Page 29 of Senator

I pulled both men to a stop, resulting in a frown from Tyler and a curious glance from Kevin.

“Kev, could you go and gather everyone in the library? I need to have a private word with my twin before I kill him.”

“Glad it’s you and not me.” Kevin smirked and patted Tyler on the shoulder before he made a beeline down the hall.

After Kevin’s footsteps quieted, I asked, “Ty, what are you planning? I think you should hold off for a second and let me fill you in on a few things.”

He ignored me and tried to move around me, but I blocked his way. “I know you don’t want anyone to know what happened to you, but other women are ready to come forward about Junior and his daddy. I think a few strategic leaks will shift the focus away from you, Sam, and Tara.”

“No. Absolutely not!” I said, but Tyler ignored me, lifting me to the side and walking down the hall.

I stomped behind him, entering the library a few seconds after Tyler. “Dammit, will you listen for a damn minute? Tara, Sam, and I have it under control.”

Sam sat on a nearby couch with her arms crossed and a pissed-off look on her face, Devin glared at Sam from his spot against the window, Veer fixed a drink at the bar in the back of the room, and Ashur and Tara were nowhere around.

“Have you heard the nonsense they’ve concocted?” I asked Sam.

“Oh, believe me. I have. These boys think we little women need them to rescue us. I think they forgot we could run circles around them when it comes to planning.”

Devin clenched his jaw, stood, and moved to the bar cart where he poured himself a shot and drank it down. “I will do what is required to protect my wife and family.”

“You will not leak anything,” I said. “We did nothing wrong besides have lunch and shop. For your information, a plan is already in the works. I won’t play this card unless it is undeniably necessary.”

“It’s necessary.” Veer walked up, handing me a tumbler of scotch. “We’ve discussed it, and it is the best way to get the media sniffing in a different direction.”

I cocked a hand on my hip and looked at Kevin, who stood just inside the doorway of the room. “Are you in on this too?”

“Yep.” He gave me a determined stare. “The five of us had a long time to talk before your arrival. We agreed it’s better to strike him where it hurts. This way he’s too busy dealing with the fallout from his antics to worry about what you’re up to.”

A pulsing pain throbbed in my head, and my temper started to boil over. I loved these men, but hell would freeze over before I let them take over.

I growled at Kevin, “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I am, Jaci.” He returned my scowl.

“I am only going to say this once. I love all of you for wanting to protect us, but a plan is already in the works, and you will not fuck it up. Do I make myself clear?”

Tara chose that particular moment to storm into the room, with Ashur steps behind her.

“Sam. If you want your brother alive, I suggest you keep him away from me. I don’t give two shits if he is over a foot taller than me. I will kick him into the next century.”

Sam shrugged. “Do what you have to. It may be better having one less stupid man in the room.”

Ashur scowled at Sam. “Stay out of this, Samina.”

“She’s only stating the truth.” Tara turned and poked a finger into Ashur’s chest, which he grabbed. “Your method of help comes with too many strings, Ashur Kumar. The one time I needed you, you never came. The hell if I’ll expect it now.”

“You tell him, Tara. My brother is too big for his britches.”

“Samina,” Ashur warned, still holding Tara’s hand, and then he said something in their family’s native language of Gujarati that had Sam flipping him the bird and responding with a string of words I could only assume were insults.

“Do I want to know what she just called him?” Tyler looked at Veer.

“Nope,” he responded with a smirk. “Sam, I know you didn’t learn those words from your mom. You could put a sailor to shame.”

Sam responded to Veer by switching languages to one I assumed was Tamil.

“Okay, okay. I’ll leave you alone.”

---