Page 69

Horns blare all around us. Glancing out the window, I realize we've stopped in the middle of an intersection. With a huff of annoyance, T slowly eases back into traffic while I detail out the specifics of the call as best I can remember.

“Sounds shady as hell,” Trey says to T with a glance back at me. “Is there any way for us to trace the call?”

I shake my head. “It was an unknown caller, but that's not strange. Most calls are blocked.”

T yanks the wheel a little harder than necessary. I smack both palms against the window to keep my head from doing the same. “Easy there, big guy,” I say. “Don't blame the messenger back here.”

“Sorry,” he grumbles. “It's just that you don't know everything that's going on.”

I toss both hands in the air in utter defeat. “Because you told me not to worry about all that shit. Remember the cold shower incident?”

“I know,” he grits out, slamming a fist into the dash.

“What do you want to do?” Trey asks, looking at T.

“Abort.”

“Whoa.” Grasping both men's shoulders, I give them a quick shake. “Let's go check the place out first. If there are other cars in the parking lot, some activity at least, then we go in. If not, then we leave. I really need this, guys.”

“Do you?” T says with an incredulous tone.

“Um, yeah, I do.” Looking to Trey, I roll my eyes.

Trey sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “Mess….”

“For fuck’s sake, just tell her,” T barks. “We're almost there.”

I peer out the windshield. At this time of night, the traffic is still so heavy that we have a few minutes of traffic lights and waiting before we reach the restaurant, even though the building is within sight.

“Tell me what?” I ask, confusion clear in my voice. When he doesn’t respond, I shove his shoulder. “Tell me what, Trey? You’re freaking me out back here.”

“He bought the motherfucking votes you need,” T grits out.

I tilt my head, eyes searching Trey's, probing for the truth. “What does he mean?”

Trey's Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “I went to my parents. They've promised me the Senate.”

I slam my back against the seat. The pulsing energy from seconds ago drains from my veins. “What?”

Trey unclicks his seat belt and climbs over the center console into the back seat. A few awkward moves later, he slides into the other captain chair and closes his eyes. “I knew you didn't have the votes, so I went to my parents and asked for their assistance.” His eyes flutter open and find mine. “They have a lot of pull in this town. I just wanted to help.” His chest balloons up with his heavy breath as he stares down at it. “I can't imagine you leaving.”

I suck in a harsh breath, suddenly remembering I need to breathe to survive. My eyes search his, but I know I won't find any deceit behind them. His heart was in the right place, sure, but he still went behind my back. These past few weeks of fighting to schedule meetings, the highs and lows of wondering if I'll secure the Senate, was it all for nothing?

“Say something, Mess,” Trey pleads.

“I don't know what to say.” It's the truth. I'm not mad, yet I'm not happy. So what does that leave? Empty?

“We're here.”

Glancing out the window, I see several cars in the parking lot plus the lights still on inside. I swallow and look back to Trey, whose honey brown eyes are burning a hole straight through me. The need to breathe grips my lungs, but his presence, the closeness, prevents me from taking a deep breath.

“I need some air,” I rasp before yanking on the handle and shoving the door open. T and Trey both shout behind me, but I'm already halfway out of the car. The moment both feet are on the black asphalt, I shut the door and lean back against it. Beside me, the driver door surges open with T barreling out at the same time. The agents in the other two SUVs file out, assuming the normal formations.

The back of my head smacks the window. Staring up into the cloudless, starless dark sky, I take a deep breath and hold it.

“He means well,” T mumbles. Peeling my eyes open, I find him standing in front of me, gun between his hands. “Can we just get back in the damn SUV, please?”

“If he meant well, why didn't he tell me to begin with? Was he going to let me think all this was done on my own?” Sighing, I pitch forward, placing my hands on my bare knees. “I don't know how to feel.”