Page 59 of Magnetic God

“I don’t deserve her, but I’m going to do whatever it fucking takes to win her back.”

Isa wipes at her eyes. “These damn hormones.”

Ace pulls her close. “Are sexy as hell.”

“We are not hooking up here, Alessandro.”

He wiggles his eyebrows. “A challenge?”

“A fact.”

I snort because I know Ace. He’s going to see this as a challenge, no matter what his wife says.

She must know it, too, because she says, “Let me say goodbye to Hannah and then we can leave.”

“I like the way you think, wife.” When she’s gone, Ace says to me, “Seriously, don’t do anything stupid.”

“I won’t.”

“Brooks.”

“Ace.”

He sighs. “We’ll find something on Jacqueline. Until then, we have to play this smart. Have you heard from Grant?”

“He’s been busy, but finally replied.”

“And?”

“And he said he’ll help if I pledge my support to his campaign.”

Ace says, “Always a catch with that one.”

“Well, the joke’s on him because he already had my support.”

“That was before you were an Elite Member,” Ace says with a frown. “It means more now that you’re a big dog.”

“Don’t remind me.”

Isa returns at that moment, looping her arm through Ace’s. “Let’s get out of here, husband.”

The two leave without even looking my way. My chest is tight, and I rub the spot just over my heart.

I want what they have.

Turning, I find Hannah watching me. And I want it with her.

15

Hannah

Dave throws his arm around my shoulder, laughing loudly at Senator Ryans’ bad joke. No, bad doesn’t even begin to describe what he just said. Awful. Offensive. Would get him cancelled in a minute.

And Dave is laughing. It’s disgusting.

My head throbs. I need another drink, but I’ve already had too much. My gaze dances around the room and lands on Brooks, who’s staring at me with an intense look on his face that takes my breath away. I used to pray that I’d see him looking at me that way again after we broke up, even though I knew it wasn’t good for me. Hell, I would put myself to sleep making up stories where we were still together. And the way he’d look at me? Was just how he’s looking at me right now.

I turn to Dave and the Senator. “Excuse me. Someone is calling my name.”

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