Page 87 of Daniil
I give him the list of names I got.
“Klaus Reinhold owes me a favor or five,” Sandor mutters.“And let me sic Elen on Nicola Mendal.She’s gone to Elen for multiple education-related needs—she may be able to push back.”Elen is our Minister of Education, a job she never wanted either but is extremely good at.
“That’s two,” I say blandly.“Out of nearly a hundred.”
“All it takes is a few people standing up to whoever’s behind all of this—or better yet, telling us who it is.”
“I don’t want to do this anymore,” I say quietly.
“Do…what, exactly?”
“Parliament.I’m not a politician.We all stepped in so you would have power but it’s more than I can stand.”
“You think I like it?”Sandor counters.
“Maybe not, but you’re good at it.Really good at it.”
He seems surprised for a moment and then dips his head graciously.“Thank you.I appreciate hearing that.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Tell me something…” Erik asks.”What would you be happier doing?”
I meet his gaze directly, my expression neutral.“Sandor’s job.”
He nods.“You’d rather run the Protectors.”
“Security and espionage is what I did in exile.It’s whatI’mgood at.”
Sandor nods.“I understand that.The problem is that I don’t want to fuck around with politics, either.”
“Where does that leave us?”I ask after a moment.
“I don’t know,” Erik admits.“The Q3 planning meeting is coming up in September, and that’s when we’ll discuss next year’s elections.I think we come up with suggestions for replacements.I can’t fix anything if I don’t have options, but I also can’t carry the load alone.”
“Believe me, I understand that.Or I would’ve already walked away.”
“Hang in there a little longer, okay?”Erik says gently.“Take some time to woo your woman and find your footing as a couple, because you’re going to need her at your side no matter which way you decide to go in the future.”
“She’s worried about her job,” I admit.“She’s anxious to get back to Vegas and I can’t go anywhere until we settle this pipeline bullshit.”
He nods.“You want me to have a word with Chains?He owes me a favor.”
I chuckle.“She will cut my nuts off if I try to get her fired.”
“Nothing that drastic.I’ll just hint about what’s going on here, see if he takes the bait.”
“Thank you.”I clap him on the shoulder as I get to my feet.
“Go spend time with your family,” he says gently.“The pipeline bill won’t get passed tonight, no matter what you do.”
I hesitate but then nod.“Thanks—I’m going to do that.”
I turn and practically run for the elevator.If I hurry, I can catch Courtney before she feeds Micah his dinner.Maybe I can even take them out somewhere.There’s always something to do in the city in the summer months, and Marcus and Harlow might want to come along.
An evening to clear my head might be just what the doctor ordered—for both of us.It may even afford me the opportunity to tell Courtney some of the things that have been on my mind with regard to what we do going forward.
Because letting them go is no longer an option.
