Page 212 of Poison Aches

“We?” I mutter.

“What?”

“You said we.” I lean forward and smile at him. “Who is thisweyou’re talking about?”

“Of course I mean me!” he says as if my question is incredulous. “Do you think you have any say in this?”

“Governor,” I start softly. “What makes you think thatyouhave a say in what I do?”

If veins could burst right in the middle of one’s forehead, Governor Hughes would be in danger of that.

“It’s already been decided!” he snaps.

“Daddy, she’s a useless, uncultured thing!” Melissa suddenly says. “Let me be the one to marry the boss of the Easton Family.”

At this, I throw my head back and laugh.

Is this girl serious?

“Your mother stashed me away, kept you, spoiled you, gave you everything you wanted, including a fail-safe in the event that shady dealings need to happen in order for your father to secure his political ambitions, but now that you’ve seen the pool of sexy,gorgeous, wealthy, and intense candidates, you want back in?” I scoff. “You’re something else.”

“That’s because I didn’t know any better,” Melissa seethes.

“And now that you do, do you think you have the power to be the next Easton bride?” I ask gently. “Because by all means, go for it! Your parents will be pleased to have their first daughter married into a known mafia family!”

I don’t care what she does, but I will not be used anyhow by these people.

“I don’t mind—” Melissa starts, but Governor Hughes snaps to look at her.

“You, shut up! You caused all this and now you want to back out of your own plans?” Governor Hughes snaps in a low tone. “Besides, will you go against your grandfather?”

Wow, look at that.

A man who’s afraid of his father.

But then again, it did look like Governor Hughes’s father has all the power…meanwhile, Emmett didn’t have an ounce of fear for his grandfather. Just incredible measures of hate.

“And you,” Governor Hughes says, turning back to look at me. “If you think you can just do whatever you please, you’re sadly mistaken. I will get rid of that rebellion.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know about your brother. I can take him out anytime I want,” he says with a sinister smile on his face. “In case you didn’t know, I am in power and your brother works for power. Do the math.”

I hold his stare, then I look at Beverly.

“My brother,” I start. “He’s not this guy’s son?”

Beverly looks away from me. I remember Emmett’s question earlier.

“How many children do you have, Governor?”

It looks like Governor Hughes and his wife plan to destroy me and everything I have, just to make me submit.

But at the same time, there’s a man I know that can destroy everything that gets in his path, regardless of who it may be.

So now, do I partner with these idiots or do I run to the monster I know and sign away my life to him?

“Who?” I ask.

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