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“Pleasure is all mine.” He smiles too wide, too bright. “Always lovely to meet supporters of my nephew.”
Hawkins bristles at the word nephew, clearly peeved that his uncle didn’t use his official title. I hide my amused smile behind my drink, sipping it slowly while observing this massive pissing contest between the two of them.
Connor doesn’t seem interested in partaking in any of it which, annoyingly, sends a small thrill down my spine. They’re just a bunch a fucking gazelles prancing about compared to him. I don’thatethe idea of being connected to such power. Especially, when I had that same power making me see the entire galaxy not even an hour ago.
The conversation shifts onto a subject I’m—with no surprise—already bored with. I lean into Connor’s hard body and whisper, “I’m going to freshen up”.
His grasp on me tightens, his smoldering eyes find mine and he kisses me softly on the lips. “Hurry back, darling,” he replies with a grin.
Fuck.
Why do I keep letting him kiss me tonight? Well,letmight be a stretch, considering I can’t push him away when everyone here believes we’re happy newlyweds — I wish I wasn’t enjoying it this much either.
Connor’s skilled lips are maddening and I’d be loath to say I didn’t want to taste them again before this evening ends. None of it is real anyway, so why not enjoy it for what it is?
Delectable, undeniable andhot.
I excuse myself and navigate through the crowd, heading towards the large ornamental doors that lead out into a quiet corridor, the bathrooms located at the very end. My heels barely make a sound as I walk along the long hallway runner, digging through my clutch to find my phone for a quick mindless distraction.
Inside, the bathrooms are as opulent as everything else in this place. Intricate gold trims to match the faucets, white marble sinks and a cloying potpourri scent that makes my nose wrinkle. Nothing is more humbling than having to pee in a diamond gown, but I make do. I then check my reflection in one of the mirrors, adding a touch of gloss to my lips and finally, fix a small flyaway back into my updo. I give myself a small satisfied smile through the mirror and head for the door.
I don’t have time to reach for the handle before the door swings open, and I jolt backwards in surprise.
“Hello, Mrs. Maxwell,” Governor Morrissey drawls, locking the door behind him.
My blood runs cold.
He’s still wearing the same smile from before and I’m suddenly, and horrifyingly, reminded of where I’ve seen such a smile before—Sacro Nuntio—and the next words out of his mouth solidifies it.
“Or should I call you Penelope?” His voice is hard but still, he smiles like a true politician.
The room shrinks, spins, sinks and does everything but sit still. My past slams into my present like two atoms colliding into each other at the speed of light. I see my life flash before my eyes in the span of one slow time-bending second, forgetting everything about who I am, who I was, ormight be. My given name spoken out loud like a curse poisoning me from the inside out.
Still, I try to hide the slow deterioration of my very existence and smile. “Governor,” my voice comes out thin but oddly steady. “You’re mistaken, my name is Lenix, not Penelope.” I let out a small polite laugh. “If you will excuse me.”
I try to side-step around him and reach for the door, my hands cold and clammy. It was a fool’s gamble, and all it does is bring me closer to his body. He grabs my wrist, spinning me around and slams my back into the door, knocking the wind out of me.
“You disgusting little heathen,” he sneers, venom imbued in every single word out of his thin lips. “Look at you.” His face finally morphs into an appalled grimace fit for his real nature. “How dare you shame your father's memories like this.”
My mind scrambles further. The paralyzing fear I’ve let slumber all these years, suddenly let loose, rushing into my veins and freezing my body against the door.
“Wh–who are you?”
His grimace turns into a disturbing smile, his hand still wrapped tight around my wrist. “Your brother’s influence reaches heights you couldn't even begin to imagine, Penelope. You thought you were safe chaining yourself to the devil? What a repulsive littlewhoreyou’ve become.”
I swallow hard, my thoughts still reeling, making it almost impossible to react.
What is happening?
“You’ve slain a messenger ofGod. Do you know what that makes you?” He slams me into the door once more, my head bouncing with the force but my words are non-existent, I can barely keep it together as it is. “Do you?” he hisses.
“Eternally damned,” I finally manage to croak out.
He releases me then, stepping back. I stay glued to the door, trying not to lose myself in the fear clawing through me.
“That’s right,” he says, changing back into his role as the Governor of California.
How the fuck did this even happen? How ishea part of Sacro Nuntio, when I’ve never seen his face before? He must have somehow been planted—put into power so the commune could have sway politically. Which explains how they’ve always avoided persecution all these years. I know I’m not the first to run away. Someone must have tried to reveal their vile secrets before. I’m left with so many unanswered questions, but I keep my mouth shut, eyeing him wearily.
