Page 166 of Pandora's Pleasure

“I need you to do me a favor, Theo.” I reached into my purse and handed him an address. “Her name’s Phoebe Walden. She needs to leave the city. Find her a new home where she’ll be safe.”

“Who is she?”

“She helped me save the campaign, Mr. Tamer. Treat her well.”

“Got it.” He leaned over and whispered, “Will you tell me what Senator Godman did to put him on that list?”

“Goodbye, Mr. Tamer.”

With an uneasy expression, he climbed out of the car and shut the door.

The driver maneuvered the limo out onto the thoroughfare. Peering out the window, I watched the darkness fall away as we drove through the city. I recognized the route that led toward the airport.

My time in Washington, D.C. was over.

I forgave my parents for doing this to me because I understood them. They didn’t know what I’d done. In saving my father, I’d sacrificed my chance to stay.

What lesson had I learned from this experience? Even if someone has hurt you, even if someone has let you down, even if someone has tried to destroy your life beyond repair, it was a sure test of your character to do the right thing no matter what.

This was the true measure of a woman’s strength.

“Over there!” I pointed to the jet sitting on the runway.

Recognizing the Bardot logo stamped on the side of the private plane of a lion wearing a crown, I gestured so the driver would pull up beside it.

Theo had come through for us, telling me Pandora was being driven to the airport. He had told me everything. My old friend had procured this car and had all but shoved me inside it.

Theo’s words to me: “Go get her.”

The town car made it through airport security in record time. Being the son of a Senator came in handy at times like this when you were willing to break all the rules and people were willing to let you.

The metal stairs were about to be pulled away from the plane. Scrambling out of the car, I rushed toward them. “Wait!”

“You’re on this flight?” a crew member asked as I hurried up the steps.

“Is Pandora Bardot on here?” Without waiting for an answer, I flew in, hurrying down the short aisle, stopping only when I reached the front passenger seat and saw her sitting in the cream chair.

Pandora blinked up at me in surprise.

“This is a small plane,” I said, out of breath.

She waggled her eyebrows. “Usually, I prefer them much bigger.”

This was the cheeky Pandora I’d fallen for.

“You didn’t think I was just going to let you leave, did you?” I reached out to steady myself on the low ceiling. “Without saying goodbye?”

A fleeting expression of sadness showed on her face, and then she said, “Did you hear the good news about my dad?”

“It means our contract is back on. You’re tied to me irrevocably.”

She didn’t smile. “Did they send you after me because of the access I have to the BODI?”

“What?” I peered down at her. “It’s true? You actually went to Salvatore’s house? What were you thinking?” She started to buckle her seatbelt. “No, don’t get comfortable. You’re not flying off to God knows where so I can’t find you.”

“Is there a choice?”

“Yes, there’s a fucking choice.” I moved closer. “Dad told me what you did for him. That somehow you preventedReal Nationfrom airing some ridiculous lies about him.”