“Your nine-thirty is waiting for you, Congresswoman.”
Walking through the Capitol Building, Deborah frowned at her aide. “I have nothing on my schedule until after lunch.”
“Yes, you do.” With an efficient tap on her tablet, the aide brought up the schedule and showed it to Deborah. “A Mr. and Mrs. Brown.”
That name sounded familiar, but it was also quite common. “Did I forget, or has it been added recently?”
“It’s been there for weeks, ma’am.”
That didn’t feel right. Nonetheless, Deborah headed down the hall to her office and opened the door. “Congresswoman McAvoy, pleasure to meet you both. And you . . . are . . .”
“Hello, Deb.”
Deborah stood frozen by the door, staring at not Mr. and Mrs. Brown, but Mr. and Mrs. Cullen.
Stepping closer to her, Bella demanded, “Did you sell me out, McAvoy, or are you a dupe the same as the others?”
Without a word, Congresswoman McAvoy turned back to the door.
“I wouldn't do that if I were you.”
She flinched at the harsh warning in Edward’s tone. “You have to know it’s a federal crime to harm a—”
“Who said anything about harming you?” Edward murmured, having moved up silently behind her. “We’re meeting with our local congresswoman to discuss the fate of the country, nothing more.”
“What do you want this time?” Deborah implored, facing them again.
“We need you to agree to Barrett’s offer to be his running mate,” Bella said. “But don’t tell him it was our idea.”
“No! I don't want to be associated with that man.” Deborah leaned a hip against her desk, folding her arms over her chest and glancing back at the door.
“You’re not in danger,” Edward snapped. “For now.”
“You are either in the dark or playing games with us,” Bella added. “Which is it?”
Deborah paled, shifting her feet. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Bella closed in on the desk. “Specifically, the president.”
“Brandon Warner?” Deborah asked with a crease on her forehead. “What about him?”
“Ever see the movie Face/Off?” Bella leaned in closer. “No surgery, but same difference.”
Frowning, Deborah seemed to focus on remembering the movie. “The president is actually a special agent with a face transplant?”
Turning so they stood side-by-side, Bella said in her ear, “Twins, Deborah. The president had a twin brother.”
Edward could see the moment she realized what they were saying. Her eyes widened, and her eyebrows shot to her hairline. “Then Brandon is . . .”
“Dead,” Bella whispered. “As far as we know.”
“Then what . . .” Straightening, she said, “Barrett and Warner want a shadow government?”
“And guess who they asked to be their puppet?” Edward grumbled. “I won’t do it, but they might accept you back if you play the part right.”
Bella handed her a thumb drive. “Explanations, plans, all of it is on here. Do not use the office computer to look at this. Personal computer only, and then dunk it in a glass of water before trashing it.”
Sighing heavily, Deb asked, “I assume you want me to report back to you?”
McAvoy was a smart woman. Too bad she was easily corrupted.
“That’s the idea, yes.” Edward checked his watch. “Time for us to go.”
“We’ll be in touch,” Bella said as she accepted Edward’s outstretched hand. “Tell him you changed your mind, tell him you have conditions he needs to meet, and then plan to announce it at tonight’s rally.”
They left through the side door, keeping their heads down as they walked.
“Still good?” Edward muttered.
Dara responded in his earpiece. “Five more minutes until the firewall kicks me out and the signal returns to normal.”
They picked up their pace, hurrying to the waiting car idling at the curb. Once they slid inside, Stephen began circling D.C.
“Think she’ll do it?” Edward asked.
“She doesn't have a choice. Once she hears that conversation we had, she’ll feel compelled to help. Beneath it all, she’s a patriot. That’s why she couldn't go through with all of Barrett’s plans.”
“You think Barrett knows by now?”
Bella glanced at him, shifting so they faced each other. “I think Warner told him shortly after we left yesterday morning. He’d want Barrett to see us as the biggest threat to their goal.”
“Which is why it was safest to move everyone.” Edward ran his thumb over Bella’s wrist. It had been exhausting to move everyone last minute and to worry that it still wasn’t enough to keep them safe. “What time is that rally?”
“Eight.”
“Then we’d better get back to the others.”
