by Lisa Durkin
As she began to dial her father’s second in command, a large black SUV with tinted windows pulled up. The back window lowered and Aidan appeared.
“Get in the fucking car or your father is a dead man.” The door opened, and she didn’t hesitate to get in, panic rising in her chest. The driver sped off toward the Shoreway. She looked out the window, wondering frantically where they were going as a hard punch landed on the side of her face and knocked her against the door. He grabbed her hair and yanked her back to his side.
“Now we’re going to go meet up with Daddy, sweetheart, and we’re all going to have a little talk about why it’s not nice to side with the FBI over the man you married. You fucking bitch.”
Rory jolted awake and sat up. She looked down at her hands, clasping the comforter, knuckles white. Releasing them, she breathed deeply, trying to still her racing heart. It had been getting better, the dreams not coming nearly as often. This one had been clear and detailed the events exactly as they happened. She wiped her forehead and leaned back, trying to slow her breathing.
She had been diagnosed with PTSD when the dreams started. Even the doctor was surprised at their clarity and sequential nature. She had suggested it was a sign of intelligence, as if to make Rory feel better. It was fucking hell. She was told it was guilt feelings making her relive what happened, and that she should forgive herself for not being able to save her father and try to move on. She put that in the category of things that were easier said than done. She had tried, and still tried very hard, every day.
Rory looked at the clock, six-thirty a.m. She climbed out of bed and dragged herself to the kitchen. The dreams always left her feeling scared and lonely. They had dissipated throughout the three years since it happened. This past year they had been almost nonexistent, with most of her energy spent on the Trojan Japan deal and getting the appointment to the congressional seat. She leaned against the counter and took a long drink, hanging her head and breathing in deeply. Why did they come back out of the blue? If she could just determine the trigger, she could figure out a way to avoid them altogether, she thought for the millionth time. She shook her head and exhaled hard, peering over the counter to the windows beyond the living room. It was snowing. A run would help.
Jackson stood at the kitchen window sipping his coffee. There she went, the good Congresswoman Morgan, off for a run in the morning cold and snow. How tenacious. He smiled and raised a wicked eyebrow as she bent over and touched her toes, stood and pulled her foot to her ass. That was some nice spandex. His eyes followed her every move as she lunged and straightened her back knee, stretching each calf muscle in turn. His dick was getting hard just watching her.
Rory Morgan was not the type of woman he wanted to make a mistake with. He didn’t know if she was capable of having casual sex, no strings attached. But damn if he didn’t want her. She had been through a lot and he didn’t want to add to her troubled life. He had thought of her all night long and had gotten up to shower in the middle of the night so he could jack off for the third time. Honestly, it was like being in high school again. He had to get a handle on her demons. If he knew exactly what she had been through, the detail of it, he could determine the way to best get what he needed, in and out of the sack.
He hit a number on speed dial and watched Rory disappear down the street at a brisk jog as the call connected.
“Good morning, Congressman. To what do I owe the pleasure?” The sexy female voice on the other end was sultry, smooth.
“Agent Durand, how are you this morning?” Jackson replied, still peering out the window.
“Better, now that you’re calling. It’s a little early for a visit, though. You’re just waking me. It’s been awhile, surely you’re not that insatiable?” Her husky voice was hopeful.
“I need a favor. I need a look at a case file and all the final recorded findings and close-out details.”
“I’m always willing to help out a friend, Congressman. But it’s been awhile since you and I spent any time together. I was wondering if we were still acquaintances at all.”
“Agent Durand, you’re a friend for life. I’ve just been busy getting the session started. My schedule has been tight, but I was planning on calling you when things slowed. Meanwhile, I could really use this information. It would help to move things along for the taxpayers, if you would help me out.”
Agent Jennifer Durand had supplied him information in the past and he had repaid the favor in the most tantalizing ways. The good agent was one of the better sex partners he’d had in the past couple of years. She had a fetish that included toys and anal sex and she also liked to play with other fascinating ladies, which made it all the more interesting.
“I suppose I could help you out. Never know when I might need a return favor. What’s the case?”
“Rory Morgan, Cleveland, Ohio.”
“Oh really, Congressman? I wonder what could have you so interested in that little tidbit.” She gave a knowing snort.
“I have my sights set on getting her on our committee to secure additional funding for Homeland Security, Agent. I know that cause is close to your heart.”
“Sure, Congressman, I understand. However, I might have a hard time with this one. Last I heard, that file was in lockdown with the other higher-profile cases in the director’s office. I’m not sure I could secure access. Even if I did, I would really be putting my own position at risk. I’m not sure this is worth my job.”
“What if I made sure to make it worth your risk, Jennifer?” He heard her breath hitch at the other end of the phone.
“What would that entail, Jackson?”
“I know what you like. I would be very happy to accommodate your tastes, should you take this risk for me.” His voice was darker, richer. “I remember what you feel like. Do you remember how it felt when I was behind you, giving it to you hard and fast, making you come so hard for me?”
