Page 116 of Jonas

“No need. I can find my way,” Penny said and scrambled to her feet.

“I’ll go up with you,” Derrika offered. “I can use a soda.”

I hoped Penny in all her nervousness didn’t notice the mini fridge right behind her.

“I’ll come up when this is over,” I told her.

“Okay.” With a quick brush of her lips against mine, she stood.

Zane waited until the door at the top of the stairs closed before he said, “She’s gone.”

“I want Senator Rutte brought in for questioning,” Graham said.

“Is there a specific place where you’d like this questioning to take place?”

“Your discretion.”

That was shocking and a testament to how pissed Graham was.

“I’ll let you know when it’s done,” Zane said flatly.

“Lucas Grant and I will be there.”

“Sir, I strongly⁠—”

“Lucas and I will be there,” the president insisted.

“Trent, listen to me⁠—”

“You were right earlier. I was wrong. I’m hesitating not because I don’t know what the right thing to do is. I’m hesitating because of polls. I made a promise to myself, not to lead as a politician but as a man who deeply loves his country. I’m only in this office because I work for the people. And my people are under attack. I want Rutte. My gut says he’s behind the insanity to move the Pentagon’s data offsite but I can’t prove it. Even so, I’m going with my gut on this and trusting you and your team. After we speak to Rutte, I’ll move to next steps.”

That sounded a lot like we were going to war with China.

“Trent—”

“This…” Trent growled. “Is a declaration of war, and the United States of America does not cow to anyone.”

With that, the President hung up.

I couldn’t stop my smile.

“Do you know Penny?” Kira addressed the elephant in the room.

“Nope.” Cash shook his head. “I’ve never seen her before in my life. And with a face that pretty, I wouldn’t have forgotten her.”

Out of the corner of my eye I caught Lore flinch. Again it was there and gone, just a flash of Stella before Lore was firmly back in place.

“Great. If we’re done discussing how pretty Penny is, can we get back to it? I volunteer to track down Rutte.”

Without skipping a beat, Zane declared, “We need Penny. So if you’d please stow your murderous tendencies I’ll give you a gold star when this is over.”

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

“Stella,” Nebraska warned.

“Fine.”

Fuck. Derrika was right. Not only was Lore searching, she’d found what she was looking for in Cash.