Confusion furrows her brows. “And that makes him a ‘piece of shit’?”
“No, but him working with Muñoz does. And handing my dossier over to the Ministry of Public Service.” I flex my free hand, trying to banish the memory of that long, painful night shackled to a table in the Ministry’s custody.
“He confessed to everything,” Zephyr says with a grin. “Tank and Ford—they work for Dax—paid him a visit. He’s going to prison for a very long time.”
* * *
The lightsof the city twinkle against an inky black sky by the time Domina stops asking questions. She’s calmer now—not quite steady, but no longer shaking—and I’m about to suggest we call it a night when there’s a knock at the door.
In under five seconds, Austin, Trev, and West have taken up defensive positions around the room, and I scoop Domina into my arms and crouch with her behind the bar.
“Identify yourself,” Austin calls, his Sig Sauer aimed right at the peep hole.
“Manuel Cortez. May I come in?”
My phone vibrates, and I check the screen. The camera Trev installed above the suite’s door shows the Vice President standing alone, hands at his sides.
“It’s him. Stand down,” I call and help Domina to her feet. “You okay with a visitor?”
She’s exhausted. Every time she moves, small lines of pain tighten around her eyes. But she nods and links her fingers with mine. “I want to see him.”
Manuel moves with all the speed of a man who’s run a marathon. Or four. But he’s relaxed in a way I haven’t seen since I met him.
West and Trevor stand guard at the door, keeping all the IPS agents outside except for Balboa.
“Domina,” he says, approaching like he’s about to hug her, “I am so sorry.” She looks vaguely uncomfortable with him so close, so I drape my arm around her shoulders and he stops. “Can you forgive me?”
For a long moment, the two stare at one another. And then Domina nods. “You did not hurt me, Manuel. There is nothing to forgive.”
I want to argue with her. To yell at both Cortez and Balboa and ask them why they refused to take our calls the previous night. To remind them the only reason the Vice President is alive right now is because a man I’ve never met called in a favor the size of the Chrysler Building to reach Balboa so we could coordinate a fake assassination if we couldn’t find Domina in time.
But the President-Elect carries enough guilt in his eyes.
“I owe you an apology as well, Leo. I should have known the video from the rally was fake. I should have demanded the Ministry release you. I made many mistakes this week. Mistakes that could have ended many lives.”
He’s telling the truth, so I nod. “We’re square, sir. As long as no one minds that I blew up a polling place this afternoon.”
He laughs, and much of the tension in the room fades. “I made a rather generous donation to the Church of the Holy Trinity. They will build a new recreational center after the holidays. You are, however, lucky you did not destroy any ballot boxes. That…might have been more difficult to overlook. Though I won with close to sixty percent of the votes. So…” With a smile, he turns and heads for the door. “Thanks to you, my opponent will be in jail for averylong time.” Pausing with his hand on the knob, he meets my gaze. “You will always have a friend in the Presidential Palace, Leo. But…try to stay out of trouble from now on.”
“I plan on it, sir. Thank you.”
EPILOGUE
Domina
Three times,I woke in the middle of the night. Once, my scream brought Trevor, Austin,andWest bursting into the room. All of them shirtless.
I gaped at the sight of all those muscles, until I realized I was only wearing a thin tank top and panties. Then I hid behind Leo until we were alone again.
The bedside clock reads 8:14 a.m. West is flying back to Seattle this morning, but Austin and Trevor are staying for at least another day or two—long enough they can work with the National Police and find anyone else who might have been working with Muñoz. I feel better knowing they will be close—even once we return to Leo’s apartment. Or mine.
“Morning,” Leo mumbles and drapes his arm around my waist.
I could get used to this. Waking up with this man. But though we said the words more than once yesterday, I need to know it was real. That he did not tell me he loved me because we came so close to losing one another, but because he truly means it.
“What happens now?” I ask. Unable to look at him, I pin my gaze to the silver and glass light fixture on the ceiling.
Leo sits up, shoves a pillow behind his back, and gathers me in his arms. “Now? Austin is going back to the apartment to make sure it’s safe. But we can stay here as long as you want.” He shakes his head gently. “West’s wife designs security and alarm systems for big businesses. The Five Points uses her for all of their hotels worldwide. This room isn’t costing us a damn thing.”
