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“Yes, sir.”
I can’t see anything, can only thread my way through the overcrowded backstage area and hope Harry drones on and on in his speech about how wonderful America is and he buys me enough time. Gentian can take the emotional hit of having Lindsay get pissed at him.
But if she reads those texts...
“I’m not allowed to have a phone anymore? What are you talking about, Silas?” Her voice is high and hysterical, at a pitch that says she’s beyond irritated, anxiety in full force.
“He’s following orders,” I say, gasping, winded not by the effort of getting here but by the sheer power of the mess unfolding before me.
“Why?”
“You don’t want to read what’s on your phone.”
Alarm fills those gorgeous brown eyes and she stands, frozen, like she’s made of wax. Monica’s watching us from her side of the stage, shaking her head, mouth a firm line of carefully painted lipliner. Her anger is justified.
So is Lindsay’s terror.
“They texted me again?” Lindsay gasps.
Can’t lie to her.
“Yes.”
“Are they here?”
“They can’t hurt you.”
“That’s not an answer!” Her voice is shrill, like an air raid siren.
“I don’t know. But we have you covered.”
“Covered?”
“Lindsay.” I reach for her elbows, cradling her trembling bones in my hands. “They. Are. Not. Going. To. Get. You.”
“...and I couldn’t be the effective senator without my lovely, extraordinary wife, Monica Bosworth!” Harry’s arm sweeps toward Monica in that exact moment. The crowd goes nuts, cheering, as Monica moves with catlike grace across the stage, into Harry’s arms for a carefully rehearsed cheek kiss, followed by a kiss on the lips. Not too racy, but not stodgy.
Just right for national television clips.
“I can’t do this, Drew.” Lindsay’s knees go weak and my hold on her tightens. “I thought I could, but I can’t.”
“You can. You will. It’s one hug with both your parents, ten minutes of standing there with a smile on your face, an arm reach in the air holding hands, and some waving. You can do that.”
“Not with those bastards stalking me.”
“They’re stalking you whether you’re on stage or not. On stage, I can watch you carefully. My team knows about the text by now. We’re all on heightened alert.”
She starts breathing again. I didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath.
“Can’t turn back now. Your dad and mom will gesture to you any minute.”
Her face goes blank.
One long, deep breath. Two. Three. Lindsay transforms before my eyes. She’s still shaking, but now her face gets some color in it again, cheeks pink. She flashes a fake smile at me.
With dead eyes.
“You’re right. This is show time. I’ve spent four years hiding from the world – against my will – and now it’s time to prove to Mom and Daddy that they were wrong.”
