AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know you do.”
“But how do I know what’s real? It hurts so badly. I can’t breathe, like my lungs are gone.” I set my tea down and cradled my forehead in my hand.
She nodded and pulled me into another hug. “It’s called addiction, honey.” She hugged me tighter. “It makes you strong and weak.”
More tears fell and I held on to Regina like a lifeline. There were two things I knew for sure:
I was at my best with Roman. Strong and happy. And without him, I’d never been so weak. So scared.
And whatever happened, I was certain I wouldn’t survive another crash.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Holy shit balls!” Paige said, pacing the living room, her thumbs flying over her Blackberry. I’d just stepped from the bathroom after a nice long shower. Yesterday, when Regina had been here, she’d given me a lot to think about.
I’d hoped that the hot water would somehow bring clarity and rational thought to my mind, but it hadn’t. All I could do was feel the hollow ache in my chest that had been growing since I’d left Roman.
“What’s going on?” I asked. Paige looked up at me and bit her lower lip, obviously debating whether she wanted to tell me.
“It’s okay. I know it’s about Roman. I can handle it,” I said.
When Paige and Hazel had gotten home last night, I’d caught them up, minus the part about the “dating arrangement.” He’d lied to me, broken my heart, end of story. Paige hadn’t looked overly surprised but again, that’s why she was good at her job.
“Roman just announced his support for the house chair. He gave it to Stanton.”
My eyes shot wide and I gripped the towel around my chest. He’d threatened to back Stanton, but after the blowup in his office, I hadn’t known what to expect. In Roman’s position, it would have made more sense to go with Warren. Then he wouldn’t have had to worry about my past and Warren’s blackmail hurting his campaign.
“Warren will leak to the press now.” I said. “The election is tomorrow. He’ll ruin Roman’s chances the day before the ballots get cast.”
Paige shook her head. “Not if Roman leaked it first.”
My brows came together so fast and hard, it hurt. Paige just started reading aloud from her handheld.
“‘The opening of the New Beginnings drug counseling and rehabilitation center in Arbor Hill is due to the hard work and vision of Amy Underwood,’” Paige started. “‘Amy lost her older sister to a drug overdose several years ago…’” Paige trailed off, her eyes darting across the screen.
“What?” I asked nervously.
She met my stare. “He relates what you went through. How you were scared, had nowhere to go.” Her eyes went to the phone again. “‘She did what any loving sister would do,’” Paige read verbatim, “‘she took her home.’”
Just when I’d thought I had the crying under control, that damn sting popped up behind my eyes again.
Paige read on. “‘This tragedy will not hurt another family in New York if we don’t let it. Arbor Hill will be the place to go for all who need help.’” She looked up and, with her green eyes fastened on mine, said, “‘No one will be left to fight this battle alone.’”
I put a hand over my mouth.
Paige flicked a few more buttons. “Amy, he follows it up with a whole press release about his mother’s stay in rehab at New Beginnings.”
“What?”
“It’s all here.” She scrolled some more. “The entire truth. There’s even a picture.” She held out her phone so I could see Roman, on the steps of the capitol in Albany, hugging his mother. The photo was dated this morning.
Paige looked back at me with a smile, then read, “‘New York and all her citizens deserve a fresh start.’”
My heart sank and my stomach ached.
“Will this hurt him? His chances at governor?” I asked quietly.
“That’s the question you ask? You’re worried about him and his campaign?” Paige grabbed her purse.
