“What the hell, Lilah?” Andrew had snapped. “You promised me. I knew you were going to do this. In fact, I made a bet with myself.”
“And what did you bet yourself?”
“Don’t be a smartass. I hate that you aren’t coming. You know why I want you there. You know why I’m doing what I’m doing.”
Kane had refilled my glass and I’d sipped, listening to Andrew rant for another five minutes before I’d confessed, “I was joking.”
Kane was laughing at this point. Andrew was not. “What the fuck, Lilah?”
“I hate when you use that word. Fuck. It sounds wrong coming from you, Andrew.”
He’d used it about ten more times after that, and then made me promise I was really coming to the event before we’d hung up. I’d sipped my wine to celebrate agitating my brother. It is, after all, my duty as his sister, and one I hope I never outgrow.
Despite my brother’s low expectations of us, Kane and I dress to impress, as if we are proud to be the daughter and son-in-law to the future governor of New York. I wear a black Chanel skirt, with a matching jacket, and a pale blue silk shell. Kane dresses in one of his most impressive suits, a Kiton with a mix of light and dark blue in a plaid formation that fits him to perfection. I also strap on a garter and a weapon I intend to justify with my badge, and slip a knife inside my elegant little Gucci purse. Mixing brands might be a faux pas, but fuck whoever says I can’t do it. I’m doing it. Kane is strapped as well, and as for how that goes over, we’ll see soon. I plan to use the fuck out of my badge.
We pull to the door of the hotel in a limo driven by one of Kane’s men, of course, and are greeted by a doorman and directed to the event. With Kit by our side, we head to security, and as predicted they take issue with our weapons. When we resist dumping them, my father is contacted and we’re escorted to his suite.
A big, brawny security guard wearing a headpiece guards his door and halts our entry. “He stays out here,” he says of Kit, and then motions to Kane. “You leave your weapon.”
Kane hands over his side piece, but doesn’t offer up the Glock at his ankle. When the guard turns his attention to me, and says, “Yours, too,” I flash my badge. “I’m keeping my weapon. Questions?”
He holds up his hands. “As you wish, Agent Love.”
“Mendez,” Kane corrects. “Her name is Mendez.”
“Mendez,” the guard amends and opens the door, allowing our entry.
I step into the room first, followed by Kane. My father and Pocher are standing at a window with their backs to us, chatting it up, probably talking about ruling the world, or something like that. Both are in expensive suits, both shades of varied blue. When they realize we’re here, they turn to face us, and my father moves towards us, pulling me into an awkward embrace I endure because it’s part of the plan. He then he offers his hand to Kane. I can feel the jagged edge of Kane’s reaction, but he shakes hands with my father, because again, it’s part of the plan.
“Glad you made it, Kane. We have important matters to discuss. Let’s sit.” He motions to the couch.
I don’t miss the fact that Pocher has been slow to join us, and doesn’t offer his hand or a welcome to either of us.
The three of us sit.
Pocher stands.
“I think it’s time we talk about how we can make magic together, Lilah,” my father says, turning his attention to me. “I’d like you to officially consult on law and order in our great state.”
“That’s why you have Andrew and where is he, by the way?”
“He has a meeting with some city officials. He’ll join us at the rally. We need him and you, Lilah, and I’d like to tell the crowd tonight, and the world, that my daughter, the highly respected FBI agent who solved the Umbrella Man case, among others, is on board our team.”
Now I’m highly respected. I all but snort. It’s all I can do to remember the plan for the night. Don’t beat submission into them. Force it. With this in mind, I say, “As long as Andrew’s the buffer, I’ll do it.”
“Excellent, and I’d like to think we can get by this need for a buffer, but we’ll work on that.” He turns his attention to Kane, and oh so predictably he says, “Let’s talk oil. I want to make our state the poster child for economic energy. That means producing our own energy. You produce most of your energy in other states and countries. I want you here.”