FIFTEEN
T he old ache settles in my chest, the way it always does whenever Cole’s death is brought up. Which seems to be a lot more frequent these days than ever before. What didn’t I know about my brother? What’s going on in this country that the public has no idea about?
Even without knowing much about this organization they speak of, I realize now that the heart of our society pulses with dark secrets and lies I never dared to imagine—the kind you see in movies and stuff. The facade of normalcy slowly shatters around me, leaving me with a gnawing sense of dread and unshakable unease.
Sucking in a breath, I tilt my head at an angle, my eyes sliding over to Cam’s as I say, “Doesn’t that mean… you’re part of that organization too?” I glance over at the door, my pulse quickening as I connect the dots. The President told her to behave. Now she’s telling me this… so Cam probably lured me here, away from everyone’s eyes, so she can—
“ Dove ,” she says, placing a hand over mine. I jo lt, releasing the air trapped in my lungs as fear takes over. “I’m married to the President. I’m wearing his shock collar, for God’s sake. Do you really think Rowan would’ve let you come with me if I were a threat?”
No, no he wouldn’t. Unless… unless he has no idea.
But it’s hard to believe he isn’t in the know about stuff like this.
“You just told me you’re involved in the murder of my brother. How am I supposed to… What am I supposed to do with this information?”
“I said my father was. And I only told you so that it doesn’t take you by surprise after we’re already deep into this friendship,” she sighs. “I was born into the EFW. For a long time, I had no choice but to serve at the shrine of my father’s power. The things they do, Dove… you wouldn’t wish them on your worst enemies. They run the banks, the courthouses, the education system, the pharmaceutical industry… everything. And people like you and me? We’re just like puppets on a string to them. Numbers. Cattle, if you will.”
“Even you?” I ask, realizing that I’m practically squeezing her hand between mine. She squeezes mine back, and the gesture embraces me in a sheer layer of temporary placidness.
She nods. “I try to do what I can from this position, but my impact is limited. I can do all the humanitarian work in the world, but if the EFW wants people to die, they’ll die. They do die, in fact. Every single day. From wars. From cancers with no cure in sight. From accidents that aren’t truly accidents, just to make sure someone more important steers clear of crimes committed in their past.”
Tears pool around Cam’s stormy irises, as if the doors of her heart burst open under the pressure of everything she’s been through, unable to contain it anymore. She blinks them away, waving her hand in the air as the smell of acetone from her freshly-painted nails wafts between us.
“It’s not fair. And it hurts so much—knowing I get to live this life while so many others suffer under my father’s thumb. If it wasn’t for Maddox I would’ve probably been dead by now. I should be, in fact. And I am truly sorry, Dove, for everything we’ve put you through. For taking away someone you loved so much—” I lean in, placing my other hand over hers as if we’re old friends from high school reconnecting after long years.
“I think… I think whatever horrors you went through, Cam, trumps any heartache one can have. It’s not your fault. And thank you for trusting me enough to share this with me. People talk about these things, you know. Conspiracy theorists and all. But to think that this is the reality we live in…”
“You should be careful,” she says, heaving out a long sigh. “Being with Rowan puts you even higher on their hit list now. They’re always looking for ways to weaken our party so they can put someone else at the top—someone they can maneuver the way they want. Why aren’t you living with him, by the way? Do I have to fucking spell it out for him? I know he’s got a lot on his plate these days, but seriously—”
“No, no, he’s actually asked me. Twice. I just… don’t want to push him away by being there all the time, you know?”
“That’s stupid, and it can get you killed. Listen to me. You need to pack your stuff and go live with him for a while. The man is clearly obsessed with you. You really think he’s going to dump you for giving him something he so desperately wants?”
I roll my eyes, puffing a breath as I remember Odette Chevrier and the stupid warning she issued that day when I met her. Don’t give him everything he wants all at once. It’s not that I intentionally wanted to follow her advice. But I guess deep down, I kind of thought she was right.
“This woman… Odette…”
Cam laughs, her head dipping backward as her chest accommodates the generous sound. “ Please , tell me you aren’t doing this because of something Odette Chevrier said to you.”
