Page 62 of Degrees of Power
“That lady can cook, that’s for damn sure,” Jay says.
“Do we know who was shooting at him?” I finally ask after finishing my dinner and listening to them talk for awhile.
He glances at Chase and I see his head nod slightly and I scowl at their exchange. “We think it was Alfreita, but we don’t know yet if uncle was part of it or not,” he says.
I am just about to ask him something else when my mother’s ringtone comes through. “Excuse me, it’s my mom,” I say, just as Gaby brings in a round chocolate cake for dessert.
“I’ll have some later,” I mouth to Gaby before answering my cell on the way to the library.
“Hi Mom,” I say.
“Hi Sweetie. Just thought I would call and see how you’re doing. It’s been a little lonely here today. Your dad had a business trip and won’t be back until well into the night,” she says.
I listen as she tells me about her day, trying to contain my guilt, knowing that anything could have happened on this trip and thankful that he is safe and on his way back to her. “We’re on lockdown here with everything going on, but I have plenty of work to do from home and am using the time to try and get ahead a bit,” I say.
“Yeah, Carlos doubled the security here, too. He wanted me to stay with you and Chase while he was gone, but I had so much work to do. He worries so much,” she says.
“They’re just being careful, Mom,” I say.
“I know, but we shouldn’t have to be prisoners in our own home. It’s ridiculous,” she says. Don called to check in with me earlier and told me that he and Emily and her family are all on lockdown, too. They think it may last another week or so,” she says, clearly upset with the situation.
“That’s not so long, Mom,” I say.
“It is like being in prison, only it’s in our house. Ridiculous!” she says.
I try to take her mind off of the situation and give her an update on Jenny and we talk a little bit more before disconnecting. I glance at the clock and it’s early yet, just after seven, so I quickly hit Jenny’s number to check in with her.
She answers on the first ring. “Hi there,” she says, almost breathlessly.
“Hi yourself. You just get off the treadmill?”
“Umm, no, but I did have an amazing workout.”
“Oh, what kind of workout would that be?” I ask, grinning.
“The best kind if you ask me,” she says and I can almost feel her smile through the phone.
“Aren’t you supposed to be resting, young lady?” I ask.
“That’s all I’ve been doing, sleeping, reading, talking. I think this is exactly what I needed."
“Well I’m very happy for you. Chase thinks the world of Brian. I’m assuming it’s him you’re talking about,” I say.
“It is, but I need to go. He should be done with the calls he needed to make,” she says.
“You sound so much better today. Give me a call tomorrow. If you don’t I’ll track you down,” I say before disconnecting and turning on the overhead television monitor, surfing through a gazillion channels before coming upon a movie that I haven’t seen in a long time. I curl into the chair pulling the blanket around me, stifling a yawn as I watch.
The door opens a short time later and Chase walks into the room, his shadow outlined by the light of the television monitor. He closes the door behind him and stalks toward me. I smile when I see the dish with a piece of cake on it that he places on the table before he scoops me up and slips into the chair and pulls me into his lap. I thought I might find you in here,” he says, kissing my neck before reaching for the cake and putting a bite to my lips.
“Mmm, sinfully good,” I say, nuzzling into the strength of his arms around me as we watch the movie. It is hours later when I rouse, barely aware as he picks me up and carries me to our bed, laying me down, sliding in behind me and pulling me close into his body. “Sleep Baby,” he says.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
When I wake up, Chaseis already up and gone. I glance at my phone for the time and decide to get a quick run in before I find him. I am just heading upstairs to shower when the swish of my phone alerts me to an incoming message.
Message:Where are you?
Reply:Just got done with a workout. Heading upstairs to shower.
