Jagger perked up. “I’m Jagger Hansen, Bailey’s partner. I was formerly a member of the governor’s security team. Has anyone been investigating the people who would have access to the governor’s private information?”
The driver’s eyes immediately met our reflection in the rearview mirror. He didn’t like Jagger’s question at all.
“Yes, Mr. Hansen. There’s an ongoing investigation, but that’s all I can tell you—as you should know.”
“He’s a former member of the governor’s protection team. He knows what the hell he’s talking about.” I couldn’t hold in my snap response to the pompous asshole driving the sedan.
Jagger’s hand covered mine. “You don’t need to defend me. The officer is right.”
Our car approached the gate, and there were even more people huddled there than when we’d driven by twenty minutes ago. “This is a nightmare,” Jagger said under his breath.
“I don’t know how Thomas copes with it,” I responded.
Being a younger governor had brought additional scrutiny to my brother, but what we were seeing was wildly out of context. Ihad the feeling there was more to the crowd than just wanting an update on the reason Thomas claimed he’d come to Vegas.
The meeting could have happened without the governor acting as an intermediary. That wasn’t his fucking job.
The driver, who still hadn’t identified himself, honked the horn and tripped the siren a few times to get people moving. The cameras turned toward our car, trying to get shots of those inside. Thankfully, the windows were tinted.
Additional patrol officers showed up to push the press back to let us pass. Once we were inside, the driver took us to the front of one of the buildings. “The governor is expecting you, Mr. Gregory.”
I nodded, and we hopped out, going into the lobby where a uniformed State Patrol officer sat behind the desk. Jagger didn’t glance at him twice.
“Bailey Gregory to see the governor with my partner, Jagger Hansen.”
In my peripheral vision, I noticed the right side of Jagger’s mouth tipped up, so I reached for his hand. He gave it without hesitation. My insides warmed like a teen with their first crush. Not one molecule in my body was embarrassed about our relationship and never would be.
The officer called someone and announced us, hanging up. “Go up to five. Unit five-two-five.”
We thanked the man—who, according to his nametag, was called Gallows—and we took the elevator up. When it stopped on five, a man was coming onto the elevator with a doctor’s bag, stopping in front of us to stare at me before he stepped aside and let us off.
I was sure seeing my face had startled him and made him wonder if I was the governor, but I didn’t care. I pounded on the door until Thomas opened it, wearing a T-shirt and dress pants.
“Come in, Bailey. Hello, Hansen. I must say, this is a surprise.”
“Yeah, yeah. That’s a rather casual look for a governor.” I stared at my brother to see if he’d laugh or yell. It was even odds either way.
“Fuck you. I had blood drawn for testing. I took your words to heart, and the more I thought about it, I concluded maybe you were onto something.”
That surprised me. Thomas wasn’t one to concede so easily.
“Governor, is the First Lady here?” Jagger’s voice was soft, nearly a whisper. It hadn’t occurred to me that Lindsey might have flown down.
“No. She’s still in Carson City. Come out, sweetheart. You can tell my brother what you told me.” Thomas closed the front door and locked it, turning toward the hallway.
I sucked in a sharp breath when Boyd Newton appeared. He walked toward us as we stood by the door. What the fuck was my brother thinking?
“Hi, Mr. Gregory. Mr. Hansen.” He stopped next to Thomas, who took his hand.
Jagger said nothing, but I had plenty to say. “What the fuck are you doing here, Newton?”
Thomas led him over to a large sofa, and the two of them sat down, Newton tight against Thomas’s side. “He’s here because I asked him to come. Danny Bolls is dead, and Boyd found him because Danny missed a night shoot at Glory Hole Studios. I’m afraid it was the motorcycle club he used to deal drugs for, so I insisted Boyd come here, where we can keep him safe.”
That was another surprise. It was no wonder the press had set up camp. The governor had lost his fucking mind and was holed up with a known drug dealer who was his lover. The headlines would reach our mother, no doubt.
“Thomas, what the hell? Anyone finds this out, and you’ll flush your career. Is that what you really want to do?” I steppedforward and fell onto a side chair, unable to speak for a moment. Thankfully, Jagger wasn’t as gobsmacked as me.
“Governor, sir, did something happen? What I mean to ask is, have you told anyone about your relationship with Mr. Newton?”