“I mean…”
“Oh my God! Okay, you’re in desperate need of some good ol’ fashioned Cam advice. That woman is a snake. We don’t like her. She does people favors and has everyone wrapped around her finger for when she needs them. But the things she asks for are…” She shakes her head. “Outrageous. One time, she coerced the former Chief of Staff into making her Secretary of State. I don’t know the kind of dirt she had on him, but he was forced to beg Maddox to appoint her for the role, when she didn’t even meet the requirements in the first place.”
“I think I read about this online. Speculation only. I didn’t know if it was real or not.”
She smacks her lips. “It was. This is why the Chief of Staff had to resign. But then we got Reid Cranford hired for the role instead. So in a way, Odette did us all a favor. Anyway… the point is, go take your man, tell him you’ll move in with him, and suck him off real good tonight. He’ll appreciate it.”
“Cam!” I laugh, looking around for any staff that might hear us. “Not so proper for a wildly respected First Lady, are we?”
“Took you long enough to realize that.”
I purse my lips, lost in thought as the manicurists come back into the room.
“Anything else we can do for you today, ladies?” one of them asks.
Cam and I look at each other, a secret—and a deeper understanding of one another—binding us closer than we were three hours ago. And I know, just from the way her smile reaches her eyes, that the friendship we developed today will probably last for the rest of our lives.
“Everything all right?” I ask Rowan when he enters the Vermeil room. Cam had to leave to prepare for an interview, so I waited here for him with a tray of chocolate and a glass of wine laid out before me.
I get up from the couch and come to greet him. His jaw is tight, his hair a bit disheveled, and the fact that he keeps silent makes me think it’s not just the war planning that has him looking so grave.
His eyes roam over my body hungrily, his hand finding its way through the layers of hair covering my shoulder and pulling me close. I let him do it, approaching with small rapid steps until I crash into his hard chest.
“I missed you,” he says in that low voice I love, teasing my lips with his in a soft, tender caress. “I thought having you close by would be easier, but it only made me want you more. Is that crazy?”
“Well, you did say being bat-shit crazy was a prerequisite for earning the highest rank in the military.”
His chest rumbles with a hum of approval, making me smile against his lips.
“I was waiting all alone in here, you know…” I slide my hand down his chest, watching his eyes darken in response, a silent question looming behind his irises. “And I was thinking that maybe…”
His chin dips ever so slightly, all his attention on me.
“Maybe moving in with you wouldn’t be so bad after all. I’ve found that you don’t snore as loudly as I was picturing it in my head.” I grin.
“Oh, really?” He grabs my ass, squeezing hard. “Is that why you haven’t so far? Because you thought I snored?”
“That… and the fact that I didn’t want to make you get sick of me so quickly. This is still so new. Us.”
“You’re lucky you said that. Because the punishment I was about to give you for what you did earlier… I’m about to turn it into a sweet reward.”
“What? What did I do earlier?” I ponder, though I know the exact moment he’s referring to. “And why am I getting a reward?”
Rowan’s mouth twitches with a smirk as he grips my chin and tilts my head up, keeping it in place.
“You don’t call another man ‘sir.’ Ever. I don’t care if he’s an old teacher, a neighbor whose name you don’t know, or… God forbid , the President.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I laugh, though my breath catches in my throat when the look on his face tells me he’s not joking. “What should I call them then?”
“I don’t care. You want to use that word so badly, you tell me. I’ll bend you over my knee and listen to you say it for as long as you need.”
I bite my lower lip, feeling my cheeks burn under his gaze. “And the reward?”
“That’s for speaking your mind with me. I hate that you think you could ever make me get sick of you, but I love you for telling me.”
“ Love … me?”
He smiles. “Let’s go home before I paint the President’s furniture in your sweet cum.”
“Tempting,” I grin. “But I need to get back to my apartment first. I need my laptop and a few clothes.”
He lets go of my chin as the grave expression from earlier returns to his face.
“You can’t go back there, angel. Not for a while.”
My brows knit together in confusion. “What? Why not?”
I watch his mouth move, the words registering.
My bones shake with fear, and I hold onto him, not knowing how to react.
“Someone broke into your apartment an hour ago. There’s blood… everywhere. And one of my men is dead.”
“What…?” I stare at him with wide eyes. I bring my hand to my mouth, adrenaline rushing through my veins at the thought of my imminent death.
“Which means that when you saw that orange,” he continues, “chances are they were there minutes before you saw it. I’m sorry, Dove, but I’m no longer leaving you out of my sight.”