Page 298 of Lodestar

“I will pass on the information to the press and they will start their hunt into the clients of said brothel and your government will be in a shitstorm that you can ride through with your fancy approval ratings to reelection. Unless you were also a client?" At his rapid headshake, I mused, "There's no point in lying to me. I'll find out soon enough."

"I'm not lying. Whores have never been my vice."

I hummed my disbelief but merely said, "Regardless, amid the maelstrom, Foundry’s and Smythe’s disappearances can be covered up.

“That’s your role in this.Don’t ask questions.As you said, Smythe has become a part of your family. The president would wade into any investigations on his next-of-kin's behalf. Don’t do that. Keep your distance.”

“It’ll seem strange if I don’t!”

“It won’t. You should expect a call from Mr. Kuznetsov later.” His eyes bugged at Kuznetsov’s name. “He permitted me to speak to you before him which I’ve done as a courtesy to Aoife. This isn’t a request,sir.It will become an order.

“Much like you helped provide your wife with a pocket of space where she found herself without the Secret Service, you will appear to facilitate the investigations into Foundry’s and Smythe’s disappearances but you will do no more than you are legally obliged to. Much as you’ve done with the investigation into the First Lady’s death.” My top lip quirked into a sneer. “Turning a blind eye is something I think you’re good at.”

Straightening, I moved from the wall and headed into the living room.

Before I reached the doorway, he rasped, “In our Brothers we trust?”

Frowning, I turned to look at him. “I’m not a Brother."

"Neither am I. My wife was."

I blinked.

Was there anything that skeevy bitch didn't have her nose in?

"Kuznetsov is my grandfather,” I shared warily, one victim of a narcissist to another.

“You’re Galena’s daughter?” he rasped.

It was my turn to freeze. “Galena?”

My surprise appeared to ease his discomposure. “Your mother was a friend.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Were you fucking her too?”

He scowled at me. “No. As I said, she was a friend. A good one. Her death was… It was a sad day when we lost her.”

“You say that as a...?”

“A friend,” he repeated.

My mouth tightened. “How close are you to Kuznetsov?”

“Why do you think I’m the president? I paid a lot of dues to reach this position. The Five Points weren’t the only ones who got their pound of flesh when I reached the Oval Office.” He hitched a shoulder. "Elizabeth slept with Anton whenever he was in town."

Well, that was more than I bargained for—talk about the whore who kept on whoring. And with Anton’s wrinkly raisins too.

Eww.

I studied him longer than I should have, until my words finally formed. “If I were you, sir, I would resign from reelection. You might win, but if the truth comes out about Aoife, then it isn’t only your life you’ll be ruining—it’s hers too. I don’t think she deserves that, do you?”

Not looking back, I headed out of the suite and moved toward the elevator. As the doors closed behind me, I delved into my pocket and retrieved another cell phone.

“Did you get all that?”

Conor huffed. “Of course I did.”

“How did the NSA get access to your laptop? Do you think they’ve discovered Maverick’s worm? You took that with you when you went into Langley, didn’t you?”

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