IN

was when I finally

he venue, the tears began to fall. Not gentle tear

driver said softly

the rearview mirror. Samuel. He'

between sobs. "Yo

s full of pity.

the staff know that my husband prefe

side of the road and t

ly. "But we hoped... we hope

esn't even want me. I'm just a prop. A

"You seem like a nice lady

nds. "I thought he was saving us out of kindness. But he b

Then he asked, "Where would y

sive, cold hou

me to a bar. Any b

and, I don

hour. I need one hour wher

on the other side of town. Not the kind of

I wait?"

ll call

land... b

and wen

e dress. I found a corner booth and ordered whiskey. I didn't even like w

ing down. Better than

when someone slid into t

gh n

ready to snap

ster

ival. The man running agains

espised more

re. On screens, across crowded r

he was

s han

grey eyes that seemed to strip away every pretense. Where Castor was p

ickened des

here?" I asked, my w

g. Shouldn't you be at home, w

warned. "

mething shifted in his expression. I sa

quietly. "Smiling, calm, graceful. N

tried to sound c

marriage. That you are

me. "You don't know

"I know your marriage is a performance. I know who

dened. "Ho

s to know everything

naled the bartender with

ffee for the

t want

t look away, not even for a secon

e kind that made my skin crawl. A differ

een crying,

ed, defensi

drinks

h one finger, then settled back, b

continued, "what are yo

ugly. "There's nothing to do. I'm stuck for f

umber. "Just long enough for him to win this election

but my face must

nd I saw his lips t

ight back,"

he power. The mone

Sylvester leaned forw

birch. Warm and rich. It filled the space between us, intoxicating me

ould end his entire ca

aze. He was immaculately dressed in a black suit. Clean-shaven. Strong square j

I told myself it

was I finding

over breakfast. The man I had been told to dislike on sigh

luttering that had star

," I managed to say. "I'

," he said. "Documents.

u're suggesting I sp

tim." He pushed the coffee closer to m

ersuasive, it was grounding. Pulling me i

hands around

" I asked. "What'

but his gaze stayed on me. "Let's just say I don't like men who h

't even

now you were a kindergarten te

ned around the mu

debt after your father died. Medical

Shame. Anger. The past I

use of that," Syvelster continued. "Because y

en investi

arch." He paused, his eyes lingering over me for long moment

oom felt a little more stable. The ache in my c

ght back," I said quiet

ld tea

ld you d

be stopped," he said. "He's hurt

dropped for a heartbeat

r the cameras while you were dying inside, it reminded

ho

"Different situation

scle jumped near his templ

d between us.

e. At the swirl of da

said at last. "Castor might

em? Get them somewhere safe

t him sharply. "

card and slid it across the table, his fi

ll me when you're ready to stop being his

od to

rned back. "That person you couldn't s

led herself to escape her pain. I couldn't save her." His ga

the air as I stared down at the business card li

unable to lo