Deception (Infidelity #3)(41)

A new and unaccustomed discomfort filled my chest. For the first time—ever—I wasn’t overwhelmed with sadness at the thought of my wife. I loved her. I always would, but Charli said something this morning that I couldn’t shake. If Jocelyn were alive, I wouldn’t have met Charli. We wouldn’t be together. It wasn’t like I’d have ever left Jo. I wouldn’t.

I was a one-woman man.

A smile graced my lips as I thought about Charli—as I thought about being buried balls deep inside of her earlier today. How in the fuck could I imagine doing what so many men did? How could I imagine indulging in other women when I had the best, most amazing, sexy-as-hell, intelligent, witty, and beautiful woman waiting in my home?

The last words she’d said in the bedroom came back, asking me to punish her, asking me to stay with her.

Fuck!

I needed to think about the testimony and listen to the speaker. If I didn’t, I’d grow so uncomfortably hard sitting right here amongst this gallery of finance assholes that I wouldn’t be able to stand.

No matter what the future held, I couldn’t imagine cheating on, or leaving Charli—or losing her. Thankfully, at this moment, I could divert my attention knowing that she was safe with Deloris and Silvia. Tomorrow was another day. I refused to think about her back in Manhattan or about the possibility of dissension among Deloris’s ranks.

I also couldn’t think about Jerrod right now, even though Deloris had told me what was happening. Worrying about it was Deloris’s job. She’d find out what happened.

“No, sir.” The answer of the gentleman behind the microphone refocused my attention to the front of the room and reminded me why I was here instead of beside Charli.

“What can you tell us about the implications of this minimal increase in taxes?”

Minimal? Has he read the same draft I have?

“The revenue will be invaluable to the states involved…”

Fuck.

My fists balled as I listened to Severus Davis. The fact that this paid mouthpiece was testifying in an expert role was laughable.

While Davis waxed eloquently, the committee seemed enthralled with his answers. Step by step, he shared figure after figure, effectively painting a completely inaccurate picture. I pulled my phone from my pocket and quickly took notes.

This was why I needed to be here—to hear exactly what was being said, the lies our side needed to combat.

As Senator Higgins finished his questions, the committee called an end to today’s testimony.

Severus stood and turned toward the galley. When he did, his head moved back and forth in rapid succession. As he did a double take, our eyes met.

I nodded, standing with the others in the crowd.

“He looks surprised to see you,” Isaac whispered from behind me.

I agreed. Perhaps I’d assumed wrongly earlier. Perhaps the instigator of the hit was standing at the front of the room. Perhaps Davis had anticipated my being in a morgue in New York City, instead of at the hearing.

“I’m going to speak with him,” I replied, unwilling to walk away. Rule number twenty-seven of Oren Demetri’s decrees to live by—never back down from a challenge. The statute had been good to me during my MMA years.

“Mr. Davis,” I said, standing tall and addressing him as soon as he stepped from the well. “I couldn’t help but notice that you were looking my direction.”

“Mr. Demetri.” He nodded. “I suppose I didn’t spot you earlier. I thought you might not make it.”

I shrugged. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I found your testimony… what is the right word? Entertaining.”

“I don’t think that’s the right word. Enlightening would be more appropriate.”

“To-may-toes, to-mah-toes.”

“Hardly.”

He sounded less than amused with my assessment. “My father said that the two of you had a nice meeting a month ago. I’m sorry I missed it.”

Davis’s brows rose. “I’m surprised Oren bothered to mention it. The exchange was rather uninformative. Perhaps the two of us could make more progress?”

With my lips pressed together I nodded. “I’ll need to check my schedule. I’m always interested in hearing the plights of others.”

“Plights, Mr. Demetri? My clients are hardly enduring plights. As you may have heard during my testimony, the bill will benefit everyone.”

“Everyone? I suppose that’s a matter of opinion.”

“As long as it’s the opinion of the committee, that’s all that matters.”

“Thankfully, today was only the first day of testimony.”

He nodded. “And you plan to stay in DC for the remaining testimony?”

“I do.”

“Then we should talk…” He looked around the emptying room. “…perhaps in a more private location?”

“I look forward to it,” I said as I stepped back, allowing him to pass.

Isaac remained near the back of the room, now closer to the door. As I followed Davis, Isaac waited and exited behind me. Once we were in the hall, he whispered, “Shall I get the car?”

“I’m not in a hurry. I’d like to talk to Carroll.”

“Yes, sir.”





MY COSTLY SUITE was filled with all the amenities: a bar, a living room, a scenic view of the Washington Monument, currently lit up against the night sky. Though I couldn’t see it from my room high in the sky, I knew that just west of the bright white-illuminated monument, beyond the reflecting pool, sat our sixteenth president. Abraham Lincoln presided over the district in the throne-like chair, day after day, overlooking the ramifications of his decisions.