Page 40 of The Senator

“Andy Bennett was a staunch supporter of Spencer’s, the two of them having known each other for years. Andy was like a mentor to Spence and campaigned with us the first year Spencer ran for the Senate, also stumping for Spence when he was running for reelection. Spence campaigned with Andy during Andy’s run for governor two years ago. Fast forward after so many years of friendship, and Andy hasn’t called one time to check on Spence since the shit hit the fan.” Vani seemed to be getting more upset as she sat there.

“So, what does that mean?” I was totally out of my element.

“There’s something more behind this, and it’s up to us to find out what it is. Spencer’s heartsick, so he doesn’t care, but someone is out to destroy him, and as a person who loves him, I’d think that would matter to you as well.”

The compassion in Vani’s eyes had me feeling embarrassed for treating Spencer callously and abandoning him when he was vulnerable. What kind of a person does that to someone they claim to love?

“Damn. Of course, you’re right. Let me shower and change, and I’ll… Wait, how did you get here?” I asked.

“I have a driver waiting for us outside on that shady parking lot. I’ll pack your stuff while you get ready.” The woman was headstrong for sure.

“I’m not…” I had no plans to leave the Shit Hotel.

“Oh, yes you are!”

“It’s a bad idea!” I was shouting, hoping the volume in my voice would emphasize my decision.

“Stop arguing and get dressed. Am I going to find anything embarrassing in these drawers?” Vani grabbed the duffel I’d finally bought, tired of trash bags as luggage. They reminded me too much of my days in foster care.

“No. There’s a bag of laundry in the closet, but everything else is clean.”

Vani Brady wasn’t one to take no for an answer. Besides, how much longer could I live without my heart? I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt I’d left it with Spencer.

“So, you contacted Denver to find me?” I questioned as I sat in the back seat of a Town Car next to Vani, who had a smug smile of satisfaction on her face. Of course, she had gotten her way!

“Denver and I are cut out to be friends. We see eye to eye on many issues, especially when it comes to you. That gentle giant thinks of you as a member of his family, and there is nobody on the face of the earth he wouldn’t fight on your behalf. He had his friend, uh, Pax? I think that was his name. Anyway, he had his friend track your cell, and Denver was kind enough to tell me where to find you. He tasked me with getting you the hell out of there before you got your gorgeous head blown off.”

That sounded exactly like Denver, and he’d get a piece of my mind when I had a minute. “I was perfectly fine. Look, I’m supposed to work at a catering gig tonight for Naomi Chu. It’s at the Mandarin Oriental in the city.”

I hadn’t consented to staying with her and Spencer, but I had agreed to get the fuck out of that slum hole where I’d been hiding out. Denny was probably right about me getting my head blown off.

“Well, hoity-toity! Whose throwing it?” Vani asked as we took the exit toward Great Falls.

Instead of answering, I turned to her. “Are you going to New York before Christmas?”

If I was going headfirst into their personal business, I deserved to know some facts, and if I walked into that house and held Spencer in my arms, the fight was over, and I’d be right where I didn’t want to be—in the middle of a divorce.

Vanessa glanced at me and then shifted her eyes toward the driver, giving a shake of her head that had me relieved. We shouldn’t be speaking in front of a stranger, and I respected her decision not to answer. “So, whose party is it?” she asked again.

I retrieved my phone, finding the message from Naomi Chu that included the details I needed for the night. I handed the phone to Vanessa, looking out the window of the back seat to see snow was beginning to swirl in the cloudy sky. There had been the smell of it in the air, but I hadn’t paid any attention to the weather before I was whisked away by Vani.

She handed the phone back to me and made a call of her own. “Hello. I’d like to reserve a room for the night.”

Vani quickly gave her credit card information and requested an email confirmation before turning to me with a triumphant smile. “I’ll get you an Uber downtown in a few hours, and I’ll have Spencer use the car service. I’ve already checked you in, so you’ll just need to stop at the front desk and pick up a key they’re holding for you.”

“Why? I have to work. I’m not a guest.” I was finding the woman to be ten kinds of dangerous.

“I know, and I got you a room at the Mandarin for the night so you don’t have to trek out to the house when you finish. You’ll have company. I trust you’ll be satisfied with it.” I glanced in her direction to see she was dead serious.

“I don’t know if that’s a good…”

Vanessa held up her hand to stop me from talking, her eyes shifting toward the driver again.

I glanced toward the tall man in the front seat to see he had wireless earbuds in his ears, and he appeared to be paying less than any attention to us. I looked back at my companion and laughed. “You’re just doing that to stop me from disagreeing with you.”

The car pulled into the driveway of the incredible two-story home where Spencer was outside with a rake in the front yard. He stopped what he was doing and stared at the car, leaning on the rake until I got out of the black vehicle.

The surprise on Spence’s face was instant, and I wanted to kick my own ass as I noticed the dark circles under his eyes. I’d done that to him, and I hated myself.

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