“Trouble.” I swallow back a sob. Apprehension flashes across his face. “There’s no coming back from you, from us. You’re all I want. You’re all I need. None of this matters if we’re not together, if I’m not facing this shit show called life with you by my side. Yes, I’ll fucking marry you.”
Pitching forward, I forget about the enormous diamond between us and lunge out of the seat. A quick flash of shock crosses his face and the red box falls as I crash against him, my arms going around his neck as we tumble to the floor. Holding me close, Trey takes the brunt of our fall, twisting so his back slams against the thin carpet with me pressed to his chest.
I swipe at the trail of wetness streaking his cheek before leaning forward and kissing away the remaining tears. His fingers delve into my hair, fisting at the base and dragging my lips down to smash against his.
I nearly sob with happiness into his mouth. The hand along my back tightens, sealing us even closer together. A bold, joyful laugh bursts from his lips. Hand to the floor, I push up and gaze down at the man I love. A breath catches in my throat at the pure happiness radiating from his wide smile.
“You made me drop the ring,” he whispers as he rakes both hands through my hair.
“I don’t care about the ring. All I want is you.”
“Good thing you get both.” He drops one of his hands and pats along the ground. “Ah.” Lifting the box overhead, he withdraws the ring before tossing the box across the room. Slowly he lowers the glittering engagement ring to eye level. “They released my funds from my trust.”
“Did they now?” I say, mesmerized by the way the diamond sparkles even in the shadows.
“You don’t sound surprised.” I raise a noncommittal shoulder. “Hmm, I thought so. Either way, this was the ring I wanted for you. What I’ve wanted for you for the past several months. Ask Tank.” A soft chuckle from his chest tickles my own. “I dragged him to that jewelry store at least once a week to look at it. I made them keep it in the back until I was able to buy it.” A spark of mischief dances in his honey brown eyes. “I’ve been a good customer for years.”
I smack his shoulder only for him to snatch my hand and flip us so I’m pinned beneath him. He takes the hand he’s captured and brings it to his lips, kissing the ring finger before slipping the ring down. For half a second, I worry it won’t fit as it catches on my knuckle, making Trey use a little more effort for it to slide over.
I let out a held breath when he releases my hand, leaving the sparkling jewel secured around my finger.
“Wow,” I whisper. “I never thought this would happen to me.”
“The big rock?” Trey waggles his eyebrows.
“No,” I say, sticking my tongue out at him. “This feeling of sheer happiness. For so long I’ve done this all on my own, always an uphill battle, and now… now I know I won’t have to do it by myself. That no matter how hard it gets, I know you’ll be there by my side.”
“Always, Mess.” Leaning forward, he brushes his nose against mine. “I will always be by your side.”
“Ditto, Trouble. We’re in this together.”
“Forever.”
“Forever.”
Forever might not be long enough.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Randi
The murmurings of the press corps quiet the moment I appear through the side door. Careful to not snag a heel, I step up to the podium and grip both sides for support. Flashes momentarily blind me as a few dozen pictures are snapped. I hear more than one gasp when I face them full on, allowing them to see the healing damage still apparent on my face.
Most of the swelling has gone down, but there’s no hiding the black-and-green bruises across my jaw, cheekbones, and circling one eye.
It’s fine. I’m fine. It was a shock the first time I saw my reflection, of course. And I might have overreacted slightly by shattering the mirror that exposed the horror that was my face. But I’m better now. I’m fine.
I scan the somewhat familiar faces and smile.
“First off, I’d like to thank every single person who prayed for my safe return during those long hours I was missing. I have no doubt that me standing here today is a direct result of those prayers. There are a few things I’d like to discuss with you today, but I know the main point of interest is where the hell I was those missing hours.” The reporters chuckle, and a few smile and nod, shrugging like I caught them red-handed on something. “On June 15 at 3:30 a.m., my convoy was attacked as I left a residence deep in the city. The entire team that was escorting me back to the White House was killed in the direct attack.”
“Why were you in the city at that time of night?” one reporter shouts out.
“What do you think I was doing in the city at that time of night?” I leave off the string of names I want to call the fool. “I’m the president, but I’m still a single woman.”
Well, not really single anymore, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
“After the motorcade was eliminated, I was abducted from the wreckage, drugged, and then held hostage at a warehouse across town. As you can see from my face, it was not a pleasant experience—”
“Was it terrorism?” someone shouts.
“In a way, yes it was. The technical definition of terrorism is ‘unlawful use of violence in the pursuit of political aims,’ which was exactly what he was after. He wasn’t a new threat but someone who’s been after me since the day I stepped into Washington. This man was threatened by me. Threatened by my background and how it is directly influencing the policies I’m determined to put in place while in office. He was a weak, selfish man who, thankfully, is no longer a threat to me or the people of this country.
“That’s all the detail I’m willing to give at his moment in time. The funerals for the brave men and women who died trying to protect me will be held over the next week. I would appreciate you respecting the families’ wishes and staying away from the family-only services and burials. With that behind us, we can now look toward the future. The next four years.”
Chairs creak and a hum of low voices reaches my ears as I take a second to let those words sink in.
