Kelsey
The flight to DC wasn’t too bad, but being pregnant and having to pee every five minutes was the hardest part. Typical airplane toilets are so tiny and unstable, but Ryder’s private jet is luxurious. It’s still a pain in the ass with the turbulence.
Ryder told me about him being promoted to Director of DISS after the unfortunate death of Lilith.
So, that’s where we are headed now in a White House Escalade that picked us up from the private airport.
Henry still has no idea who killed her and hasn’t asked.
Apparently, she didn’t mean as much to him as she thought she did.
Henry still doesn’t know who I am or that I’m even accompanying Ryder this evening for their meeting.
Ryder is leaving it up to me to decide whether Henry knows I’m his granddaughter or not.
I want to meet him physically before making that decision.
Some people are better off not being in your life.
Ryder also informed me that Henry has no knowledge of having a grandchild.
Everything he knows was a lie, fed to him by Lilith, and my father covered her ass.
I wonder if he knows my father, Lucius, is dead and that it was Lilith who had him killed? Doubtful.
We’ve kept this hush-hush with Jessie for the time being.
For all she knows, we are on a trip to celebrate our engagement.
Hayden still requires monitoring. He’s pretty much healed aside from doing his physical therapy and taking his meds, but he won’t do either of those things without somebody making him.
So, that’s all Jessie needs to be concerned about right now.
We arrive at a set of tall iron gates. The driver pulls up to the speaker, where he scans his badge and is granted access to enter.
“Welcome to the White House,” the driver, Sam, announces.
He’s an older man with white hair and a white beard, but I wouldn’t put it past him that he could open a can of whoop-ass in a millisecond if he needed to.
My eyes go wide as I stare out of my window at the massive building ahead of us. I’ve seen pictures and read about the White House, but nothing compares to seeing it up close like this. One hundred and thirty-two rooms look a lot more possible now that it’s sitting right in front of me.
“Holy shit,” I mutter.
We pull to a stop, the driver and passenger step out, and open the doors for us to exit.
The other security guard, Mark, offers his hand to help me step down, but Ryder nudges him back, taking his place instead.
I bite back a grin. Ryder’s gotten much more possessive over me lately, and I have to say I love it.
I look to Mark, “Thank you,” I say kindly at his gesture. Even if Ryder was a bit of an ass to him for doing his job. “You don’t have to be so rude, babe.”
“Nobody but me touches you, understand?”
I wrap my arm around his, holding onto him. “Understood.” I nuzzle my head into his bicep, smiling.
My feet ache from these heels. I’m not sure why I chose to wear them when I’m five months pregnant.
Well, yes, I do. I wanted to look my best when coming onto White House grounds.
Especially if I decide to tell Henry he’s my grandfather.
I’d like his first impression of me to be respectable and not slummy.
My heels click as we ascend the polished concrete steps, and my palms begin to sweat from my tensed nerves. I adjust my hair around my face and smooth down my black pencil skirt and blouse. The solid white oak doors slowly creak open, and two butlers stand on either side.
The one on the right speaks into his earpiece, “Mr. Langley has arrived with Kelsey Anderson.”
He nods twice before responding, “Yes, Sir.” He extends his arm out, motioning us in. “Right this way.”
We step inside, and I’m taken aback by the pristine view. The shiny, polished white and cream granite flooring, the red accent drapes, and the red carpeting on the stairs. It’s mesmerizing. The air smells old and historical.
“Mr. President will be meeting with you in the Oval Office,” He explains as he leads us through two sets of elevators.
He has to scan his badge each time to grant him access, just like Ryder’s office.
Then we climb a set of stairs. By the time we make it to the West Wing, I’m wiped out of breath, and my knees shake from exhaustion.
I’m going to need one hell of a nap when we get back to the resort.
The Oval Office is extraordinary. Henry rises from behind his desk, situating his tie and suit jacket. He clears his throat, “Please, have a seat.”
Ryder and I sit side by side in the plush luxury armchairs in the center of the room.
My blouse clings to my sweaty back, and I try to steady my racing heart by taking slow, deep breaths.
My ridiculous brain starts feeding me irrational thoughts.
He could have us killed and cover it up so well that nobody would question it.
Henry takes the seat across from Ryder and offers his hand to shake.
Ryder hesitates, and it does nothing to calm my already insane nerves.
He finally takes his hand and shakes it once.
Henry does the same to me, except he holds my hand a while longer.
I can feel Ryder’s intense stare drilling holes through our hands.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you look so much like my late wife.”
His words have a knot forming in my throat. I swallow, but it’s no use relieving it. I have nothing to say, so I just smile politely.
Ryder and Henry discuss business regarding the DISS. My back aches from sitting so properly for this long, and my bladder feels like it’s going to burst. Every time the baby kicks, I have to clench my thighs to keep myself from peeing all over this chair.
“I look forward to working with you, Ryder.” He stands and extends his hand for another handshake. This time, Ryder returns the gesture without hesitating. I stand, anxious to get out of here and to a bathroom.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t get over how much you look like Victoria.” He says, facing me. His brows pinch in concentration as he assesses my features to compare to whom I assume would be my grandmother.
“I-” You can do this. “I’m your granddaughter.
” I make the confession with my eyes focusing on the points of my heels.
I peer up at him through my lashes, afraid of how he will take this news.
His hand rubs his chin, but his emotions are hidden.
The room goes silent and awkward as we wait for him to say something. Anything.
“Lucius?”
I nod.
“I don’t understand,” He admits, rightfully confused. His life has been a lie just as much as mine has been. All credit to Lilith.
I go over everything I learned from my father’s letters and what Lilith told us before we killed her, but we leave out the details of Lilith’s death. He doesn’t need to know that. His next words catch me off guard.
“If she wasn’t already dead, she would be by my hands.” He growls, and I begin to see the real side of Henry Vaugn.
I was finally able to relieve myself in the restroom and went back to his office to finish our conversation.
Turns out, Henry is a great man. Of course, he bears his own demons, but what person doesn’t have their own secrets and shames?
He does what he has to do. We showed proof of the schemes Lilith was running right under his nose, and he vowed to shut it all down and free thousands of innocent women and men in her trafficking ring.
Together, we will be offering those women mental health and housing resources to get them back into society.
Not only will Lilith’s operation be shut down, but anyone who worked for her will be meeting their maker early. Ryder and Teegan have spent countless hours concocting a full list of everyone working for her. I feel a huge relief after meeting with him, and I am hopeful for the future.
Looking back, it’s insane to think of how I went from the average only child living in the suburbs to a human trafficking survivor and granddaughter of the president of the United States. Not just that, but soon to be a mother and wife to my amazing husband, Ryder Langley.
Henry walks up to me, his eyes look heavy and glossy, “May I hug you?” I nod, and he wastes no time.
He wraps me in a tight embrace, and tears fill my eyes.
I wrap my arms around his waist, and the tears begin to fall down my cheeks.
I hear him sniff, and his breathing pauses.
I feel like I’m hugging my father one last time.
The hug is everything I didn’t know I needed.
He pulls back, and I see his cheeks are wet with tears, too.
He pulls the handkerchief from his suit pocket, dabbing it dry.
He lays his hands on my shoulders. “I’m so sorry I haven’t been the grandpa you deserved, but I promise moving forward, everything will change. It’s an honor to be a part of your life, Kelsey.”
I don’t know what to say, but Ryder steps closer, pressing his hand to the swell of my back. “We’ll be in touch, Henry.” Then he looks down at me, “Let’s go home.”