Power Switch (Power Play #3) - Kennedy L. Mitchell Page 0,34
don't listen to our conversation.”
He smiles. “I'll sit right here and play Candy Crush.”
“How about you look up lasting effects of rat poisoning on a late-thirties female.”
“Not nearly as fun.”
“But useful,” she says with a smile. “The doctors talk gibberish. Tell me what WebMD says I should do.”
Still smiling, he shakes his head. “Glad you're okay, Randi.”
Tank's features harden when he looks to me. “You're a fucking idiot.”
“I know,” I admit. “But you love me.”
A heavy sigh sounds through the small room. “No clue why. You're a pain in my ass.”
“And mine.” Randi reaches out to me, palm up. “Come here, Trouble.” Soothing calm washes through my veins as I interlace my fingers with hers, silencing the worry and halting my rising anger at the whole damn situation. “What am I going to do with you?”
My knees pop as I crouch low, putting us nearly eye to eye. Careful of the tubes and wires, I slide her hand to my lips and press a hard kiss to the inside of her palm.
“You know it's not all his doing,” she continues. “Kyle's had it out for me before Sam walked into our lives. It might make things a little worse if Kyle finds out, but none of this is because of Sam. We don't even know if it was Kyle. I'm on a lot of people's shit list, you know.”
I nod. She's right. But I still want to blame someone right now. Anyone. I need a direction to turn my anger and frustration toward. A goal. A face. An enemy. Someone other than myself.
“I almost lost you, again.” My voice is raspy as I fight through the battling emotions.
What the hell is wrong with me? I'm stronger than this.
It's her. She's a piece of my soul now, a part of me I don't ever want to lose.
It's fear. This unknown feeling churning in my gut is fear of losing the one person I want to live for.
My heart wrenches in pain when she slides her fingers from my own, only to have it thump with pure joy at the feel of her palm against my cheek. I lean into it, closing my eyes and savoring the sensation of her comforting touch.
“But you didn't lose me. Look, I’m right here, still being a pain in the ass. Whoever's idea it was to keep an emergency antidote injection in our medical bag was brilliant. I need to thank them.” Her strained smile does nothing to ease a new wave of guilt.
“It shouldn't have been needed. This shouldn't have happened at all, Randi. Don't you see that? You're in danger. And now they know they can get to you without us knowing. What good am I to you? I can't even protect you when you need it the most.”
The side of her thumb strokes across my brow.
Then she says two words, ripping my soul in two.
“You're right.”
9
Randi
Hurt and agony cover his features at my words. Leaning back, he attempts to draw away from my hand.
“You don't understand,” I say quickly, hoping to dash the sadness in his lowered eyes. “What I meant was I agree with you. I shouldn't need things like an antidote on hand. But this role I’m in calls for it. I’m guessing that stocked medical pack wasn’t special ordered for me. Every VP before me has been targeted in some way. But unlike the others, I know who wants me dead.”
Trey nods but doesn't relax against my awaiting palm.
“Hey, look at me.” I wait until his gaze locks with mine. “None of this is your fault. I'm in a targeted role. I get that. I'm not mad, not disappointed. Well,” I huff. “Not at you. More me.”
“Why the hell would you be disappointed in yourself?”
The corner of my lip twitches up in an almost smile.
“Because I've allowed this. I should've stopped Shawn and Kyle’s bullying, the harassment and violence the second it started. I wouldn't be here in this bed, poisoned for fuck’s sake, if I would've confronted them head-on months ago. But I didn’t. I made them think they can push me around without any repercussions. I made myself look weak in their eyes.” Anger at the man responsible for my pain swirls within me, heating my core. “This has to stop. They've crossed a line, and I'm done.”
“I don't like the sound of this,” T says from where he sits, phone forgotten. “Plus, we don’t know for certain who poisoned you, remember?”