“I’ve been asked many times if Sam Pierce and I intend to run for office again. Until now, I wasn’t ready to make that decision. As I said earlier, I’m a single woman with a daughter who now has a beautiful baby of her own. Taking on another four years would be challenging and put additional strain on my family. That was not a decision I wanted to take lightly. However, after the incident and many, many hours of internal debate and talking with family, I’ve decided to run for office in this next election cycle with Sam Pierce once again as my running mate.”
The room erupts to life. A few even leap from their chairs, shouting their questions.
Holding up both hands, I shake my head, not saying another word until they’ve calmed down.
“There are a few things I’d like for everyone to know about me now that I’ve decided to run for president. I normally keep my personal life private, but I know with campaigns, anything is fair game to the other party. First—” Shrugging off my jacket, I carefully lay it over the edge of the podium and place my hands on my hips. “—I have tattoos.” Raising my arms, I roll my shoulder and bicep so everyone can get a good look at my half sleeve. “Hope this doesn’t offend anyone, but I needed to put this out there because I’m tired of hiding the art on my skin.”
Crickets.
“Okay,” I whisper to myself. I glance to Trey, who gives me two thumbs up. “On to the next topic. Earlier you asked why I was in the city at that hour. Well, to be completely honest, I was there seeing my boyfriend.”
There’s a sharp gasp and… Oh hell, did that lady faint?
“Well, not really boyfriend anymore. Now my fiancé.” I hold up my hand, allowing the light to catch the diamond, shooting rays of sparkling light around the room.
“Who is he?” one of the reporters in the front row asks. In her excitement, she’s shifted to the very ed
ge of the cheap chair in an effort to catch every word of my response.
Smiling, I point to where Trey leans along the side wall wearing a shit-eating grin.
“Trey Benson, ladies and gentlemen.”
The man doesn't miss a beat. As every eye in the room turns toward him, he simply waves and gives the crowd a dynamic smile.
Shaking my head at his showmanship, I clear my throat, directing their attention back to me. “He’s currently a member of my alpha Secret Service detail, but that might change with the engagement. And before any of you ask, no, I will not go into detail about how all his happened… yet. One day, sure, but I’ll be honest, I’m exhausted.” The crowd chuckles. “This job eats up every second of every day, and it’s still not enough to get it all done. It’s beautiful, terrifying, exhausting, and thrilling all in the same moment. And I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m thrilled to run for the incumbent president seat in the next election cycle, and I hope you’ll vote for me once again so I can continue making the changes this pompous-ass government needs.”
The speech is perfect… until I pull a fucking Randi.
One hand tosses up a peace sign while the other gives the room a thumbs-up as I step to the side. I examine the riveting floral carpet, grumbling about my traitorous hands and how they always fuck things up for me when someone grips my biceps. Trey smirks. The air grows heavy with anticipation as everyone focuses on our simple interaction.
“That was perfect, Madam President. Especially that last bit about the ‘pompous-ass government.’ You surely sealed a few votes with that closing line.” His smile grows at an obnoxious catcall that cracks through the room, coming from…
I glance over his shoulder to find a grinning Sam.
Cameras flash as Trey cups my cheek, turning my attention back to him.
“So it’s official.”
“Official,” I whisper, my eyes darting to the crowd of reporters that seems closer than just moments ago.
Their shouted questions finally reach my ears.
“When’s the wedding?”
“Where will it be?’
“Will you invite the Russians?”
What is their deal with the Russians? I roll my eyes at the last question and wave a hand, dismissing them all without a single reply.
“They’re all yours,” I say to Sam, patting his shoulder with the hand that’s not interlaced with Trey’s. “Go win us some votes.”
“Should I show my tats too?”
I look him up and down, considering the idea. “Couldn’t hurt, but I’d be worried about most of the women in America showing up on your doorstep.” He laughs, humor alight in his green eyes. “Let’s talk strategy for the campaign tomorrow. See ya.”
Stepping through the side door, I wait until it’s closed and the noise diminished before leaning against the wall to catch my breath.
Varying emotions battle within me as the gravity of what I just revealed to the world settles.
“Oh shit,” I curse under my breath. Slipping out of my shoes, I step forward to race down the hall.
“What?” Trey’s hand tightens around mine, holding me back. “What’s wrong?”
The four agents around me draw their guns. Keeping the barrels pointed to the ground, they form a brick wall around me.
Leveraging one of my thin shoulders between two agents, I force them apart and take off down the hall, this time without Trey’s restraint.
“I just told the whole world about our engagement and totally forgot to tell Tae!” I shout over my shoulder.
Trey’s boisterous laugh chases me down the hall. “Good luck with that.”
As I jog through the maze of hallways, I say a prayer to the unicorn gods that she wasn’t watching the press conference. At her door, I slump forward, slamming the heel of my hand against it, making it rattle under my weight to keep me upright. Breathing ragged, I curl an arm around my sore ribs, hoping cradling my waist will relieve the ache.
But then the door swings open.
