Page 51 of Caught By the Chief of Staff

“I’m sorry,” Rick says. “So fucking sorry.”

“Me too.” Wes sighs. “Anyways, it sounds like there’s more to your story than ‘some shit came up over an old mission.’”

“You’d be right,” Rick says, closing his eyes tight. “Someone kidnapped my daughter after blackmailing my wife.”

“I’ll be at your house in D.C. at nine,” he states and then hangs up.

“Typical Wes,” Rick grumbles, making Jake laugh. “Still calling orders.”

“Looks like the gang is getting back together.”

“So what now?” Captain Black asks.

“I think we need to figure out who could be behind this,” Jake responds.

“And we need a plan to get my daughter back,” Rick growls.

“Oo-rah!” Gus, Joe, and Captain Black all shout.

“I can’t help but feel like this all goes back to getting to the president,” Captain Black says. “I don’t know the story as well as you do, but—”

“But what?” Rick asks.

“It all sounds to me like someone is moving the pieces on a chessboard, and it all goes back to the president. I think we need to go way back before they were married. Before Mrs. Donovan was even in the picture.”

“We’re going to need sustenance for that,” Jules says. “Is there any food in this joint?

“The freezer and pantry should be fully stocked,” Rick says. “I don’t come out here enough to keep perishables in the fridge.”

“Excellent,” she says as she claps her hands and jumps up to move into action. Grace tries to jump up too, but her heavy belly has her off balance and a little stuck.

“Fuck,” she bites out. “Jules, give me a hand or I’ll never get up.”

“Well, why didn’t you say something, darling?” Jake’s eyes twinkle before he lifts her up like she weighs nothing at all and sets her on her feet. “There you go.”

“Yes, thank you,” she says, making it sound like a blatant threat. Jake pats her on her backside, making her growl before she stomps off into the kitchen behind Jules.

“Uhh… I should go make sure she doesn’t poison the president,” I say, making the room chuckle to various degrees.

Rick just smiles at me. “I think they’ll be fine,” he says to me before placing a gentle kiss on my temple.

“Now, where were we?” Captain Black asks.