“Who did what?” I place my glass on the table and brace myself for whatever news he’s about to hurl my way.
“Preston. We got her.”
My eyebrow rises. Now he’s piqued my curiosity. “We do?”
He’s pacing again, wearing a new pattern into the hotel carpet. “You know how I told you about Harbor joining her campaign staff yesterday?”
“Yep.” It didn’t faze me when I heard the news, and Carl didn’t seem worried or excited about the idea, but now he’s practically manic.
“Okay, so,” he says, pausing and smoothing down his hair before he starts flailing his arms around wildly. “Remember I told you I had the perfect thing to destroy Reagan, but you told me absolutely not?”
My body tenses, and I instantly feel protective of her. “I don’t want any part of this. I told you we’re not running a campaign to discredit her.”
“She slept with Harbor when he was married, Jude. This is so big it will ruin her political career.”
Wait—what?Reagan fucked Harbor? Harbor was married? I know Harbor worked on her father’s campaign, but surely her father didn’t sanction this activity. If he knew about it, there’s no way he’d send Harbor back into her life.
I’m so shocked by the news I can’t even respond at first. My fist curls around the mug, and I want to crush it in my palm. “No, Carl! Absolutely not.”
His eyes go wide and his head jerks back. “Jude—”
“Listen,” I say as I stand and move into his personal space. “I don’t care who she fucked or when she did it. This is not something I want used to win the election. Do you understand me, Carl?”
“This is the final nail in the coffin—”
My nose touches his, and I’m reaching for his collar when I pull my hand back. “If this gets leaked—no matter who spills the beans—I’m coming for you, Carl. I’ll make sure you never work in politics again. I’ve made myself clear, and I expect you to follow orders.” My stare is icy as I peer into his eyes and wait for his word that he won’t leak this to the press.
His eyes narrow and are filled with rage. “I just don’t understand you, Titan.”
“You don’t need to understand, you just need to do as I command.”
Fuck asking him to do it.
I’m beyond asking people to follow my wishes.
Carl’s not above spilling the beans if he feels he’s right and I’m wrong. I know this about him. His loyalty to my victory will trump everything else—even Reagan’s honor and my wishes.
He backs away from me and shakes his head with his lips pursed. “You may not win without it.”
“So be it.” I’m so pissed off that I want to punch something or someone—preferably Tom Harbor. “We’ve always been honorable men, and I want the campaign to be no different.”
I can’t figure out who I’m angrier with—Carl or Reagan.
Carl because, well, he’s Carl. But he’s also only doing his job.
Or Reagan for fucking around with Tom Harbor and leaving a trail.
“I figured you to have bigger balls, Jude,” Carl replies, but he can’t goad me into giving him the go-ahead.
I grab my crotch, making sure he sees just how big of a handful it is, and laugh. “I don’t need to tear down a woman for something she did years ago to prove my manhood. Maybe you get off on hurting women, but I sure as fuck don’t.”
His head is shaking, muttering under his breath about the race and how I’m going to lose. I sit back down, glaring daggers at him and grab my coffee mug. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to finish my drink in peace and prep for tomorrow’s rally, Carl.”
He starts to leave, and before he closes the door, I hear him say, “Pussy.”
I lean forward in my chair, take a deep breath, and rub my eyes. When I woke up this morning, I thought it was going to be a good day—fucking wrong!I can’t wrap my head around the thought of Reagan sleeping with Tom, not only because he’s quite a few years older than her, but because he was married when she did it.
Reagan doesn’t seem to be the type who would take marriage lightly. But then again, what do I really know about her? Very little besides what I’ve read in the campaign file Carl compiled and what I’ve heard in the media.
