Page 29 of Accepted Precedent (Love & Politics #3)
Mickey
“ F uckin’ hell, Mick. Are you all right? I just saw what happened.”
I keep my voice light as I reply, “We’re fine.” Guilt is still festering inside me. Attending today was a mistake and I never should’ve allowed her to go.
“Kristin believes they're using campaign contributions to fund radical legislation and events like that damn protest. They were hoping Andrew, being married to Evelyn, would have information about one of the organizations she lobbied for. Once they realized he didn’t have intel, they abruptly ended the meeting. It was never about investing in his campaign. I’ve been doing a little research, and we need to find a way to defund the PAC without drawing attention to ourselves. We need to stop them.”
“Aye, but our plates are full with the Blakes and Taylors,” I remind him.
“There’s also the matter of Tim Fucking McKinnon polling for shite. We’ll need to throw more money at his campaign, or he’s going to lose.”
“I’ll take care of it. Send me the research, and if we have to, I’ll make his competition disappear.”
“Or make Tim disappear,” he grumbles.
I hate that after all these years he’s never let Ileah go, even if I empathize with it. If we didn’t need Tim, I’d free Ileah from her loveless marriage. She might not run into Finn’s arms after, but she deserves to be happy. All of them do.
“I’m at the distillery today,” Finn quips. “Let me know what you need, and I’ll take care of it.”
We hang up, and I spend the next few days putting out fires.
Most of all, we need to meet with Alex. After his little incident, pleasuring Jaclyn with his tongue in her cunt on a public beach, I had to pay off the paparazzi photographers.
His motives are clear—he wants Jaclyn. Unfortunately for him, she’ll be legally married to his twin brother once they file the paperwork.
Throwing a marriage certificate into a fire won’t stop the inevitable.
When he returns from Hawaii, he’ll need the reminder to be more careful.
I can’t trust my brother when it comes to Ileah, and I task him with cleaning up Alex’s mess.
With Christopher on the mend, I’ll have my hands full.
There’s too much to do and so little time.
Evelyn would be able to put him in his place without breaking a sweat, but I’d never want to corrupt my angel by bringing her into the folds of my work.
The gala put on by Jaclyn Taylor and her family could be the perfect opportunity to put pressure on him.
I’m struggling with how to resolve the situation in Delaware; I need things to move quickly. Tim has refused direct contributions in the past and may need convincing. I call the love of my brother’s life from my restricted number, hoping she can help.
“Hello,” she answers, curiosity in her voice.
“Mrs. McKinnon, good mornin’.”
“Y-yes?”
“This is Mickey Gallagher. I was hoping to reach you before you left for the day. Do you have a few minutes?”
Ileah goes quiet for a moment, then replies, “Mickey, hello. I have?—”
“An appointment with your hairstylist in half an hour. I’m aware.”
“How do you know that?”
“I know a lot more than you think,” I chuckle.
For a woman who dated my brother, she seems to have forgotten about the power we have in Washington—including access to information we shouldn't. “I only need a moment. I’m sure you’re aware of how your husband is struggling to secure donations for the upcoming election, and I'd like to help.”
“I’m not qualified to answer anything about this. Why aren’t you calling Tim?”
“Are you or are you not Ileah Vasileiou?” I hate that she’s suffering just like Evelyn has.
Both women are more accomplished than their husbands but have nothing to show for it other than a diamond ring on their left hand.
“Last time I checked, you were Ivy League educated and practiced law for many years prior to your marriage to Senator McKinnon. Your father sits on the Supreme Court, thanks to my own father’s help—may his faithful soul rest at the right hand of God.
You, Mrs. McKinnon, are more qualified than your husband to discuss this. ”
“If you want to donate to my husband’s campaign, you don’t need my help to do it,” she counters with a little more fire.
“Aye, but what I would like to propose is a partnership. If your husband doesn’t win in the upcoming election, and Christopher Blake does, the delicate balance in the Senate could be in jeopardy.
I’ll ensure you have the funds to reelect your husband, and when I require your assistance over the next year, you’ll help when needed. ”
“Again, why are you not asking Tim?” She huffs a humorless laugh. “I can’t help with anything, I’m just his wife.”
“You’re so much like your father.” I shake my head “You’re the future of this country, not Timothy. Give it some thought and enjoy your appointment, Mrs. McKinnon.”
I hang up and blow out a long breath. Regardless of my brother’s feelings, we need Tim to win. If we can’t secure Delaware, and Christopher makes a play for the White House, we could lose more than a presidential term—we could lose all of it.