AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes. Will you set up the live recording?”
I exhaled a strenuous breath and stared at my precious boy. “Yes, I’ll do it.” I’d do anything to protect him.
“Good. I’ll walk you through it, and we’ll test it out before Vegas arrives.”
“Okay. Tell me what to do.”
Twenty-plus minutes later, my phone was set up just right, and we’d tested the video. All the while I’d skittered about, Rockson had remained engrossed in his movie. He loved his superheroes so much, he couldn’t care less about me.
I went into the kitchen, desperate for a drink. Something to calm my nerves. Tequila would do the job nicely.
The way Lydia and Landon had dictated orders to me had been overwhelming. I knew Landon had worked in IT, but I had a weird vibe that there was so much more to him.
I reached for the bottle in the highest cabinet when suddenly the door flew open. “Ah!” I screamed and dropped the bottle.
Tomcat came to my rescue, catching the tequila. “Easy there.” He gripped my elbow and steadied me. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You scared the shit out of me! What are you doing here? Vegas will be over in a bit.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
“Hold that thought.” I swayed on my feet as my legs wobbled. “I just need a little of this…” I took my tequila from him, twisted off the cap, and drank straight out of the bottle.
“Mommy,Captain Americais over!” Rockson skipped down the hallway. I followed to see where he was headed. He slammed the bathroom door.
“Why are you here?” I asked Tomcat as I went to turn off the flat screen.
“To guard you.”
“Why?” I stepped back and dropped onto the sofa.
“I overheard Vegas talking to Sid about taking out Rocky after he’s sworn in.” He sat next to me and took my hand. “He’s going to ask you to marry him.”
“What?” I lurched away from him and ripped my hand out of his. “Vegas is going to propose?”Holy shit, this is worse than I thought!
“Yes, and you can’t say no.”
“Oh yes I can! There is no way in hell I would ever marry Vegas!” I shouldn’t have drunk the tequila. It would spray out of my mouth and into Tomcat’s face any second.
“Ella, calm down. We don’t have much time to talk about this. Just hear me out.”
“Fine. Talk.” Why did every man in my life want me to hear them out? Rocky. Vegas. Now Tomcat.
“You’re not going to marry him. You’re only playing along until I figure out what to do. Sid is Vegas’s closest friend. They’re in cahoots. They want to rise to the top and take over. This can’t come as a surprise to you.”
“Well, it is. I thought Vegas didn’t want to be president.”
“He’s been lying. Lying to all of us. He’s not like Keg. Vegas is very patient and calculating. You need to play along.”
“Rocky won’t like it. He’ll blow a fuse, even if he doesn’t want me.”
“Let him. I don’t give a fuck about Rocky. I will do whatever it takes to protect you and Rockson.” He tugged me into his arms and smashed his lips to mine. He smothered me with his powerful kiss, and I joined in out of neediness.
“Ewe. Kissing. Blech!” Rockson shouted.
Tomcat and I pulled apart, and I stood. “Tomcat was just leaving, buddy. Vegas is coming by. Can you stay in your bedroom until he leaves?”
“Why?”
