She grins. “Honey,myboy will do whatever I tell him to do. George is more than bored enough that a move to DC will be fun for him.” She shakes her head but her smile has returned. “Time that sadist retires from law for good and takes up a hobby besides Declan and me. National politics could be a good distraction for him. He’s had offers to be a lobbyist and we’ve never been able to make him take them before. Maybe now he’ll want to dabble. Lucky for you, none of us need the damn money, and Dec and I can afford to take this job in the first place.”
Her smile fades again. “Care to hear a piece of advice from an old political hack?”
“Always.”
She leans forward, her voice developing a softly sharp edge that sends shivers through me, for some reason. “You’re truly in the big leagues now. You need to be willing to kill or die for Elliot to protect him. Love isn’t going to be nearly enough. You must be willing to have blood in the game. VP doesn’t get a fraction of the attention POTUS does.
“I don’t mean throwing yourself in front of a bullet like Kevin Markos did that time. Which, while admirable and heroic, is only one aspect of serving your president. I mean you might be forced one day to metaphorically gut Leo to protect Elliot. Or, you might one day be forced to throw yourself on the sword to take the heat off Elliot.” Her gaze holds mine. “Can you do that?”
I nod. “Leo expects that of me, too.”
“But can youdoit?”
Can I?
I think about Elliot’s eyes staring up at me that afternoon onAir Force Two, when he pleaded with me to take this job.
I think about the smiles he gives me, reserved only for me.
Smiles he never gave Leo.
I think about how much I love Leo, and how much he loves me…and Elliot.
I think about how muchIlove Elliot.
And how much he loves me.
“Iwilldo it, if forced to. Iwillprotect Elliot at all costs, even to the expense of myself or Leo.”
She nods. “Good. I think you actually mean it, too.”
