She swayed her hips as she left, and I realized that she was right. Not about the sex. God knew even the thought of anyone in my bed that wasn’t Blythe made me sick to my stomach, but I did need to ease some tension, and I knew just how to do it.
It was dark when I left my office, and I drove straight to my childhood home. Hale wasn’t home yet, so I went to the liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of bourbon. By the time he got home, I was five shots in.
Sitting down his briefcase, he loosened his tie and stared at me. “Are we celebrating something?”
“Sure,” I said as I lounged in the armchair and tossed back the shot in my hand. “We can celebrate how it looks like I’m the weakest and most corrupt politician in Florida. We can celebrate how the woman I love is never going to speak to me again. We can celebrate how my best friend is ready to quit on me.”
“Hell,” Hale said in disgust. “So, you think you’re hitting fucking rock bottom, is that it?”
“I supposed I could still be dragged out in an angry mob and lynched,” I muttered as I reached for the bottle and poured another shot. My skin was warm and toasty, and I was starting to wonder if I had two fathers. I was fairly certain that two Hale Draysons would bring damnation right here on earth.
“Hey,” Hale snapped as he ripped the bottle out of my hands. “You’re not tasting a fucking thing right now, so you’re wasting my best bourbon. You want to get blind drunk, you should go for the cheap stuff.”
I eyed him over the glass. “You don’t have any cheap stuff. You’ve probably don’t even know what the crap taste like.”
“Oh, I know.” Plopping a different bottle next to me, he turned and grabbed a bottle of scotch and filled a glass for himself. “You remember a servant named Hudson?”
My brain was muddled, but the name sounded familiar. “Yeah. Sure. Hudson. He was one of the gardeners, right?”
“Yup. Best damn gardener I ever had. I loathed the day he got married and moved to California. Anyway, this was right after I kicked your mother out of the house. I was in a bad spot. I’d sent you to summer camp, and I was drunk for two days. Hudson found me when I was lopping off his precious hedge animal heads. Man, he was furious. He told me that if I was going to drink myself to death, I wasn’t going to do it around his hedges, so he took me home, and for two days, I drank the worst fucking vodka I’d ever tasted in my life. Shit burned a lining out of my throat.”
I snorted. “College life was wasted on you, wasn’t it?”
He ignored me. “On the third day, he poured all the liquor down the sink and reminded me that you were coming home the next day. He asked me what kind of man you’d turn out to be if I was a drunk.”
“Let me guess,” I said as I stretched out my legs and held up the glass like a telescope. “You wanted to be a good father, the kind of father that a boy like me deserved because you loved me so much.”
With a smirk, Hale collapsed on the leather couch and cocked his head and stared at me. “Nope. I stayed sober enough to pick you up, but then I told you I had a business trip, and I booked myself a hotel and drank myself blind for a week.”
“Father of the year.”
“It was the lowest moment of my life,” Hale admitted. “My rock bottom. I’d chosen my job over my wife and lost her, and that week, I’d chosen my own self-pity over my son. I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize myself. That’s how I know that you’re not at your rock bottom.”
I sure as hell didn’t see much difference. In the end, I’d chosen my career over Blythe. Turns out that I was going to follow in my father’s footsteps after all. “Are you about to give me a fucking pep-talk about how it’s not too late for me?” I asked with a burp. Bourbon bubbled up in my throat. I was going to feel like hell tomorrow.
“No, kid. I’m not one for pep talks, but I think you need a fucking reality check. I chose work over my wife, and she turned to other men. There was no way we were going to repair that rift, but you and Blythe still have a chance. You can save your career, but you won’t be able to do it at the bottom of a bottle.”
“If I quit now, then everything I was doing was for nothing.”
Hale nodded. “True, but let’s be honest. You’re not going after this group because of your moral compass, and you’re not doing it to save Blythe. You could have gone public with your suspicions and made it known that if anyone hurt Blythe, you’d make it your mission to bring them down. They would have backed off. They don’t exactly want the public spotlight shining on them. You’re going after them because you were fucking pissed. You wanted revenge.”
