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Dad laughed. “Pretty good. At least that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it! I’ve got a long road ahead of me, so I definitely can’t complain now. I’m just getting started.”
“So I take it that the vice presidency is becoming more of a probability than a possibility, eh?”
“I guess you can say something like that, if we’re talking about wishful thinking.”
“Excellent! And I see you’ve got Natalie with you for support! How are you, sweetheart?”
I smiled and handed my father his coffee before Barry embraced me in a hug. “I’m fine, sir. Good to see you again.”
“Likewise, darling. This old man needs someone like you to keep him in check.”
We all shared a laugh before Barry clapped his hands together. “All right. Well—time’s a wasting! Let’s get started.”
“Sure thing,” Dad said. “What’s first on the schedule?”
“We’re going to take a short walk to the meeting with a few campaign strategists to get some tips on how to make you appear to be the best candidate for the coveted position,” Barry said, motioning for us to follow him as he headed toward the exit. I took a large swig of my coffee, hoping it would wake me up so that I could pay better attention during the upcoming meetings.
“So that I can appear to be the best candidate?” Dad asked with a raised eyebrow.
Barry laughed and held his hands up in a surrendering gesture. “Hey—I know you’re the best candidate. It’s just a matter of making sure everyone else knows it too!”
“Oh, I see,” Dad said. Barry held the lobby door open for us and prepared to say something else. But whatever else he wanted to say got lost in a cloud of smoke.
The world outside exploded, a blast so loud that it sent my cup of coffee falling to the ground with me right along with it. My ears rang and my vision turned to gray. I lay sprawled on the floor, unable to comprehend what was happening.
When my ears stopped ringing, I heard the screaming—screaming outside that seemed to come from miles around.
I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision. Eventually, I saw movement beside me.
“Natalie? Natalie? NATALIE?!”
“Here! I’m here, Dad!” I stretched out my arm. When our hands met, we clasped each other. My vision clearing further, I saw my father’s face covered in dirt and dust.
I glanced around, spotting Barry lying on the ground, unmoving. Before I could speak or do anything, another voice, loud and commanding, pierced through the commotion.
“Everyone, stay calm. Help is on the way.”
“What’s going on?!” Dad yelled. He unsteadily climbed to his feet and I followed suit behind him, although my knees wobbled from fear.
“There’s been an attack. A bomb was set off,” someone responded.
“Who…Who set off a b-bomb?” I stammered, clutching my father’s arm.
But to that, I received no answer. The cloud of dust around us thinning, I noticed security guards and police officers rushing over. Sirens blared, mixing in with all the screams and cries that still seemed to drift through the air from miles around.
Behind me, I heard heavy coughing. Barry. He had finally stirred back into consciousness upon being checked by a guard who kneeled before him.
“Are you all right, sir?” the guard asked.
“What the hell just happened?”
“Don’t worry about that now. I need to get you and the Speaker to safety immediately.”
“Was this…Was this because of me?” Dad asked. Despite the dust covering his face, I could see his complexion growing several shades paler.
“No time for speculation, Speaker Finley. Please, follow me.”
As if all the commotion surrounding us wasn’t enough, my very heart stopped when the guard speaking finally turned around to face us. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t recognized the familiarity of his voice, but then again, it wasn’t like I had known him long. Nevertheless, there was no mistaking that tall and muscular build, that tattoo peeking beneath the bottom of his short-sleeved shirt, that silky dark hair, and those bright blue eyes.
