Once everyone seemed to becrowded around the small stage Peter started talking. “As most ofyou know I’ve been sitting on Miami council for almost five yearsnow.” There was applause from people in the audience. He lifted hishand letting them know he had more to say. When the crowd hushed,he continued. “I’ve decided that is enough for me. I’m not runningfor reelection.” This time sounds of disappointment reached hisears but he grinned. “I’m not done.” Laughter this time. “As mostof you know we’ve had a lot of tragedy in our lives.” He reachedover and put his arm around Kat’s shoulders, who looked completelylost. “First my wife, then my precious daughter Anna. I want to getthrough that and make a new life for us, and help defeat the peoplewho put drugs on the street.”
Katya stared at him inshock.
“So, I’ve decided to runfor Governor. So be generous with your check bookstonight.”
Cheers and applause erupteddrowning out Katya’s gasp. Her father turned to her, hugged her andwhispered harshly in her ear. “And you will act accordingly andkeep your mouth shut!” Without another word, he released her andwalked off stage to accept congratulations.
Ryan met her as shefollowed suit, and the music started playing again. Her father wasbeing mobbed by his guests, but he did shoot her a warning lookbefore they engulfed him. “Did you know about this?” she askedRyan.
He shook his head. “I’mjust as surprised.” He would have never thought the man had theballs to do such a thing. Campaign rivalry brings out all the dirtysecrets. This man had to have had an edge before he went publicwith such an announcement.
She lowered her voice soonly he could hear. “He can’t Ryan. He just can’t. So many peoplewill suffer.”
Ryan nodded. “I won’t letit get that far.”
“We. We won’t let it get that far,” shecorrected.
The corner of his mouthpulled up. “Brave words. Here I thought you were a spoiledprincess. You keep surprising me.”
She found it in her tosmile. “And I thought you were a real bodyguard.”
He chuckled and took herhand. “Let’s finish this horrible night by having more todrink.”
Her eyes widened. “If Ididn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to get me drunk totake advantage of me.”
He leaned down andwhispered in her ear. “I don’t need to get you drunk to do that,but I’m definitely going to take advantage of you. Now,shhh.”
She laughed.
After another two hours,she’d had enough of this crowd and her father being patted on theback for such a political move. Thankfully Ryan noticed and toldher to go to bed.
“What about myfather?”
“I’ll handle him,” he saidjust as the older man made eye contact with him and waved him over.“Besides, it looks like he wants my attention. He won’t notice thatyou’ve gone.”
“Okay.” Ryan left her then.It seemed so impersonal but she knew he was trying to keep up theprofessionalism. She couldn’t really expect that he’d kiss hergoodnight. She sighed and went back into the house and up to herroom. The guests were thinning too. It was quite late and just afew loyal stragglers were left. Well, more than likely her father’sdirty business partners. She didn’t want to stick around while theychummed up to one another. She’d need a shower to get all thewicked slime off of her.
She turned the corner ofthe upstairs hall to go to her room and stopped. Ivan was leaningagainst the wall next to her door smoking a cigarette. She narrowedher eyes and marched forward. “I don’t think my father would likeyou smoking in the house.”
“He won’t know.”
She paused and looked athim. His voice was cool and collected, like he had the authority todo what he wanted. Usually he was more than friendly to her eventhough she despised him. She placed her hand on the doorknob andIvan stepped in front of her. His eyes went down her front to herbreasts then back up to her eyes.
“Are you sure you don’twant to use the other door?” He said with malice in histone.
She felt a little afraid ofwhere this was leading, but covered it with irritation. She tossedher head. “Of course not. That’s Mr. Casey’s room.”
He shrugged meeting hereyes. “Well, I assumed since you were sleeping with—“
She slapped him across thecheek cutting off his words. Surprisingly the cigarette remainedbetween his lips.
Although it was now bent. In any other situation she might havefound it amusing.
His face twisted as hebecame enraged and grabbed her wrist. “If you do that again, I’llbreak your hand!”
“Let me go! You’re hurtingme!” she shouted.
He shoved her against thewall—hard. She released a painful gasp. He brought his face closeto hers so she could smell his breath. She made a disgustedsound.
“I know your screwing him.I’ve seen you together.”
She laughed like he wasbeing ridiculous.
“Oh? What do you think yourfather will do if he finds out? He’ll cut that man up into littlepieces.”
Her eyes met his. He wasguessing. He had to be. With the exception of the party, which wasan act of affection to cover what Ryan really did, they didn’t showany fondness in public at all. They hardly even looked at oneanother. She narrowed her eyes in hatred and decided to call hisbluff. “I don’t Know what you thinkyou saw, but you’re dreaming.” Oh, she wasterrified though. What if there was a slip and she couldn’tremember; a small caress, a look, or a soft spoken word.
“Oh I know what I saw. He’s taken withyou. That man has no right, Kat! He’s an outsider. I’ve known yousince you were sixteen.”
“Oh my God. Let go of me.”She tried to move and he slammed her back against the wall again.She released a painful gasp. His face was still inches fromhers.
“You are going to fuckinglisten to me! I’m sick of your condescending and your