I wanted to hate him. I wanted to lash out and throw things and tell him that he was wrong, but I couldn’t. I’d thought of that solution. I didn’t need evidence to go on camera and tell the public what I’d put together, what I thought was happening.
Instead, I’d gone after them, and now I was losing everything.
“You didn’t see the look in her eyes when she walked away,” I said miserably as I stared at my father. “She’s never going to take me back.”
“You don’t know until you put that glass down and try.”
Yeah. Maybe I’d try that tomorrow. Tonight, I was too drunk to do fucking anything.
22 Blythe
“No, that’s great. I can fit that in on Wednesday. We’ll do the walkthrough at the Arts Center on Thursday, and then Friday we’ll get ready for the weekend tournament at the Sports Center. We’re all set for hot-dogs and hamburgers, right?”
I had the phone on speaker as I spoke to Rachel and tried to finish the report I needed to send to Susan and Elizabeth. I’d spent the last several days working from home because it was easier for me to travel between the warehouse and the sports center from home than the office.
There was one thing that came out of my breakup with Jack, and it was that I had plenty of time on my hands and fierce focus. It didn’t ease the ache in my heart, but at least I was getting work done.
“Yeah, Connor’s Grill is donating some volunteers and the meat and buns. We’ll just need to get some chips, veggies, and drinks. Maybe some cookies and brownies?” Rachel asked. “Oh, I don’t think you can do the meeting on Wednesday. You’re volunteering at the sports center because there’s no one else.”
Crap. “All right, I’ll have to do it on Thursday, and you can do the walk-through. Just take lots of notes and pictures for me.”
“Oooh, I know you’re hating that, but look at you! Doing more delegating! Have you looked over Riley’s plan?”
Wrinkling my nose, I looked over at the file on my coffee table. I had looked over the plan, and it was a good one, but it also meant that Riley would be in my life for another six months. “I have,” I said carefully. “I don’t think it’s necessary. His first plan is still working well, and we’re not hurting for donations anymore.”
There was a moment of silence before Rachel cleared her throat. “I agree, actually. I think you’re right to focus on the kids for the next couple of weeks. I’ve drawn up the employment flyers and applications. When do you want to post them?”
“Next week. I cannot deal with my phone ringing off the hook this week. I just finished the report. Do you have time to look it over tomorrow?”
“I sure do. Are you coming into the office? Wait, before you answer that, I’m going to answer it for you. The answer is no. Tomorrow is Friday, and you’ve been working around the clock and deserve a three-day weekend.”
I smiled at the phone. “Actually, I was going to say the same thing to you. Take Monday off too, because you deserve it. I have some phone calls that I need to make tomorrow, but I can make them from here. I’ll take an early evening. You wanna come over for wine night and a movie?”
She didn’t answer right away, and I frowned. “Rachel? You still there?”
“I am. I…um…I sort of have a date tomorrow night.”
“A date?” Excited, I picked up the phone and sat back on the couch as I folded my legs under me. “Wo
uld that date be with Carl?”
“Yeah.”
I could practically see her blush. “Are you going to give me any details? Who asked out who? Where is he taking you? Is it going to be one of those all-weekend dates?”
“What? No! He came over yesterday to check on you. I don’t know what happened, but he’s feeling guilty about something. Anyway, I just felt compelled to take the plunge. I told him that I wanted to go on a date with him, and he turned about as red as a tomato and told me that he wanted the same. We’re going to dinner at Little Italy, and I’m deliberately not going to shave, so I don’t feel tempted to invite him in.”
“Good plan. It’s about freaking time!” I wanted to gush some more, but a knock at my door interrupted us. “Someone’s here, but I definitely want to talk about this more tomorrow. Call me when you’re getting ready?”
