Page 9 of Blackmailed

“I’ll email you the retirement forms after the vote and meeting. I don’t want anyone to know what we’re doing until the very last minute.”

“Understood,” she answered. “Anything else?”

He frowned. “Since you’re all set, I think moving would be a great way to start your retirement.”

“Well, all of the girls are in Arizona going to school and living. I suppose I could talk Ben into selling the house and moving there.”

"Good choice. I am sure the girls would love having you close by as well. You'll have to tell me where you are when you get settled," he said.

“It would be great to stay in contact,” Janice replied. “Who knows, maybe we’ll pick Window Rock to live.”

That brought a smile to Jefferson’s lips. “Well, you’d always be welcomed.”

When they were done with lunch, Janice left first, then Jochi, followed by Jefferson. The heat of his mate’s stare while he’d been with Janice, prickled across his skin, leaving a trail of goose flesh in its wake. His palms tingled at the thought of lifting Jochi’s skirt and fucking him until neither one of them could stand. However, it would have to wait. He had the vote and the meeting to deal with first.

Later he’d defile his mate.

****

Because of the new plan of attack, none of them left work early. Janice didn’t leave the office until almost nine—same for Jefferson. Jochi hated seeing his mate work so damn hard while others tried to destroy his legacy. Seeing how tired his mate had been, Jochi ordered them dinner then drew a bath for Jefferson. Now, he lay curled in Jefferson’s arms staring up at the ceiling. Their flight out of D.C. was early the next morning, yet he couldn’t sleep. His mind kept wandering.

At lunch, he heard every bit of Janice and Jefferson’s conversation. On one hand, he’d been relieved to hear his bèndàn was retiring, leaving the corruption behind, but on the other hand, it worried Jochi. Some of the strictest, most protective laws in the country concerning shifters were due to Jefferson and senators like him. He feared, if someone took over Jefferson’s seat, who didn’t believe like his mate did, those protections would be rolled back, sending shifters into hiding while allowing PBH to run rampant.

“I didn’t fuck you hard enough if you’re thinking so much,” Jefferson murmured, wrapping Jochi in his embrace.

He sighed wiggling his rear across his mate’s groin. “You did.”

“Then why are you worried?”

“Are you sure this is what you want, bèndàn? Retiring, now?” He rolled over to face Jefferson. His dark hair fell across his mate’s chest and the man groaned. The sexual heat of the sound shot through Jochi.

“It’s time. I promise. I have been preparing for this day for a long time. I have all the pieces. Tomorrow when we arrive in Window Rock, you and I will finish it. We’re going to knock PBH out once and for all.” Jefferson pressed his lips to Jochi’s. “Now, since we’re both awake.” He sat Jochi astride him.

“Bèndàn,” he groaned. “Wicked old man.”

Jefferson eased into him and moaned. “Yourold man. Don’t you forget it.”

“Never.”

The next morning, they were up bright and early. Most of the senators and representatives had taken red eyes home to their families. Jochi had set their departure time for Saturday morning at eight. It would give them time to pack and get through the security checkpoints at the airport. He glanced down at where Jefferson's fingers were threaded through his and grinned. Jefferson hadn't let his hand go since the minute they stepped on the plane. At thirty thousand feet, no one knew who they were, and they were just free to be. In a little over five hours, they'd be in their new hometown—or well, Jochi would.

His Leap was in Guilin, China near the Guilin Lijiang mountain range. His parents still lived there with his siblings under the iron fist of their Alpha Fu Gang Chao. When the bastard found out Jochi wasn’t like the others, the Alpha had cast him out. His parents were forced to remain—their penance for creating a “gay” child. They would repay the food Jochi consumed, the clothes he wore, and the schooling he received, by working in Fu Gang Chao’s fields until their deaths.

For so many years, Jochi had tried to finagle a way to get his parents and siblings out from under the tyrant controlling their Leap. So far, he’d been unsuccessful petitioning for their asylum. He glanced over at Jefferson. If he’d asked Jefferson when they started working together, he feared the man might believe Jochi used his position to garner a favor. Now, he wondered if he’d been a fool.

“What’s on your mind?” Jefferson turned to him. “We have all the time up here to talk about it.”

Jochi grinned. “I have a favor to ask of you.”

“A favor? Did you want to join the mile high club?” His mate winked at him.

Jochi chortled. “No, bèndàn.”

“What is it then? You can ask me anything.” Jefferson kissed their joined hands, settling the nervous thread weaving around Jochi’s insides.

“I... I want to bring my parents and siblings here, to America,” he said. “I have been trying for years with no success.”

Jefferson stared at him for a moment. “Where are they?”

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