Page 57

I’m silent, still processing.

“Christ, Augs. Did you pay attention to anything in school?”

I can’t help the smirk that forms on my face. And even though she can’t see me, I know Anna is rolling her eyes.

“For fuck's sake, you are such a dog. Julius Caesar was assassinated in forty-four BCE. It marks the first significant modern overthrowing of a monarchy. The wreath is representative of the crown worn by Caesar.”

Maybe it’s the cognac but my mind slowly begins to piece together what she’s telling me. And now I’m even more confused.

“But...why in the hell would the son of a U.S. senator be part of an anti-monarchy movement?” I ask.

“That’s an excellent question. I don’t know, but we sure as fuck are going to find out now.”

I grin. “Does this mean we can use your intelligence resources?”

Anna groans. “Yes, asshat, I’m going to call Jack. I think this might just be the tip of one giant iceberg. Don’t do anything until I call you back.”

“Whatever,” I mutter and hang up.

I walk out to the pool and plop into a chaise lounge.

“Can I get you anything?” Franny asks, appearing seemingly out of thin air.

“Just a water,” I say.

He nods and is back in a matter of seconds with water. I take it and stare back out at the pool. I wonder what Kate is doing right now.

Kate

“What’s up?” my dad asks, nudging my shoulder as I stand with my hands on the railing of the yacht he chartered for the day.

“Just thinking,” I answer vaguely, hoping he’ll drop it.

He leans his elbows on the railing next to mine. I look at the hands that are so familiar to me. They say the presidency ages people, and my dad is no exception. His gray hair is more prominent and his skin more wrinkled. But beneath it all, those are the hands that used to toss me in the air and push my swing and hold my hand when crossing the street. I put my hand over his.

“Dad?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

“How do you do it?” I ask.

“Do what?” he says on a chuckle.

“How do you do your job and then come over here and just...be my dad?”

He smiles fondly at me.

“Being your dad is my number one job, always has been and always will be. The other stuff…well, it just fades away when I’m in dad mode. I’ve learned to separate my two worlds. You have to, or it’d be too much for any one man to handle,” he explains. He looks down at me. “What’s with the heavy questions?”

I shrug. “Just curious.”

My dad gives me a pointed look because, well, he knows me. Even though we don’t talk as much as we used to, I’m still his little sidekick, his ice cream tester, his hiking buddy.

I sigh.

“It’s that Prince August, isn’t it?”

Well, shit, the man is nothing short of perceptive. I know I can’t lie to him but I sure as shit can’t spill everything. So, I decide to play along.