Power Switch (Power Play #3) - Kennedy L. Mitchell Page 0,73
the way of doing the smart thing.”
My knees go weak. “Okay,” I whisper. “You have my word. I'll talk Sam out of the investigation.” I suck in a deep breath. “Please don't hurt her.” My voice trembles.
“What a waste,” Shawn bites out. “I should just finish this now.”
“Shawn,” Kyle growls. “I cannot add her murder investigation to my plate right now.”
“Wow,” I snap. “Sorry if me dying would be an inconvenience to you.”
“Not enough time in the day,” Kyle muses. “Follow through with Sam, Walmart, and Taeler stays safe. And you.” He levels a hard stare at Shawn, who appears unaffected by the ire in Kyle’s glare. “Stop it with the assassination talk. Someone will hear you. And while we're at it, stop whatever else you're doing.”
Shawn stuffs his hands into the front pockets of his tailored suit pants. “I don't know what you're talking about.”
“I told you to fucking stop after the first time, and now I'm telling you again. Stop it with that shit. It's a cunt thing to do.”
“Oh, like putting a hit out on her and changing your mind at the last minute to only scaring her?” Shawn scoffs. “Weak-ass pussy.” Rolling his shoulders, he angles his head left and then right. “No wonder those fuckers pulled one over on you. Weak.”
Agitation rolls off Kyle. He stands tall, puffing his chest out in a dominating move. Eyes wide, I take a step back, not wanting to be anywhere between these two. It seems not all is hunky-dory in their odd friendship.
“Know your place, Secretary.” Shawn's title comes out as more of a hiss than a word.
I take several more steps backward until my back hits a wall.
“For now. What’s fucking funny,” he says with a chuckle, looking as relaxed as a tiger after a full meal, “is you truly believed I'd stop with her.”
My mouth pops open. A quick look to Kyle shows his mouth gaping as well.
“And with all that I know,” he continues with a confident, sinister smirk, “it’s too much to risk getting out for you to do anything about it. So no, Mr. President, I won't back off, and as soon as I have her out of the way, you're fucking next.”
At that moment, the door I entered the room through sails open, banging against the wall as four agents pour in. The three I don't know scan the room and march to Kyle's side, putting themselves within arm’s reach.
Trey's narrowed honey brown eyes soften a fraction after I'm looked over head to toe and found whole. He takes in the pool cue and my back at the wall and immediately goes back on guard. Three steps and he's beside me, arm wrapped around my waist, tugging me closer.
“You okay?” he asks, not looking down but keeping his focus on Kyle and Shawn.
Physically, sure, besides my heart pounding out of my chest and zero oxygen getting to my brain. But mentally? Hell no.
What the hell just happened? I search the billiards room in a daze, hoping something will help piece together the last half hour.
“Yeah, um, I’m good,” I stammer. “Just get me out of here, okay?”
With a crisp nod, we're on the move. Out in the hall, another five agents stand ready for anything. Champ stares me down like I've done something wrong while T looks ready to blow a gasket. I swear steam is coming right off his shiny bald head.
Trey starts to lead me toward the room I stayed in last night, but I balk at the doorway.
“No.” I swallow, trying to get my thoughts and emotions in control. “I want to go home.”
T nods and mutters orders into the cuff of his sleeve.
We pass Sam in the living room, his face scrunched with concern. “You're with us,” I say, pausing even though Trey attempts to tug me past. “I need to talk to you three. Alone.”
No one seems happy about the request, but I don't care.
I put up no resistance as I’m ushered into the dark SUV. My feet bounce against the floorboard as I wait for the rest of the team and Sam to load.
Now the hard part. I have an hour and a half to convince Sam to drop the case, figure out what the hell Shawn’s up to, and make a plan to get Taeler somewhere safe.
Because one thing is for certain: I might have sworn I'd make Sam drop the investigation, but I didn't say I would.