Corrupt Desires

by Jennifer Bene

  “Those focused on the retained COF members, and those protesting about the resistance members on trial?” Parks asked, clarifying, but he continued talking without a verbal confirmation. “Look, we just need to get some answers into the hands of the media that are airing our side of things, and then we just have to let justice happen.”

  “It’s going to turn into a lynch mob if we’re not careful,” Easton growled.

  “Well, had members of the resistance stuck to the fucking list and not killed women and a fucking kid then we’d have some moral high ground to stand on, but we fucking don’t!” Bryant yelled, his temper frayed to the limits.

  “We are going to have to prosecute Derek Walker, there’s no avoiding it.” Davis was speaking, always more level-headed than the others. “I doubt he’ll be sentenced to death considering the circumstances, but his sentence can’t be short.”

  “Walker was a good soldier for the resistance, and he says it was an accident.” Parks sighed, and Phee heard the tinkling of ice in a glass as she looked over at Regan. Sitting in her bedroom, listening to the men argue it out in the living room was not supposed to be how today went, but the city seemed like it would explode if they weren’t careful.

  “Does it really matter if it was an accident when they’ve got Lucas Campbell’s face on signs?” Bryant asked, sounding a lot more subdued. “He was seven. You keep asking me how we can win over the downtowners, well, this is the line in the sand. Either we’re on the right side of the law, no matter whose mistakes are involved, or we’re just another COF in the making.”

  “That’s bullshit!” Easton shouted, but Parks talked over him.

  “You’re right, Holbrook. I hate it, but you’re right.” A heavy sigh filled the tense silence. “Davis, tell the justice department to move Walker’s case to the top. Whatever they decide, we will support. All of us, understand?”

  There was a mumbled chorus of agreement, and then Adam Davis spoke up. “If we get that case settled, we’ll be able to handle the pending COF trials with less attention. It’s taken a long time to work through the files we have access to now, but there’s clear guilt in half the cases. Mass murders, several cases of human trafficking, and even a seriously complicated real estate case that our lawyers are still trying to figure out.”

  “This is such a fucking mess,” Parks growled. “I don’t understand why those assholes got away with so much, and we have to prove it, but we have to serve Walker up on a platter.”

  “Exactly,” Easton grumbled.

  “The world isn’t fair. We know that better than most, but if we want to prove to this city that the NDF are better than who we’ve shown the COF to be… we can’t play favorites. Justice has to be blind. Facts are facts, no matter who’s sitting in the defendant’s seat.” Bryant was subdued, and Phee felt bad for him, for all of them, because this had never been what she’d imagined when they’d agreed to be a part of the new government.

  “Walker is only twenty-two.” Parks sounded so defeated. “Someone should go talk to his mom, prepare her.”

  “I’ll do that. I didn’t know him well, but it’ll be a lot easier to hear it from me than someone else.” Easton volunteering surprised Phee, but Regan just looked sad.

  “That’s going to break his heart,” she whispered, and Phee bit her tongue. The guy was a hardass, and a dick more often than not, but she’d seen his kinder side personally and she believed her bestie when she said it.

  “Maybe you could go with him?” Phee suggested, keeping her voice quiet, but Regan just shook her head.

  “He’s always protecting me from that stuff, no way he’d let me go with him. He’s going to be irritated enough knowing that I sat in here and listened to all of it.” Rolling her eyes she gave Phee a little smile. “Most overprotective boyfriend I’ve ever had.”

  Smiling back, Phee nudged her bestie with her shoulder, and they went quiet as voices were raised again.

  “We need you to be an example, Holbrook. That means you and Phee. Everyone is grateful for the two of you, but when she acts out it represents all of us.” Apparently Carol Evans had arrived at some point, because her clear voice rang out in the room, bringing up the topic that Phee and Regan had been waiting for.

  Regan’s eyes were big as saucers as she grabbed onto Phee’s arm, but she ignored her and leaned closer to the door to listen as Bryant spoke. “—not what we had planned, and the reporters surprised us. She’s still learning to deal with this level of attention.”

