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“Incident,” I say with a snort.

“You look well enough. Must not have been as bad as the media was making it out to be.”

“We had it under control,” Trey says close behind me.

A tense pause pulses through the room.

“That's reassuring,” Kyle finally says. Brushing off a fleck of white lint from his otherwise pristine black suit pants, he raises his blue eyes to mine. “Seems your protection team is always in the right place at the right time”

I nod and shrug. “It's their job, isn't it?”

His hard gaze shifts over my shoulder. “It is. And here I thought you were nothing more than a rent-a-cop, Benson. Looks like you're useful after all.”

A low growl vibrates against my back.

“I came to warn you, Walmart.” Kyle sneers.

“Seriously?” I choke out. “You. Warn me. Against… what?”

“Not what. Who. I hear you've made some unsavory friends.”

Well, hell, that doesn't really narrow it down.

Russians?

DOJ?

Trey's mom?

It's a growing list.

“And if I did, why would that be any of your concern?” I ask. The plush cushions give under my weight as I drop to the couch and lean back like I'm not the tense ball of nerves that I am.

Something cold flashes behind his eyes. “Have you not learned your lesson? This city is not some damn hick town in Texas. These people play for blood and money, and you sure as hell can’t pay with cash. Take my advice, Randi. Not only are you in the wrong league here, you're in the wrong fucking game.”

“But the game is so fun,” I tease.

“You’re a damn fool.” Pursing his lips, he slides them back and forth, almost like he’s debating telling me more. “Just stay the hell out of my business, or it won't matter who you've fucked to keep you safe. No one will be able to protect you.”

“Is that a threat?” Trey's deep voice promises pain as he takes a challenging step toward Kyle.

“Take it how you want, but know this. If you don't keep her trailer trash ass out of my affairs, there will be no more warnings.”

“This trailer trash ass isn't stupid.” Both men shift their laser focus to me. Stretching my arms back along the couch, I give Kyle my best conniving smile. “You're doing something behind my back that's… unsavory at best, illegal at worst. However, I specifically remember signing an agreement stating I'd support you through the campaign and after. If I break said contract, I owe you a shit ton of money, which, as you know, I don't have.”

Kyle's eyes narrow. “Surely you don't expect me to believe that.”

I lift a shoulder. “Believe what you want. I stopped the bill.” I smirk. “Now all I want to do is focus on my other projects. Yes, the DOJ came to me asking for my help investigating something to do with you, which I’m assuming is what you’re referring to in the ‘unsavory friends’ category. But I shut it down.”

Kyle steeples his fingers, pressing the tips into the dimple of his chin. “Interesting story. Keep going.”

“That's it,” I admit with a laugh. “You're getting all stabby about something that hasn't happened. I know they're after something, yes, but that's it. I've learned that to get anything done in this town, you have to play the game. I've said before that I refuse to be your pawn, and I refused to be theirs as well. I'm in this for me. What I can do for the American citizens. Nothing else matters. You promised to leave me alone if I defeated your bill, which I did. Now you need to uphold your end of the bargain.”

Sweat slicks my palms and the back of my neck, but I refuse to drop his probing stare, refuse to show him any weakness. This is how I'll eventually beat him, by winning his trust. Shoving as many truth-laced lies as possible down his vile throat until he believes me.

“I’m inclined to disbelieve you.”

I lift my brows in a silent question.