Page 79 of Go Deep

“Watch yourself, bro.” I glare at the guy, but even though he pounded my bad shoulder with the door, I can’t stop the gleeful yelp from exploding out of my mouth when my eyes drop back down to Vince’s smiling face.

He just told the world he loves me.

The guy who barged into the bathroom practically mows me down to get to the far stall. “Damon, I know you’re in there. Open the fucking door.”

He’s tall but lanky, and I really don’t see how he’s going to?—

With one hard kick, he juts his large black boot against the lock and it crashes open. Damon’s back is against the wall, his cock hanging out of some other guy’s mouth.

“Jesus Christ, Liam,” Damon whines. “Chill the fuck out. I’m just having a little fun.”

“We come here together and you just take off with the first guy who waves a few bucks in front of your face? What the hell are you doing with that guy? He’s like a hundred, for fuck’s sake.”

My eyes drop to the man with Damon’s dick in his mouth. I don’t think, I don’t breathe, I just very discreetly point and shoot my camera at the sight in front of me.

If I felt gleeful before, I’m fucking bubbling over with ecstasy right now.

Liam reaches down and pulls the guy sucking Damon off to his feet, which is a pretty dangerous move considering his teeth could easily clamp down on the shaft by accident, and then goodbye to Damon’s dick.

He hurls the guy against the wall next to me.

“So,Bob. Funny meeting you here, and on your knees with a mouthful of cock.” I grin. “I’m thinking about the caption on that photo. I don’t know, I really like ‘Say cheese, cocksucker.’ I think it’s perfect. So literal.”

Bob’s face pales. “I-I can pay you.”

“There’s no amount of money you could give me that will take away the joy I’m going to feel when I send this picture to the senator and his son. And fuck you for trying to ambush us with that video.”

He balks. “I had nothing to do with that video!”

“Bullshit. Now I’ve got proof that you’re a fucking lying sack of shit, and I can’t wait until the whole worldfinds out that you’re a two-faced bastard who likes to ruin lives for pleasure. Your plan failed, though. You didn’t win a goddamn thing. This time, your little scheme really bit you on the ass, didn’t it? But then again, silver lining because…” I lift an eyebrow. “Based on what I saw in that stall, I bet you like that.”

Chapter 32

Vince

“Stop looking at me like I’m dying,” Dad grunts, shifting on the mattress in his private room at Good Samaritan Hospital. “You just told the world I’m going to be fine, right? If I can recover from a heart attack, gallstones are child’s play.”

“Are you in pain?” Eva yelps when she sees Dad clutch his right side. “I can get the nurse to up the dosage of?—”

But Dad waves his other hand in the air. “Nothing I can’t handle.” His eyes slide toward me. “You did a really brave thing, Vince. I’m proud of you.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t know how your campaign supporters are going to feel about my announcement.” I let out a deep sigh and lean back against the wall next to Dad’s bed. “I feel like I should apologize now for you losing all your funding.”

Dad shrugs and then winces when he jerks the arm that’s hooked up to an IV for fluids and an assortment of medications to help with the pain and nausea. But he doesn’t look the least bit frail. Not like he did after the heart attack. He looks like he has a new lease on life.

Kind of the way I feel right now.

I may not have Gabe, but he’s given me hope for the future.

He taught me how important it is to make my own rules and how to live my own life according to them. Coming out on national television wasn’t exactly my plan, but it felt right at the moment, especially when I was being hammered about that video. It was supposed to be about my dad and his condition, to inspire confidence that he’d still be a solid presidential candidate.

But then I kind of shattered part of his platform when I claimed to be in love with Gabe. The words just spewed from my lips, and even if I could stop them, I wouldn’t have. Because even if he never hears it from me, Gabe needs to know what he meant…what he still means…to me.

“For as much pain as I’m in right now,” Dad rasps. “I’ve never felt better. Sinclair had his claws dug into me for far too long, and I let it happen because I was greedy and selfish. I lost my integrity and self-respect somewhere along the trail, and now I have to find it.” He looks at me, his eyes steely. “And I will. I won’t let him hold me back. I sure as hell won’t let him threaten you and your business. I lost sight of what was important and I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive me for it all. You two are my most important legacy. More than anything — titles, support, money — I want you both by my side, and to be happy. It took me way too long to say that.”

Eva jumps up from her seat and hugs our father. “But you did, and we are. That’s all that matters.”

When she pulls back, he looks at me. I flash a sheepish smile. “Sorry I hijacked your medical update.”

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