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I finish my drink and place the glass on his desk. “Let’s not give them the option to vote.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “This isn’t an ice cream shop your daddy can bulldoze to the ground and turn into a gym, Damien. This is—”
“Article fifteen of the Black Hallows town handbook specifically states that if a mayoral candidate dies ten days or less before polling day, officials will authorize the political party to nominate a new candidate—and as long as the new nominee receives the majority vote from the political party, voters are not required to vote in.”
“How am I supposed to get my party committee to give you the majority vote if I die?”
“Easy. You do what politicians have been doing since the begi
“What’s that?”
“Paying people off and offering favors under the table in exchange for their support.”
His distressed expression tells me he’s mulling it over. “Okay, look—even if I could get you the majority vote, there’s no way I can guarantee you the win. Hell, I can’t even guarantee my own win at this point. Cain’s been ahead in the polls since day one.”
“Let me worry about the election. The only thing I need you to do is move some pawns out of my way.”
“I wasn’t aware we were playing chess.”
“Life is nothing but one big chess game.” I grin. “Some people are pawns…others are kings.”
He fidgets with his wedding band. “How can I trust you’ll keep your word?”
“I’ll transfer the money to a private bank account a few hours before you…pass on.”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Do I look like a fortune teller? How am I supposed to predict what day I’ll die? The doctor said it could be weeks, maybe even months.”
I fix my cufflinks. People tend to feed off my energy and if I remain calm and relaxed, so will he. After all, what I’m offering him is nothing more than a business deal.
“Remember what I said earlier about taking control of your own destiny?”
The look of horror on his face tells me the realization of what I’m asking has finally dawned on him. “You want me to kill myself.”
I fish my cigarettes out of my pocket. This time when I offer him one, he accepts. “Think of it more like—ending your pain and making sure your family is taken care of. Some might call it a heroic act.”
He takes a long pull from his cigarette. “You’re a sick bastard, King. This is…I don’t want to die.”
“None of us do. However, death is inescapable for everyone and something we have little control over.”
“I’d like to see my family one last time.”
“You will. The election is still thirty-nine days away.”
He blows out a heavy breath. “Do you have a specific date in mind?”
“Why don’t we make it a month? During that time, you can tie up your personal loose ends and tell me how much you’ll need from me to garner the support of the committee.”
He looks down at the calendar on his desk. “The a
“I know. I recently purchased the Vanderbilt castle.”
He looks at the picture on his desk. “My wife loves the masquerade ball.”
“Then give her one last memory with you she’ll never forget.”
He rubs his temples. “I’m going to have to tell the committee about my health and that you’re—”
“No. I don’t want anyone knowing I’m back in town until I’m ready. I need the majority vote, not all votes, so I highly suggest you only tell the members you trust about me. If someone leaks the information regarding your health or my whereabouts, I’ll withdraw my financial offer of support for them and you so fast both your heads will spin. Understood?”
He nods. “I’m close with a few members, I’ll ensure they keep their mouths shut about everything until it’s time.”
“Don’t screw this up, Covey. Your family is counting on you.”
“I know.” He clears his throat. “I can do this.” He shifts some papers on his desk. “If you don’t mind, I have some things to take care of.”
“Of course.” I start to leave but pause when I reach the door. “I’m so happy we’re working together SpankMeMommy74.”
Behind me, glass shatters and he mutters a curse. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“It’s your username on an app called Temptation.”
“You’re mistaken, I’ve never heard of any app called Temptation and I certainly wouldn’t subscribe to it, I’m a married man.”
Digging my phone out of my pocket, I spin around. “You’re logged in right now.”
Proving my point, I send him a message and sure enough, the cell phone on his desk vibrates.
“Son of a bitch. I knew nothing about the app until I received an e-mail addressed to my wife. They offered me a free membership due to the mix-up. I was told it was anonymous and nothing could be traced back to me.”
“Nothing can. Unless you’re the developer.”
He shifts his feet. “I signed up the day after my diagnosis. I wanted to see what my wife was hiding from me. I’ve never—”
“Relax. Your secrets are safe with me.” Reaching behind me, I turn the doorknob. The look on his face when a woman wearing leather and holding a paddle walks in is half embarrassed and half intrigued. “Consider Mistress Veronica a gift from me to you. Life’s too short not to seize an opportunity when it’s right in front of you.”