“Oh I remember very well. Maybe we could have a party. I always liked our little parties.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged, but I need your help. You help me, and we’ll spend an entire night, just the two of us, and a guest or two of our choosing.” He knew he had her.
“Quite tempting. Well then, I’ll see what I can do.” She was breathless. “I’ll let you know when I have something for you. If you’ll excuse me, I have a pressing need to take care of before I start my day.”
Jackson hung up the phone and thought about the situation. He needed that file and he hoped Agent Durand could make it happen. He would reward her by tying her up and fucking her ass, among other things. The thought used to make him hard. Now the only thing making him hard was the congresswoman across the hall. Thinking about tying her up and fucking her got him hotter than hell.
Rory was on the Hill by nine Sunday morning. She was anxious to look over the details and do some strategizing on the needed amendment to the appropriations bill for the EPA.
As she dropped her coat, satchel and purse onto the chair just inside her office door, she turned on the overhead light and moved to the desk. Picking up the files she and Nicole had made on the members of each committee, she flipped through until she found Appropriations. Taking her seat, she went through each page, spreading the contents around her desk. One by one, she reread the bios of the members. She paid special attention to their voting history and titles of legislation they had supported.
She picked up her dry erase marker and wrote eleven names on her board. She needed eleven more votes for the amendment to pass. These were probably her best bet.
She slowly read them aloud to herself. “Brown, Donnelly, Marshall, Richards, Koepler, Duncan, Moore, Goodhouse, McNeil, Arness and Dorn.” As she pondered, she wrote them again, this time in alphabetical order. What would work best with each one to ensure the vote? According to her careful review, these names represented those members who were either politically like-minded to herself, had no opinion on the shipyard deal whatsoever, or in the case of Brown and Donnell
y, had once showed animosity toward her competitor, Powell. She had to exploit what she could.
There was only one person on the list who was not a member of her party, and that was Congressman Dorn. But he was staying on her list. She could handle him. She’d get his vote for sure.
At three on the dot, Rory met her cab in front of the building. She was due at Nicole’s for Sunday dinner. Growing up, Sunday dinners at Rory’s house were a political event one didn’t miss. She sighed and stared out the window as the cab carried her through DC toward Virginia.
Forty-five minutes later, the cab rolled up to Nicole and Jim’s new countryside house. As she got out, she looked around at what an impressive piece of property the Daileys had acquired. There were four acres of lush lawn rolling around the white farmhouse. It looked as though it should be on a postcard of the old South. Rory walked up the driveway and let herself in through the breezeway. Nicole came quickly toward her, baby in arms.
“Hey, I wanted to catch you before you go in there. Landon’s here. He heard you were on a date last night with Jackson Dorn.” She was smiling and whispering in a fast clip, as she bounced the fourth and youngest Dailey boy on her hip. She spun around so the baby was on the other side of them, supposedly out of hearing range.
“Did you fuck him?”
“No! I didn’t fuck him! Jesus, Nicole, are you getting laid?” She removed her coat and hung it with her bags by the door.
“I can’t believe you went out with him. You were so adamant that you wouldn’t give him the time of day. How did that happen?” She was already beginning to irritate Rory.
“I didn’t go on a date with him. He gave me a ride to go buy furniture and we stopped and had dinner on the way. That’s not a date.” Rory held her hands out to take the baby from Nicole. “How’s our Danny boy today? I haven’t seen you for a couple weeks. You’re getting so big!” She blew raspberries on the baby’s cheeks.
Nicole moved to the kitchen counter and began tossing a large salad. “Did you at least kiss him?”
Rory turned and looked at Nicole, bouncing little Danny on her hip. “It wasn’t like that, seriously. Don’t piss me off.” She wasn’t about to tell Nicole that she had kissed Dorn on Friday night. She’d never hear the end of it.
Rory sat at the bar and balanced the baby on her knees. She knew Nicole wasn’t trying to make her mad. She was doing what she had been doing for the past two years—trying to help Rory become normal again. She felt guilty that her friend worried so much for her, and that she couldn’t do more to return to the person she used to be. She tried, but it was never quite right.
Nicole set a glass of ice cubes and a Diet Pepsi on the island next to Rory and came around to take the baby. “Well, I’m here to tell you, there isn’t anything wrong with you getting a little something from the hot congressman. You could use the distraction. Go on in there; Landon’s been waiting for you. But watch him. He’s not particularly happy about rumors your first weekend in town.”
Rory sighed and poured her Pepsi into the glass. She stared at it until the fizz died down, mentally girding herself to walk into the other room and deal with the force that Landon McCollum could be. Her uncle and his political agenda. Rory learned early to never forget that it all came down to politics.
She picked up her glass and walked through the open archway that led into the living room. Landon and Nicole’s husband, Jim, were sitting opposite each other on brown leather couches watching football on a big-screen TV. As Rory entered, they both stood and took turns hugging and kissing her.
“There she is. How’s my girl?”
“I’m fine, Uncle Landon. How are you?” She knew it was coming. She took note that Jim immediately fixed his full attention back on the football game.
