Grace woke to a dark shape standing over her, sunlight streaming around him. She held her hand over her eyes, wondering if she had died. Was this it?
“Where am I?” She closed her eyes again and then reopened them. This time things were a little less hazy, the shape in front of her outlined against a wash of whiteness.
She blinked a few more times, processing the blue suit. Her gaze drifted up to a familiar face. “Daddy?”
“Glad to see you’re with us again.”
“Where am I?” she repeated.
“In the hospital.”
She flattened her palms beside her on a bed and attempted to push herself up. She managed to eventually say, “What happened to me?”
“Don’t strain yourself. You’ve been through an ordeal.”
She frowned and lifted fingers to her pounding head. “Was I hurt?”
“You’ve been through a great trauma,” he said, and she released a small snort. So like her father, the consummate politician, never answering a direct question with anything truly enlightening or helpful.
“How long have I been here?”
“Two days. How do you feel?”
Two days? She’d been unconscious that long? Her heart started racing. Ignoring his question, she demanded in a panicky voice, “What happened to Reid? Is he okay?”
“If you’re referring to your abductor, then he’s back in prison where he belongs.”
“No!” She shook her head, ignoring the stabbing sensation in her temples. “You don’t understand. He didn’t kidnap me. Sullivan—”
“Sullivan has been arrested as well. We have several members of his crime network in custody. All have agreed to testify against him for reduced sentences.”
“Oh.” She relaxed somewhat. At least they got that part of it right. She just needed to straighten everything else out about Reid. She took a deep breath. “Reid Allister is innocent. Of all crimes. He was sent to prison in the first place for a crime Sullivan—”
“Grace, you’re upsetting yourself. Lay back down. Your mother is at the hotel. I’ll call her. She’s anxious to see you. This hasn’t been good for her nerves.”
“Damn it! For once listen to me!”
Her father’s expression cracked for the barest moment, the handsome facade showing his astonishment that she would talk to him in such a way. “What’s gotten into you, Grace? Clearly you’re still suffering from shock. Let me ring the nurse to give you another sedative.”
“Another? Is that what you’ve been doing? Drugging me? Is that why I’ve been in this bed for two days? Daddy, I’m twenty-six years old. I know you’re the leader of the free world, but you don’t own me.” She let the irony of that statement hang there for a moment. “I’m a person with rights, and I’m done living my life for you.”
He stared at her for a long moment, his blue eyes hardening. It was the type of stare that would normally have had her hastily apologizing before. But this wasn’t before anymore. “Of course I don’t own you, Grace. I never thought I did.” He cleared his throat and looked to the door. “Dennis, if you would leave us for a moment please.”
That’s when she noticed her father’s special agent in charge standing at attention a few feet away. Without a glance to her, the former special ops soldier exited the room.
Her father didn’t waste time. Turning back to her, he said, “I understand you’ve been through an ordeal. Because of me. Because of who I am.” He paused to take a breath and she blinked. This was the closest she had ever heard her father come to apologizing. He sounded almost contrite. “I never imagined anything like this could . . .” His voice faded away.
“I don’t blame you, Daddy,” she said gently, and she meant it.
Her father was a lot of things, but it wasn’t his fault she’d been abducted. When evil men did evil things, it was no one’s fault. Otis Sullivan was to blame. No one else.
He sighed and bowed his head. The sound was tired. He looked older standing there. “I’m glad to hear that, Grace.” He dragged a chair up beside the bed and sank down in it. He patted her hand where it rested on the bed. “Truly relieved.”
“Dad,” she began after a moment. “I need to talk to you about Reid Allister.”
He made a sound of disgust. “The man is exactly where he deserves to be.”
“No, you don’t understand—”
“There’s nothing to discuss on the matter of Reid Allister. You’ll only distress yourself further.”
She crossed her arms where she reclined in the bed. “He saved my life.”
Her father’s top lip curled faintly, as though he had just tasted something unpleasant. “And what else did he do to you?”
She sucked in a slow breath. He knew. Of course he knew. He must have had agents out to the cabin by now. She winced. They would have relayed what they found there. Even if they hadn’t found a half-empty box of condoms, her father could probably take one look at her and surmise the truth of it. But she loved Reid Allister and was not going to sit by idly and let him rot away in prison for the rest of his life.
“You can pardon him,” she said calmly, not so much as blinking under her father’s unflinching regard. “You have that power.”
“And why would I do that? So my only daughter can ruin her life and be with a degenerate?” He shook his head slowly. “Not happening.”
She propped up on her elbows in the bed. “Even if he’s innocent?”
“Innocence is a relative thing.”
She shook her head. “If you care about me at all—”
“I do care about you. I know I never say it. Your mother and I haven’t been the most demonstrative with you over the years, but we love you. Believe it or not, I’m looking out for you.”
