Cody smacked his hand on the desk. “Brooke spent six months terrified Adam was going to come after her.”
“My daughter was in the same room with Brooke. So I get how you feel.” Pent-up anger filled Doug’s words. “The governor’s already spun things well enough that the police don’t even suspect Adam Harris. At this point, he’s gotten rid of any evidence in Adam’s place that could be used against his son. She’s the only one who can point the finger at Adam for stalking and attacking her. The press would connect him to the other victims simply from their obvious physical similarities to Brooke. If she names Adam, his suicide attempt pretty much confirms his guilt. Governor Harris can kiss his career goodbye.”
“Unless he spins all that and makes Brooke look like a broken victim who lost her baby and is grieving so hard she’s not thinking straight and trying to blame him for everything.”
“She can tell a fucking compelling story. People will believe her.”
Not all of them. Because the governor would start a smear campaign to discredit her. Cody didn’t want to see that happen.
Brooke didn’t deserve that after everything she’d been through.
How far was the governor willing to go?
Cody didn’t know.
Would he do anything to protect his son?
His position and power? His name at the expense of Brooke?
Cody seethed. “My father helped put his ass in the governor’s chair. He’s been invited to my house countless times over the years, and this is how his family fucking repays mine.”
“History doesn’t matter when things get personal. He wants to see her again, Cody. He wants to settle things with her. She has the power to destroy him. He can’t let that go.”
“She’s in no condition to meet with him and relive what that bastard did to her. She’s grieving for our child. Doesn’t he get that? For God’s sake, his own son tried to kill himself. He should have some fucking sympathy. He should understand she isn’t ready or willing to see him.”
“He’s a politician. Nothing trumps him holding on to his power and position.”
Cody fisted his hand. “He wants to shut her up.”
“That’s my take on it, yes. He hasn’t come right out and said what he plans to say or do. At the bare minimum, expect an NDA. He’ll want her legally gagged. Also, he’s careful not to include you, despite my objections and adamant assertion that he won’t see her without you by her side.”
“He’s afraid of me. I hold sway over the ranchers’ association and can influence them to go a different way in who they back for the next election.”
“Then I’d watch your back, because he’s going to be looking for leverage to hold you to his side.”
“Fuck him. He knows how I feel. He knows what I’m capable of, and I am and will always be standing between him and Brooke.”
“The last time he met with Brooke, she was mostly unresponsive. I think he’s concerned her silence didn’t actually mean she agreed.”
Cody fisted his hand on the desk. “Her doctor advised us not to push her to talk about what happened. Right now, she’s satisfied with Adam locked up and away from her. But she wantsthe other victims to know that he can’t hurt them either. If she doesn’t get that, I’m not sure what she’ll say or do.”
The governor wanted a sit-down. He wasn’t used to being denied. Eventually, he’d force the meeting.
Cody didn’t want Brooke blindsided. “Hold him off as long as you can. She’s not ready. I need more time with her.” Cody rubbed his fingers over his aching forehead. “Listen, Doug. I appreciate all you’ve done for Brooke and me. I don’t think I can deal with the governor rationally. I have a lot of undirected rage over what happened to Brooke and our daughter. Every time I look at her injuries, or see her crying, I want to kill someone.”
“Yeah, well, if you let that rage out, you’ve got a defense attorney if you need one.”
No telling what he’d do if he had Adam in his sights, but he’d try to hold it together with the governor when the time came. Some things were inevitable. He wouldn’t hold the governor off forever. Men like him always thought they’d get what they wanted. They either made it happen, or took it by force. Cody would hold him off as long as possible and find a way to prepare Brooke.
“I was there with her in the hospital,” Doug continued. “I never want to go through something like that again. I kept thinking it could have been Mindy Sue.” Doug sighed. “I’ll tell the governor Brooke needs more time.”
“Thank you.”
“You got it. You do realize she’s going to have to decide what she’s going to do about this situation. If she lets it go, it’ll disappear and those other girls will never know who attacked them. People will think the man simply left school after the semester like they’re reporting.”
“I know. I’m not sure how to handle this. Adam is locked up, probably where he belongs, because he truly does need psychological help. I keep telling myself the governor isn’tresponsible for his son’s actions, but he is responsible for the cover-up and trying to protect his own reputation. I’m pissed about all of it.”
“I hear you. I’ll hold off the governor until you tell me otherwise.”
