Chapter 35
Daniil
The next week is a huge pain in my ass. I spend mornings with Micah and late nights with Courtney, but most of my day is spent either working on revisions for the pipeline bill and trying to figure out what else might be going on behind the scenes.
It’s strange how reluctant some members of Parliament are to do something that has so much potential to bring economic stability to our country.
The excuses are ridiculous.
Türkiye shouldn’t get any of our oil profits, much less forty percent.
When I counter by asking who’ll pay for the pipeline, the most common response is: the royal family.
It’s frustrating feeling like there’s someone—or a group of some kind—working against us.
And when I find out who it is, I’ll make sure they go to prison for the rest of their lives.
“There’s definitely something going on,” Erik says in a closed-door meeting between him, Sandor, and me. “An old CIA colleague of mine is trying to find out what’s happening, but the rumblings are always the same. Bojovnik Brat this, possible rebellion that, the same bullshit.”
“I don’t have time for another god damn revolution,” I snap. “I’m getting too old for this shit.”
“You’re getting old?” Sandor arches a brow. “I’m older than you.”
“As am I,” Erik says.
“How do you think about your children in one breath and then the idea of another revolution in another?” I demand. “It drives me fucking nuts.”
“You can’t let it bother you,” Erik says patiently. “We’re strong. We have a solid base of supporters. Security is tight. This is just another blip in the radar.”
“It’s not,” I protest. “What do we do if this bill doesn’t pass?
This is the only way to keep the country running.
We don’t bring in enough with our exports to survive.
If we raise taxes again, there will definitely be a revolution.
At some point, we’re going to run out of money, and I would prefer it not be at the cost of us personally going bankrupt. ”
“No danger of that,” Erik says mildly. “Most of our personal finances are tied up in foreign investments and accounts. The only thing we keep local is the oil money. That’s what sustains us.”
“Which is why it needs to grow!” I growl, frustration heating my skin.
“Hey, we’re on the same side here,” Sandor interjects.
“I know, dammit, but how the hell am I supposed to convince Courtney to stay when I can’t spend more than an hour a day with her?”
The room goes quiet and then Erik smirks.
“So this is about a woman, not politics.”
“Not entirely, but yes, that’s part of it.”
“Things are going well then?” Erik’s eyes twinkle with amusement, which just frustrates me more.
“I don’t know,” I growl. “I haven’t spent more than ten minutes a day of quality time with her the last week. I’m going to wake up and find she’s gone back to the States one of these mornings.”
He cocks his head, expression growing serious. “Is this serious for you, Dan? You can’t marry her just because you knocked her up. If that’s all this is, let her go back to the States. Throw her some money and be done. This life isn’t for most women, especially if you’re not in love.”
I huff out a breath. “When have we had time to fall in love? When I was in Vegas, that was about getting to know my son and figuring out what to do about the situation. By the time we got here, and I came to terms with how deep my feelings for her are, it’s been nothing but a whirlwind.”
“But whirlwind literally describes our life,” Sandor says needlessly. “If she loves you, she has to understand that.”
“How is she going to fall in love with me if I can’t spend time with her?
She barely even liked me before I found her in Vegas!
All she knows is the playboy prince who used to be married to a man and took an oath to put his life on the line for someone else’s children.
” I meet Erik’s gaze guiltily. “And you know I don’t take that lightly, but from the perspective of an outsider looking in, what the hell do I have to offer her? ”
“Are you asking me?”
“I’m asking you to look at it from her perspective, and not your own.”
“Okay.” He shrugs. “Here’s an almost completely unbiased observation. One, you’re wealthy. She would have a very good life. Two, you’re good-looking, and based on what I’ve heard, the sex isn’t a problem.”
I grunt, but don’t say anything because Erik is a force to be reckoned with when he’s on a roll.
“Three, you have a supportive, loving family that’s accepted her into the fold without question.
Four, your sister-in-law is one of her best friends, which means she always has someone to turn to and talk to.
Someone she can trust, outside of her relationship with you.
Five, you’re a good human being. She may not know that yet first-hand, but I know it, and she will too, given some time. ”
“Okay, so there are pros,” I admit. “But what about the cons?”
“There are a few but you both already know what those are. Have you discussed them?”
“Some. Again, we never seem to have time together.”
“What do you need?” he asks quietly.
“I need to get this fucking pipeline bill passed so I can concentrate on my woman and my son!” I snap.
“I’ve sent Ace into the field,” he says, leaning back in his chair. “Put him undercover at the refinery up north. He speaks fluent Russian, so he’ll go that route, see if there are any rumblings up there.”
“I appreciate it,” I say. “But what do we do in the meantime? I spoke to Rupert Dien, and he said he’s not privy to some of the secret conversations because everyone knows he’s loyal to us, but there have definitely been closed-door meetings for select members of Parliament. And they’re all the ones voting no.”
“Do we know who they are?”
I give him the list of names I got.
“Klaus Reinhold owes me a favor or five,” Sandor mutters. “And let me sic Elen on Nicola Mendal. She’s gone to Elen for multiple education-related needs—she may be able to push back.” Elen is our Minister of Education, a job she never wanted either but is extremely good at.
“That’s two,” I say blandly. “Out of nearly a hundred.”
“All it takes is a few people standing up to whoever’s behind all of this—or better yet, telling us who it is.”
“I don’t want to do this anymore,” I say quietly.
“Do…what, exactly?”
“Parliament. I’m not a politician. We all stepped in so you would have power but it’s more than I can stand.”
“You think I like it?” Sandor counters.
“Maybe not, but you’re good at it. Really good at it.”
He seems surprised for a moment and then dips his head graciously. “Thank you. I appreciate hearing that.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Tell me something…” Erik asks. ”What would you be happier doing?”
I meet his gaze directly, my expression neutral. “Sandor’s job.”
He nods. “You’d rather run the Protectors.”
“Security and espionage is what I did in exile. It’s what I’m good at.”
Sandor nods. “I understand that. The problem is that I don’t want to fuck around with politics, either.”
“Where does that leave us?” I ask after a moment.
“I don’t know,” Erik admits. “The Q3 planning meeting is coming up in September, and that’s when we’ll discuss next year’s elections. I think we come up with suggestions for replacements. I can’t fix anything if I don’t have options, but I also can’t carry the load alone.”
“Believe me, I understand that. Or I would’ve already walked away.”
“Hang in there a little longer, okay?” Erik says gently. “Take some time to woo your woman and find your footing as a couple, because you’re going to need her at your side no matter which way you decide to go in the future.”
“She’s worried about her job,” I admit. “She’s anxious to get back to Vegas and I can’t go anywhere until we settle this pipeline bullshit.”
He nods. “You want me to have a word with Chains? He owes me a favor.”
I chuckle. “She will cut my nuts off if I try to get her fired.”
“Nothing that drastic. I’ll just hint about what’s going on here, see if he takes the bait.”
“Thank you.” I clap him on the shoulder as I get to my feet.
“Go spend time with your family,” he says gently. “The pipeline bill won’t get passed tonight, no matter what you do.”
I hesitate but then nod. “Thanks—I’m going to do that.”
I turn and practically run for the elevator. If I hurry, I can catch Courtney before she feeds Micah his dinner. Maybe I can even take them out somewhere. There’s always something to do in the city in the summer months, and Marcus and Harlow might want to come along.
An evening to clear my head might be just what the doctor ordered—for both of us. It may even afford me the opportunity to tell Courtney some of the things that have been on my mind with regard to what we do going forward.
Because letting them go is no longer an option.