Taking a quick step back, I shut the door in his face, resolving not to have any more conversations with him if I could help it.
That man clearly didn’t like omegas, which meant there wasn’t a chance in hell we would ever get along.
Chapter Three
Election Fundraiser — Chicago, Illinois
3 months & 3 weeks until the election…
The ballroom was crowded as I trailed Lennon around it, forcing my way through the well-dressed partygoers in order to keep up with the blue gown-clad omega.
It had been a week since we’d met Lennon Holloway and she was still trying her damndest to show us just how unhappy she was with the current situation.
And I couldn’t really blame her.
Maverick had shoved his whole foot into his mouth on that first day and had set the tone for our working relationship.
Then there were his rules.
Maverick had always been a stickler for them. When we were in spaces where the political situation was hairier than most, the diplomats we were protecting were usually all-too-happy to comply.
But stateside with an omega who, outside of her initial kidnapping attempt, had never experienced being the true target of violence?
She was bucking against every new rule with a fervor that impressed even Dallas who was still busy pretending like she didn’t exist half of the time.
It was clear to me that Greg Brady had done everything in his power to keep Lennon naive to all of the things he was doing to protect her, which was a bit of a double-edged sword now that the threats were very real.
Lennon had no clue about the hundreds of people on watchlists because of what they were saying about her online, nor did she realize that the Secret Service and the FBI were tracking several of those individuals’ daily movements.
Maverick had begrudgingly agreed to keep Lennon in the dark, but he also asserted that the level of protection that Lennon would need when she was on the campaign trail meant that she would probably be uncomfortable for the next few months.
One of us was with her at all times, even in the residence, and any unsanctioned outings or activities were off the table.
We stuck to our schedule to a T. No ice cream trips, no impromptu visits to her assistant who was still on medical leave, and if she wanted to go anywhere, she would have to let Maverick know with forty-eight hours of notice.
Lennon hated it, but I knew what made it worse was that Arthur McDaniels had signed off on it all with the blessing of POTUS.
Dipping around a couple that was laughing together, I hurried to keep Lennon within an arm’s length as she greeted a group of senators.
“Ms. Holloway, it’s always lovely to see you at these things!” Senator Cambria exclaimed, her gaze traveling over Lennon’s shoulder to me. “And Ezekiel, I’d heard rumors that you were on her protection detail, but nothing concrete. I’m sure your father is ecstatic to have you back in town finally.”
I stiffened uncomfortably at her words as Lennon shot me a confused look over her shoulder.
Senator Cambria was one of my father’s closer colleagues as they worked on several committees together.
Her presence here probably meant that my father was somewhere nearby.
Suddenly, I was filled with the desire to swap out with one of the guys who were stationed around the outskirts of the ballroom.
But my luck seemed to have run out for the evening because I felt a familiar hand clap me on the shoulder as my father beamed at the other senator.
“Both Yukiko and I are extremely happy, Stacy. It’s been so long since we’ve had him close by,” my father said as he joined our small circle.
Lennon seemed to finally connect the dots, her gray eyes shifting to meet mine. “You’re Senator Adams’s son?”
“Our youngest that I was telling you about a few months ago,” my father answered for me, oblivious to my clear discomfort. “You actually met once before when you were both younger. Zeke here hates all of the attention that being on the Hill brings,butIlove being able to see him in action, it’s like my son has turned into James Bond all of a sudden.”
The rest of the people in our small circle laughed at my father’s joke, and despite my best efforts, I felt my cheeks and ears start to burn red.
