I felt Langston all week.
He was watching me every second of every day. I doubt he slept a minute all week.
Langston hasn’t changed at all. I know him better than anyone else.
I avoided the security cameras in my home that I know he tapped into. I avoided most of my usual evening routine.
The only time I put a show on for him was at the office. I drew him in like a hunter draws in prey. I just haven’t decided when or how I’m going to strike against him. At least not yet.
For now, I have more important matters to attend to. I have to kill the man who threatened me and my family.
I have to stop thinking about Langston. It’s impossible, though, since I feel him everywhere now. It’s a strange, yet familiar feeling. One that sends goosebumps up my spine at the most inconvenient times.
But Langston will serve his purpose. He’ll take the fall if or when the time comes for my blackmailer’s death. And then he will get out of my life once again, gone in the night just like before. And I can go back to the life I’ve chosen.
I slip on my white gloves as Waylon enters my bathroom. He hasn’t been sleeping over the last couple of nights since I’ve want
ed to throw Langston off and not give him any information about my life.
But I know he saw us kiss yesterday afternoon. I felt Langston’s heated, angry stare. He wasn’t happy with that kiss.
Well, too bad. I haven’t been happy with Langston my entire life.
“You ready, my love?” Waylon asks, as he leans against the doorframe, watching me. His eyes drag down my body, taking every inch of me in, sending butterflies fluttering through my stomach and up my chest.
Waylon’s effect on me is different than any other man I’ve ever met. It’s more intense. More passionate. Just more.
It took me months to decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I still haven’t decided, and we’ve been together for over a year. I don’t think I ever will.
But it’s a feeling. There was once a time that I didn’t think I could ever feel. So I welcome feeling anything at all, even if it isn’t exactly pleasant.
I meet his eyes in the mirror. He’s wearing a tux that makes him look rugged and sophisticated. It’s black, like his hair, lightly peppered with gray. When we first met, he used to color it, but I find the fact that he’s older, more mature, and understands the world more than I do, comforting. And I admit, a bit sexy. So he stopped—for me.
His jaw is clean-shaven, showing off its squareness. His eyes are dark with a few lines in the corner that show the depths of his knowledge and worldly experience.
Even though he’s leaning against the wall, his posture is impeccable. He never falters on that. He always stands tall and proud—that’s what I love most about him.
We are the same, him and I—we’ve been handed shitty cards, but we rose above it all. In our own way, we’ve found our power. And now together, we will rule this city—queen and king.
“Yes,” I say, standing from my makeup chair and letting him see the full effect of my hair, makeup, and dress all at once.
Waylon’s smile grows from ear to ear. “You’re perfect, my beautiful one.”
I force myself to smile. I hate compliments, but I should accept one from Waylon.
He holds out his arm, and I take it. He leads me to the waiting limo to take us to a ball where we will wine and dine all night, showing the city what true royalty looks like.
The ballroom is grand and sparkling as we enter. Tonight’s facade is a fundraiser to feed the hungry in the city, but it’s really an excuse for all the wealthy to dress up, network, and show off. They gain more power by making small threats and puffing out their chests to show that they should be the ones in control. That’s what all these men and women are doing. They don’t know that they’ve already lost. Waylon and I have already won.
Or maybe they do. Because all eyes in the room are on us from the second we enter. Everyone tries to jockey for our attention. Everyone murmurs, speaking in hushed tones about us.
I grin. Tomorrow my cheeks are going to hurt from all the smiling, but I’ll keep doing it if it gains me more power.
“I hear you are running for governor,” one of the men says.
“So word has gotten out already,” Waylon laughs it off.
I flick Waylon a knowing look. We were the ones who leaked the news. Waylon is running for governor today. Tomorrow it could be the presidency.