Power Switch (Power Play #3) - Kennedy L. Mitchell Page 0,84
of the corner of my eye, Randi's alternating bouncing knees draw my attention. She sits atop a stone picnic table, feet bobbing on the bench seat, middle fingernail between her nibbling teeth. I fight a grin as I sweep the area again, noting the other agents dotted around the perimeter of the park. Only Tank and I stand close to Randi, per her request. Tank wanted more, but with the sensitivity of the conversation to come, he settled for it being us and about ten guns hidden along our bodies, plus many, many more on the other guys keeping an eagle eye on the park.
I blow a slow breath through pinched lips, hoping that’ll help ease my growing agitation from the heat. In typical Randi fashion, she's decked out in leggings, Uggs, and a lightweight sweater when the rest of us are teetering on the edge of heat exhaustion. A few weeks ago, I made the mistake of calling her cold-blooded instead of cold-natured. I shake my head at the memory. I'll never do that again. That slip of the tongue earned me the cold shoulder for several hours.
She knew what I meant. I think.
After last night though, none of that seems to matter. The past distance, the times apart, and the longing seem like a trial we had to get through to be where we are now. Making love on the beach with the cool breeze coming off the crashing waves and her beautiful body beneath mine made our connection deeper. It wasn't the first time we've had sex, but it was the first time it was slow and sensual. Not a quickie in her room before Tank could catch us or in a darkened ballroom. No, last night was what intertwines souls. It molded us together, made us become one.
It's scary as hell. All love is, of course, but we have higher stakes. So many people are against us, as a couple and individually. It won't be easy, not that it ever has been, but somehow last night sealed our fate.
Together.
Forever.
No matter the cost.
The roaring of a revving engine snaps my thoughts back to the potential danger we're about to be surrounded with. In my earpiece one of the guys lets us know three black SUVs are approaching via the only road with access to this area. Seconds later, the three Suburbans appear over the crest of the hill the park is situated on. One after another they park. Several large fuckers step out of the SUVs wearing…
“What the hell?” I whisper at the same time Tank's shocked chuckle rumbles through the picnic area.
“Don't you dare make fun of them,” Randi says, though a lightness to her tone signals she's holding back her own laughter. “I think it’s cute.”
I shoot her a quick glare.
“Don’t get your holster in a twist. They’re not nearly as cute as you, Trouble.”
Satisfied by her response, I swing my attention back to the eight men all wearing stiff khaki shorts and varying bright Hawaiian shirts. I cringe at the bright glare bouncing off their white legs that somehow cuts through my state-of-the-art sunglasses.
Dressed in his own horrible ensemble, Vlad strides toward Randi, no smile on his harsh features. The bright and loud outfits are a complete contrast to the men wearing them. There are too many quips I could make about… well, everything encompassing the approaching men's attire, but I somehow manage to keep them to myself.
“Madam VP,” Vlad says as soon as he's close.
“It’s Randi, Vlad. You know that. This is our second secret meeting after all. I think we can drop the formalities.”
He dips his chin before saying a few words in Russian that disperses his men to various points around the small picnic area. Tank and I tense, muscles at the ready for anything, as Vlad climbs up the picnic table and sits beside Randi.
“Festive outfit,” she says, biting into her lower lip to hold back her smile.
Vlad tips his head back and laughs. “We wanted to blend in during our time on the island. But we might have taken it to the extreme. ”
Randi nods, still trying not to smile. “Maybe just a little. How long are you here for?”
He shrugs, the large floral print seeming to reflect the sun's rays. “Not sure. When you reached out to schedule this meetup, I had my team book the arrival flight but leave the return one open-ended. I needed the break.”