“I’m good, thank you, sweetheart. How are you getting settled into the office?” He sat back down and patted the seat next to him on the couch.
Landon McCollum was a handsome man in his early sixties, with a slim, muscular build and silver hair. He was charismatic and had enjoyed a lengthy political career. He always surrounded himself with the right people, from Cleveland straight to DC.
“I was there all day. Working on getting the votes for the appropriation coordinated.”
“Good. You have your work cut out for you there. I can’t believe this all comes down to EPA.” He shook his head. “Who are you looking at?”
“I need eleven and I’ve settled on the most likely; Brown, Donnelly, Marshall, Richards, Koepler, Duncan, Moore, Goodhouse, McNeil, Arness and Dorn. I think those are my best bets, mostly friends in the party.”
“Except Jackson Dorn,” Landon stated accusingly as he crossed his legs and looked her square in the eye. “Why is he on the list?”
“He’s somebody who can help me with the opposing party. I need to make some friends over there. I’m not going to get this vote based on just our support. Too many of them might side with Powell. He has a lot of friends in the House, on both sides. Powell will do whatever it takes to get this shipyard. Just like me.” She added the last part as she gave Landon her steely, determined gaze.
“I heard you were out with Dorn last night.” He tilted his head.
“Yes, I was with him. I wouldn’t call it ‘out’ with him. He gave me a ride to the furniture store and we stopped for a quick bite to eat along the way. He lives across the hall from me, and I don’t have a car here.” Damn Landon and his gossipy contacts, just like Cleveland. She took a drink and looked past him at the football game, hoping to make a nonchalant move away from the conversation. It didn’t work. Landon knew she hated football.
“His reputation in the House is good within his own party. He’s a staunch conservative, and they spend a lot of money on him. He’d be a good ally. Although I think his reputation with the ladies might taint your good name.” His leg swayed casually back and forth. It irritated Rory.
“I think you’d get a kick out of spreading those rumors yourself. What’s this about?” She was losing patience. Even though Landon was a mentor and she owed him, she wouldn’t be controlled by him.
“He’s not with our party, and he’s very popular. He gets what he wants and he uses who he needs to.”
“Just like us,” she stated, raising an eyebrow at him.
“But the difference is, he’s not with us, dear. And that won’t go unnoticed by the party. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, Rory. Don’t forget who put you here. If the party feels you’re not a good representative of our wants and needs, if they feel your loyalties are not one hundred percent, it could mean a short stay.”
She looked him in the eye. “Don’t worry. You can count on me not to let the good congressman take advantage of me and disgrace the party. I’m not going to fuck up.”
He laughed loudly. “I know, dear. I just feel the need to put it out there, for your own sake. On the other hand, it does make me happy that you’re making new friends. I know your mother and father would want you to move on with your life. But not with a political conservative, of course.” He smiled, trying to restore her good mood and get her back on his side.
“Where are the boys?” Rory asked as they all sat down in the dining room. Rory loved being around the kids.
Nicole passed the main course. “They’ve already eaten. They’re on a junk-food binge that I can’t compete with. Besides, we want this to be adult time. How was work today? I heard you say you went in.”
Rory filled Nicole in on the day’s decisions and they began to discuss strategy for approaching each of the eleven members of the Appropriations Committee. Landon helped by filling in information he knew about the different men.
“Jim and I have news, Rory,” Nicole stated as the talk of work ran down. Jim returned Nicole’s smile from the other end of the table. “We’re pregnant. Two months along.”
“Oh wow! Nicole, Jim, congratulations!” They all stood and took turns embracing and congratulating. “Geez, number five! Can’t you stay off her?” she asked Ji
m as she hugged him, laughing.
“Well, you know, we thought we’d give it one more try for a girl,” Jim said, almost apologetically. “Besides, what’s another pound to an elephant?”
“Maybe you’ll get a whole football team!” Rory was sincerely happy for Jim and Nicole. She didn’t know a better matched couple or better parents.
She bit back her emotion and smiled back at Nicole as they all sat down again. She would never know what it was like to have what Nicole and Jim had, that comfort of having met and married their true love, their partner for life. She would never have the love and joy of children.
“So, when is this one making an appearance? August, right?” She was used to this bittersweet feeling. She’d been living with it for three years. Happiness was for other people, not her.
“Yes, August. It’ll coincide with the end of the session. I’ll have the time off with the baby and be ready to start up again with the rest of the House.”
“Well, how convenient, Mrs. Dailey. That was very nice of you to plan your reproduction around the schedule of the US House of Representatives.”
Landon drove Rory back to her apartment in the city. Rory leaned her head against the back of the seat, listening to him go on about his work with the Department of Commerce. Rory reflected on Nicole’s announcement.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and steeled herself against the painful memories that news like this always flooded back into her mind. She tried her best to concentrate on the conversation until they pulled up to her building.
“So we’ll have lunch this week and finalize your committee appointments.” He gave her a hug and peck on the cheek. “You okay? I know news like that must be hard for you to hear.”