“Shit.” Unable to catch myself, I stumble forward, crashing into Taeler. Her own curse slips out as we tumble to the ground. The lamp beside the bed shakes and the picture frames along the wall shift with the impact of both our bodies slamming to the ground.
Groaning, I roll to my back and stare at the ceiling.
“Fuck, Mom,” she cries.
“Language,” I hiss back.
“You just tackled me for no good reason and you’re—”
“I said yes.” Now my racing heart is from trepidation, not exertion or free-falling to the floor. The carpet flattens under my head as I roll it to the side. “He asked, and I said yes.”
“You told me that. You said the night you were kidnapped he asked you and you said yes, so why the hell did you assault me?”
“I didn’t assault you. You opened the door—”
“My bedroom door when someone knocked.”
“The door I was using as support because I raced over here from the press room because I forgot to tell you before the press conference.”
“Tell me what?”
I raise my left hand into the air and hold it between us. Tae’s eyes go wide when they latch on to the sparkling diamond decorating my finger.
“He asked, and I said yes.”
I wince at her high-pitched scream. Before I know what’s happened, she’s on top of me, arms wrapped around my neck, crying, laughing, and still screaming.
That’s how he finds us.
Leaning against the doorframe, Trey smirks down at us. “I don’t even want to know how you two ended up on the floor. By the amount of tears and happy screaming that can be heard through the entire White House, I’m guessing you told her.”
My cheeks hurt with my wide smile. Her soft blonde hair tickles my nose as I lean forward and take a deep inhale.
“Mom, you’re so weird.” Her tone lacks the bite it used to. Gone is the snarky teen who thinks she has to help her mom through life because she can’t catch a break. Gone is my little girl; she now has a little babe of her own.
Gone is my loneliness.
Gone is the need to fight this thing called life alone.
Whole is how I feel.
Whole and happy.
“Where are we going?” My breath fogs the tinted window of the Beast. The busy sidewalks and crowded businesses of downtown DC flicker past. The leather cools my overheated skin as I lean back and rest my head against the headrest.
“You okay?” Trey’s fingers tighten around my own.
I nod only for it to turn into a shake, then a half shrug. “My stomach is in knots, and my palms are as sweaty as a teen boy’s on his first date. But is that because this is my first time really out and about since… since the abduction or because I don’t know where we’re going and what you have waiting for the surprise you’re clearly giddy over?”
“I’m a badass. I don’t get fucking giddy.”
“You’re giddy.”
I shoot a grin at T, who sits as far away as possible. Holding out a hand toward Trey’s best friend and future best man, I say, “See? He sees it too.”
“It’s a surprise. A good one. You already got the best part I had planned.” Lifting my left hand, he holds the engagement ring close to my nose. My eyes cross staring at it so close. “Now I get to enjoy the night too, since I’m not nervous about messing it all up.”
The limo slows. Turning toward the door, I press my cheek to the window to see to the top of the building we’ve parked in front of. My skin slowly peels away from the glass as I sit back after a moment, allowing the agent outside the door to swing it open without me falling face-first to the sidewalk.
I only get a hairbreadth across the leather seat before I’m tugged back to make way for T’s massive frame to squeeze past as he exits the limo first. His all-seeing dark eyes scan the area, a finger pressed to his ear while he listens to the rest of the team. Seeing his earpiece triggers me to lean back against Trey’s chest.
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“Where’s your radio?” I ask, leaning back farther to check both ears. I was right, no earpiece.
“I took the day off. This is about us, not work.”
“But you’re carrying.”
“Baby, I’ll never not carry around you. These guns go wherever you go. Call it paranoia, but I’d rather be prepared even if I’m not on duty.”
“What about when you’re the First Husband?” I wait, holding a breath.
“Let’s figure that out later, Mess. Tonight, let’s just be a regular couple celebrating the fact that they found the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with.”
“Okay.” How could I not agree with that love-filled gaze, pouting full lower lip, and tender tone?
Careful to not crush me, Trey climbs over my lap and steps out the open door. After adjusting his suit jacket, he turns and extends a hand into the limo. Without hesitation, I place my hand in his, allowing him to guide me out into the evening air.
Several agents block off a clear path, keeping the spectators at bay as we walk hand in hand toward the nondescript revolving door. The glass door slowly whooshes past. Trey urges me into the next compartment and follows me in, keeping a tight hold on my hand.
The moment we step from the revolving door, a blast of cold air-conditioned air brushes my face, cooling the sheer layer of sweat building along my hairline. Even though we were only outside for a short time, I feel overheated, like fire flickers in my veins. It’s strange considering I’ve always been cold even in the heat of summer, but something triggered in my body those hours Shawn held me hostage. Now I can’t get cool enough; I’m always just a tinge too warm wherever I go.
Following where Trey leads, I take in the small nondescript lobby area before we’re led up a circular staircase. My heels fall silent as I step from the marble floors to the spotless red carpet runner along the steps. We pause at the second-floor landing. Soft movement above us has me looking up to a four-foot-wide chandelier. The crystals sway slightly with the heavy blast of air pouring from the air vents above.
Power Term: A Secret Service Romantic Suspense Series (Power Play Book 5) Page 23