“Of course! Try and relax tonight. You’ve turned into superwoman lately, but you’re going to run yourself ragged if you don’t take a break.”
“I will. I promise.” Saying goodbye, I hung up on her and stretched up. Whoever was at the door was knocking again. “Coming!”
Glancing through the peephole, my breath caught in my throat, and I cursed under my breath. “Riley,” I said as I opened the door. “Hi. Did we have a meeting I forgot about?”
“No. Are you okay? I was worried about you. You haven’t been back to the office in days. I thought you might be sick.” He reached out to touch me, and I immediately stepped back.
I jumped on the excuse he offered me. “I’ve been working from home. I had a scratchy throat, and I certainly can’t afford to get Rachel sick. Thanks for checking on me, but I’m fine. Really. No need to worry.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” He held up a plastic bag. “But I got you some soup and rice from that Chinese place you like down the street. If you’re feeling better, then we’ll have a quick dinner and go over that report I sent you.”
I really didn’t want to deal with this right now, but I needed to set Riley straight sooner or later. Might as well do it now, and at least it would be one more thing off my plate. Stepping back, I let him in. “Sure, come on in. I did need to talk to you, but you don’t have to unpack the dinner. I don’t have much time to spare.”
“Busy girl,” he murmured as he walked in, and I shut the door behind him. “Does that mean that things are going well.”
“They are. Thanks to you, we have more donors than ever. Honestly, you’ve been a savior, and one of these days, I’m going to find a way to make it up to you.” He smiled, and before he could give me any suggestions on how I could make it up to him, I plowed on, squaring my shoulders. “I looked over your plan, and I think it’s great, but it requires way more time and manpower than I can spare right now. Rachel and I were discussing hiring someone who can work solely on donations and fundraiser ideas, and maybe then, we’d be able to implement your plan.”
“Smart.” Sitting the bag of food on the counter, he turned to face me, and there was a strange smile on his face. “I think that’s a good idea, but I guess that means you’ll have to start thanking me now.”
“Now?” I chuckled. “Does that mean you aren’t going to be available later?”
Before I could blink, he was right in front of me and blocking my path to the front door. “That sort of depends on how tonight goes,” he murmured as he lowered his head. Realizing that he was about to kiss me, I gasped and pressed my hand to his chest to stop him.
“Whoa, Riley.” I laughed awkwardly. “I think you’ve got the wrong idea about what’s happened here.”
“No, Blythe, I think you have the wrong idea about what’s happening here,” he said as his face tightened in anger. “I saved your cute little do-gooder business, and now you owe me.”
Heart pounding in my chest, I backed up until the kitchen counter was digging into my back. “Okay. We can talk about a payment plan with money,” I whispered, fear constricting my throat. This wasn’t really happening, was it?
“I don’t want money, Blythe. I want that tight little body that you’ve been flaunting all month.” With a cruel grin, he grabbed me, and forcefully turned me around until I was bent over the counter. When I tried to scream, he slammed his hand over my mouth and pulled at my sweat pants.
Knowing I had only seconds to act, I bit down on his hand until I could taste blood in my mouth. He howled in anger and slammed his fist into my side, but it gave me just enough time to pull away. Screaming for help, I grabbed my phone off the table as I dove for the door, but I wasn’t fast enough. Riley’s hands closed over my arm and jerked me back until we both tumbled over the coffee table.
“Get away from me, you fucking piece of shit,” I screamed as I kicked at him and turned. Hurrying into the bathroom, I slammed the door shut and locked it. As I frantically searched around the room for a weapon, the doorknob rattled.
“Open up, Blythe,” Riley growled. “You’re trapped.”
He wasn’t wrong. There was no window in the bathroom, and I was never going to get past him. “Way to use your fucking head, Blythe,” I hissed to myself. The door banged as he hurled himself at it, and I pulled the shower curtain rod down off the wall and shoved it under the knob and the cabinets, hoping it would hold.
