Page 43 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“We love you guys, too, and I don’t want to cause any trouble for you after everything you’ve done for us,” Eli said. “I’d hate that.”

“Don’t worry about us,” Nick said. “All that matters is that you guys and Scotty are safe and happy. The rest is just details we’ll figure out as we go along.”

“Thank you for letting me come here and talk this out with you. After I read that email, I almost had a heart attack.”

“That email was egregious, and we’ll make sure she regrets sending it,” Nick said.

For the first time since he arrived, Elijah cracked a grin. “Don’t eff with President Cappuano or his family.”

“Damn straight, my friend,” Nick said.

“I appreciate having you guys on my side.”

“We’ll always be on your side,” Sam said, “and Andy will do his very best to make this go away.”

“If it gets out, it’ll be embarrassing to you.”

“No, it won’t,” Nick said.

Eli gave him a skeptical look.

“Remember, I’m not running for anything, which makes me somewhat untouchable. Let them say what they will. I don’t care. I only care about how it affects you, the kids and Sam. I don’t care about being hurt politically, so please don’t spend one minute worrying about that. I fully intend to do my very best for the American people over the next three years, but I refuse to be bullied by people like Cleo’s sister.”

Eli released a deep breath and seemed to relax ever so slightly.

“Do you feel better after talking about it?” Sam asked.

“Yeah, and I’m glad Andy’s fired up about it.”

“He’s fired up because it’s an awful thing to do to a young man who just lost his father and stepmother in the worst way imaginable,” Nick said. “If anyone is going to come off looking bad in this situation, it’s Monique and the rest of the family who thought it would be a good idea to use that information against you.”

“In fact,” Sam added, “I think we ought to find a way to let it slip that they tried to blackmail you.”

“After the case is settled, of course,” Nick said, giving her a stern but amused look.

“Of course,” Sam said.

“You guys are funny,” Eli said, perking up when a knock sounded on the door.

“That’ll be your pizza,” Sam said.

“I’ll get it.” Eli jumped up to greet the butler and thanked him profusely for the late-night meal.

“You’re most welcome,” LeRoy Chastain said as he rolled in the cart that contained cutlery and china. “When you’re done, just put the cart outside the door, and we’ll take care of it for you.”

“Thank you so much, LeRoy,” Sam said.

“A pleasure, ma’am.”

Eli walked him to the door, shook the older man’s hand and closed the door behind him. “This place is the bomb.”

“Don’t say the word ‘bomb’ in the White House,” Nick said with a teasing smile.

Eli laughed, and Sam felt herself relax at the sound of his laughter. She hated to see him upset like he’d been when he first arrived, and she hoped Candace would reach out to him as soon as she could.

It sounded as if the two of them belonged together, and Sam found herself rooting for them to find their way back to each other.

Chapter Nine