Stephen was an expert on evasive maneuvers, but no one wanted him to have to use those skills. He weaved in and out of traffic, checking his mirrors for a tail, and had the other mercs meet them at the second-to-last intersection before the turnoff to their new location.
The escort fell in behind them, and the convoy made it to the safe house without incident.
Back inside, they sidestepped luggage and boxes. Not only had they moved with a moment’s notice, but they hoped to be completely finished with this charade by the end of the day. Hopefully, that meant sleeping in their own beds by the next evening.
One could wish.
Wearing a white wife-beater, Tito stood in the kitchen raiding the refrigerator, as usual. Emmett was already eating lunch at the small table set up in the corner, a laptop open in front of him.
“Hey, guys,” Em greeted them. “Dara said everything is back in order at the congressional offices. No one suspected a thing.”
“Thanks, man.” Edward raised a brow at Tito. “Cleaning out the fridge?”
“What? I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry,” Bella said irritably.
“Naw, sometimes I’m horny.” He closed the refrigerator, backing up with an armload of sandwich ingredients.
“Reminds me of that Dagwood comic.” Emmett laughed.
Bella rolled her eyes and turned away from the sight of Tito in his dirty sleeveless undershirt piling meat on bread without a napkin or plate in the vicinity.
“Anything new?” she asked Emmett.
“Dylan has optimized the audio from Edward’s phone. She’s queued it up on her throwaway, intending to distribute on your signal.”
“Feels like we should wait until Barrett is down before we leak it. Otherwise, he’ll claim ignorance and get away with all he’s done.”
Edward nodded at Bella. “Agreed.”
“As far as Ben can tell, no one is aware of this location, and he hasn't seen anyone lurking around the old one either.”
“Better safe and all that.” Bella made a disgusted sound when Tito brushed past her to sit beside Emmett. “So you’re a pig in every aspect.”
“Heard the audio with the fake president. He’s got good taste.”
Her jaw dropping, Bella glared at Tito, looked over at Edward, and then set her glare back on Tito. “Are you suggesting what I think you are? He hit on me right in front of my husband.”
“Can you blame him, Mamí?”
“Unbelievable,” Edward said, squeezing the bridge of his nose.
Emmett smacked Tito on the back of the head. “Stop being disgusting.”
“Remind me why we aren't allowed to kill him?” Bella questioned as Dwayne entered the room.
With a glower, he replied, “We try not to kill people simply because we find them unpleasant.”
Emmett snickered. “How ‘bout if I hired you to do the job?”
“Then we might have a deal,” Dwayne responded before turning to Edward and Bella. “I’m told we’re nearly out of the woods.”
Trying his best to ignore Tito’s loud eating habits, Edward angled away from the table before answering the commander. “Assuming McAvoy cooperates as she’s agreed to do, then yes.”
“The plan is to have her confront Barrett while recording the conversation?” Dwayne asked.
“Either beforehand or on stage, whichever works out best.”
“On stage would give you the most public outcome. Impossible to deny.”
“Maximum culpability.” Nodding, Edward said, “I’d prefer it that way, but if McAvoy feels she has an opportunity beforehand, I won’t stop her.”
“Should we try to attend?” Bella asked.
“Assuming our faces aren’t on a watchlist,” Emmett responded, “I think we should.”
“Hell, I could always confront Barrett backstage and tell him I’ll take his deal. Her or me.” Shrugging, Edward continued. “Then he wouldn't want to drag me out back and kill me.”
“And the president? Or, should I say, the imposter?” Dwayne scratched his beard. “He might go into hiding or take out some of the men closest to him.”
“I hear he’s scheduled to appear at the rally to throw his weight behind Barrett,” Bella said.
Emmett typed something on the laptop. “So, if everything comes off without a hitch; two birds, one stone.”
“And when has anything ever come off without a hitch for us?” Edward muttered.
“Rarely, but it happens.”
Seamus walked in at the end of Bella’s statement. “I’ll bet you dollars to dildos that Warner wriggles out of this.”
“Dil—” Cracking up mid-word, Emmett wrestled with maintaining a straight face. “What the fuck, man, the term is donuts.”
“Don’t give a fook. You know I have the right of it.”
“We can only hope he’s arrested for treason—at the least—once our recording is aired.” But Edward had the feeling that was wishful thinking.
