Power Switch (Power Play #3) - Kennedy L. Mitchell Page 0,106
allowing our caravan access.
“I'm assuming he'll be in the residence side,” Randi says. “Go through the side entrance.”
Tank nods and presses on the gas once we're clear of the gate.
“And you know you're wrong, right?” Randi says.
“About what?” I ask. I lean forward to get the full view of the iconic building as it grows larger through the windshield. Examining the property, I identify the extensive security presence on the grounds and on the roof, massive guns at their sides.
“Just because your mother said you were out of the family doesn't mean that it actually happened. Do you remember who set up the original trust?”
“My grandfather, I think.”
“Well, there you go. She actually has no rights over your trust unless he made her some kind of advisor or trustee. Plus, there is a crap ton of paperwork involved that has to be signed and filed to remove someone's access.”
“No shit,” I mutter to myself. “You mean this whole time I didn’t have anything to worry about?”
“All you had to do was google it, Trouble.”
“Live and learn, I guess.”
“Can you two discuss this later?” I want to snap back at Sam for interrupting, but he's right. There's a time and place to talk about my inheritance, and that sure as hell isn’t now. “We need all our heads in the game. Who knows what else Birmingham has up his sleeve?”
Nodding in agreement, I reach for the door handle and push it open as Tank shoves the gearshift into Park. The early morning breeze offers little relief from the heavy humid heat. Even at five in the morning, it's still fucking hot. Immediately I sense sweat beading along the nape of my neck and along my temples.
The other two SUVs have already parked, and the teams inside have unloaded, ready to escort Randi and keep her safe. They don’t know the full extent of what’s happened in the last twenty-four hours, only that a threat was sensed and security was heightened.
Leaving Sam to open his own damn door, I stride around the Suburban and tug Randi's open. I wait, keeping the door held open wide for her to exit, but she doesn't move.
“Randi?”
“She's safe now,” she says to no one in particular. “But what’s to say it won't happen again? What if she's taken again and Shawn isn't there to give us the location?”
“It's part of the job, Randi,” Sam says somewhere behind me. “But after today, once Birmingham steps down, the threat to her lessens significantly. Once he steps down, he loses all standing, any leverage he had with those with power here in DC. I wouldn’t be surprised if they turn their focus to silencing him, to be honest.”
“Will it be enough?” Finally acknowledging my presence, she turns in the seat, allowing her legs to dangle outside the door. “I don't know if I can go through with this.”
“You don't have a choice.”
Closing my eyes, I take a deep calming breath in before turning to face the DOJ jackass. “Listen here, you—”
“I have a choice of turning in my resignation too.”
Sam's eyes widen at her words, as do my own.
“You can't mean that,” he says, taking a step closer. Hand to his chest, I shove him backward.
“If that's what she wants, then that's her call, not yours.” Turning back to Randi, I step between her legs and hold her face between my hands. “Mess, baby, I know it's a lot to take in. I get that 100 percent. Your daughter was in trouble, she was taken, but she's fine. The marines have her. She's safe. But you can't let that fear drive you, drive your decisions from here on out. You took this job to make a difference. Do you think you've accomplished everything you wanted to?”
Her dark hair sways with the shake of her head.
“You have so much more to offer, so much more to change in this city. Don't give up because of tonight. Don't be afraid to continue forward. I'll be here, and so will Tank. We'll move Taeler into the White House if that's what you want. There's no place safer.”
The soft delicate skin of her cheeks slides beneath my brushing thumbs as we all give her a few moments to consider my words, consider what she really wants. If she wants to bounce out of this town, give up and walk away, I'll support her. But as much as she considers herself drowning in the VP role, she's killing it. I've never seen a VP