“I know you think you are. But you’re controlling. I’m twenty-six and can lead my own life. Make my own choices.”
“And would one of those choices include being with Reid Allister?
She refrained from agreeing or disagreeing. “I’m done. I’m leaving DC. I won’t be your puppet anymore.”
His nostrils flared, the only indication that her declaration had affected him. “You’re right, you know. I do have the power to pardon him.” Hope started a slow whisper through her heart. “How badly do you want him to have his freedom?”
“You know I do.”
“Enough to stay in DC?”
She sank back down on the bed as understanding began to penetrate. She gave a slow nod. “Yes.”
“Enough to marry Charles?” he pressed.
She jerked back into a sitting position, outraged and prepared to object, but the look in his eyes told her it was no use.
“You don’t dislike each other,” he reminded her sharply. “Charles was sick with worry while you were gone. He’s a good man. You could be good together, Grace.”
This was what her father did. He was a master negotiator. And he never lost.
“You would manipulate me like this?” she accused softly.
“I’m doing what’s right for you.” His expression was earnest, and she knew he thought that was true.
She gave another nod, feeling like she was sinking, falling, as she settled back down on the bed again. Falling into a grave. Her grave.
“Enough to promise never to see Reid Allister again?” The words hit her, landing like dirt over her grave. That was the final point to be negotiated. Maybe the most important one for her father.
She nodded once, hard. Thankfully, the boulder-sized lump in her throat blocked the sob that rose up in her chest.
“Say it, Grace. I’ll have your word. You will never attempt to see Reid Allister again.”
“You have my word,” she whispered. She would stay in DC under her father’s thumb. She would marry Charles.
Her sentence had just begun, but it didn’t matter because Reid would finally be free.
Reid was buzzed through a second set of doors. With his hands and ankles shackled, he walked with shuffling steps down the halls, a corrections officer on each side of him.
They usually didn’t bother with the leg shackles, so he guessed they were taking him to meet with someone important. Probably the district attorney to talk to him about his testimony against Sullivan.
He was glad for the meeting. Whatever the reason, it was a nice break from segregation, where they’d had him ever since his return to Devil’s Rock. He passed through several more doors until he was in an area of the prison he’d never seen before. Soon he was being led through a carpeted reception area, heading for the door marked as belonging to the warden. Oh, shit.
His mind raced, wondering what this could be about. Maybe it was about the riot . . . or breaking out of prison . . . or how much he’d embarrassed them by escaping, and they planned on keeping him in the hole for the rest of his life.
One of the bulls opened the door for him. Reid stepped inside. Immediately, he noticed two men in suits who were the size of NFL linebackers. It was impossible not to notice them. They were even taller than him. They sucked up all the space in the room.
“Have a seat,” a voice intoned.
He looked over to a small sitting area. The President of the United States sat on a couch, a cup of steaming coffee in his head. His free hand motioned to the armchair across from him.
Reid moved slowly, as though expecting some kind of trap. Was this when one of those Secret Service agents forced him to his knees and put a bullet in the back of his head for fooling around with the president’s daughter? For putting her life in danger?
Reid sank down into the chair, extending a small nod to the man who, in his opinion, had been a shitty father to Grace. He wasn’t going to get a warm welcome from him. Reid didn’t give a damn who he was.
The president stared at him for a few moments. “I understand I’m to thank you for saving my daughter’s life.”
Reid merely stared. Reeves was going to have to say more than that to get him to talk. He would have to make it clear why he was here.
Reeves continued, “Grace seems to think you deserve a pardon.”
Of course Grace would be trying to get him free. She was good like that. Sweet. She believed in things like justice. She believed in him when no one else in the world did.
“What do you think my daughter deserves, Mr. Allister? Do you think she deserves you? Some lowlife degenerate who’ll never amount to anything?” He waved an elegant hand in the air. “Who’ll always wear the stain of this place on him?”
Reid finally answered him. “No. She deserves better than me.”
President Reeves smiled then. It was fake and didn’t reach his eyes, and Reid bet he did it every day and people bought into it. “Good then. I’m glad to see we’re in agreement. As long as you agree that my daughter deserves better than you and you promise to stay far away from her, I’ll see to your pardon.”
Reid sat there for a moment, waiting for the rush of exultation to flow over him. Nothing. Without Grace, it didn’t even make an impression.
“Mr. Allister.” Hard eyes fixed on him. “Do I have your promise? Your freedom and you forget all about my daughter.” His expression turned faintly mocking. “I’m sure that won’t be that difficult for you to manage.”
Reid’s hands curled at his sides and it took everything in him not to lunge at the man. He didn’t think Grace was one to inspire love and loyalty? Or maybe Reeves just thought he was incapable of feeling such dedication.
After a long moment, Reid nodded. Because Reeves was right. Grace deserved better than him. “Yes.”
“Then you have your pardon.”