“Kimba,” a deep voice says from the other end.
“Mateo, hey.”
“I could use your weigh-in on this if we don’t want to be down another five points tomorrow.” There’s a bite to his voice, and I want to tell him to handle his own damn five points.
“Right,” she says. “I’m coming now.”
I hear the door close decisively.
“I really have to go, Ez.”
“I get it,” I say, opening the refrigerator in search of the bottles I know Aiko left, but I can’t find. Mai’s wailing doesn’t let up, so I speak louder to make sure Kimba hears me. “I just called because I miss you like hell. When this is over—”
“Yes,” she says, her voice low and tired and sad. “When this is over.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Kimba
“Well, we gave it our best shot,” I tell Mateo Ruiz.
“That we did,” he says, his eyes solemn.
I squeeze his hand and lean forward with a grin. “I told you we were gonna make history.”
The sobriety that has hung around him all night as he fully grasped what he has achieved lightens, and he smiles. “There’s no question—I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“It was an honor to be on you team, Governor.”
Music reaches us through the walls of the hotel, and he proffers his arm to me. “I guess I better report to the dance floor. They’re playing my song.”
When we step out into the hall, his wife and family are waiting, along with a security detail. His wife watches him with such pride, it touches even my politically jaded heart. I allow them to walk ahead, to make their entrance into the ballroom where they’re greeted by wild, almost deafening applause. That’s the sound of people who have witnessed history and pulled off what was practically a political miracle. I’m humbled to have been a part of it.
I use a different door than the one that led to the stage. The governor’s inaugural ball has assembled Georgia’s most powerful, influential citizens all in one room. I make my way to the table designated for my friends and family. Piers, Carla, Felita and the rest of my team convene there, and we begin our own private celebration.
“Excellent work,” I say, toasting them all with my glass of champagne. “You are the best of the best, and I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else. Let’s keep making history. Let’s keep making a difference.”
“Let’s keep making money,” Piers interjects with a laugh.
“I have no objection to that either.” I smile over the fragile rim of my glass. “Girl’s gotta get her paper.”
“So what’s next, boss?” Carla asks, sipping her champagne.
“Believe it or not…” I sigh. “We need to start shifting our focus to President Cade’s re-election campaign.”
“Already, huh?” Piers asks, biting into a fancy pig in a blanket.
“It’ll be a lot different than electing him the first time. Now he has an actual governing record that everyone will want to pick apart,” I remind them. “But Maxim Cade is a once-in-a-lifetime candidate. The man himself will be our greatest resource.”
“Excuse me,” a deep, familiar voice drawls from behind me. “Can your brother get in on this celebration?”
I turn to grin at Keith and study him with pride, not just because he looks so handsome in his tux, but because he comported himself so wonderfully during his own campaign. Because he’s standing with his wife, who looks genuinely happy and has for some time.
“Congressman Allen,” I tease. “I do believe congratulations are in order to you, too.”
“I literally couldn’t have done it without you, sis.” He looks from me to my team who helped him, too. “Without all of you. I can’t thank you enough.”
“I’m sure I’ll think of a way you can,” I say.