Page 110 of Release

Unfortunately, Aussie is her father’s child in many ways. “What’s the ask, Aunt Case?” She has her mother’s smile and it breaks my heart more every day.

“Actually, it’s not for you. It’s for Ashleigh.”

The girl looks up. “Me?”

“Yeah. I need to meet with a donor on Sunday evening for a few hours, but I need to be discreet. I’d like to borrow your car.”

Aussie understandably looks confused. “You can borrow mine, Aunt Case.”

“Yes, but it’s registered to your father, honey. The whole point of me borrowing someone else’s car is that no one recognizes it. Also why I don’t want to rent one and have it easily traced back to me.”

“Ohh,” both girls say. Ashleigh grins. “Political intrigue! I like.”

“Nothingthatcomplex,” I lie. “But my life will be infinitely easier if I’m not tied to this meeting by randos. Some donors are scared off if too much attention is paid to them, and this is one of them. So, can I borrow it?”

Ashleigh shrugs. “Sure, Aunt Case.” I love that she calls me that, too. From what I’ve seen, she’s a great kid, and Aussie loves her. “I don’t mind.”

“Thanks. I’ll pick it up late Sunday afternoon and have it back in a couple of hours.”

I spend a few more minutes chatting with them, and I only feel a little guilty about having to lie to them. It’s for the greater good.

Literally.

I’d been waffling a little until the fucker gave me pushback about condoms. That he would dare think about trying to pull that bullshit with someone like me, someone with privilege and power, means the fucker has spent his life rolling over the backs of others who didn’t have a fraction of the power and privilege.

I’m only home maybe ten minutes when my gate chime beeps, and I realize it’s Declan. He walks into my kitchen a few minutes later and lays his keys on the counter. He’s still wearing his blazer, but he’s loosened his tie and unfastened the top button of his shirt. He drops to his knees in front of me and gives me our customary greeting, cupping his hands around my heels as he touches his forehead to the tops of my feet.

“Hello, Ma’am.”

“Hello, boy.” I lean in and ruffle his hair. “How’d the taping go?”

He sighs. “Good, I think. Lowry’s guy walked into it thinking he was going to make me look like some alt-right Nazi sympathizer trying to defend the next Hitler-in-training. Before we were done, I made him look like a Communist and basically had him admitting his candidate wanted to repeal the Second Amendment.”

The laughter rolls from me. Lowry’s an independent who won’t even take a half a percentage point, statewide, so we’re not really worried about him. “Wow. I can’t wait to watch it. That won’t play well at the polls for Lowry.”

“No,” he agreed. “You know it’s bad when Bailey’s guy was siding with me and telling Lowry’s guy he was full of shit.”

Bailey is George’s Democratic rival. “Ouch. Maybe we can tap Bailey for a cabinet position, or special advisor.” George likes to have bipartisan support in government. I tap him on the head to sit up. “How do you feel about our chances against them?”

“Lowry’s a non-starter, seriously. I’m not worried about him. Any punches he takes at George, we should basically ‘bless his heart’ him and go on about our business. The more attention and validation we give him, the more noise he’ll make.”

“And Bailey?”

“I’m not going to jinx us, Ma’am.”

“What do the numbers show.”

“They’re promising. But we can’t afford to slack off.”

I step in and let him hug my legs. He rests his head against my thighs as he holds me and I stroke his scalp. “Good job, boy,” I softly say. “I appreciate how hard you’re working for your Sir.”

He softly sighs. “Thank you, Ma’am.” We stand there like that for a few minutes. I know he needs this time with me, and it’s time we haven’t had a lot of lately.

George needs him more, though. I’m okay sharing him.

At least, that’s the lie I tell myself.

“Sir is talking about maybe going hiking on Sunday, Ma’am. Would you like to go with us?”