“He knows we’re a threat to him, but he hasn’t targeted us.” Bella frowned at Edward. “Why is that?”
“Either he’s hoping I’ll change my mind and jump on board the crazy train, or he has a plan in place to take us out.”
Dwayne folded his arms and drummed his fingers on his biceps. “Then maybe we should send word now that you’re accepting. Then you can be invited inside tonight without issues.”
“We’ll see if he bites, but even he has to know I’d rather die than live down on my knees.”
Nodding, Emmett typed something on his laptop. “I’ll send word.”
“When did you become our communications director?” Bella asked.
“When Ben became too busy watching our six.”
“Makes sense.” At the ping from the computer, Bella raised her brows. “Well?”
“Didn’t even hesitate.” Spinning it so they could see the screen, Emmett showed them the response.
“Delightful?” Edward read aloud. “What a dipshit.”
“For someone who just got the job,” Dwayne responded. “He makes a fine cake eater.”
Bella rolled her eyes. “Marie Antoinette would be proud.”
“Anyway,” Edward interjected. “We need to be ready for tonight. Full security team, Commander, and we’ll all have to put on our best politician masks.”
“What does that look like, exactly?” Tito asked around a mouthful of food.
“The exact opposite of you.”
With that statement, Edward towed Bella out of the kitchen. They had to put on their best Vice President and Second Lady masks, which included the right clothing and stage makeup. Enlisting Layla’s help, Bella let Aerinn chatter on around them as she had her hair done.
“That’s more hairspray than I think I’ve used in my entire life.”
Aerinn waved her hands around, her nose wrinkled. “I don’t like that smell.”
“I know, baby,” Layla replied. To Bella, she said, “I just want to make sure you have the proper hair helmet in place. It’s practically a must for female politicians.”
Dressed impeccably, as always, Edward entered the room somehow managing to look like a menswear model amid the horror of their reality. If they were unsuccessful, then the future of the country was at stake.
No pressure.
“How is it we’re always stuck trying to save the world?” Bella asked him.
Layla drew Aerinn out of the room as they talked.
“Something I think about all the time. We’re somehow made to repay all our sins by rectifying others’ mistakes.”
“Doesn’t seem fair.” The anxiety in her gut had her twisting her fingers together, but Edward came over and smoothed them out, clasping her hands in the protection of his grip.
“Sheep will stand by and watch a wolf eat their young. A wolf will rip your heart out for even considering touching their young. We aren’t sheep; we’re motherfucking wolves, and they fucked with what’s ours—what’s mine. Quinn, Aerinn, Layla, you. They made a mistake targeting my family, and for that alone, I have to make them pay. I have to rip their beating hearts from their chests so they never hurt anyone else again.”
“If darkness had a son, its name would be Edward Cullen.”
Lifting his head at the voice, Edward nodded at Holden. “Used to bother you, didn’t it?”
“That I had no choice but to rely on a mobster without scruples to help the agency? Yeah, I guess it did. Not anymore.”
“On that note, it’s time to leave.”
Bella, Edward, and Holden would go in together. The mercs would act as their security team, though the men weren’t as used to going into dangerous situations dressed in suits instead of riot gear. The venue was packed when they arrived, and Bella fisted her hand over her heart.
“One day, you’ll never have a reason to make that gesture again. I’ll make sure of it.”
Though she smiled at Edward, she sensed there was no way that could be true. There would always be a reason to be stressed and anxious.
“Cullens,” they heard, and turned as one.
“Vice President Barrett,” Edward greeted him.
“You accepted the offer to be my running mate?” he asked, surveying them all.
“Considering the alternative, it seemed the wisest choice.”
“That’s right. However, Deborah McAvoy has also accepted my offer to run.”
“Then you have a decision to make,” Edward answered him.
“See, I think you’re playing me,” Barrett said.
Bella felt her heart rate accelerate.
“Why would I do that?” Edward asked calmly.
“For one, you don’t like what went down a few years ago.” Glancing over Edward and Bella’s heads, he nodded to someone. As they watched, McAvoy approached with President Warner. “But Deb is my right-hand woman and knows all the secrets we’ve worked so hard to protect.”
“Honestly, Mr. Cullen, I can’t believe you agreed,” Deborah said. “Especially when you tried to trick me into taking your side.”
