Page 5 of Sugar

“And what part am I playing exactly?”

“Why the hero, of course.”

He laughs as he drags me toward the door. “Jesus, if I’m the hero, what the fuck does that make you?”

“Well, I guess that makes me the bad guy.”

CHAPTERTWO

“He saved the lives of two guards, one of whom is my brother-in-law. Not to mention, he prevented a catastrophe from happening when he barricaded the guard’s room so the inmates could not escape.”

“I understand that, but this man killed two people. And he hasn’t finished serving his time,” the warden argues.

“I reviewed that case, and the evidence was circumstantial at best. There is no way that man should have been in here for as long as he has been. He has been a model prisoner.”

“He skinned a man alive.”

“I never pegged you as someone who listened to gossip. He defended himself after being cornered and attacked—an attack that was ignored by one of the very guards he just saved. Tell me, does that sound like the actions of a heartless murderer? Perhaps it’s time for a full investigation into the corruption—”

The warden, who had been playing his part admirably, sighs and shakes his head.

“If the governor thinks he should be pardoned, then who am I to contest it? I too am grateful for all he did.”

The governor looks at me, knowing it’s all for show.

“Good, I’ll have my office draw up the paperwork. I trust you to keep your mouth shut until then. If anything happens to Mr. Cirillo before then, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”

The warden mutters something under his breath as he signals to a guard. “Please show the governor and Miss Parks out.”

“Actually, I’m going to go see my client now, and the governor is going to accompany me. He would like to pay his respects to the man who saved his brother-in-law.”

“This is very unorthodox,” the warden grumbles, standing and seeing us out of his office, where a different guard waits.

“Erik, take the governor and Miss Parks to holding room C and bring Mr. Cirillo to see them.”

“Sir, it’s lunchtime—”

“I don’t fucking care what time it is or what Cirillo is doing. Hell, he can be taking a shit for all I care. Bring him to holding room C.”

“Yes, sir,” the guard responds immediately, fumbling with his keys and opening the gate.

I wonder if he’d still be intimidated by his boss if he knew I’d whipped the fuck out of the man last week while he crawled to me on his hands and knees with a gag in his mouth and a cage on his dick.

Now, I can’t say I’m particularly into the whole BDSM thing—though I do love the outfits—but if it’s a means to an end, I’m game. Now I have another little video to add to my collection that I can bring out when I need someone to do something for me.

It’s not dissimilar to the hold I have over the governor, though it’s not my pussy that got him into trouble but his love of dick. He has a very strict family ethic, and he uses that strong moral code to spew his propaganda about same-sex relationships as a means to keep him in office. If his constituents ever found out that their beloved governor liked being spit-roasted at a sex club on Saturday nights, they’d revolt. Then it’s bye-bye mansion and reputation, hello regular nine-to-five. Heaven forbid. To a snob like him, that’s a fate worse than death.

Neither of us talks until the guard leaves to collect Calix. Only then does he turn to me, his jaw tight. “I take it I’m done once this charade is over.”

“Careful, Mikal. Your petulance is showing.”

He leans closer to me, the aroma of garlic and herbs on his breath. He definitely had something with tzatziki for lunch. “There will be backlash over this. I’ll do my part to ensure you keep your secret, but you have to know the families will not take this lying down. Cirillo is a threat to their power.”

“Oh, I know.”

The door opens, and Calix walks in, followed by the guard. He looks at me for a moment, his eyes taking in my skin-tight knee-length skirt, my cream silk blouse, and my black glasses—even though I don’t need them. Today I’ve gone for the sexy librarian look, knowing it will stir up naughty fantasies.

The guard turns to leave, but I call him back. “The governor has kindly agreed to marry us. Would you stay and act as a witness?”

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