Page 53 of Degrees of Power
I look up, meeting Chase’s gaze. The guilt about keeping what’s going on from my mother stabs at my heart. “Yeah, his modus operandi. Look what he did to the men in Miami,” Chase says.
“I won’t allow Karissa to live in fear or my father’s legacy to disappear,” Carlos says.
“Carlos, you know this is as personal to me as it is to you,” Chase says, pulling me closer as he speaks.
“How is Karissa? Do you want me to have someone pick her up and fly her to stay with us?” Chase asks.
“I’d like nothing better actually, but she’s working with a couple new clients and was adamant about staying at the estate. I talked to your dad earlier and he’ll keep an eye out for her. I think she’s a little excited about having some dedicated alone time to get their marketing plans laid out. I’ve had my team increase the perimeter patrol and overall security everywhere, but I would appreciate it if you keep Jay in constant contact with them.”
“Consider it done. Jay gave me the update on the plans from the airport to the estate, the perimeter control and eyes on the inside,” Chase says.
“Yeah, the cameras Jay’s team used last time are in place and they just had to send a link to reengage them. I’d like to steal that young man away from you,” he says.
“Not a chance of that, but I’ll have him take care of things,” Chase says, his jaw tightening.
“I’ll text you before I leave, but once we’re out of the compound I’ll use the secure lines,” he says.
“Sounds good,” Chase says, looking down at me and raising his eyebrows.
I shake my head. Carlos clearly would not have wanted me to hear the conversation, was not aware I was on the line, and I wouldn’t know what to say to him at this point. My mind is focused on pulling the pieces of conversation together as they wrap up their call. My mother will be alone, Don is aware and will be keeping his eyes on her. I’m not sure what that means as they live at least ten miles away from each other north of New York City. Jay will be heavily involved in the security, but something about the conversation nags at my conscience.
“Are you okay, Katarina?” Chase says, lifting my chin so that my eyes are forced to return his gaze. The depth of emotion I see in his eyes causes me to swallow hard.
“I’m not sure. I can’t even describe how I feel about my mother not knowing any of what’s going on and my inability to tell her. She doesn’t have any idea where he’s going, perhaps she thinks he’s going off to a fun little business trip,” I say, hating the sarcastic tone of my voice.
“Baby, he’s trying to keep her sheltered.”
“And what if he doesn’t come home? What if something happens and she never had the opportunity to say I love you for the last time? What if… “ I start, but he silences my protests with a passionate and powerful kiss.
The urgency of his mouth on mine takes me away, helps me refocus, and brings me back to the now. “Chase,” I moan, straining against him, clasping my arms around his neck, holding him close to me.
“Baby, do you know how much you mean to me? Your mother means that much to Carlos. You can’t imagine the sheer desire that he or I have to keep our families safe and we will do that at any cost. Do you understand, Katarina?” he asks, lifting my chin to his.
I nod, returning his kiss as he captures my lips once again, pulling me into his arms, wrapping me in his embrace. I entwine my legs against him and try to leave the conversation in the recesses of my mind. Something keeps creeping into the surface of my memory. “Baby,” he says, kissing my neck, slowly working his way down its side..
I murmur in response, but then sit straight up in bed, taking us both by surprise. “What did he mean by the cameras Jay’s team used last time are in place?” I ask, leaning my back against the headboard, pulling the sheet up to cover my nakedness.
He sighs and slides up beside me and puts his arm around me.
“Tell me, Chase.” I say, turning to look him in the eyes.
He sighs again. “There were cameras set up before you entered Vicenti’s estate, Katarina. You flew halfway across the world to talk to one of the biggest crime lords in the world and expect me not to do anything I could to protect you?” he says, running a hand through his hair.
“It was my fault we didn’t have enough security in place to prevent you and my father from getting ambushed. I had to go.”
“We’ve been over this. It was not your fault and I’ll be damned if you’ll continue to harbor that kind of guilt or I apologize for wanting to protect you. The only way I could make certain that my team could intervene if they needed to was to have the cameras installed before you got there,” he says.
“How? You didn’t even know where we would be. I mean seriously, you were in a jail cell when I went to meet with him, and Jay was in the hospital. Does your reach have no limits?”
He lifts his eyebrows at the question. “Katarina, I’m never going to allow you to be in harm’s way. I’ve not made that a secret.”
“No, but I didn’t know you had cameras set up watching me,” I say.
“Protecting you,” he corrects.
“Fine, but how did you get them into his compound? The place was locked down like Fort Knox. Armed guards everywhere,” I say.
“Let’s discuss something else. How about the leg trick? I must have rerun that part of the video more than a hundred times.”
