Georgetown, VA
The door swung open and Alexis braced. Secret Service agent Alan Turner frowned with those bushy gray brows. He didn’t have to say anything, not when that twist of his mustache conveyed plenty. He still didn’t like her.
“She asked me to come.” Why she said that, Alexis didn’t know. She had nothing to explain to this man.
Alan stepped back, opening the door. She read what he didn’t say in the line of his body. He was charged with Senator Rachel Harris’s protection. And that meant, if necessary, he would take Alexis down. And here she thought they’d been friends.
Then again, she thought she’d been friends with all the agents on Rachel’s detail—back when they’d spent their days side-by-side, serving the office of the senator. Doing their part for the country. Only months, but a lifetime ago now. Every day since, like a bad dream.
Alexis squared her shoulders. She clutched her purse tight against her side like a shield. Not the designer label she’d carried just a few months ago. No, this one was a knock off she’d bought for eight dollars at a thrift store. Like everything she owned now.
As she passed Alan, he muttered a dirty word.
From down the hall, a woman gasped. “Agent Turner. I expect better from you.”
Alexis watched her friend emerge from the living room of her Georgetown brownstone home, shaking her head. Like it was possible for Rachel to be shocked. Striding toward them on four-inch heels even though she’d been home for hours. Her dress just as pristine as when she’d put it on that morning. “You do not speak to my friends that way.”
Alexis didn’t look back at Alan. She kept her focus on Rachel as he said, “My apologies, Senator Harris.” But he didn’t apologize to Alexis.
The Secret Service agent shut the front door and Rachel sighed. Alan had opted to go outside, rather than be in the house with Alexis. No doubt the rest of the agents felt the same way. Though, some would think she was there to harm Rachel. They’d stick close to make sure Alexis didn’t do anything.
She was a pariah now. An outcast. Did she have that scarlet letter “A” on her chest? Maybe she should.
Rachel’s gaze softened.
Don’t.
She opened her arms, and tears filled her eyes.
Alexis walked into the embrace of the woman who’d ruined her.
“I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”
Alexis shook her head, an unladylike snort emerging from her throat.
Rachel cocked her head to one side. “Living room?”
Alexis sighed and followed her friend from the hall. They sat opposite each other. Rachel on a wingback chair, Alexis perched on a beautiful couch that was seriously uncomfortable. Kind of like shoes. The prettier they were, the more they hurt.
Didn’t matter. She’d been uncomfortable for months now. Living the consequences of both their choices.
She set her purse on the floor, trying to figure out what Rachel had brought her here to say. Alexis wanted to demand the reason, but that never worked with Rachel. She would get to it in her own time, and no one was going to push her into it early. She was a senator.
An open bottle of red wine and two glasses sat on the low Victorian table.
“Would you like a glass?” Rachel poured one, and offered it.
Alexis shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“It’s not like you’ll be driving home.”
The jab sliced through her, but Rachel hadn’t meant it as a slight. It was a statement of fact, nothing more. Rachel rarely caught the implications of her words and she didn’t bother too much with emotional subtext.
“I’d just rather not.”
Rachel shrugged one slender shoulder and took a healthy sip. When she was done, she studied Alexis. “It’s good to see you.”
She nodded. “You, too.”
“I’ve gone through six assistants in four months, Lex.” Rachel chuckled. She shook her head so that her hair shifted around her face in waves. That four hundred dollar haircut was worth every penny. “They aren’t as good as you. Not one of them is even close.”
Alexis allowed herself a small smile at that. She had been a darn good assistant. “I’m sorry.”
Though, she couldn’t say what exactly she was sorry for. Not today, when they’d barely spoken in weeks. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
Rachel set her nearly empty wine glass down. “I thought I might need liquid courage, but that might’ve backfired.” She touched her forehead with slender fingers, her grandmother’s gold watch sliding down her forearm.
“That’s okay.” It wasn’t like Alexis had anywhere to be.
Her purse buzzed. She slid her outdated iPhone out and looked at the cracked screen.
Did she tell you what it’s about yet?
Alexis quickly replied.
Not yet.
It was sweet of him to be concerned. Lincoln had been one of the few friends who hadn’t turned his back on her in the past six months. Ever since the story had broken over social media and both Rachel and Alexis realized what the fallout would be, everyone in their sphere had chosen a side.
Most had gone with Rachel, who’d valiantly tried to make it seem like not that big of a deal to her. To her credit, she’d tried to maintain the friendship they’d had. A friendship that had stretched from second grade, when Alexis’s father was stationed in Virginia, all the way through college and Rachel’s race for the Senate.
Years and years. Now all they had was awkwardness.
