I gnaw on the inside of my cheek. “That bad, huh?”
“Worse,” Callan expresses.
I can’t say I didn’tknowthere’d be repercussions to Dyers's idiocy. But death?
“If he dies, what do we tell Denver and Zach?” Shay hisses.
Callan rubs his brow. “Denny’s already shared some of her plans with me. They’ll humiliate him but nothing hardcore.”
“Won’t matter if he’s dead,” Shay snipes. “Fuck, I shouldn’t be involved in this conversation!”
That ruffles Callan’s feathers. “Do you know how many backdoor deals and terrible crimes you’ll have to commit to become president? Buckle up, baby politician, because if you can’t deal with this, you can’t run a country.”
Shay turns red, but Conor interrupts with: “He’s right, Seamus. You’re perfectly willing for Victoria to get her hands dirty so you can keep yours clean. That isn’t the son your mother raised.”
My best friend blanches like Conor slapped him.
“I’m doing?—”
Callan clucks his tongue. “No. You’re doing thisforhim, Victoria. I can’t see you wanting to do this for shits and giggles. The least he can do is have your back.”
I can feel my cheeks pinken.
With all eyes on him, Shay eventually apologizes, “I’m sorry, V.”
“You don’t have to be.”
He curls his arm around my shoulders and presses his temple to mine. “Yes, I do.”
“I didn’t think it’d be this deep,” I admit. “So why would you?”
“You don’t get into bed with the devil without knowing that he doesn’t use lube.”
“That’s some imagery, Callan,” Conor applauds.
And somehow, I just know that Callan has made another friend.
I roll my eyes at the pair of them. “So, what’s the plan?”
“We compound my eight-part plan with Denver’s and make Dyers's life hell so that he isn’t too sad about dying?”
“Wow, harsh.” I tut. “Fine.”
“Fine,” Shay mumbles against my hair, but from his tension, I know he’s not happy about this.
I can’t say that I blame him.
And honestly, I don’t regret telling the Veronians about Dyers's brand snafu.
The fucker’s a rapist, a monster, and rabid animals need putting down…
FIFTY-EIGHT
I BELIEVE IN YOU, MR. FUTURE PRESIDENT
TWO HOURS LATER
“You okay?”