My hands were trembling as I pulled out my phone and dialed the first name that came on my screen.
“Blythe,” Jack said in a raw voice. “I’m glad you called, baby. I owe you the biggest apology—”
“Help me,” I interrupted with a cry. “Jack, Riley is here, and he’s trying to rape me. I’m trapped in the bathroom, and I can’t get out. God, why the hell am I calling you? I should be calling the police.”
“I’m closer,” he said tersely. “Stay on the phone with me, baby. I’m coming.”
“Hurry,” I whispered.
The banging on the door intensified. “It’s over,” I yelled out. “I’ve already called the police!”
Suddenly, the door broke and swung open as the curtain rod slid uselessly to the floor. Calm as could be, Riley walked in with a huge grin on his face. “Is this what you do?” I whispered as I slowly backed into the wall. “Use your pro-bono services to wiggle your way into women’s lives and then rape them?”
“You’re all the fucking same, you know? You think that someone like me would help someone like you without wanting something in return? You’re smarter than that, Blythe.” He stepped over the curtain rod. “I guess I’ll have to teach you that lesson.”
How many times had he done this? “Is your name even Riley?”
He scoffed. “What do you think? But don’t worry, it’ll work when you’re screaming it later. Tell me, Blythe, think you’re going to like it?”
“I already told you that I called the police.”
“That just means that you and I are going to have to go someplace more private.” He raised his fist, and I cringed just as the front door slammed open.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Jack bellowed. Riley turned and launched himself at Jack, and they both hit the floor in the narrow hallway.
At first, I was paralyzed against the wall until I realized that I was no longer hearing the sounds of two men fighting. “Oh god, Jack!” Fearing that I’d gotten him killed, I stumbled out of the bathroom and found him on top of an unconscious Riley. Jack’s fist was bloodied as he raised it again and brought it down.
“Jack, stop. Please, you have to stop.” Tugging at his arm, I was useless as he hit Riley again. “Jack, look at me. Look at me!” Jerking, he turned his head and stared at me, his eyes blind with rage. “I’m okay, baby, but you have to stop, or you’re going to kill him.”
“He deserves it,” Jack hissed.
“Yes, he does, but you don’t deserve the fallout from that. We’re going to call the police, and they’re going to arrest him. You don’t have to kill him.”
Slowly, he rose to his feet and pulled me up with him. The only thing in his eyes was rage. “Call the police,” he s
aid hoarsely as he turned and stared back down at Riley. “Now. When we’re done here, we have another stop to make, and I’m not about to let you out of my sight.”
23 Jack
“Congressman, do you want us to leave your name out of the report?” the officer asked in a low voice as his partner hauled a bloodied Riley away. Now conscious, the man was howling that I had broken his nose and a few ribs. I stared at him coldly, a reminder that he was lucky that was all I’d done.
Blythe hadn’t wanted to wait in the apartment, so she was outside. I’d called Rachel to join her, so she didn’t have to be alone while I waited with Riley. He’d come to just after the police got there, which was unfortunate. I had a few private words that I wanted to say to him.
I was going to use all the influence in my power to dig into Riley’s history until I turned up enough information to make sure that he spent the rest of his life behind bars.
The young officer cleared his throat. “Congressman, I have to ask. There have been several pictures taken with Blythe and Riley together. There’s dinner for two on the counter. Are you sure—”
I shot to my feet. “If you dare suggest that this was some sick game between them or that she didn’t make herself clear enough when she locked a door between them, forcing the asshole to break it down to get to her, I will have your badge.”
His eyes widened. “No. No, I wasn’t going to suggest that at all. I was just trying to get the facts straight.”
“What did Riley tell you about the bag on the counter? She frequently eats with her friend Rachel.”
The officer flipped through the pages of his notebook nervously. “Um, she said that Riley showed up uninvited with the food. Apparently, he’d give her some paperwork that he wanted to discuss, and she let him in to break off their partnership.”
His Climb to Power Page 14
