Page 20 of Presidential Bargain
When we re-entered the bedroom, I handed her the glass of bourbon I had abandoned. “Drinkthis.”
Georgie sat on the edge of the bed, holding the glass tightly, and took small sips. I watched her from the corner of my eye as I moved around the room and got dressed. She seemed oblivious to the fact that I had seen more than just a glimpse ofherbody.
When I was completely dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt, I sat next to her. I took the glass of bourbon from Georgie’s hands and swallowed the rest. Then I linked our handstogether.
“That’s my ring on your finger, Georgie.” We both looked at the sparkling stone surrounded by diamonds. “That means I’ll protect you. That means, on some level, I have a commitment to you. A duty to make sure you’re at least happyandsafe.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks. I turned toward her and wiped them away with the pad of mythumb.
“I’m tired,” she finally spoke. Her voice sounded thick andforeign.
“Okay. Climb under thecovers.”
“You want metostay?”
I saw sadness and fear mixed with disbelief in her eyes. I touched my forehead to hers and gently stroked her cheek with the back of myfingers.
“Of course, little darling,” I whispered. I placed a light kiss on her cheek before leaving the bedroom to retrieve the black yoga pants and gray T-shirt she slept in. I handed them to her and she rewarded me with an appreciative smile. She disappeared into the bathroom to change, returning a few minuteslater.
I let Georgie take the lead. I followed her movements because I feared I had already overstepped some boundaries. She moved toward one side of the bed and I headed toward the opposite side. I watched her pull back the covers and slide in, before doing the same. I remained motionless while she adjusted herself. As much as I wanted to pull her back into my arms, I didn’t want to scare her away. I let her decide what she wantedfromme.
And Georgie wanted to be held. When we both settled in bed, she slid her petite body next to mine. She nudged my arms until I opened them and then wiggled into my embrace. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, cocooning her, shielding her,comfortingher.
“Do you know a man named Russell Atlee?” She must have felt safe enough tofinallytalk.
Russell Atlee? The name bounced around in my head, but I came up withnothing.
“I’ve never heard ofhim.Why?”
Georgie stiffened. Maybe she was surprised to learn that I didn’t know RussellAtlee.
“Was he at the fundraisertonight?”
“Yes.”
My body filled with dread. I knew the questions I had to ask next and Ihatedthat.
“Did he approach youtonight?”
“Yes.”
Instinctively, I held on to her tighter. Her voice was so quiet, barely awhisper.
“What didhewant?”
“Payment.” Georgie’s body trembled. Even though I held her, whatever Russell Atlee had done on that beach stillscaredher.
“Payment? What the fuck does that mean?” Different scenarios played out in my mind. I immediately thought the worst. Shit! Had this asshole raped her? Had I fucked up when I put her in the shower and now all of the evidence of his crime was down thedrain?
I gently turned Georgie so she was on her back, and I hovered over her. If she was raped by this cocksucker, then I wanted to look into her eyes. I wanted her to see me there, ready to kill for her. She turned her face away from me, but I placed a firm finger under her chin and tippeditback.
“Tell me, Georgie. What did he dotoyou?”
“I can’t tell you.Notyet.”
I knew that I was pushing her and I felt like a horrible bastard fordoingit.
“Then tell me what you can,Georgie.”
