“Greedy,” I whispered in mock-frustration as I tugged her closer, then pulled the blankets back over us. Then, I grabbed my burner off the nightstand, groaning in irritation at Johnston’s name. What the fuck did he want at three in the fucking morning?
“What?” I snapped when I answered the phone, holding the device to my ear. “Do you know what time it is, brother?”
“You’ve been MIA,” Johnston said, irritation lining his voice. “You haven’t been giving me updates on anything. Ain’t heard a fucking thing about the Russians, about the partnership theyhave in Mexico, and nothing on our newest prospect. You losing sight of what it means to be the mother fucking VP, Blayke?”
“Oh, fuck you,” I muttered, pushing myself into a sitting position. Yawning, I scrubbed at my eyes with my free hand before rolling out bed. “Hold on for two damn minutes.”
I set the phone on the bed, then snatched my sweatpants off the floor and tugged them on. After picking up my phone again and double checking that Noah was still asleep, I headed out onto the balcony, quietly shutting the door behind me. Johnston might not give a fuck about my sleep, but I did care about Noah’s. She needed rest, and fuck if I’d allow Johnston to disturb her more than he already had.
“If you’re done being a dick, I can tell you what we know, which honestly isn’t much, which is why I haven’t called,” I told him, my tone revealing how irritated I was with him. I could’ve still been wrapped around my woman and asleep, but noooo. Johnston wanted to be a fucking dick. Who the fuck called someone in the middle of the night for a goddamnupdate?
“Don’t try me, Blayke. I’ve been fucking patient,” he growled.
“Have you though?” I retorted, leaning my back against the railing. “Calling me at this time of night doesn’t seem very patient of you, Johnston.”
A growl left his throat. “You’re treading on thin ice, mother fucker.”
I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t afraid of Johnston. I respected him, but I also never bit my tongue around him, proven by what I said next. If I’d been in front of him when I said it, he probably would’ve punched me in my face. Wouldn’t be the first time it’d happened, but I gave back just as good as I got.
“I’m texting Aaliyah after this phone call and telling her you need to get laid, Prez,” I drawled. “This is unacceptable.”
Johnston was silent for a good few seconds, like he was trying to rein in his temper and not completely lose his shit with me. Iwaited for him to gather himself and turned to lean my elbows on the concrete railing so I could stare out over the vastness of Alejandro’s beautiful estate. His lawn was perfectly manicured, and he had sprinklers running to water the grass while the sun wasn’t beating down on the earth. Trees surrounded the property on all sides, and I knew without having to see them that there were guards prowling the woods, always working to keep the Cartel leader safe.
“If you text my wife, Gabel,” Johnston finally said, his voice eerily calm, “I will break every single one of your fingers one by fucking one. Now stop playing games with me and give me updates.Now.”
I snorted a laugh, unbothered. “Noted, Prez. We’ve got a rough location on the Russians, but nothing beyond that. Noah and I have been in two shootouts so far. We held our own.” Anger still burned through me when I thought about the dumb stunt she’d pulled the day before, but I didn’t let that show. “She’s pretty exceptional.” Which wasn’t a lie. “Better than some of our own men, if I’m being honest. She’s loyal. She’s a quick responder. Always aware of her surroundings. Doesn’t take shit from anyone. Not even me. Total fucking ball-buster.”
The door behind me opened with a quietwhoosh, and I turned, smiling at my woman. Her pink hair was a mess, and she had a crease on her left cheek from her pillow. She wrapped her arms around her midsection, frowning and squinting at me through the darkness.
“Who the fuck is demanding a conversation at three in the morning?” she demanded to know, her voice husky.
“Your future president,” I told her.
“I don’t recall fucking agreeing,” Johnston growled.
I snorted. “You will, trust me. Not letting this one go, Prez. You better get on board because she’s here to stay, whether you like it or not. Too valuable to let go.”
Johnston scoffed. “You sound pussy whipped. You fucking her, Blayke?”
I grinned, unable to help myself. Raking my eyes over the woman I got to call mine, I confidently said, “Yeah, Prez. I’m fucking her.” Noah narrowed her eyes at me in warning. My grin widened. “She’smine. What can I say?” I leaned in so mine and Noah’s lips were just barely touching. There was no mistaking the hitch in her breathing, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. “I’m just a sucker for a pretty face.”
“Christ,” Johnston snarled before abruptly ending the call. I lowered the phone from my ear, then pulled Noah to me so I could kiss her properly. She sighed and rested her head on my chest once we parted.
“Doesn’t sound like he wants me around,” she grumbled.
I shrugged. “He’s got no choice, mama.” I tightened my arms around her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I wasn’t lying. You’re here to stay.”
20
Blayke
Ilooked up from Geek’s laptop when Halo walked into the sitting room. Gidget was missing, which was a bit weird considering Gidget had been watching Halo like a fucking hawk since we’d gotten to Mexico. I frowned and sat up straight so I was no longer leaning forward. “Where’s Gidget?” I demanded.
“Taking someone into the basement,” Halo informed me, a cheeky grin splitting his face. He pretended to cast a line, then reel it in. “We caught us a mother fucker.”
Noah, who’d been playing on her phone, sat up abruptly at that, looking at me. I patted Geek’s shoulder. “You keep digging,” I told him, then pointed a finger at Noah. “You’re with me, mama.”
“He find anything yet?” Halo asked as the three of us made our way toward the basement door.
