Page 13 of Twisted Contract

“Yes. I haven’t forgotten any of this. I’m really tired, and I don’t want to argue. I need to eat something before I take some more ibuprofen so my stomach doesn’t get injured.”

He raises his head from his paperwork and glares before he says, “No hard drugs. Can’t have a druggie in the family.”

“Enough. There is no hard stuff. Just antibiotics and generic over-the-counter pain meds because I had a bullet go through my body.” I want to tell him to try it sometime and see if he’d take something for it. The jerk is ticking me off, but I can’t shake my years of good behavior toward him.

“Of course. I’m sorry, sweet girl. Get some food and then rest.”

****

I stand between my father and Nick, and in a smooth, bold move, Nick takes my hand in his as my father begins to speak. “Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday was a harrowing day for my daughter. However, thanks to the wonderful members of the Chicago Police Department and medical services, she’s doing wonderfully and is here today to celebrate a special announcement. Attorney General Nick Mirren has asked my daughter to be his wife, and she has said yes.”

The crowd of reporters immediately grows loud with questions through the light cheers of the few people there, but I see a pair of eyes in the crowd through the bright lights—or at least I swear I do, but then he’s gone.

I want to shrink into myself as the reporters and all the news media ask way too many questions for my liking. Nick brings my hand to his lips, kissing the expensive ring. I’m not shocked by the public display because he wants everyone to see the piece without looking like a pervert. They ask about the massive age gap between us, and he says, “Sometimes love just overshadows everything else.”

“Miss Saunders, do you have anything to say?”

“Sorry. I’m still not feeling well after yesterday, but thank you for your well wishes.”

“My daughter has been through a lot, but we just wanted to reassure you she is fine and will be well. Thank you for your support. Now, we need to get her some rest.”

They lead me out with gingerly love, like they care.

As we get into the armored limo, my father glares at me, yanking my wounded arm. “You could have put on a more enthusiastic performance.”

“You know I don’t like the media, and I really don’t feel good.” They both look at me and notice my color has paled. My arm is bleeding again. “I think my wound is open again.”

Chapter Six

Connor

My teeth grind together as I watch that fucker take her hand. If I could put a bullet between his eyes, I would. Can’t he see that she is distressed? That she is on the verge of fainting and doesn’t want to be anywhere near there? Is she recoiling from his touch, or is that my foolish pride thinking I had some sort of effect on her? She wasn’t wearing a ring yesterday when we met, but she is today. His fucking ring.

I miscalculated the calculating little wench.

“Are you following them?” I put a tail on her to see if she was involved and if she was working with her piece-of-shit father. So far, she’s been up her father’s ass, and that asshole Mirren has been at his home all day.

“Yes. They aren’t going back to his mansion or the AG’s place. It looks like they’re headed to Northwestern.”

“The university?”

“No, the hospital.”

“What the fuck?” Shit, is she that ill? She didn’t look good on the stage, but that isn’t my problem. My phone is buzzing with a call.

“Keep your eyes on her. I have business to attend to. We need to find out who set me up.” I end the call and take the new one. “What’s going on, Jack?”

“Are you going to come over for dinner tonight?”

“Yes. I have a lot to talk about.”

“Good. John misses you.”

“I doubt it.” As much as I love my little brother, I’m not sure he remembers me like he does Jack. It seems I’m not a part of his life, even when I’m right there. I try, but it’s as if he doesn’t see me. It hurts, but I get it now more than before. Nora explained that sometimes kids like him pick one person to focus on and that’s it, but if I slowly keep trying with gentle movements, he’ll let me in. He used to let me participate, and he wasn’t screaming with me like he was with my father, but he shines with Jack. Then again, Jack was always a surrogate father to all of us.

“Don’t do that. John loves you in his own way.”

“I know that now.”

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