Why had she even come?
Rachel cleared her throat. “Lex…” She worked her bottom lip between her teeth.
“I think we’re past the point of needing to be hesitant with each other. You can just say it, Rach.”
Of course, then she’d have to listen to her own advice. Who knew what would come pouring out of her mouth if she started speaking the truth? Alexis didn’t even want to know.
God, don’t let me give in to my bitterness. He’d helped her hold her tongue for six months. To keep quiet instead of screaming the truth from the rooftops. She had no doubt in her mind that He could do that for her now.
The quiet time she’d had with the Lord through this season had been sweet and beautiful. But why had it come at such a high cost? She was trying to be okay with the fact He wanted this time with her. That God was going to use it to grow her through this uninterrupted time. She’d been stripped down. And while God hadn’t caused it, He certainly wouldn’t waste it, either.
Give me peace.
Rachel said, “I’m so glad you came. I know it’s been hard for you, and you’ll never know how truly sorry I am for that.”
Alexis shook her head. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“But—”
“We agreed. We both made that choice. Don’t backtrack now.” She needed Rachel to stand firm. For both of them. Otherwise, it was all a waste. And Alexis would hate that more than anything else.
“I’m so—” Rachel’s voice broke, and tears filled her eyes. “I shouldn’t have let you do it.”
Alexis fought her natural response, refusing to give in to the pull of her friend’s emotions. That was a spiral Alexis didn’t want to go down. They’d both been a mess at Rachel’s parent’s funeral. Ever since the moment Rachel cried, that switch was flipped in Alexis as well. Tears were inevitable. For years now, she’d loved this woman as a friend. And as the sister she’d never had. When Rachel hurt, Alexis did.
And when one of them was destroyed…
“We should have found another way.”
“It’s done.” Alexis swallowed. “Please just let it be done.”
“How is it going, finding a job?”
She shrugged, not wanting to talk about that. No one wanted to hire someone who’d been publicly shamed the way she had. The crucifixion she’d suffered online afterwards had driven Alexis into isolation, until Lincoln of all people had forced her to reconnect. She had no social media accounts these days, but still every meeting was a new experience for someone to laugh at her.
For once, she wanted to be invited in for an interview on the strength of her resume, and not just so whoever it was could ask her all the dirty secrets of her private life that had come to light.
Rachel swiped a manicured finger under one eye. “This is all my fault.”
“It’s for the best.” The alternative being Rachel’s career destroyed, and her reputation in tatters. Alexis would never have let that happen.
Instead, Rachel’s integrity had taken a hit. Her stance on family values had been tarnished. Firing Alexis had been like slicing off an infected limb—at least according to the court of public opinion. The sentence—Alexis had been banished. Rachel had come out looking like the victim of an assistant with no moral compass.
Alexis would do it again. Even with everything that had happened, she would do it again every time. Anytime. For Rachel.
“I want to fix it. That’s why I asked you to come.” Rachel leaned over the table and set her hand on Alexis’s. “I can’t stand what’s happened to you. And I want to make things right.”
“No.” How could she think that would be good? “You don’t need to do that, Rachel. Not for me.” I’m not worth it. She wanted to add those words, but knew they weren’t true. Despite how she felt.
That was the old her talking. The child that had to prove herself to demanding parents who accepted nothing less than perfection.
Her father had publicly disowned her after it happened, completely cut her off. Alexis didn’t even know what her mother thought. She wouldn’t answer the phone so many times that Alexis had finally quit calling.
The parents she really needed right now, but couldn’t have in her life? Rachel’s.
Alexis said, “If you let the truth get out, people will know what really happened. The video will get air time all over again, and this will never be over. There’s no point trying to change what happened. You can’t fix my life now. We both made a choice, and as far as I’m concerned it was the right one.”
Rachel just stared at her, tears in her eyes.
“If you try to explain, the fallout will be catastrophic.”
“But you’re hurting.”
Alexis blinked back tears. She picked up her purse and stood. “It’s for the best.”
“Don’t leave.” Rachel jumped up and came around to take Alexis’s arm. “Please. Lex. Stay and visit. I need your advice on an upcoming bill.”
Alexis gritted her teeth. “Maybe another time would be better.”
“Please. It won’t take long. I just want to run some things by you, for old time’s sake.” Rachel’s pleading face had convinced Alexis to help her many times. Things weren’t much different now. Alexis still wanted to help her friend. But in order to do so, she’d have to bridge the chasm that now stretched between them.
“That’s probably not a good idea.”
