Page 60 of Dozer

“A Hamilton County detective, yes. She works violent crimes so this isn’t what she usually does, but she’s the wife of…” Dozer shrugged. “Kind of a convoluted connection, but she said to lether know when we need her and she’ll do her best to be there, so long as a dead body doesn’t show up.”

I don’t know how the social media guy did it, but two hours later, our wedding had tens of thousands of hits, and an hour after that, a really big influencer started talking about it, and it jumped to two hundred thousand hits almost immediately. By the time we pulled up to the restaurant, it had over a million hits and was still climbing.

The Fabulosa Trio took us to the mall, and Dozer let me pick out a handful of outfits. He showed me that he had five thousand dollars in cash with him before we got out of the car, and told me that was my budget.

I bought a cream-colored flowy pantsuit, a to-die-for jumper, and several ultra-fab dress pants and shirts. I also bought matching heels for the jumper, a few heels I could wear with the dress pants, and a whole bunch of accessories.

When we finally arrived at the restaurant, I was wearing the flowy pantsuit with the same heels I’d gotten married in that morning, and Dozer was still in the suit, with Gen wearing freaking couture beside us, holding a video camera instead of just her phone, being obvious about filming us. The restaurant was barely half-full, and I noted the patrons were all in half the restaurant. We went around a corner, and I saw large cloth room dividers, and I knew exactly what that meant, but it was verified a few seconds later when men in suits stepped around the divider and said they needed to frisk us.

“I have a legal carry permit, and it’s permissible for me to carry in this establishment,” Dozer told the men.

“We’re federal agents, and you can’t speak to the senator armed.”

“Tell you what,” Zeke, the other attorney, said from beside us. “Why don’t we let Mr. Stevens step outside and hand his weapon to a friend. You should check in with his personalbodyguards while he disarms, as all three regularly contract for the federal government. I’m sure you’ll find their credentials above par.”

Zeke stepped closer to me, he and Dozer exchanged a look, and Dozer stepped back outside. He was back within thirty seconds, and the Secret Service guys clearly weren’t happy with the ID Eunice showed them, but they let him come past the screen, which means they accepted he could do so while armed, which I found beyond interesting.

Chapter 47

Daisy

My parents were seated side-by-side at a table set for six people. I sat in front of my dad, which put Dozer in front of my mom. Zeke sat beside me, and the other attorney pulled a chair to the side and sat so he was on the end, facing everyone, kind of.

A spread of appetizers was on the table, including a plate of fried pickles, which I happen tolove, but I didn’t pull any to the small plate in front of me. Everyone had a glass of ice water, and I assumed they’d told the wait staff to stay away unless someone came to get them.

I found it interesting no one mentioned frisking Gen, and that they let her through without so much as looking her way, but once we were past the screen, my mother looked to Gen, then to me, and said, “The woman with the camera needs to leave.”

“I’m sorry I spoiled your plans and made it so it would be hard to kidnap me.”

“The wedding video was enough,” my mother said. “The one posted two hours later wasn’t at all necessary.”

“At least I didn’t say my parents are the ones threatening me.”

“We’ve done no such thing,” my father said.

Dozer put his hand on my shoulder, and I closed my mouth before I argued with him. I was right, but we were here to smooth the way forward. Master was right to silence me.

“Senator Chanel, Mr. Hearst,” Master told them, “Genesis can certainly step outside, if that makes you feel better. Daisy and I have nothing to hide, but if you do, we can offer you some privacy, certainly.”

“My personal life isn’t open to the public,” my mother said, “so yes, we’d like some privacy for the first time we’ve spoken with our daughter in over a year.”

Dozer nodded to Gen, and she stepped outside the divider, but I knew Dozer had a button cam on him recording the whole thing. Tennessee law is the same as New York — only one person involved in the conversation has to know about it in order for it to be legally recorded.

“Let’s not rehash what’s brought us here,” Dozer told them. “What can we do to move forward?”

“Annulling the marriage will be the first step,” my dad said.

“Not an option. I’m in love with your daughter, and she tells me she feels the same.”

It was at this moment Brain showed up, sliding around the corner, and he grabbed a chair from a different table and moved it so he was sitting on the other end, between my mom and Dozer. He was in a suit as well, complete with a tie, and he looked even more professional than my dad. It’s hard to outdress my dad, but damn if Brain didn’t manage it.

“I don’t talk to my folks very often, but my brother and I have formed something of a relationship in recent years,” Brain said as he sat and leaned back in the chair. “The two of you are on a committee together, yes?” he asked my mom. “He says you’re also working with him on a bill you intend to put forth soon.”

Mom looked at Brain, then Dozer, back to Brain, and finally to me. “It looks like you’ve learned more from us than we realized.”

“I’m not looking for power, Mom. You forced my hand, so my only option was to show you I can’t be so easily pushedaround.” I know how to appeal to my mom, so I hurriedly said, “How’s this — I can go on social media tomorrow and say I’ve been estranged from my parents, but when they found out I was having trouble relating to my safety, they contacted me and offered to help, and I’m happy to say things are looking up.”

She didn’t look like that would be enough, so I added. “I honestly don’t want to cause problems for you, but we’re going to have to figure out how you can live your life while I live mine, without interfering in either direction.”

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