Page 73 of Power Play

But the other part wants her to win. To smear her success in the faces of all those fuckers who doubted her, who made fun of her as a kid. Hearing the long, detailed version of her childhood that day ripped my heart out of my chest, her tears shattering my one resolve to never kill for pleasure.

“I’ll be fine.”

No more untrue words were ever spoken.

* * *

Boisterous cheers pour out of the ballroom into the hallway where Tank and I stand stationed at the door. I catch his eye and smile.

“That's a good sign,” I mutter, going back to scanning the long, empty halls for perceived threats.

“I've never wanted to know the outcome of an election more,” he says with an annoyed huff. “Fucking killing me.”

“Easy, big guy. We'll know soon enough.”

Almost on cue, the doors fling open, a teary Randi marching through.

“We did it,” she breathes, clapping her hands in front of her chest with a hop of pure joy. “We won.” Midhop, she turns to Tank. “We won!”

“Congratulations, ma'am.” True happiness warms his tone, tugging his lips in an almost smile. “Looking forward to the next four years.”

“Me too, T. Me too.” She turns back to face me, and her smile falters. My brows rise up my forehead. “Can I talk to you, in private?” She shoots a worried glance over her shoulder to the now-frowning Tank.

“Fine,” he says like a parent would to a needy child. “Make it quick; I can't make excuses for too long. The bathrooms are down that way. At least make it look like he's escorting you somewhere other than a dark corner.”

Red flush spreads across her freckled cheeks. Ever since the press conference, she's dialed it back on the makeup and big hair, showing off more of her natural beauty.

I swing a hand out and bend at the waist in an exaggerated bow.

“Madam Vice President,” I say with a smile.

Her lips spread wide. We walk side by side down the silent hall. “Wow, this is really happening,” she says halfway to the bathroom sign. “Can you believe it?” Her shining eyes meet mine.

“I can. You deserve it, Mess. You and the people in this country deserve it. Someone like you has been a long time coming.” I give my head a quick shake. “I can't wait to see what you do to this town. It might never be the same.”

She snorts. “I sure the hell hope not. Now the real work starts, I guess.” We pause outside the women’s restroom. Her gaze flicks one way down the hall and then the other. “We haven't gotten a chance to talk… you know, about us and what's next.”

The vulnerability in her voice shakes my soul, rattling the promise I made to Tank about staying away.

“That was then. You're the vice president elect of the United States of America. Things are different now.You'redifferent.”

Tears well in the corners of her eyes. Glancing up and down the hall, I grip her hand and tug her into a side door that leads to a large empty ballroom.

“Don't do that,” I beg, my lips brushing against hers. “You're ripping me in two.”

“I don't want it to end.” Her voice catches. “Why can't we just keep sneaking around?”

“You deserve better than that, Mess. You know you do. And I need this solid line between us, both of us knowing that piece of us is tabled. Not over, just on hold.” I tug her close, sealing her chest against my own. Lips in her hair, I kiss the top of her head. “Don't ask me to choose between you and this job, between you and Tank.”

“I'm not. I swear I'm not. I'm just not ready for it to end. It’s just started.”

“I know, but it’s not really over. I don't know if we ever could be.”

Her shoulder shake, and I hold her tighter.

“Now what?” Lip trembling, eyes wet, she tilts her face up, eyes meeting mine.

The wet skin of her cheeks slides beneath my thumbs as I swipe away her tears. “Now… now we wait.”

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