Rachel let her go, and Alexis turned away. To the sideboard of framed photos. Pictures of Rachel, Alexis, and Rachel’s brother Bradley. The three of them—a family. The distance now between her and Rachel was nothing compared to what Alexis and Bradley had done to each other. Another lifetime ago.
They’d barely spoken since. Rachel had known something was wrong, but not what had changed.
Alexis had genuinely liked Bradley, and still respected him. Who wouldn’t respect a decorated Navy SEAL? But that didn’t mean she was ever going to speak to him again. It was far too embarrassing.
“I’m going to tell Brad.”
Alexis spun back. “Wha—”
“I am.” Rachel lifted her chin. “He needs to know the truth. It’s past time you two quit not speaking to each other and get back to the way things are supposed to be.”
“Because you and I swore a blood oath?” Best friends forever. Soul sisters. Alexis was supposed to have married Bradley, so Rachel could be her children’s Auntie.
Rachel’s eyes warmed. “That hurt.”
“It was one tiny needle. And it was your idea.” Getting matching tattoos had been way worse.
“Still.” Rachel looked a little green around the edges.
Alexis had to smile. This was the friend she remembered. No baggage, just the two of them. She didn’t have any good memories in her life that didn’t include Rachel. And Bradley.
Too bad that part of her life was done now. Gone like her reputation. Her job.
Her credibility.
She sighed, moving past the sideboard toward the hall. Didn’t every family have problems? The three of them had been what Alexis had never found at home. And now it was all gone. Ruined, like the rest of her life. Though, admitting that out loud wouldn’t be fair to Rachel.
There was no point dwelling on it further. She had to keep reminding herself that all this had happened for the best. A new chapter, because she’d done the right thing for her friend. That made it all the better.
“Lex.”
She turned. “Please don’t tell Brad.” As much as she wanted him to know the truth—and to not look at her the way everyone else in the world did—it wasn’t meant to be.
“He isn’t seeing anyone right now.”
“Rach.”
Her friend enveloped her in a hug. Alexis sucked in a choppy breath, and hugged her back.
The crack of a gunshot echoed from another part of the house.
Rachel flinched and pulled out of the hug. “What was that?”
Alexis knew, but who wanted to contemplate that? “We should get out of the hall.”
A Secret Service agent ran in. “Ma’am, let’s get you—”
Another shot rang out. The red stain blossomed from his neck, and the man dropped to the floor.
Rachel screamed.
Beyond where the agent had stood was a man in a ski mask. Black clothes. Gas mask.
Alexis gripped her friend’s hand, her feet seemingly frozen to the floor. Her brain unable to think about what they should do.
The man tossed a canister in their direction. It hit the tile in front of them and rolled over to where they stood.
Alexis shoved her friend towards the living room, through the cloud of gas.
Her eyes blurred. Stung. Her hip clipped a piece of furniture and she dropped to one knee. Cried out.
More gas clouded around her.
“Rachel.”
Alexis could hear her friend moving, but couldn’t see anything. She felt around, encountered the couch. The corner of the table. When her fingers found the soft material of Rachel’s sweater, she grasped it. “Rach.”
Her friend coughed. “Lex.” Her voice croaked. “What—”
Rachel’s sweater was yanked from Alexis’s grip.
Rachel screamed, the sound moving away from Alexis. She scrambled forward to find her friend again, and her forehead cracked the end table. Something toppled on her. A vase. It smashed against the floor. She tried to get her balance and her hands landed on splintered glass.
Alexis hissed out a breath.
What was going on?
“Rachel!”
Two arms banded around her. The air expelled from her lungs and hot breath touched her ear. “Guess we’ll see what you’re made of now.”
Alexis struggled as hard as she could, kicking her legs out and tugging at his arms with both hands. “Let me go!”
He chuckled.
“Enough.”
The man stilled as a new voice entered the room.
Alexis tried to breathe, and could only cough. She kept up her struggle, trying to get free of whoever this was. Alan? She didn’t know.
“You did your job, Turner.”
“So gimme my money.” Turner dropped her on the floor.
Alexis slammed onto the glass, ignored the slicing pain and scrambled away from him. Alan Turner had done this? Sure, he hated her, but where was Rachel? He’d never allow her to get hurt. And yet, it seemed he’d been paid to completely ignore his oath.
Alexis found the wall and huddled against it.
A gunshot rang out. She flinched and moved closer to the wall. Her eyes were streaming now, and she still couldn’t make out much.
Who had been shot?
Footsteps crossed the room toward her.
Alexis looked around, trying to see through the swimming mist that was now her vision. “Rachel!”
No answer.
Two dark columns stopped in front of her.
Alexis looked up in time to see an arm swing toward her. It slammed into her temple, and everything went black.