Page 66 of Celebrity

“I’ll do my best.” I hung up and handed Jacinta the phone.

She snatched it out of my hand. “Care to fill me in or should I guess?”

Ashur walked up and sat next to Dev, who hadn’t moved the whole time I was on the phone. “So, it’s a go?”

“What’s a go?” Jacinta asked.

“Dev and Ash, don’t for one minute think to take over. Do I make myself clear?” I stood and then began to pace. “I love both of you, but this is my battle.”

Jacinta waved her hand. “Hello. Someone get me up to speed or I’m going to lose it.”

“Spencer Miller released the pictures.” Dev stared into my eyes. “And my wife is going to counter by announcing her candidacy.”

Chapter Seventeen

“I needsomeone to stop and tell me when I entered the Twilight Zone,” Jacinta demanded.

Dev stared at me. “You heard me. My wife is going to give you the highlight of the holiday weekend. She will announce her bid for Senate in the morning.”

“Something tells me I shouldn’t get too excited. So, spill it.” Her eyes flashed at me, giving me her “you better start talking” look.

I approached Jacinta, taking her hand in mine.

“I don’t know how to tell you this.”

“Just say it, Sam.”

I peered into her eyes, knowing my words would bring back memories she’d done so much to overcome.

“Decker arranged for Sanders to acquire the pictures. They are going to use them to discredit all of us.”

She flinched but kept her face emotionless. “I’m sorry, Sam. It’s my fault.”

“The hell it is!” I shouted. “I am convenient. I’m an easy target.”

Her voice was cold when she spoke again. “I was the one who started this. I am challenging Decker for his job. He knows I’ve made it my life’s mission to get rid of men like him and his son.”

I looked over Jacinta’s shoulder to find Dev and Ashur watching us with deep scrutiny, telling me I was going to have to do some explaining.

Hopefully, both of them would understand I’d made a promise to keep Jacinta’s shame a secret.

“Jaci, he can’t hurt you anymore. I had every piece of evidence wiped. I know people like to say there is always a trace. There is none. I even had people sweep each property for physical evidence.”

The one and only time I’d ever used my connections in the tech world was to have some of the top hackers in the world break into Decker Senior’s and Junior’s systems and destroy any and all records of Jacinta.

“You did what?” Ashur asked. “Sam, you are running for Congress. You can’t go invading people’s private files.”

“You don’t know why I did it.”

“Then explain it to me.” He moved to the railing and glowered at me.

Shit, my big brother was going to hand me my ass when we were alone.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “It’s not my story to tell. Just know I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. Like what you and Devin were planning to do to help me, I did what I needed to protect those I love. But unlike you, I had Jacinta’s permission to protect her.”

“Samina, what if you were caught?”

“Ash, seriously? I knew what I was doing. You aren’t the only one who knows how to tinker with computers. I’ve always had the tech skills you and Papa possess. Law was Papa’s choice for my life, not mine.”

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