Page 7 of Blackmailed

Chapter Two

Unfortunately, everything didn’t come as later as he wanted.

When Jochi left for lunch after a quick shower, Jefferson had been inundated with requests, along with a weird summons for accounting records concerningLeaving the Past Behind, the orphanage Keeley and Danielle Raferty established over ten years ago. He snorted.Of course, they’d start now,theybeing Senator Beltran, Mr. Diaz, and Senator Roberts. It hadn’t even been a week since they’d came to his office and tried to not only intimidate Jefferson but also blackmail him. They were letting Jefferson know they weren’t going to be deterred.Well... Two could play that game.

He picked up the phone and dialed his secretary. When she answered, he began. “Janice, I need you to come sit with me for a moment.” He paused. “No, let’s not do this here. Meet me at Maury’s on Central and Sixth in twenty.”

“Are... Are you okay?” she murmured.

“Yes, yes. I am fine, but I truly need your help,” he replied.

“Then if it is all right with you, I will be leaving early for lunch.”

Jefferson chuckled. “Sounds fantastic.”

After he hung up with his secretary, Jefferson texted Jochi to let him know where he was going. He and Janice couldn't take too long. He had to be back at two for a vote on the Senate floor. Then he had to meet with the Appropriations Committee at three. He hoped by the end of the day he could get the ball running with his plan. It would take some work, however, with him going to Window Rock for Thanksgiving, he could get the majority of it done there, which meant moving additional resources there as well.

Jefferson grabbed his jacket off the hook near the door, before stepping out into the hall and securing his office. Thankfully, all of the information he’d obtained on the scurrilous senators, so far, had been under lock and key in his apartment on the outskirts of D.C.. Added bonus, Keeley monitored the feed from his office back in Window Rock. The bit of comfort he found having her system in place would help him now. The minute Beltran and Roberts found out what he had on them, well, he figured some PBH goon would be on his doorstep looking to cause trouble. No matter though, he had Jochi and a gun. If they did come snooping around, he’d be ready.

As he stepped into the elevator, his phone began to ring. He glanced at the screen and frowned.Kalkin?The Sheriff never called unless something had happened. The last time he phoned, Royce and Charisma were adopting Mikey, but he'd been ill. With no answers as to what'd been wrong with the little boy, they feared the worse, and Jefferson had raced to Window Rock. He answered it. “Kalkin?”

“Want to explain why I’m looking at audit paperwork for the orphanage?” Kalkin growled.

Jefferson blew out a breath. “Fuck.”

Kalkin snorted. “You do cuss. Shit, I owe Caden twenty bucks.”

Jefferson chuckled softly. “Habit I’ve picked up. I didn’t have time to warn you. I only found out about it myself.”

“We’re above reproach when it comes to the books, Jefferson,” Kalkin grumbled.

“I know you are. I can’t talk now. Look, today is the last day for sessions. I will be on a plane in the morning. When I get there, I’ll explain everything.”

“I’ll be waiting,” he said. “It appears we’ll be having an interesting holiday.”

“Yeah, suppose so.” Jefferson hit end on the call after saying goodbye, even though he already knew the Alpha didn’t do salutations or valedictions.

By the time he arrived at the deli where he told Janice to meet him, Jochi was already sitting at a table across from where Janice situated herself. His mate wore a long pink silk dress. He used the chopsticks that doubled as sharp blades to hold his hair back in a bun and wore ruby-red lipstick. Jefferson’s groin tightened.What the fuck is wrong with me?Jochi glanced up at him and gave him a saucy grin before going back to the menu in his hand.

“Sorry I’m late,” Jefferson said, joining Janice.

“It’s no bother,” she replied. “I took the liberty of ordering you a whiskey neat.”

He needed it. “Thank you.”

“Off the record or on the record?” Janice pulled a pad from her bag then her pen.

"Off the record," he answered. "It's confidential."

Janice narrowed her eyes. “Are you in trouble?”

Jefferson gave a forced laugh. “No, not at all.”

“You’re a terrible liar,” Janice said.

Jochi’s tittering caught Jefferson’s attention. He glanced up at his mate, only to find him on the phone.Good cover.

“I suppose I am,” he replied. “I am not in trouble now, but Senators Roberts and Beltran are going to start squeezing me. They’ve already begun.”

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