Two men lifted him by his armpits and dumped him in a chair. He couldn’t even lift his head. Stairns and Preston sat either side of him, Stairns on the aisle.
“I guess someone had to test what they were going to do to anyone who didn’t play along with this ridiculous farce,” Preston muttered.
Stairns said, “At least they didn’t just kill him.”
Ramon couldn’t even grunt. He managed to lift his head and look at Maizie, just in time to see a tear roll down her cheek.
Chapter Forty-Six
“Dearly beloved…isn’t that how it goes?” The governor of Illinois stood at the front of the room. The president and Lief Holmberg were on the step below him so everyone could see him over the top of their heads. He seemed to be enjoying himself. “The leadership of our people takes strength. It takes collaboration and a firm hand.”
Ramon tuned out what he was saying and looked at Maizie. She didn’t appear hurt, just upset. If Stairns made a run for it, could he get to her before someone hit him with the same kind of stun gun they’d fired at Ramon?
“We need a distraction,” he said quietly to the men on either side of him.
Preston lifted his chin in a nod.
“Then we can?—”
The wrinkly lady in front of them turned around and shushed them. She had on pearls and huge earrings and a pair of silk gloves. Was Ramon supposed to apologize? She was the enemy as far as he was concerned, a woman who knew aboutDominatusand probably used her position within the group to continue living this lavish lifestyle she obviously enjoyed.
What a charade.
He wanted to stand up and start yelling. Maybe right around when the governor, officiating the wedding, asked if anyone had any objections. Ramon was going to jump up like this was a courtroom and he was a lawyer.I object!
The whole idea they could getDominatusto have the leadership Bear wanted was ridiculous. They’d still be in operation. What they should be doing was destroying them, but aside from killing everyone in this room that wasn’t his friend or part of Bear’s team, he didn’t know how they could do that.
Probably Bear had thought all this through, decided he wasn’t a mass murderer, and opted for the nonlethal way to fight them.
The governor asked, “Do you, Lief Holmberg, pledge to lead our people with strength and keen insight into the future?”
The accountant they’d brought back from Norway said, “I do.”
He’d walked into this, probably knowing exactly why Bear and his team were there. Maybe they’d even told him ahead of time, and so he’d had all the operatives who likely lived in that town back off. But they hadn’t backed off with their traps.
The operation had cost Bear the life of one of his men.
All to make a point that they controlled life and death?
Ramon gritted his teeth.
“And do you,” the governor continued, “Madam President, pledge to lead this country under the authority of your husband and all ofDominatus?”
The president didn’t respond right away. “That’s not what I was told you were going to say.”
“Do you agree, or not?” the governor asked her.
She just stood there.
“You didn’t think you were going to be an equal, did you? You’re well aware of how this works. You’ve been a part of ourgroup since birth. This position is an honor we bestow on you. Do you accept, or not?”
She looked at Lief, who said nothing. He didn’t seem to be surprised.
She asked, “What about the changing landscape of the future?”
The governor said, “It won’t change so much that a woman is in charge.” He laughed, coughing slightly. Blood coated his lips, and he used a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe it away.
“He’s dying,” Preston whispered. “That’s why he’s not lobbying to be in charge. He’s trying to leave them in good hands.”
