Page 145 of State of Alert

“Don’t be pissed at the messenger. I wanted you to be prepared.”

“And now I am. Sleep well, friend. Glad to see you on the mend.”

“Are you going to the funeral in the morning?”

“I’m speaking.”

“Can I hitch a ride with you? They’re not letting me drive yet.”

“Of course. Leaving at eight thirty.”

“See you then, and don’t be pissed at me. I wanted you to know what was being said.”

“Good night, Avery.”

As she went down one flight of stairs to the residence, she processed what Avery had told her. People were talking about Juan and her role in perpetrating the deception. Should she get out ahead of any reporting on the matter, or would it be better to keep her mouth shut when, or if, it became public?

She had no idea, so she planned to ask the savviest media strategist she knew—the guy she slept with.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Before heading into their suite, Sam wanted to check on the kids. She stood outside Alden and Aubrey’s room, smiling when she heard whispering. She went in to sit on the edge of their bed. “Why are you guys still awake?”

“We were waiting for you, Sam,” Alden said with a cheeky grin.

“Are you trying to charm me, mister? If so, it’s working.”

He giggled madly when she bent to kiss his sweet face.

“I’m charming, too, Sam,” Aubrey said.

“Yes, you are, my love. How was your day? Did anyone puke at lunch?”

“Not today,” Alden said.

The joyful sound of their giggles filled her soul and brought tears to her eyes as she thought of their selfish grandparents trying to upset their lives once again. She couldn’t entertain the possibility that they might succeed, or she’d be sobbing in no time.

“You need to go to sleep.” She adjusted their covers and kissed them both again. “I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

“Okay, Sam,” Aubrey said.

“I love you.”

“Love you, too,” they both said.

Sam took their sweet love with her when she went to check on Scotty, who was out cold with Skippy by his side, the two of them snuggled up to each other, snoring like two old men. Smiling, she bent to kiss Scotty’s forehead and gave Skippy a pat on her soft head. She wondered if the dog had been outside recently, but she’d wake up Scotty if she needed to go, so she let sleeping dogs—and boys—lie.

After she shut off Scotty’s TV and the lights in his room, she crossed the hall to their suite where Nick was in his office, poring over the correspondence and briefing books he brought “home” with him every night.

Sam stood in the doorway for a few seconds, just watching him, before she cleared her throat to let him know she was there.

As he spun around to face her, his smile made her whole damned day. “There’s my lovely wife, home late from running the streets and causing trouble.”

“That’s me, your little degenerate.”

He reached up to take off his glasses.

Sam stepped forward to stop him. “Leave them on. They do something to me.”

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