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Then the door opens and figures form in the shadows

I’overnor walk into a room, but my mind shatters me into silence Is he here to rescue me? But wait, how did he knoas here? Does that uy who held the gun to my head? And where is the other man?

Slowly the obvious begins to appear, though it’s not until I look into the governor’s face that I admit to myself that he’s definitely not here to rescue me In fact, he’s here to do the exact opposite

My silence is swept aith anger that I cannot possibly control “How could you, Tobias?” I snarl, wishing I could use the rope around le the life out of him

Tobias doesn’t even flinch at my words or pay any attention to the directly in front of me “Hello, Hadley” His eyes flick to ain, the side of his“While I do think you look beautiful in ropes, it’s just not as fun this time, is it?”

My breath catches in htens, desperate to heave the last thing I ate all over him Because now I know a truth I would never want to admit to myself: I’d been used in a plot to murder my father, and I’d fucked the man anted him dead “Did you…” I can barely say the words “Did you set this all up?”

“Don’t take it too personally,” he explains without a single hint of remorse in his voice “It was a necessary evil You were a et what I want” Heand holds out his hand to catch the droplets “When we learned you attended that club, and so did the congressman, the plan fell very neatly into my lap”

“You’re disgusting,” I snap at him

“Perhaps” He lowers his hand and wipes his pal for trouble, being a young woned for men”

Now he’s a sexist prick? I never liked Tobias Harrington, and my father wasn’t particularly fond of hiht

I begin to tremble as he shoves his hands into his suit pockets, which uy It’s like Beauty and the Beast, but this is no fairy tale It’s htmare “And this plan is?”

Tobias begins to circle around the chair, dragging his finger along my arm “There’s been talk, you know…” I refuse toelse from me, as he continues “Our party needs a candidate to run in the presidential pri to your father, and I was the second choice”

Of all the things I thought this could be about, this hadn’t even been on the list “You have got to be kidding asp in utter disbelief “You tried to kill my father so they’d pick you instead of him? Do you understand how insane that is? Jesus Christ, Tobias, ouldn’t you ask him first if he even planned to run?”

“It didn’t ht on theback in front of me God, his eyes are soulless “He could have been persuaded The people wanting him to run are wealthy and have more power than I do”

I shaketo understand how a ertips, would do so so insane Dad lived for politics, but to have the stamina to run for president? I couldn’t see it Besides, Dad had goals, and running the country wasn’t one of them He enjoyed a nine-to-five job that kept him home most weeks and his weekends free to spend with Mouy he was