Page 37 of Sapphire Tears

“Oh, Lord,” Bridget sighs, looking towards her husband helplessly. “That’s the problem with you and your sister. The two of you can be so dramatic.”

“Dramatic?” June asks, and I can tell from the crux of her tone that she’s getting worked up.

“Yes,” Bridget says, doubling down. “Dramatic. Look at Geneva. She’s been down at the precinct, jumping down the officers’ throats about you, making all sorts of troubling accusations about Kolya and his Bratva—”

June’s eyes go wide. “You know about his Bratva?”

Bridget and Luke exchange a glance. “Of course we do, dear,” Luke says at last. “We weren’t born yesterday.”

“And… you’re fine with that?”

Luke glances at me apologetically. “What a question to ask. Of course we are. Kolya is well-connected, and he can keep you safe. Why wouldn’t we want that for our daughter?”

“In my opinion, Geneva is simply jealous,” Bridget says. “Why else would she try and implicate Kolya in your so-called ‘disappearance’?”

June frowns. “Where did the two of you think I was?”

Bridget looks almost embarrassed. “These questions. Well, of course Kolya told us where you were! You were in the Hamptons, getting the ‘space’ you needed.”

June glances at me. “I don’t think it’s fair to blame Geneva. She was just doing what she thought was right.”

“She was causing a whole stir about nothing,” Luke snaps. “She was trying to spin up some sort of scandal. And I certainly don’t need that kind of publicity now.”

“What do you mean?” June asks.

Luke and Bridget exchange a glance. “Well, that’s another reason we’re here today. To share the news.”

I can see June getting more and more agitated, more and more impatient. “What news?”

Bridget smiles. “Your father is running for office. He’ll be the next Attorney General of New York.”

It takes everything I have to hide my grimace from these idiots. The news comes like a slap across the face. I can already see the hundreds of ways this will become a huge fucking headache for me.

Bridget is oblivious. “Your father has had political aspirations for a long time now, and he’s contributed significantly to the state. So now—”

“Campaigns require money,” June interrupts bluntly. “And unless you’re hiding millions I don’t know about, the two of you don’t have nearly enough to bankroll a political campaign.”

Luke fidgets in his seat. He keeps sneaking glances at me, waiting for me to make the offer so that he doesn’t have to ask.

There it is. The first way in which Luke Cole’s campaign becomes a pain in my ass.

“You know as well as I do that we wouldn’t dare hide money, not pay our fair share of taxes, that sort of unseemly thing. So we’ll just have to rely on donations,” Luke says diplomatically.

“Donations?” June repeats. Then her eyes slide to me as it all finally clicks. “So what you really mean is that you’re going to rely on my—” She breaks off. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Bridget’s smile might as well be painted on at this point. “Honestly, June, it’s like we haven’t taught you how to behave,” she hisses. “Such rude questions.”

June ignores her. “Dad?”

“If Kolya wants to contribute to his father-in-law’s campaign, then of course I’d welcome any support he’s willing to give,” he says.

That’s all the confirmation she needs. She buries her face in her hands. “Jesus Christ.”

“June!” Bridget shrieks, trying hard to salvage this visit. “Please, it’s rude to talk about money.”

“I’m not the one who came here with a begging bowl in hand!”

“That’s enough, young lady!” Luke interjects sternly. “As I said, we’re here to see you. There’s no ulterior motive to this visit. We just wanted you to know that we support you and your husband and we’re not going to let Geneva run her mouth all over town like she’s been doing.”

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