Taylor could count on his own vote, as well as his brother Robert’s. He’d likely also get votes from Mitchell, Davidson, and Gardner. Which gave him five out ofeleven.
Jerold Pierce had cast his previous vote in favor of upholding the status quo, which meant he might vote for Wade for the same reason. But I couldn’t be sure of that. If hedidvote for Wade, the vote would be tied. Titus would, as expected, be the tie-breaker on his very first councilvote.
But if Pierce voted for Ed Taylor, Taylor would win, even without Titus’s vote. And then he’d do hisbestto convict Justus, out ofrevenge.
“Okay, let’s have a show of hands,” Rick Wade said, and my heart beat so fast that Justus heard it and turned to me with a question in hiseyes.
I let go of his hand. Then I stepped forward. “Is the vote limited to two candidates?” I blurtedout.
Every head in the room turned my way, and the sudden, mostly disapproving attention of ten—no, eleven—Alphas at once felt like an iron weight on my chest. Like breathing was suddenlyimpossible.
“No.” Ed Taylor fixed his weighty scowl on me. “But the candidate poolisrestricted to members of the council. Whichyouare notamong.”
Nervous laughter burst from my throat. “I wasn’t thinking of running. That’s ridiculous, of course. I was just…curious.”
Faythe gave me a perplexed frown, and I quickly—pointedly—glanced at one of her fellow Alphas. She followed my gaze, and her eyes widened. But I wasn’t sure she was following my train of thought until she stood, abruptly. As if something had just bitten her. “If the vote isn’t limited to two candidates, I’d like to nominate athird.”
Ed Taylor’s scowl darkened. “What—”
“JeroldPierce.”
“What?” Pierce’s surprise was almostcomical.
Marc nodded, clearly catching on. “That makes sense. Jerold, you’re one of our senior members, and the fact that you’re a frequent swing vote means that you’re pretty middle-of-the-road,politically.”
“So, will you run?” Faythe asked, while Rick Wade frowned at her in obviousconfusion.
Pierce shrugged. “Well, I guess that couldn’thurt.”
Faythe’s smile lit up her face. “Then it’s settled. Rick, I think we’re ready to call for the votes. And I think we should start with Pierce, as the latest addition to the candidatepool.”
Ed Taylor’s face turned scarlet. His mouth opened as if he’d object, but before he could figure out how, Wade cleared his throat. “All in favor of recognizing Jerold Pierce as council chair, please raise yourhands.
Pierce’s hand went up immediately, and I exhaled in relief. If he voted for himself, he couldn’t vote for Ed Taylor. Which Taylor clearlyrealized.
For a second, poor Pierce’s was the only hand up. He looked pretty embarrassed. Then Nick Davidson shifted in his chair, and his hand rose slowly into the air. Followed by WesGardner’s.
“That’s three for Jerold Pierce,” Wade said. “All for EdTaylor?”
Ed raised his hand, his face crimson with fury. Milo Mitchell and Robert Taylor followed suit, and Ed turned a pointed look at Titus. Who returned his stare calmly. With his hands still folded on thetable.
“That’s three for Ed Taylor,” Rick Wade announced, relief clear in his voice. He’d obviously done the math. “All in favor of me continuing to serve as councilchair?”
Faythe raised her hand for the South-Central Pride. Isaac Wade and Bert Di Carlo raised their hands. Then Rick Wade voted for himself, and he’d officially won. Titus’s vote wasn’t necessary. But he raised his hand anyway—staring right at EdTaylor.
“Looks like it’s official!” Wade sank into his chair with obvious relief. “It will be my honor to continue toserve.”
Twenty
Justus
“You arebrilliant!”I whispered as I tugged Kaci into her bedroom and closed the door at my back. “Also, you’re beautiful. Have I ever mentioned that you’re beautiful?” I pressed her against the wall with my body and nibbled on the back of her jaw, just beneath her ear. “And delicious,” I murmured against her skin. “How did you know that wouldhappen?”
She giggled. Then she purred, deep in her throat, as she ran her hands over the front of my shirt. “I didn’t know for sure, but I figured most people would vote for themselves, if they were nominated. And Pierce’s was the vote I couldn’t be sure of, so I thought we should try to take him out of play entirely. But I truly had no idea Davidson or Gardner would vote for himtoo.”
“You totally split the vote.” I ran one hand into her hair. The only thing sexier than Kaci Dillion, it turned out, was Kaci Dillion working to save mylife.
“Yeah, I guess I did.” She looked pretty pleased with herself, and the confidence—well deserved—made her evenhotter.