Bella wasn't sure anymore who was the villain. Was Deborah playing along, or did she believe what she said? Had she fooled them all, or was she finally doing the right thing?
“President Warner—Cameron Warner, not Brandon—will do a fine job of helping me run the country,” Barrett said. “Whatever your misgivings, none of it matters anymore.”
Warner spoke up. “Deb is a good little puppet, and you are anything but.”
“At least you finally figured that out,” Edward said. “I would rather not see the world crash and burn because you felt the need to kill your brother and replace him as a shadow figure.”
Bella registered it then; the sound of the audience gasping at the words they were speaking behind stage. As long as the men kept talking, maybe they wouldn’t realize they were on live feed to the world.
“We’ll be announcing the upstanding congresswoman and former speaker as the official vice presidential running mate, and you know we have the means to ensure we win the election.” Warner sounded entirely too smug for his own good. “Just because you botched our plans with Zion doesn't mean we won’t win in the end.”
“That was all we wanted, you know.” Edward grinned. “All we needed to hear.”
The audio feed scratched a bit as the recording came on over the speakers. All the ugly words spoken between the false president and the Cullens a few days ago boomed out over the arena. The video feed covered the screen behind the stage, and the members of the audience did more than gasp this time. They screamed, they stampeded toward the exits, and they ignored the shouted orders of security.
“The plan was to erase my twin from the planet and step into his shoes. He always had everything handed to him on a silver platter, while I had to fight for any scrap of recognition.”
“What the fuck have you done?” Warner snapped.
“What you deserve.”
The Secret Service had no choice, though some of them appeared confused. They surrounded the group backstage, and one of them reached for Andrew Barrett.
“Just kill me. You won. Just do it!” he screamed. “Don't make me beg.”
“You deserve all the shame you've brought on yourself. All I did was expose it,” Edward sneered. “What you don't deserve is a swift, merciful death.
As one agent tried to handcuff him, Barrett dodged and punched him in the face. Grabbing for the man’s gun, the two scrambled for the weapon.
Deborah McAvoy fled, but Edward dragged Bella to the ground while Holden squatted beside them, drawing his own gun. The mercs surrounded them, trying to prevent the inevitable.
“Goddammit!” Emmett shouted in their ears. “Don’t let him—”
The sound of the handgun firing was loud in the relatively small space. “Too late,” Edward murmured. “At least it’s over now.”
The pandemonium only grew worse as VP Barrett bled out on the ground. Cameron Warner started screaming obscenities at everyone, insisting he was the president and must be obeyed at all times. The agents didn’t seem to know what to do with him, and Dwayne and his men assisted Bella and Edward to stand, hoping to escape the melee.
Secret Service agents blocked their path, and Bella realized Warner had a weapon too.
“The best you can hope for at this point is prison,” Bella said to Warner. “Just give up.”
“I will not!” He swung his gun in a wide arc, forcing others to back up and duck. “I’m the man running the country, and you are all fucking liars who need to be put down!”
Maneuvering himself so he stood behind Edward and Bella, he started screaming more about obeying. With everyone trying not to shoot the wrong person, confusion overtook the area.
But when the man grabbed Bella and held her in front of him like a shield, Edward’s vision washed red. “Don't even think about it! I’m not afraid to go to hell to save her life, you corrupt piece of shit!”
“That works for me!” Cameron yelled. “Just get me out of here!”
“I will fucking annihilate you if you harm her,” Edward snarled. “Let her go.”
“She’s my only safety net, and you know it.”
Bella tried to grab his gun, but he gripped her throat tighter. Edward roared at him, but he didn’t flinch. Moving closer, Edward forced him back until he bumped into the wall. The mercs circled around Edward, creating an impenetrable defense.
“Now what? You think these men will just allow you to walk out of here unharmed?”
“If you want your wife to live, then, yeah, I do.”
With one last-ditch effort, Bella wrapped her hands around his gun, struggling to get it from him.
“Bella, no! We’ll—”
The gun went off, and Edward dropped to his knees. Blood spread rapidly around the bullet wound in Bella’s stomach, and he watched helplessly as the two sagged to the ground together.
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| McAvoy |
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| Tito |
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| Commander Namron |
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| Barrett |
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