Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
This is a problem.
Gideon knows people. Lots of them. And he’s also acquainted with President Huxley. There’s something here. I know it. I just need to drown out all thoughts of Romy—her scent, her taste, her hot little mewls of pleasure—and remember why I do what I do.
Learn everything.
Make moves in silence, behind the scenes.
Find Calista.
What about Romy?
She was a tool to be used to gain access to other avenues, and while that was achieved, she’s still nothing more than a distraction.
I’ve dug my grave, though.
Do I simply “break up” with her? Send her packing back to college where she can continue on with her life before Theo interrupted it?
That answer doesn’t feel right either. My gut tells me to hang on to her—that her usefulness will continue.
But how can I stay focused in the meantime?
I can barely keep from getting hard every time I’m reminded of what we did this morning. She’d felt so fucking good. It was a brief moment of true pleasure for me, something I rarely indulge in.
“It’s been ages since I’ve seen the old coot,” Dad says to Gideon. “How long has it been for you, Gid?”
Gideon darts his eyes my way, then returns them to my father. “About the same as you.”
Dad strokes his trimmed, white beard as if deep in thought. “I suppose we’re well overdue for a reunion. All three of us.”
Gideon’s cold features turn impossibly frosty. The vibe I’m getting is that neither of these men truly likes our president. If they were friends in the past, it’s long since been forgotten.
“I doubt he can accommodate so many guests last minute,” Gideon says blandly, though stupidly revealing his hand. “I mean, the Secret Service have security checks to do. Perhaps just the two of us should go.”
Dad, whose eagerness is always shown in the way he can’t seem to sit still, shakes his head, grinning. “Nonsense. We’ve known him from before he was someone so important. He’ll make the room for all our guests.” Then he leans forward, grin turning wolfish. “I’m sure he’d love to meet that pretty daughter of yours.”
The two men have a silent stare-off for what feels like an eternity. I don’t dare break the spell as I attempt to figure out what’s going on here. There’s a whole unspoken story I need to uncover.
“We had an argument. I’m not sure she’ll even want to attend,” Gideon says in a dismissive tone. “Rubbing elbows is hardly her thing. She’s just a college kid.”
She’s far from a kid.
She’s all woman.
I’m sure as hell not offering that to the conversation, though.
“Huxley will wonder what brought our two families back together after all these years,” Dad says, pressing on. “How serendipitous that your daughter and my son began dating. It was almost as if we planned it ourselves.”
Our relationship was absolutely fabricated as a necessary means to correct what Theo had done. As far as the rest of how she came into our lives, it gives me pause. Dad placed Megan into the CUP program and handled her transfer afterward. I’d known she’d gone to New York and had taken up residence with a businessman, but it wasn’t until after I’d set up the call between Megan and Romy that I learned there was more to her placement.
She’d been sent to live with Bastian Langston, Romy’s brother.
Alarm bells ring inside my skull, but I don’t pay them the attention I want to because I need to keep up with this conversation they’re having. Or, better yet, pissing match.
“…wouldn’t put it past you to design all this just to screw with me,” Gideon says testily. “I advise you not to forget I know all about what you do. I’m in the thick of it with you.”
“You think I’m playing mind games with you?” Dad asks, scoffing. “If I were, you wouldn’t know about it. Trust me.”
Gideon turns his gaze my way. “Is this all a ruse? A setup? Why is Romy going along with this nonsense?”
Without missing a beat, I say, “She’s pregnant and I’m going to marry her.”
Dad’s head whips my way and Gideon gapes. Hell, I’m shocked at my lies, but I need to keep both these men on their toes. They’re not the only ones with power around here. I’m playing my own game and they’re pawns in it.
“She can’t be,” Gideon clips out. “She’s in college. That’ll ruin her life.”
Leaning forward, I rest my elbow on his desk and meet his gaze. “From the sounds of it last night, you did a fine job of ruining it long before I came along.”
Men like my father and Gideon Langston aren’t used to men like me. They get what they want because they throw around their money and connections and blackmail. I don’t want money or power. I just want my fucking sister.