I’ll have to work on giving them the slip,Jamie decided as he followed his mother out of theoffice.
Dealing with the Secret Service was a massive inconvenience, but that wouldn’t stop Jamie, nor Alpha Team, from finishing themission.
* * *
Leah linkedher arm with Kyle’s and guided him over to the living area just past the open-plan kitchen. Kyle’s eyes darted around, getting a mental headcount of everyone in the room—political aides, consultants, and Secret Service special agents who all seemed to be coming andgoing.
“How have you been?” Leah asked as they took a seat on the comfortablecouch.
“Can’t complain,” Kylereplied.
“Ready fortonight?”
Kyle smiledtightly. “Sure.”
“Liar,” sheteased.
“Okay, yeah. I hate being in the spotlightlikethis.”
“Jamie doesn’t like it either, but he’s good at maneuvering through the verbal landmines. Just follow his lead, and you shouldbefine.”
“You mean be armcandy?”
“There’s less talkingthatway.”
“Arm candyitis.”
Not that Kyle minded being linked to Jamie in such a way. They weren’t going to confirm anything about their supposed relationship to anyone tonight, but that wouldn’t stop the gossip sites from, well, gossiping. Kyle had shown up in the holopics with Jamie back in January, endured his fifteen minutes of fame, and tried to keep a low profile when not working a mission. He and Jamie had turned into homebodies on certain occasions between being in the field and on the campaign trail. Alone time was difficult to come by, and Kyle had a feeling it would become even scarcerafterthis.
Secret Service special agents were normally assigned once a candidate was confirmed during the national political conventions. Rarely were they assigned to a candidate in the early days of the race. Kyle wondered if whatever threat had prompted early assignment was related to the mission at hand. Either way, it wouldn’t be easy keeping a security detail in the dark about what they really did. There was a reason Jamie didn’t have private security like the rest of his family. With his job and his status as a metahuman, he didn’tneedit.
“You’ll be fine,”Leahsaid.
“If yousayso.”
She beamed at him, and Kyle couldn’t help but smile back. Things had been easier between them over the past few months, ever since Leah found out about him and Jamie. They still weren’t close, not how he was with his own little sisters, but they got along, something he knew Jamie was happy about. Knowing that he had at least one more person in his corner would make tonight easierforKyle.
They chatted a bit longer about the latest television show Madison had wheedled the entire team into binge-watching—an absolutely terrible teen drama involving the supernatural that none of them could stop watching—and were arguing about the latest plot twist when Richard stepped out of the office. He shouted loudly for Juan, who came running from the outside hallway. To Kyle’s keen eyes, Richard didn’t look entirely pleased about whatever had transpired. Moments later the senator was ensconced in a circle of campaign workers and Kyle chose toignorehim.
It was a couple more minutes before Jamie and his mother exited the office. If Richard looked displeased, then Jamie’s expression was downright stony, though Kyle wondered if anyone else outside the Callahans couldreadhim.
Jamie made his way over to them and Kyle stood up to greet him. “Did everything go okay?” heasked.
Jamie ignored the question, catching Leah’s eye. “Can we use your roomtotalk?”
“Go right ahead. I don’t need to finish getting ready for another hour or so,” Leah said, wavingthemoff.
Kyle fell into step beside Jamie as they made their way through the suite for the smaller of the two bedrooms. Some of Leah’s clothes were laid out on the bed, as if she were still deciding on what outfit to wear. Kyle, having grown up with two sisters, knew just how indecisive they could be when it came to theirattire.
The door closed and locked behind them. Kyle stayed where he was and watched as Jamie prowled the bedroom in a fit of silent anger before he shook it off. Jamie dragged both hands through his hair, looking frustrated andtired.
Kyle went to his side, pulling his hands away from his head. “Whathappened?”
Jamie grimaced, looking through Kyle as his thoughts took up most of his attention. “My father has had some threats made against him. That’s why he asked for and was granted Secret Serviceprotection.”
Kyle slid his arms around Jamie’s waist beneath his unbuttoned suit jacket. One of Jamie’s hands settled at the small of his back, pulling him in closer with a sigh. “Your father always receives threats, and most of them don’t pan out. What’s differentthistime?”
“Nothing, according to him. He’s using it as a means to boost his standing in the polls. Being targeted ensures more stories on the newsstreams.”
