on her palms, she keeps her focus straight forward. “Thanks for coming, Vlad. I’m in a pickle.”
“In a pickle?”
She smiles. “It’s a figure of speech. It means I’m in a bind, or in a touchy spot.”
“Ah. And anytime, all you have to do is ask.” He pauses. “Your call came at an interesting time, I have to admit. Did you know another person from your office requested a meeting as well for after the new year?”
Randi's smile falls, her eyes narrowing on the man beside her. She looks so tiny beside him; all it would take is one move and he’d crush her.
“The president, I’m assuming.”
Vlad shakes his head. Placing his hands back along the stone surface next to hers, he leans back, mirroring her. Tank monitors the movement of his hands as I watch his face, trying to decipher his next move.
“No, your secretary of state.”
Shock morphs across her features. “Todd.” The scrunch of her nose as she says the name tells Vlad exactly how she feels about the man.
Vlad nods. “Says he wants to meet but has not disclosed as to why. I am not getting the impression his intent is honorable, however.”
Randi snorts, causing Vlad's bushy eyebrows to rise a fraction.
“He's an opportunist, I guess.” Randi scans the park like the bushes and trees hold the answer she's searching for. “He knows about our meeting in Chile somehow. Maybe he's trying to capitalize on our… whatever we are to use to his advantage.” Leaning forward, she braces her elbows on her still bouncing knees. “It would be huge in the Americans’ eyes if he claimed to settle the rocky relations between our two countries.”
“Agreed.”
Tense silence passes between the two leaders.
“I am assuming you need the proof I offered at our last meeting.”
Randi nods, her dark hair shifting over her shoulders to form a dark curtain, keeping me from seeing her beautiful face. “I need evidence but can’t get it on my own.” Her backside shifts against the stone table as she turns to face Vlad. “I need your help, Vlad. You offered proof, offered friendship in our last meeting, and I'm taking you up on that offer now. I know what Kyle’s doing, but I can't prove it.”
“Your American courts will not accept any information you obtain from someone like me.”
I hold a breath at the tense pause from Randi. She knows what she's asking for isn't exactly legal, but what option do we have at this point?
“Can you help me?” she grits out. “I don't care how you get it, but I need something strong enough that will cause Kyle to step down immediately, on his own, not daring to risk the details being released to the public.”
“What information do you need?”
The way he says it, his apprehensive tone speaks volumes. It seems there's various dirty dealings Kyle is a part of, and Vlad is asking which one Randi wants him and his team to target.
“He's abusing power. Allowing certain companies to drill on federal land. We need proof that those companies can be tied directly to campaign supporters. Some kind of money trail proving he's offering kickbacks. And there’s something else.” She takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, she flicks a quick look at me. “Give us a minute, Trey.”
Unease and anger battle inside me, each fighting for the dominant emotion to direct my words and actions.
“No” is all I can get out between my clenched teeth.
“Trey, please.” When that doesn't work, she switches tactics. “Step back, Benson,” she says, her eyes bearing down into my own. “That's an order.”
Pursing my lips, I glance at Tank, who nods. Hurt slashes through the other emotions raging in my chest. Taking three steps back, I stare back at Randi, proving this is as far as I'm willing to go.
With a resigned sigh, she leans in close to Vlad, their low voices a gentle murmur not clear enough for me to catch a single word.
Vlad nods and stands.
“I will see what we can dig up.” Large hands slide down the hideous shirt, smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles. “I will warn you, friend. What your president has already set in motion cannot be undone. But if he is out of office soon, maybe you can smooth relationships over before war can happen.”
“That's the second time you've mentioned that,” I interrupt, stepping back to Randi's side. I release a tense breath when she doesn't push me away.
Vlad nods, his gray