Page 72 of Degrees of Power
“Get some sleep,” I say, squeezing her hand and realizing that she has already fallen back into a deep sleep.
“They just wheeled your father into his room. Let’s go see him and then I’m taking you to Dad’s condo. It’s not far from here,” Chase says, pushing the hair back from my eyes.
I nod, knowing they need rest and that they are in good hands, and I need rest. “I’m going to take a call while you visit,” he says, connecting his incoming call as I walk out of the room and am escorted to my father’s room by Sheldon.
I knew what to expect, the marks and helmet-looking equipment atop my dad’s head all indicators of the earlier procedure. I grimace and take his hand. “Dad, you’re going to get through this. You have so many dreams to fulfill,” I say, holding his hand. I don’t know how long I am there, until I feel a slight touch to my shoulder. “Let him rest, Katarina. He’s in good hands. We’ll come back later in the day,” Chase says, taking my hand and leading me down the hall, nodding at Sheldon and Dereck as we pass. His cell vibrates. “I have to catch this, Baby. It could be about your dad,” he says, answering while keeping his hand on the small of my back.
He listens for a moment and nods. “Excellent news, Jay. When will you have definitive confirmation?” he asks, listening for Jay’s response. “Keep me apprised. No, he’s still critical, but the swelling is starting to recede which is a good sign. Sheldon and his team have everything under control. Katarina and I are just leaving the hospital,” Chase says, placing the phone in his pocket.
“Jay?” I ask.
“Yes, there’s been a development,” he says, taking my hand.
“It sounded like a good one from what I heard,” I say.
“Better than we can imagine. Alfreita is dead. It’s over. Interpol received evidence that Alfreita was supplying deadly product. He and his men opened fire and they had no choice but to take him out,” he says, squeezing my hand.
My heartbeat picks up a little. “That’s the best news we could have hoped for. The world is a much better place,” I say.
“Do you want to know the details?” he asks, pushing the hair that has fallen over my eyes behind my ear.
I shake my head. “No, I’m just happy that he’s gone and that we won’t have to deal with any of this mess in the future,” I say.
As we exit the hospital we are swept into an awaiting black limo. The paparazzi are held at bay as the doors close behind us and I sink into the strength that is Chase.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Chase’s arms tighten around me, pulling me close as we navigate through the congested morning city traffic and pull up in front of one of the few sky-rises in the area, dwarfing the other buildings in comparison. The door is opened for us and Chase guides me into the elegant facility, over the marble floors and towards the elevator. He runs his key fob over the security panel and only then does it begin to move upward, seemingly forever until we reach the top floor. The doors open into an elegant living area, but the draw is the entire wall-to-wall windows overlooking central park.
“Chase, it’s magnificent,” I say, walking through the spacious living room, classically designed with high ceilings and decorated with a soft leather sectional, fireplace, and large overhead screen television mounted on the wall.
“Dad used to spend a lot of time here after Mom died, but not so much now that he and Emily are together. It’s empty almost year round so if you or Jenny are in the city working the condo is usually available,” he says.
I laugh outright. “Chase, since we met, how many days have we been apart? Oh, wait, I take that back… How many hours have we been apart, because it wouldn’t be hard to calculate,” I say.
He raises his eyebrows at me. “Katarina, are you complaining? Would you like more space, more time alone?” he asks, pulling me close, pushing my outerwear off of my shoulder, throwing it over the couch before taking my hand and leading me down the hall, through the master bedroom and into a bathroom with a large whirlpool in the corner. I can’t keep the smile from my face glancing at my shampoo and conditioner and a sole loofah hanging on the faucet. “Chase, how did all this stuff get here? You had no idea I would be in New York.”
“Does it bother you?” he asks, helping me out of my sweater.
“Chase, it makes me feel like it doesn’t matter where I am, what situation that I am in, that you are taking care of things and I don’t need to worry about it. It’s like…”
“Total control?” he says softly, rubbing his thumb along the bottom of my lip. I look up at him and his eyes are glistening as he frees me from the confines of my bra, and then helps me to step out of my pants.
“No panties?” he says.
“I was just hanging out at home waiting for you when I got the word,” I say, blushing and not wanting him to know that I cried myself to sleep and stayed there until I learned about my parents’ accident.
“Well, I’m pretty sure that I am going to immensely enjoy the punishment that comes with you not wearing underwear in front of our staff,” he says.
It’s my turn to raise my eyebrows as he steps out of his pants, walking toward me as my eyes take in his chiseled frame and erect manhood before he slides into the water across from me.
“You like the control, don’t you, Honey,” I ask, looking at the loofah, my bathroom products, knowing now that as soon as he knew what was happening he already had a plan to console me and put me at ease.
“Baby, I do, and that’s not likely to change. But more than that, I like that you like when I control the situations,” he says.
“I do like it Honey, it makes me feel absolutely treasured,” I say.
“You are treasured, Baby and I do want control over just about everything. I want to keep you panting and on the edge underneath me and the power to ensure your safety, but there’s one thing that I no longer want control over,” he says.
