Power

Chapter 1

Jennifer

"Knock; knock, ready yet love?"

I turned to see Adam dressed in a black tux standing in our bedroom doorway looking at his watch, the one I got him for Christmas. Celine was hosting her annual charity ball at the Musée Jacquemart-André. "Almost", I said putting in my diamond drop earrings. I studied my reflection in the mirror; I had decided to go with a retro 20's look for my hair and a smokey eye look for my makeup with a bold red lipstick. My dress was full length red lace fit-and-flare style, with a v-neck. Adam came up behind me and warped me in his arms. "You look beautiful", he said leaning down to kiss my neck. It felt so good to be in his arms engulfed by his scent.

Trying not to laugh I said, "Well I have to try and keep up with you." I turned around and kissed him briefly. "We are going to be late if we continue this." I put on my heels and used his shoulder to keep balance," Is everyone else ready?"

"Yeah, Michael is at 404 House and the limo is out front." Adam said. Finally ready I got my coat that I had left on the bed and we both made our way downstairs. It felt like a dream being with Adam and at any moment I would wake up and be back in my bed in Missouri. It had been nine months since we had decided to give us another go and we are still going strong. We're not your traditional couple and our love story is definitely not Disney approved but I wouldn't have it any other way. After a contract marriage deal, being perused by assassins and a near death plane crash I'm finding it hard to believe that anything could break us.

Once we finally got in the limo Adam pulled out a small box and handed it to me, "I thought we agreed no more extravagant gifts like cars" I said remembering the Rolls Royce he gave me before Christmas.

"You said that, not me," he said smiling, "Plus, this is something you actually need." I opened the box and found a pair of keys. "Is this like the key to your heart because I like that? Awww I can wear it as a necklace and everything."

Laughing he said," Only you would come up with something like that but no, you already have that anyway; these are the keys to your new apartment."

"What?" I said shocked.

"Yvonne and I were thinking since you're going away to school the least we could do is find you a safe place to live. So, when I saw this place I couldn't pass on it; it's close to your school, in a good neighborhood, with security at the front desk--"

"Probably, cost an arm and a leg", I said cutting him off. I had decided to go to Columbia for medical school but, I wanted to make my own way. I got a teaching certificate so; I could find a job when I made it there in the fall of next year. Clearly, my mom and boyfriend/husband had other ideas. Adam and I decided to stay married so legally if the DEA's office tried to take us to court we couldn't legally testify against each other.

Adam continued "We just want to make sure you're safe, your biggest concern should be going to class and getting good grades not scraping by". I know his heart was in the right place and the few times I had looked in to accommodation it knew it was expensive to live in New York. "And for my own selfish reasons you're only 7 hours from Paris".

"Thank you, eventually one day I will be able to stand on my own two feet" I said smiling, "Then I can wine and dine you". I put the keys in my coat pocket, making a mental note to myself to search up the place as soon as possible. "I'll look forward to the day, love."

We arrived at 404 House, walking in I clocked Michael checking his self out in the foyers mirror. Michael had grown on me he was eccentric but lovable. I had started to see him as a little brother a pervy, but harmless, little brother.

"Damn, I look good like a GQ model", he turned to me," If you weren't dating Adam we would hundred percent be dating after tonight". Michael was wearing a black suit with a bow tie holding an umbrella. Combined with his British accent and polished look, he looked like a British stereotypical gentleman. Michael walked up to me and said, "Selfie? Sexy people have to stick together".

Adam rolled his eyes and went to find Brandon.

Michael held his phone up high and pulled me in for a hug I stuck my tongue out doing my best KISS impersonation.

Michael looked at the photo and said longing," The things that tongue could do". I pushed him away playfully and walked up the stairs to Kairi's room. We had an hour and a half to get there but I wanted to make sure we got there early in case Celine needed any help. I knew she wouldn't, she had planned our wedding day in less than a week. Everything would have gone perfectly to if it weren't for the explosions.

