“Because we have a reporter following your son who has gotten past the front desk once already and a private investigator sitting in the lobby. I thought it best to put as many obstacles between them and Wyatt as possible… sir.”
The man gave a surprised laugh and clapped Linc on the shoulder. “Yes, of course. That makes perfect sense. Where is my son?”
Linc rubbed the back of his neck. “He just finished eating and went to his room. I think he was on the phone with the girl.”
“Ah, yes. Ms. Hastings,” the senator replied, mouth drooping at the corners. “I really wish she’d move off to New York or LA with all the other wannabe movie stars so Wyatt can buckle down and focus on his career.”
Career? Linc couldn’t imagine his Wyatt in some corporate job, no matter how good he looked in a suit. He wasn’t meant for that life. He needed to be creative. He was an artist. Linc just gave him a tight smile before calling out, “Hey, kid, your father is here to see you.”
Wyatt appeared in the hallway in shorts and a green t-shirt the same color as his eyes, a toothbrush still in his mouth. “Hey, Pops. What brings you here?” he asked, continuing to scrub his teeth obnoxiously.
“Really, Wyatt,” the senator griped. “I’d like to talk to you about tomorrow night.”
Wyatt strolled to the kitchen sink and spit before rinsing off his toothbrush and setting it down, giving his father his undivided attention. “I’m listening.”
The muscle in Monty’s jaw ticked, his nostrils flaring at Wyatt’s disrespect. Linc raised his brows at Wyatt from behind his father. Wyatt’s lips twitched in an aborted smile. He really loved pushing his father’s buttons, but Linc couldn’t blame him. Who wouldn’t want the chance to torment their tormentor?
“I really need you and that girl to be on your best behavior tomorrow. There will be reporters everywhere and I cannot have a repeat of last year.”
Wyatt snorted. “I’ll do my best not to get in a horrific car crash and almost die.”
“I’m serious, Wyatt. If you pull another stupid stunt like last year, you’d best finish the job, or I’ll do it for you.”
Wyatt flinched like his father had struck him. Linc clenched his teeth, his hands fisting at his sides. Someday, Linc was going to punch this man in the face, he told himself for the thousandth time. He would make sure this motherfucker paid for every ounce of pain he’d caused Wyatt in his life. “I don’t think this is really helping the situation.”
Monty jerked his head toward Linc, snapping, “I’m not paying you to think. Mind your own business.”
“I’ll play along, Dad. Don’t worry,” Wyatt muttered, now fidgeting with his toothbrush. “I always do.”
His father rolled his eyes. “Don’t be such a girl. I’m hard on you because you need to toughen up, especially now. Tomorrow night everything changes, for both of us.”
Wyatt’s gaze jerked to his father. “What does that mean?”
His father grinned. “You’ll see. Just be on your best behavior, keep that girl in check and, for God’s sake, stay off your goddamn knees.”
“Wow, real fucking classy, Dad,” Wyatt snarked, lip curling. “Is that all?”
His father shook his head, disappointment evident in his expression. “That’s it.”
As soon as Wyatt’s bedroom door slammed, Monty turned on Linc. “I wanted to say thank you, Marine.”
Linc kept his face expressionless. “For what, sir?”
“For whatever miracle you’ve worked on my son. He’s still a disrespectful little shit and a freak of nature, but he’s done well at each of the family gatherings. Even having that girl there benefits us. They love to have something to gossip about and if they’re gossiping about my son’s inappropriate girlfriend, they’re not worrying about where he’s been for the last several months or whether he’s secretly a sodomite.”
I’ll kill him later. I’ll kill him later.Linc just muttered the phrase over and over in his head as Monty spoke, trying to quell the murderous impulse flooding his system and leaving a metallic taste in his mouth. “I am not sure what part I’ve had to play in that… sir, but as long as you are satisfied with my job performance.”
Monty chuckled. “Don’t be modest. I think your military discipline is exactly what my son needed. I’m grateful.”
Linc bit down on the inside of his cheek as thoughts of Wyatt’s many discipline sessions filled his head. “Happy to do my part, sir. Your son responds very well to a firm hand and hard limits.”
Wyatt made a choking sound from somewhere in the recesses of his room. The little shit was eavesdropping… again. He was always listening. Linc fought the urge to smile as Monty’s forehead collapsed into a frown like he was uncertain how to respond. “Well, yes, I suppose he does. Just… just keep up the good work and maybe there’ll even be a bonus for you when this is over.”
Linc gave a single nod and walked the senator to the door. The man turned back as if to say something but Linc shut the door in his face and secured the lock and the latch. That was enough visitors for one day.
* * *
For a night meant to change lives, it felt just like every other boring fundraiser Linc had been forced to attend since taking this job. It was the same rubbery chicken and canned laughter. The same inappropriate jokes made at the expense of the less fortunate and tolerating old women who groped the boy that rightfully belonged to Linc. Even the same terrible music filled the ballroom. If Linc had to hear one more eighties power ballad played by an orchestra, he might wrestle the bow from the violinist and slit his own throat with it.