  “I thought it was pretty great that she broke that asshole’s nose with his own camera.” Easton laughed, and Regan smiled, but Phee tried to block them both out.

  “Like Holbrook said before, we have to be better than these assholes. We can’t give them a reason to compare us to the COF.” Parks spoke, and everyone listened, as usual. Even Phee felt chastised by the older man’s words.

  “I understand how challenging it is for you both to have this attention, but you have to get her to stop reacting. They’re just going to keep baiting her.” This time it was Davis, and Phee sighed heavily as she slumped against the door.

  “We’ve already reached a settlement with him, and part of it includes him not discussing the incident or providing quotes to the media. As far as Phee, she and I have had a discussion and she knows how important it is not to react,” Bryant replied and she flinched. If her ass hadn’t already been striped by the belt, she’d have asked for another set just because of this.

  “Then that’s settled,” Parks announced, ending the discussion with less drama than she’d expected. “Are there any other pressing matters we need to address?”

  “My teams are still reviewing the new NDF headquarters, looking for listening devices or any other weak points. We will identify how some of those private discussions have been getting out.” Easton was back to a level-headed calm. “Until then, it’s best if we have sensitive meetings like this in private residences that we’re sure are secure. Holbrook and Evans’ homes are where I’m most confident.”

  “Why not mine?” Adam Davis asked.

  “Because your boyfriend likes to throw parties every weekend where you have so many guests that any of them could plant something.”

  Davis just laughed, a light sound. “He likes to celebrate small wins, says it’s the only way to feel like all of this chaos is worth the effort.”

  “And this last party was for…?” Carol Evans prompted, clearly entertained.

  “I believe last weekend was in celebration of Parks’ speech about reviving the southern parts of the city, and the fact that several newspapers called the NDF the future of Lakehurst.”

  “Edmund threw a party in my honor and I didn’t get an invitation?” Parks asked, and the group laughed.

  “I’ll make sure he knows you’d like to come, sir.” Davis laughed, and then Phee heard them all standing.

  “Alright, if there’s anything else, let’s discuss it on Wednesday. I’ve got a meeting with the plastics factory union leaders in an hour, and I’d like to eat before I go,” Parks said, and then everyone was saying their goodbyes.

  A minute later, Bryant’s voice echoed through the apartment. “Phee, come out.”

  “You too, Regan,” Easton called.

  The girls looked at each other, sighing almost in unison before they stood and Phee cracked the door open. When she saw both men waiting near the couches with their arms crossed, she just tossed the door the rest of the way open and walked out with Regan just behind her.

  “Am I right in assuming that after we’d told you not to eavesdrop, you listened and heard every word?” Bryant asked, and Phee sighed.

  “That’s a yes,” Easton replied.

  “Good. Then I don’t think we’ll have any issue with ignoring the press in the future, will we?” Bryant had that dominant edge to his voice, and a blush burned in her cheeks as Phee dipped her eyes to the floor and nodded. “I want you to say it, Phee.”

  “I’ll ignore the press in the
future, okay? I know that I made a mistake, Bryant, and I’m sorry you had to settle with the asshole.”

  Bryant crossed the space between them in a handful of strides, cupping the side of her face to make her lift her gaze to his, but then he inched his hand back to fist her hair and hold her there. The blush turned to fire in her cheeks because Regan and Easton were watching. Her lips parted to argue when his fist tightened and silenced her. Those turquoise eyes flashed as the tingle rushed down her spine. “No. We had to settle, Phee. We’re in this together, and that means every choice you make, or I make, affects both of us. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir…” she whispered, keeping her voice deadly quiet as her embarrassment ratcheted up another notch, but when Bryant leaned down to kiss her the stomach twisting situation faded a little. His other hand slid around her waist, pulling her flush to his chest, and she melted into his embrace. Safe, protected, loved… even when she fucked up. As the kiss ended she ran her tongue across her bottom lip and looked up at him, hungry for something other than lunch, but she knew that wasn’t possible right now. “I promise I won’t do it again.”