"Hey, girly are you--" I cut myself off when I saw her, "Brandon, what's happened?" I said concerned. Kairi's hair was a mess; she was a bright pink in tears, still in her PJ's. "The Nanny quit two hours ago, I've been trying to do something special for tonight" He said frustrated trying to pull her hair into two even ponytails.

Kairi sniffled, "It's the first time I get to go to Nana's party and, and--"

"Why didn't you call me if you needed help? You're not even dressed. Go, get ready we are leaving in 30 minutes. I've got this" I said.

He ran past me saying," Thank you! You are truly my favorite sister-in-law!" And with that he was gone.

I had better be I'm your only sister-in-law!

I grabbed some tissue off of Kairi nightstand and told her to blow her nose. "Now, let's fix your hair and put on your dress" I said as gently as I could, not wanting to upset her more. I led her to her bathroom, "I want to look pretty, too", Kairi said looking up to me.

"First off," I said," You are beautiful everyday and secondly we're going to get you ready properly now. Next time, if this happens you get daddy to call me so we're not rushing. Okay?"

"Okay," she said stepping up on to her step stool. My heart went out to Brandon, he is a single parent but still working,trying to give Kairi everything she could need. Sometimes he needed help but, he would never ask. I always try and offer, after the whole bomb situation he trusted me to do right by Kairi.

Adam

What is taking so long? We were only supposed to be here 5 minutes tops and here we are 45 minutes later, waiting on the girls.

I yelled up the spiral stairs to Jennifer, "Anytime tonight, love".

"We're coming, we're coming!" Kairi said running down the stairs, "Look at me, look how pretty I am, I'm a princess". She did a spin in front of me showing off her pink tulle dress complete with a flower belt and ribbons. Brandon had told me what happened with her hair and Jennifer had worked a miracle, putting it in bouncy curls and a bedazzled headband.

"Your prettier than a princess you know that", I said kneeling down.

"Yeah, you're putting them all to shame", Michael said coming up from behind me.

I called out to Brandon in the kitchen to get out of here, he cooed over how she looked, making her day. Kairi hadn't stopped talking about the party since she found out she could go. It will be the first time she would be attending an adult function.

"Ok, ok, I'm here! Let's go!" Jennifer said rushing down the stairs, with her heels in hand. I remember a time when just the sound of heels freaked her out. After the basement show down, she was different but with time she overcame it and is stronger for it. Hell, she even infiltrated Sliske Crypt system; something even I wouldn't have tried to do, she happily did it for me. I was lucky to have met her even if it started as a contract agreement. It still amazes me to this day how we have come so far.

She made it to the bottom of the stairs and leaned against the railing to put on her heels. Then sped walked to my side."Ready?" She said.

"I was ready an hour ago," I said helping her with her coat. We started to walk to the limo when Jennifer stopped and looked back at Kairi.

"You can't stomp in your beginner heels. Remember, heel-toe and heel-toe." She said using her school teacher voice, Kairi nodded and walked lighter. We all got into the limo and started to make our way to the museum.

Kairi sat next to Jennifer wanting her undivided attention while she played on her tablet, which Jennifer always gave her. I sat across from her and started to pour us drinks, once everyone had a drink Michael raised his glass high and said, "We drink tonight, for the children!" We clinked our glasses. Michael and Jennifer both chugged theirs seeing who could finish first, coughing she finished hers first.

"I want to clink too," Kairi said feeling left out, Jennifer found a glass and poured some water into in and clinked glasses with her. Kairi adored Jennifer and vice versa. When I had sent Jennifer home after the hitman incident in Rome I didn't just break my own heart I broke Kairi's too. To say it was just Kairi would be an understatement, my family missed her.

Now, just sitting here staring at her I can't believe I went that long without her. After, we got back together she showed me the highlights of St. Louis in the spring and summer. I started to introduce her more to the illegal drug trade world. I wasn't going to keep secrets from her with the DEA's office trailing behind her.

I would be damned before I let them turn her against me. I smiled thinking about that; Jennifer is too loyal for that.

"We're here!" Kairi squealed excitedly, she opened up the door and waited for us. I took Jennifer's hand and said, "Shall we, Mrs. Caffery?"

Smiling she said yes.