Dare to Submit (NY Dares 2)

“I’m not saying I don’t appreciate that you cared so much about me and my career. I do and I’m grateful. But let’s be clear. I didn’t ask or demand it of you. I would never do that.”

In that powerful reply, Amanda saw the man who would possibly one day be president. A man who was strong enough to believe in himself, to be selfish enough to let his son suffer without once giving him an out, and a man capable of twisting a situation while keeping things just on this side of the truth and come out on top. Because the fact was, the senator had valid points. She and Brad had made their choices. And now they had to live with the consequences.

Brad ran a hand through the hair he’d styled well before coming here today. More evidence of the fraud he perpetrated in front of his father. Not that he realized it. Clearly, they both had growing up and changing to do.

“My God. I can’t believe you knew.” Brad’s eyes were red-rimmed.

The senator placed an arm around his son. “So what now? I know you came here to do more than tell me that you’re gay.”

Brad drew himself up straighter, owning himself and his new choice. “I want to come out publicly. I figure if Dick Cheney’s daughter is a lesbian and his career survived, yours will too.”

“The hell it will,” Mitchell said, storming back into the room.

To her surprise, Amanda had forgotten he was listening.

“We’ve worked too hard to get to this point for you to blow things up at this late date.” The campaign manager’s face turned beet-red as he spoke.

“Mitchell, calm down. We don’t live in the Middle Ages. We can deal with this. It’s not like I didn’t have a contingency plan all along,” the senator muttered. “We will sit down with a sympathetic journalist. As a family. We’ll choose someone known for the hard questions but who we can trust to give us the right spin.” He was clearly in politician mode.

“Does Mom know too?” Brad asked.

The senator leveled his son with a steady look. “She raised you. What do you think?”

Amanda winced, hurting for Brad. Both his parents had denied who he really was, using the excuse that he’d never told them. But Brad’s omission had been in order to protect his father, while Stephan’s denial had been so he could enhance his career. Or at least not sabotage it while he was on his way up the political ladder. Still, the man seemed to accept him now, and that was a lot more than Amanda could say about her own parents.

“This is bullshit,” Mitchell muttered. He picked up a glass paperweight and looked as if he was ready to throw it through the window. Or at Brad’s head. Based on the way he glared at him, either was a possibility.

Stephan strode over to his best friend. “Now, Mitchell, put that thing down and let’s get busy. Make a list of potential interviewers. We have to find ways to mitigate the fallout.”

“The only way to do that is to make sure things continue on as they were. The party isn’t going to take this well. You just announced your candidacy. You bring in the heavy right wing and tea party votes and money. No one will like the fact that you’re embracing your queer son.” He sneered the word.

Brad winced. Amanda was horrified.

“That’s enough!” Stephan’s voice boomed through the room, and Amanda stepped away, bumping into Brad. He pulled her away from both angry men.

“That’s my son you’re talking about,” Stephan informed him. “I don’t give a damn what your views are, when you speak of my family, you will do so with respect.”

Despite the fact that neither man was focused on Brad himself, Amanda was, and she felt the tremor go through his body at his father’s heartfelt words.

The senator and Mitchell continued to argue about the effect of Brad’s orientation and the senator’s plan for both the campaign and the political party he served.

“We should go,” Brad said, interrupting when it became clear the other two men were going to be engaged in a long, hard battle.

Stephan nodded. “I’ll be in touch with the date and time of the interview,” he said, ignoring Mitchell for now. “Until that day comes, I can expect you two to carry on? Show up at any event and continue your parts?” He asked as if it were a foregone conclusion. It was.

Amanda knew she’d never turn her back on Brad or his family.

“Of course,” Brad said.

Amanda managed a nod.

With Mitchell glaring at them, she turned and followed Brad out of the room, her mind spinning with all that had transpired inside. In the end, Brad had won a major battle and would probably come out with Keith by his side.

She didn’t know if she could say the same of herself and Decklan.

SEVENTEEN

Due to a bout of the summer flu that had gone around the precinct, Decklan worked extended hours during the week. He was grateful for the distraction of patrol, but that didn’t mean he could completely keep his mind off Amanda. And he couldn’t stop replaying their confrontation over and over in his head.