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Edwin’s hand smooths up my back and discreetly pushes my father’s hand off me.
A grin tugs at my mouth. My father’s struggle to be outwardly tender is amusing when I know he’d love to drag me to my bedroom for a beating before locking me inside until I remembered how to be useful.
“I’m sorry I messed up your plans,” I say.
Confusion draws his brows together as he glances at the other couples and forces a smile, playing this off as an awkward family reunion.
“What plans? You didn’t mess anything up. We’re so happy you’re with us.”
He pulls me into another hug, just long enough for me to speak into his ear.
“I’ve been with the Serpents.”
His arms tense around me.
I pull back to lock eyes with him.
“They work for me now.”
His skin goes pale, but he keeps his smile glued on for the people watching. Pretending comes naturally to him.
I step away from his touch. “And the only thing I wanted was to ruin your life for holding mine hostage.”
The ballroom changes on my order.
Projectors make images flare across the walls. Every space covered with emails, rows of text, names, dates, and written pleas.
Correspondence between my father and Patrick Connelly. My father asking for the Attorney General’s help to ensure a win at the polls. Patrick saying that was a big favor and he would need something big in return.
My father offered me. Kept clean. The perfect little virgin.
Patrick agreed and said he would send his associates to collect me. All the evidence was on his laptop and phone.
Gasps ripple through the room. People crowd around to read. Whether or not their disgust is real doesn’t matter now. Public outrage will finish what morality never could. Supporting someone who offered his daughter as payment would be political suicide.
“William, is this true?” the man next to him asks.
My father is losing it, and panic looks good on him.
“Photoshop. Clearly Photoshop. They’re trying to sabotage me.”
I nod to a man in the Order across the room. The music stops. Silence spreads until a speaker crackles, and my father’s voice fills the ballroom.
“I need to cash in that favor.”
“When do I get my gift?” Patrick asks.
“Tonight. Take her.”
“I hope you’ve left her skin free of marks. I’d like to add my own.”
My father chuckles. “I’ve kept my hands off.”
“I’ll have my men come by to retrieve her.”
“Then we have an agreement, yes?”
“Of course, William. You have my word.”
