The senator’s chilling smile soured his stomach. “Do you have anything to say for yourself? Please, the floor is yours.”
He glared at Internado. “The truth will come out.”
“This hearing is adjourned.” With the smack of a gavel, George Internado had all but shut down ThunderStrike.
Decades of tamped down anger billowed to the surface and Maverick gritted his teeth to keep from exploding in a blind rage. The senator’s words, “I’m going to bury you alive,” echoed in his head.
I am so screwed. He couldn’t save his mother, so he’d dedicated his life to rescuing others. No way would he roll over and play dead to a bunch of out-of-touch politicians who ruled from an ivory tower.
As he inched his way toward the door, he spotted Sinclair in the back row. His brother’s lips curved into a sinister grin. Sinclair fought dirty. His brother lived for revenge and would relish tearing George Internado down. He, on the other hand, did not.
In the corridor, a wall of reporters pounced. Maverick forced a smile and offered a few prepared statements. But inside, he was seething.
Carly waited off to the side, her lips set in a thin line, her eyes narrowed. Sinclair approached, thanked the press for their support, then took Maverick by the arm and led him away. Reporters shouted questions as Carly fell in line. To elude the press, they ducked down a hallway and escaped out a side entrance. Their sunglasses filtered out the hazy autumn sunshine.
“Was that a load of bullshit?” Maverick growled.
“Internado is a spectacle,” she replied, her voice tight.
Sinclair patted his brother on the back. “Ready to have some fun?” He ushered them into his waiting sedan. “I’ve been biding my time for a reason to take him down. That day has come.”
Sin’s chauffeur dropped them at Maverick’s vehicle.
“Meet me at my office,” Sinclair said. “Use my code and park in the small gated lot behind the building.”
Dazed, Maverick drove toward Georgetown, consumed by contempt.
At a red light, Carly caressed his arm. “We’ll get through this. We’ve gotten through much, much worse, Ash. This is a blip.”
While he appreciated her encouraging smile, he couldn’t return one of his own. The light turned green and anger fueled him forward. His phone rang. Gunner.
“He crucified us,” Maverick bit out.
“Penelope is with me,” Gunner said. “We figured it was bad. Clients are bailing, big time.”
“Are you coming back to the office?” Penelope asked.
“I’m meeting with Sinclair first.”
“Oh, God.” Penelope groaned. “We’re playing dirty.”
“We’ll see what he comes up with. I’ll be there ASAP.” He hung up. “Penelope’s right. I’m not sure I want to go there.”
“Flinging mud used to be one of your favorite things to do,” Carly said. “It’ll be just like old times.”
“That’s because I was playing with you.”
“You still are.” Even her sweet smile couldn’t quiet his fury.
Maverick parked in Sinclair’s private lot. In silence, they walked into the office building that bore his name.
DEVELIN
Sinclair’s crisis management firm occupied the entire top floor.
“Hold all calls,” Sinclair said to his assistant before shutting the door to his corner office overlooking M Street in Georgetown. A conspiratorial smile filled his face as he eased into his executive chair. “Here we go.”
Carly perched on the edge of a guest chair while Maverick gripped the back of the other. “Tell us what you know,” he said.
