Page 78 of The Bodyguard and the Alpha
A whisper of disquiet ran through me. Surely he wasn’t serious. “I do not consent to an interrogation without my lawyer present.”
“Objection overruled.”
“That is not legal.” I wouldn’t lose my temper. I would give him no more ammunition to use against me. “Section 73 of the Constitution enshrines my right to have a lawyer present during an interrogation.”
Maximilian smiled. The smile was toothy. “Unless the President and a quorum of the Council declares the matter urgent, as a matter of national security.”
“I’m the President.”
“Not anymore you’re not.”
The words were like a punch to my gut. This, I hadn’t expected. How had he achieved enough votes to manage a coup? This was bad. Catastrophic. I needed backup.
Electra. Maximilian has set me up. I need the lawyers. Right fucking now.
Shock and worry pulsed down the bond when she replied. Luc’s here with me now. I’ll tell him.
I turned my attention back to Maximilian, who looked to the left and right. “Council members, I move that this is a matter of national security and the accused should forfeit his right to a lawyer. What say you?”
All the hands rose. The vote passed. I tensed. The guards at the walls lifted their weapons.
“Please, Mr Bowden. Be my guest. Rip these guards apart. Just like you did in that bunker. Show us how you are a rabid beast that deserves to be put down.” His expression was viciously triumphant. “Show us how you acted that day.”
I widened my stance. He had footage of the bunker? How much had he seen? I didn’t care if he’d seen me kill the Humans First men who’d tried to kill me in the bowels of their facility. But if he had seen footage of when I bit my mate, I would pluck out his eyes. Bite off his ears. Then rip out his organs.
One of the guards flinched at my growl. The black tide was close. It would be so easy to let it rise over my head and take me away. But I had to think. If I gave in to violence, I would be proving Maximilian’s point. That I was a Beast. And that if I was a Beast, the Shifter Nation members of the Council would be all too keen to have me put down like an animal. Conservative. Rigid. There would be little sympathy from that camp.
And my mate was human. Fuck. I had been played. I hadn’t taken into account one hugely significant point. The only issue on which Humans First and Shifter Nation would ever agree. Racial purity. Neither party wanted humans to mate with Shifters. It sullied the bloodlines.
Luc said to tell you they’re on their way. What’s going on?
It will be alright baby. And it would. No matter what happened here. I would not accept a death sentence. Nothing would keep me from my mate. Not the Council. Not Maximilian Veder. I sent my love down the bond.Trust me.And then I shut down our connection.This was going to hurt, and I didn’t want her to feel it.
“Fine,” I sneered. “Let’s get this farce over and done with.”
I sat in the chair and let an attendant close the manacles around my wrists and ankles.
Chapter 69
Electra
When Bastien’s message came down the bond I stiffened in shock.
“Electra?”
“Luc! Bastien’s been set up. He says he needs the lawyers.”
Luc frowned and pushed his chair back, rising gracefully to his full height. “Fuck. Tell him I’m on it.” I replied to Bastien as Luc pulled his phone out of his pocket, pressing a number. Trust me, Bastien said. I did trust him, but this was the biggest challenge he’d ever faced. What if Veder had outsmarted him?
The pings in my head were now so bad I leant forward, putting my arms on the table, and resting my aching head on my wrists. I could hear Luc speaking to the lawyer.
“Sims?” I couldn’t hear the reply, but Luc continued. “Get to the Council headquarters to assist the President. Take the draft documents.” He thumbed the call off, then he grunted. I cracked open one eye to see him whirl in place, staring at the door.
“What’s going on?” My words were slurring like I was drunk.
“Billy’s coming and he’s running.”
Luc was alert but not concerned. I had to take that as a good thing.
