After the threat is handled, I'll tell him. I promise myself that.
After.
My phone buzzes.
Grace:
Everything okay?
I text back:
On my way to you.
I need to see her. Need to hold her. Need to remind myself why I'm doing this, why I'm lying to a man I respect.
Because she's worth it.
She's worth everything.
Grace is pacing the living room when I walk in, Charlie at her heels.
She spins toward me the second the door opens. "What happened? What did he say?"
I cross to her in three strides and pull her into my arms.
Just hold her for a moment, breathing her in, letting her presence settle the chaos in my head.
"He knows about the threat," I finally say. "Assigned me to protect you full-time."
Grace pulls back to look at me. "Does he know about us?"
"Suspects something. Peterson told him we looked close yesterday."
Her face goes pale. "What did you say?"
"That I was doing my job. Protecting you."
"So you lied to him."
The accusation in her voice stings, even though it's true.
"Yeah," I admit. "I did."
Grace pulls away, wrapping her arms around herself. "We're lying to my father. You're lying to your Prez."
"I know."
"This is wrong, Shadow. We should tell him."
"Not yet." I reach for her, but she steps back. "Not while he's dealing with Copperhead Kings. One crisis at a time."
"And after?" Her eyes search mine. "After the threat is handled, then what?"
"Then I tell him everything. I promise."
She looks at me for a long moment, and I can see the war playing out behind her eyes. Trust versus guilt. Want versus duty.
Finally, she nods. "Okay. After."