  “Good girl,” he purred quietly, and then she heard Regan squeak. Sliding his hand from her hair, Bryant turned to face the others, but he kept his arm around her waist.

  Regan was leaning against Easton, who had sat down on the arm of their couch. Her hands were covering her mouth, and in her eyes she just saw best-friend-joy, that feeling that comes from seeing your bestie really happy. It made Phee smile back, toning down the blush in her cheeks a little further. “That was fucking hot,” Regan half-shouted, always too loud. With a groan, she leaned harder back against Easton. “But I have to admit I’m glad I’m not in the spotlight, I’d never be able to avoid shoving a camera back into some douchebag’s face.”

  “Oh, really?” Easton asked, his hand finding Regan’s blonde hair to bend her backwards with a yelp. Not even remotely subtle, Easton looked down at Regan as she fumed, her legs kicking as he touched her chin and gave her a look that Phee knew all too well. “Let me make it clear that if you ever put yourself in jeopardy by acting out around one of these pro-COF fucks, you won’t be able to sit down for a week. Understand, Regan?”

  “Yes, sir,” she mumbled, pale eyes wide under Easton’s intense gaze, and Phee bit down on her lip to stifle her own glee.

  “Good.” He kissed her once, his short-cropped beard a dark contrast against Regan’s pale skin, and then he sat her back on her feet. A quick spank and Easton was grinning. “Good girl.”

  Phee laughed. “Okay, I have to admit, that is hot to watch.”

  “Shut up!” Regan whined, but she was smiling through the blush too, and their eyes met in an unspoken bestie moment which simply said: we’re so lucky. When Regan turned back to Easton, she crossed her arms and huffed, never so easily cowed. “You two seem awfully friendly after tearing into each other during that argument. Did you and Bryant form some silent pact about us when we weren’t looking?”

  It was Bryant’s turn to chuckle as he pulled Phee close to his side. “I’ve always respected Easton’s skills, even though he’s a complete dick. Now that he’s dating Phee’s best friend, it just means I have to focus on his meager positive qualities to abide his presence.”

  “Asshole.” Easton growled and flipped him off as he tugged Regan onto his lap with the other arm. “Bryant just doesn’t like that I call him out on his shit while everyone else is still starry-eyed over the downtowner who helped us overthrow the COF. I may have a grudging respect for what he’s done, but I’ll never let him get away with shit. And he should listen to me, since I know a lot more about this city, and the dangers in it, than he ever will.”

  The two men stared at each other for a long moment, the tension rising, until Phee finally clapped her hands together. “Okay, if this pissing match is over, are we ready to go to lunch?”

  “Sure,” Bryant answered in a bright tone. “How about we go to Dover’s?”

  “You’re the only one here that can afford Dover’s, jackass,” Easton fumed, and Bryant laughed.

  “Oh, I know. Phee and I will treat you guys.”

  “Dover’s! Come on, honey. It will be so good!” Regan pouted, and Easton clenched his jaw so tight that it looked like he might break a tooth. Eventually he relented with a sigh and Regan kissed him, practically climbing into his lap in her excitement before she bounced back onto her feet. “Oh my God, this is awesome!”

  “You’re a real asshole, Bryant,” Easton grumbled as he stood up to follow Regan over to them. “Will that place even let us in dressed like this?”

  Bryant grinned and looked him over, scanning Easton’s dark combat pants, thick boots, and long-sleeved black shirt. “I’ve got a jacket you can borrow.”

  “Regan, come on…” He didn’t even get the rest of the sentence out before Regan was pouting at him. Almost as tall as Easton, she still managed the puppy dog eyes that somehow turned the rough killer into putty. “Fuck, fine. Get me the jacket.”

  Squealing with excitement, Regan ran over to her to bounce on her toes. “Can you believe we’re going to eat at Dover’s?” she shouted, cheering as she grabbed onto Phee’s hands. “Have you ever been?”

  Laughing, Phee shook her head. “Not yet. I’m just glad they’re a little more lenient on our dress code or you’d be swimming in one of my dresses.”

