Page 77 of Corrupted Union

“Chances aren’t great. The charges against him are minimal, as you know, and there’s no evidence he had anything to do with the girl. He can blame everything on his son and play the grieving father.”

“I know,” he glowered. “It’s so frustrating to think I could have been so wrong about them.”

“Corruption can hide anywhere, especially in positions of power.” My own hands weren’t exactly clean, but at least I had some form of moral compass, albeit a rusty one. Men like the Wellingtons had no such measure to guide them.

“Speaking of …” Alexander leaned forward and retrieved a document off the desk, handing it to me.

It was a press release slated to go out later that day announcing the mayor’s new appointment for police commissioner.

I lifted my gaze to him. “It seems the mayor had a change of heart.”

“He did. You aren’t the only one who can be persuasive when needed. I did a little digging into the candidates and found a man who’d somehow been overlooked despite his exemplary record. I figured a compromise in this situation would benefit us all.”

My lips twitched in the corners. “You’re a wise man, Mr. Governor.”

He stood, extending his hand. “And a grateful one. Just don’t make me regret it.”

“My wife would skin me alive.”

He harrumphed. “Tell my baby girl I said hello.”

I grinned all the way home.

Three Weeks Later

“How was your session?”Mom was in the living room reading when I arrived at their house.

My new therapist was located not far from my parents’ house, so I had my driver take me over for a quick visit. Keir had insisted on hiring a driver to be on call for me. I felt like it was a little excessive but didn’t argue. Life was too short. If using a driver gave him peace of mind, I could do that.

“It was good. I clicked well with Evie. She’s young, so I feel like we relate well to one another. I think we’ll be a great fit.”

“That’s wonderful! How did you find her? I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

I joined Mom on the sofa, angling myself toward where she sat with a blanket on her lap. “Friend of a friend. Conner gave us her name. I guess she’s somehow connected to some of his Italian family. She recently opened her own practice, and the office is super cute. It feels more like stopping at a friend’s house than counseling.”

“If that’s the case, maybe I might have to check her out.”

“I’m happy to share her info anytime.” I appreciate Mom’s enthusiasm, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Chances were, she wouldn’t make the call. And to be honest, I’d seen such a remarkable improvement in her since the incident with Stetson that, for once, I wasn’t worried. Mom was coping with life just fine on her own.

“You sticking around for dinner?”

“No, Keir should be here soon to pick me up. I just wanted to stop in and see how you were doing.”

She tossed the blanket off her lap and stood with only a small degree of stiffness. “I’m doing beautifully, according to the doctor. No need to worry there, but I want you to come upstairs while you're here. I almost forgot that the painters finished up yesterday.” Mom’s joy was infectious. Seeing her renewed enthusiasm for life filled me with energy and optimism.

“I’d love to see it, but I thought you weren’t supposed to be climbing stairs yet.”

“That’s just silly.” She scoffed. “My legs are fine. Now, come on.”

I was a little wary after watching Mom nearly bleed to death, but she took each step one at a time without any obvious difficulty. At the top of the stairs, the door to Ivy’s old room was wide open—something I was still not used to seeing.

“Oh, Mom. It’s perfect.” I walked inside, warmth and happiness enveloping me. The walls were a cheery pale yellow without being obnoxious. We’d spent ages looking at color swatches and debating, but I was so happy with our decision. “Ivy would have loved this.”

“I think so, too,” she said softly.

I put my arm around her shoulders for a side hug, and we gently rested our heads against one another as we took in the new room. Afterward, we spent a few minutes discussing new curtains and possibly painting the headboard before I helped her back down the stairs.

A half hour later, Keir picked me up at the house. We were supposed to go to dinner, but he had to stop by the office first. I decided to have a drink at Moxy rather than follow him upstairs. He wasn’t thrilled with my plan but begrudgingly relented after confirming Torin was there.

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