Senator Quinn's voice cuts through Caroline's protests like a blade. "That laptop is campaign property, Caroline. Hand it over. Now."
Caroline’s hand curves even more protectively around her still-screaming laptop. Rona moves then, her face set in fierce, determined lines. She snatches Caroline's laptop from her hands, ignoring the pixie’s protests, and passes it directly to Malcolm, who's already pulling out a cable.
"Got it," Malcolm says, plugging into the device. He unlocks it in seconds, and code begins scrolling across his screen. After a few moments, the troll pushes back, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Fuck! She's been monitoring everything: location, calls, texts. For weeks."
"Call the police," Senator Quinn says, her voice deadly quiet.
That's when Caroline finally breaks.
"I did it for you!" she bursts out, whirling to face Senator Quinn with venom in her voice. "Everything I did was to protectyour career! That little brat was going to destroy everything you worked for with her reckless behavior!"
The hatred in Caroline's voice as she spits the word "brat" while glaring at Rona makes something primal and violent surge in my chest. Every protective instinct I possess flares to life.
"She wasn’t even interested in politics," Caroline continues, her composure completely shattered. "She was going to embarrass you eventually, anyway. I did this to protect you, that’s all."
"By creating fake pornography of my daughter?" Senator Quinn's voice could freeze hell itself. “By releasing her private pictures and text conversations for the whole country to judge?”
"By showing everyone who she really is!" Caroline's wings flutter frantically as she gestures wildly. "A spoiled little princess who thinks the world revolves around her! You deserved better than being dragged down by her selfishness!"
I signal to the security agents by the door, who move forward to escort Caroline to the adjoining room. "Hold her there until the police arrive."
Caroline's protests and curses echo through the suite until the door closes, cutting off her vitriol. The sudden quiet feels profound after the chaos.
Senator Quinn turns to me, and for the first time since I've known her, she looks genuinely shaken. "Darhg, I owe you an apology. And I'd like to offer you your position back."
I feel Rona's hand slip into mine, her fingers warm and steady. I shake my head.
"Senator, I'm not the one who needs the apology."
Understanding flickers across her face. Senator Quinn faces her daughter, and I watch years of political armor crack away to reveal something raw and vulnerable underneath. For the first time since I began working for her, Senator Melissa Quinn looks like a mother.
"Rona," she says quietly, "I'm so sorry. I should have believed you from the beginning. I should have protected you instead of protecting myself."
Rona's grip on my hand tightens, and I can feel some of the tension leave her shoulders. "Thank you," she whispers.
I turn to Rona then, looking down into those pale-blue eyes that contain the entire world.
"You're free now," I tell her, my voice rough with emotion. "Free to live as you choose. Free to live your own life, to be exactly who you want to be."
Her smile is radiant as she replies, "The only life I want is with you."
I kiss her then, long and sure, tasting salt and relief and the promise of tomorrow on her lips. When we break apart, I turn back to Senator Quinn.
"I won't be returning to your detail," I say firmly. "I'm taking my mate home to Saltford Bay. For good."
Senator Quinn studies us for a long moment, taking in our joined hands, the way Rona leans into my side like she’s alwaysbeen there. Something shifts in her expression, a kind of recognition or acceptance.
"Will you at least consider consulting work?" she asks. "Someone I can call when things get complicated?"
I glance down at Rona, who nods encouragingly.
"We'll consider it," I say. "But Saltford Bay is our home now."
Rona’s smile suddenly falls. “How are we going to get out of here without the press after us? It’s a circus down there.”
“Leave that to me,” Senator Quinn declares, pulling her phone from her pocket. “I have something to tell them that will make them forget all about Rona, anyway.”
I frown and look at the shrewd politician, who answers with a smile as sharp as broken glass.
