Immediately, I ease my grip and rub his scalp. “Good boy. Thank you, pet. That was excellent.”
He presses his face against my abs. “You’re welcome, Master.” Alone like this, he acts almost shy when I give him praise. It’s adorable.
One of the most precious memories of my life now is this past Christmas Day. I’ll never forget the smile on Eddie’s face as he sat, naked and collared under the small Christmas tree we erected in in my flat in Paris, while he unwrapped the gifts I surprised him with. A new watch, a necklace that’s his day collar, a heavy bracelet that’s another day collar, and a vibrating buttplug, which I can remotely control with an app on my phone.
I know. But what can I say? I’m a romantic.
“When do you have to leave?” he asks.
I glance at the time. “I told Carter I’d meet them at their place at eight this morning before the breakfast. I want you to order room service and eat something before you start your day.” Otherwise, he won’t eat until later tonight, and I don’t want him going that long without a substantial meal in him.
“Yes, Sir.”
I feel a little guilty I’m keeping him hidden right now, but I don’t want Carter seeing him yet. I can’t risk him eliminating me from tonight’s guest list. “You can take a shower with me, pet.”
Eddie smiles. “Thank you, Sir.”
The swearing in ceremony is at noon, and the inaugural ball tonight starts at eight. I’ll ask Carter to add my plus-one to my invite for tonight. He’d already told me I could bring someone, or change my mind and add them, if I wanted.
Yes, I’m giving him Eddie’s new name, but a quick background check by their security team will come up clean. Hell, even a deep background check will come up clean. Nothing more to be found than some old credit dings here and there, and a few minor traffic tickets.
Too clean, and it would look suspicious and fake and draw the wrong kind of attention.
I can’t tell you how many fake aliases I discovered for subjects I had to deal with because their squeaky-clean backgrounds were a honking red flag.
An hour later, I’m on my way to Carter and Susa’s townhouse in an Uber. I’m leaving the rental car at the hotel for Eddie to use today. While I’m busy, he’s going to run errands and do preliminary research ahead of our ops. I haven’t spent much time in Tallahassee, so I’m not familiar with it.
But we’re going to need a place to stay in the area that’s not a hotel, we’re going to need a safe hideout plan our ops from separate from our living quarters, and we’ll need a place to dispose of Cunningham once we’ve acquired him.
Preferably, someplace we will have unlimited privacy so we can make the fucker scream a bit first. I want him to suffer before he draws his last breath.
Taking point on those tasks will help Eddie stay busy and focused while I’m occupied this morning and, hopefully, keep his mind off tonight.
I get out of the car at the security checkpoint a block from their townhouse and walk the rest of the way. They live in a building of three townhouses, with theirs on one end, Owen’s in the middle, and Susa’s parents own the one on the far end, although they rarely stay there. They also have a house in Tallahassee, and one in Tampa.
When Carter answers the door, his wide grin plucks a twinge of guilt inside me. “You made it!” He pulls me in for a hug.
“I did. Told you I’d be here, baby bro. Wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
He ushers me in and I hear Susa call from upstairs. “Who is it?”
“Jace is here, Suse.”
And…there’s Owen, holding Tommy…no, Petey. “Owen,” Carter says. “You remember my brother, Jace?”
I walk over and he shifts Petey to his left arm so he can shake hands with me. “Hey, of course. Glad you could join us today.”
Yep, Petey is the splitting image of Owen.
Now that I know what I know courtesy of Eddie—that Elsa made him and Carter get vasectomies as a cruel loyalty test—I know without a doubt Owen is the biological father of Carter’s kids.
Eddie says Carter told him it happened via IVF. Me? I’m not so certain that’s the truth. Guy doesn’t just jizz in a jar for his best friends and suddenly go Mr. Mom over the offspring, does he?
An hour later, we’re all at the official last breakfast at the Florida Governor’s Mansion, located mere blocks from the townhouse. Our parents won’t be able to join us today because of their ages and the difficulty they have travelling, but Carter’s going to Skype them in so they can watch live.
Parker and Charlie and their families are there, too, and it’s good to be able to hug them again. The Wilson boys in the house. Watch out, world. Gene’s flight got delayed last night, and he’s on his way now. He’ll miss the breakfast but should be here in time for the swearing in, and will attend the ball tonight.
Owen, the outgoing governor, is a gracious host, and did I mention he’shot? Every time someone tries to focus on him, he diverts the focus back to Susa and Ethan.