  “Whatever, Bryant obviously loves your ass, and I’ve yet to be spontaneously blessed with a decent rack.” Regan grinned when Easton almost choked behind her. She turned to glance at him, whispering, “This is best friend talk, honey. You may want to go with Bryant.”

  “Why the hell did I ever agree to go get you?” he asked, arching a dark brow at her.

  “Because you figured Phee’s best friend would be hot, and you settled for me.” Regan laughed when he grabbed her arm and yanked her back towards him, possessively palming her ass with both hands through her jeans.

  “I didn’t settle, but I should have known you would be just as mouthy as Phee.” A sharp spank on her ass and Regan’s gasp was a lot breathier than it had been before. Another weak sound slipped out of her lips as Easton said something against her ear, and when he turned her around she had that stunned look in her eyes that told Phee it had been something sufficiently filthy enough to stun even Regan.

  Bryant came back in the room wearing the matching jacket to his slacks, and he handed Easton the black one before glancing between Phee and the couple. “What did I miss?”

  “The girls were misbehaving,” Easton answered, pinching Regan’s side when she opened her mouth to argue.

  “Really…” Chuckling, Bryant took Phee’s hand and started heading towards the front door. “You’ll have to tell me about it over lunch.”

  When Easton just laughed, Phee and Regan groaned in unison.

  14

  Four Months Later

  “Excuse me, Mr. Holbrook!” Another of the reporters was waving his hand in the air from the sea of chairs before the podium. “A question — you said earlier that the NDF is moving forward with the initiative to upgrade the housing in the southern districts of the city, but isn’t that the exact initiative that failed to pass by popular vote last quarter?”

  Phee winced. She had hoped that particular comment had slipped by when Bryant was giving his press corps briefing, but of course it hadn’t. When Mitchell Parks had won the election over a year ago, Phee had known that having Bryant be a part of the New Democratic Fellowship wouldn’t be all about saving the world, but she’d never imagined this shit. Working in government seemed to be a lot more about attending really boring events, listening to people criticize him on television and in person, and watching him have to be the bad guy over and over while Parks kissed babies and smiled at crowds.

  Bryant didn’t deserve any of this.

  “Well, Mr. Collins, we are moving forward with a plan to upgrade housing in the southern districts, but this particular set of changes was not a part
of Proposition 61. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to clarify,” Bryant answered calmly, and turned to accept a question from another reporter, but Mr. Collins stayed standing.

  “It sounds exactly like Proposition 61, which the people of this city were quite clear in their opinion of. Perhaps you could elaborate? For all of us who are having trouble seeing the minute changes you’ve made.” Mr. Collins sneered, and a few of the reporters were looking between the two of them intensely. Phee just wanted to claw the man’s eyes out. She wished she wasn’t in this fancy dress, sitting politely at the side of the room as she waited for him to finish so they could go home. She would much rather be wearing armor, with a golden battle-axe, just so she could teach this douchebag a lesson about messing with—

  “Mr. Collins, if you would like to review the proposition in its entirety I suggest accessing the city’s public archives in the Justice Building. I’m sure as a member of the press corps you’ll have no issue obtaining a library card.” Bryant blazed as he responded with calm professionalism, and she wanted to cheer.

  That was her king of fire.

  The next question from the press was about the recent egg shortage in the city, and Bryant confidently discussed the trade agreements with the agricultural groups that managed the farmers outside the city limits. It quickly had Phee zoning out again. She wanted to be there to support him, but it was exhausting to listen to the tedium of the day-to-day management of the city, especially when she had nothing to contribute. More and more often she was feeling useless, because she hadn’t found a place for herself in the NDF. Bryant was pushing her to write books, children’s stories, but although she’d started five or six of them on her laptop none of them felt good enough to actually submit to anyone.

  Hell, she’d only let Bryant look at one of them, and Regan had only seen two.

  And even if she did start writing children’s books, it still felt so small. So insignificant. No matter how many times Bryant told her that giving kids magic in their lives was just as important.