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I just stared at hiue Hefor all the political speeches he had in his future

"Congratulations on your upco child," he said as he washed his hands at the sink

"So you’ve read the announcement already" I tilted my head in a bow and planteduntil I was ready for hio "This is hoorks, Senator You listen, I talk"

He pulled down a hand towel andMontrose is dead Fielding wentin late May I’ll bet he’s dead too and will re I know you had your son stop-lossed by the US ar When the autopsy report is filed on Toed draht-brown eyes bored into ood to know, Oakley Make sure it is true I have taped depositions, docu Tom Bennett did too" Couldn’t know for sure on that one, but it sounded good "And if you think you can take et to Brynne, you’ll unleash a political shitstorate look like an episode of The People’s Court" I took another step forward "My people knohat to do if I disappear" I whispered "They pop the party balloon and it all goespoof" I flicked ers out for eht it "What do you want from me?"

I shook my head "It’s not what I want, Oakley It’s all about what you want" I gave him a moment to absorb "You want to run for your vice-presidential office and sleep in your coht as opposed to a prison cell with a rooet to know you better" I cracked a s in your power to make absolute certain that Brynne Bennett, soon to be Blackstone, leads a charland, with no threats or worries about anything that went on in the past" I spoke my words more harshly "A shameful event of which she was the victim Of A Heinous Cri out at his temples

"You want to make sure of it, Oakley Do you understand reed I know the look, and he said yes to lad you understand because this is the only warning you’ll get If anything happens to either one of uswellit all explodes I’ton Post, the London Tiressional inquiries, the whole enchilada, as you ht say" I tilted my head and shook it slowly "And with the Olyoodwill between the US and Britain?" I held h for you to hide in" I wafted one hand for emphasis "ThinkSaddam Husseinif you will" I moved to unlock the door "I’ downhill either" I went to leave the men’s room and turned back one last ti election I wish for you a long and successful career, Senator Cheers"

Oakley’s security ape pushed pasta tad confused after overhearing ave him a nod and went out to find Brynne The love of irl, had been out of et back to her side

17

I was relieved when Ethan returned toseemed easier to bear when he was near It made me very weak, which I despised in myself, but I couldn’t help it, and was too exhausted to care He was the only lifeline I had here I wanted to go back home London--home

He had two plates of food with hiht you a little bit of everything," he said

"Oh, thanksbut I’ry at all I can’t eat that" I looked at the fruit and the croissant sandwich

He frowned and set his jaw I kneas in for an argu What’ve you had today besides a little tea?" He whispered "Think of the baby"

"You can’t force someone to eat Trust me, I know from experience"

My e No sentiht, Brynne, you need to eat because your baby needs food even if you don’t feel hungry" No "You’re eating for t, dear" comment Yeahwhat did I expect?

I saw Ethan’s head turn and pegfroht he could have He just turned glacial and ignored her

"Co," he said to entle voice paired with soh

How could I turn him down? I never could What he did, he did out of concern for h ht I had someone else to consider besides myself Especially now

I looked at my mom and roamed my eyes over her perfectly coiffed and dressed presentation today for her ex-husband’s funeral Why in the hell had she even come to the service? She’d barely spoken to Daddy after I rief for him Could she? I had absolutely no idea It saddened me to realize that I couldn’t tell because I didn’t know her well enough to tell My mother and I weren’t close like that We didn’t share deep feelings or secrets I never knehy she suddenly divorced my dad, or if she’d ever even loved hiot married in the first place How had they ? I had nothing

I turned away and ith Ethan to a table,off from her a little more with every step I took

"You are so very beautiful," Ethan said softly as I tried valiantly to ingest sootten for me, "on the inside as much as the outside"