Page 69 of Prodigal

The stage was set, with the members of The Council standing around in a semicircle. Once the door shut behind them, Gideon led André forward, releasing him so he could stand in front of the others with his head high and shoulders back.

He kept his gaze on André as someone handed him a piece of paper, old and frayed that had the rules of the proxy. Gideon knew those words by heart even though he’d recited them when he’d been just a mere boy. He remembered being scared out of his mind then, wanting to cry as all those scary grownups stared at him.

He listened now, as André recited the proxy vows in an unsteady voice. Gideon’s heart swelled with pride. He’d had no clue when he’d first encountered André that they would end up here. And he knew André still had reservations about being a part of The Council in any capacity, but this felt right somehow.

Silence settled around the room as André finished speaking.

“Now, we cast our votes.”

He held out a hand for André, who took it and asked in a whisper, “Wh-what happens now?”

“Now, we wait for the members to cast their votes,” Gideon told him. “I need to make my rounds.” He stared into André’s eyes pointedly. “Make sure everyone makes the right decision.”

André pressed his lips together with a nod. “Okay.” He leaned against a nearby wall, arms crossed. “I’ll be here then.”

“I won’t be long,” Gideon kissed him, then headed for his first target.

It didn’t take long at all. All he had to do was whisper a few words and he had those fuckers quaking and ready to vote in André’s favor. Joseph Morrow wasn’t in attendance, but his proxy—his son-in-law—was and seemed amenable. Satisfaction washed over Gideon as he made his way back to André. Once all The Council members, including both Gideon and Ennis, voted in André’s favor, it would be official. He was ready for it all to be over, honestly. Ready to take André back home. To be with Jules.

“The votes are in!”

He took André’s hand, the other man leaning on him as they faced The Council members, who now sat at the long table. Chinh Dang, now the only female on The Council, spoke. “All members except one voted yes.”

Gideon froze. Somebody voted against André? But he’d covered all the bases, bribed and threatened all the holdouts Ennis told him— He narrowed his gaze, turning his attention to André’s father, who sat there with his gaze averted.

The bastard couldn’t have.

“Who was the holdout?” Gideon asked.

“Winters, you know?—”

“Who was the holdout?” he demanded. “I want a name now!”

“Gideon.”

He ignored André as he stalked toward Ennis. “Give me the name of the holdout,” he told Chinh Dang. “And then I want said holdout to tell us why he did all this, named his son as his proxy and brought us to this moment, only to vote against him.”

“What?” There was so much hurt in André’s voice, but Gideon couldn’t focus on it. Not now.

“Tell us.”

Ennis heaved a sigh. “Maybe I was wrong. This might not have been the best?—”

Gideon held up a hand. “We need a recess. We will reconvene in half an hour,” he told the other members. “Meet us outside,” he directed at Ennis. “Now.” He went to André and took his hand, leading him back out of the barn.

“How could he do that?” André asked, hurt and confusion so heavy in his voice. “I thought this was what he wanted? How could he vote against me?”

“I don’t know. But I’ll fix it. I promise you.”

“Ready to leave?” Samir asked as they approached the vehicle.

“Not quite. Fucking Ennis voted against André.”

“Fuck.” Samir frowned. “Why?”

“That’s what I’m gonna find out. Get me Jorge.”

Samir stilled. “You’re sure?”

---