolutely necessary. I thought we could manage without it, but I was wrong.”

When her brother had asked her opinion on running for President several years ago, Zadie had encouraged him. She knew it would change her life, but she also believed in her brother and his vision. She knew he’d win and make a great President...and he had.

She closed his eyes for a moment.

“What’s going on? Why now?”

“The FBI has been monitoring threats against you. Zadie, they’ve increased and have become very specific. We arrested three men last night who were plotting to kidnap you. They were planning it for this week. Zadie, they knew your schedule. They bought supplies. This wasn’t something theoretical.”

She exhaled loudly. “Shit.”

“Shit is right,” James said. “I have to protect you. You know I could never leave you in danger - any of you.”

“I know,” Zadie said, softly. James had adopted Zadie along with their six other foster siblings when he was twenty-one after their foster mother had died. He’d devoted his life to caring for them and making them a family.

“Hopefully, it’s temporary,” James said, his voice wasn’t confident.

She knew this was unlikely but stayed silent.

“If you want to bring home your Tinder man, you’re just going to have to keep him in the bedroom for now,” James said, with a sparkle in his eye.

“Oh, shut up,” she said, laughing. She punched his shoulder softly. “I’m not happy about this.”

“I know. Let’s allow the FBI agents to do their jobs - complete this investigation. Hopefully, we’ll be able to pull this back.”

She nodded.

“Doesn’t look like I have much of a choice,” she said, standing up.

“Unfortunately, not,” he said as he stood to join her. “Don’t be too hard on them, please?”

“Who?”

“Your security team,” he said. “It’s not their fault.”

“I can’t promise anything,” she said, as she walked out the room.

Chapter Two

Ethan Frasier stood by the window - scanning the street. Ms. Sterling would be arriving any moment with a Secret Service escort from the White House. Once she arrived, his team would take over.

He watched several black cars pull into the driveway. Several agents exited the cars and surrounded the house. Ms. Sterling emerged from one of the car moments later. He recognized her immediately. She was, of course, the sister of the United States President, but she had been famous even prior to her brother running for office. He’d seen her on news programs and heard her interviewed on the radio.

She was a high-profile lawyer and author. He’d actually read several of her books - they were quite good. It was her work that made her more of a target than her other siblings. She was a prominent activist with opinions that pissed off certain populations. He fought the urge to smile thinking about some of the fiery exchanges he’d witnessed from her television interviews. This was a woman who did not back down.

Ethan scanned the road again, looking for threats as Ms. Sterling walked to the door. He had always found Ms. Sterling to be an attractive woman with thick curly hair and striking dark eyes. Her dress, while quite modest and conversative, couldn’t hide her curves.

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