Page 113 of Executive Decision

“Love is complicated!” Lanie declared. “Which is why I avoid it. You, though? You’re different. You crave that sense of security. You’ve never really had it. You lied to yourself for years. Since you have been with Cal, Mum says that changed. She says things are better and you are happy. Shehatesthat it’s with Cal.”

“That works out all around,” Chloe added.

“But she loves that he treats you well. So, don’t break his heart. Let him fucking love you at the time you need it most!”

Her voice boomed. I suspected Lanie wasn’t wrong, but knew the reality would be worse than she anticipated. Of course, if I didn’t go back, I’d never know what could have been. I’d regret it if I never took the chance more than if I did. I’d regret losing Cal.

“Okay,” I relented. “But I need to talk to Davey before anyone else.”

38BACK HOME IN CHICAGO

Cal

Chloe textedDaphne was safe and accounted for. I breathed relief for the first time in months. She was safe. They found her where I suspected they would. After a bit of hustling, they drove her to Traverse City for the night. She refused to return directly, and Chloe would not drive eight more hours. Meanwhile, I made some progress with the police union. In a bizarre twist of fate, the thought of my girlfriend being the victim of revenge porn made female union organizers more sympathetic.

“Knock, knock!” Jo poked her head in. “How are you?”

“Still responding to emails,” I sighed. “You?”

“If you did less on your own?—”

“I’m a control freak, Jo. You know that is me in a nutshell.”

She smiled and sat on the couch. “Will you actually sleep at home tonight?”

“No clue,” I said.

“You should. Do yourself a favor. Your gym is not a replacement for your shower. Nor is this couch a real bed.”

“I don’t know how to relax. Chloe found Daphne. They made it to Traverse City.”

“Good,” Jo said. “So, what now?”

Her face revealed the thing she didn’t want to say—the thing she’d avoided mentioning for fear of setting me off.

“I hope to speak with her when she returns. Jo, she was violated by this guy.”

“I don’t doubt that. I feel awful about it. I know David was a good man. I know he cared a lot about those kids and you do, too. However, right now, you’re about to take the stage as a potential political superstar. We’re talking you could go all the way up. When you think about standing there—yourself—someday, do you see yourself standing next to a woman who has been seen half naked… doing… that?”

“I could only be so lucky,” I said. “What happened to her happens to too many people.”

“Well, if you don’t prevent it?—”

“Jo, I don’t need you to answer this, but think about it. Have you ever sent a nude? And if so, what if it ended up in the wrong hands? Should your husband write you off over it?”

“No. But I also never have.”

“Never?” I asked in disbelief.

“I know you have. It’s in your oppo,” she sighed. “And it was one of our threat surface concerns. But, unlike your girl, Kristy is reliably private and not vindictive.”

“I don’t believe in holding this against Daphne.”

“Look, I don’t want to blame her for this. He violated her, but that’s not what the public thinks. Good luck making it all the way to the top. What about that senate run you always talk about, Cal? What about that?”

“If it never happens, it never happens. But it also is unlikely to happen while I’m unattached. I’m not planning to spend the rest of my life celibate and lonely.”

“There are women who?—”

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