Penance (Devout Trilogy #3) - Lesli Richardson Page 0,28

the door behind him and locks it. “Hello, boy,” he whispers.

My body’s nervous system is torn between wanting to drop to my knees before him and remaining professional. I opt to remain standing. “Hello, Sir.”

He slides his hands into his pockets and leans against the door, looking as handsome as he did the last time I saw him in person. My heart painfully squeezes in my chest at how much I miss him and Liam. They’ve been good about not asking me when I’m coming back, and I appreciate that, because it means I don’t have to lie to them.

“Plans tonight?” he asks.

I shake my head.

His left eyebrow slowly arches and I realize my mistake. “No, Sir.”

“Excellent.” He withdraws a slip of paper from his pocket and walks over, dropping it on my desk. The entire way, his eyes scour my body. I still haven’t moved from where I was standing when he walked in. “Eight tonight.”

He turns and I realize he’s leaving, just like that. “Liam?”

“Is in DC,” Daniel says, his back to me. “I’m here for work and flew down early. Have to meet with some people on Monday in Tallahassee. He doesn’t know I’m here right now, but we need to talk, you and I. Do not let Him know I’m here.”

He turns back to me with his hand on the doorknob. “Just the two of us tonight, boy. Don’t be late. If you don’t show, don’t bother letting our names ever cross your mind again, much less your lips.”

Like that, he’s gone.

My hand trembles as I reach for the piece of paper. Unfolding it, I realize it’s from a hotel notepad, a Hilton not even fifteen minutes from here.

The only writing on it is a number I assume is his room number.

Terror fills me. I should run away. I should definitely not go. What happens if something breaks over my father’s crimes and I’m caught up in it? If I’m tied to Liam and Daniel, it would splash back on them.

I should ignore the insane ideas streaking through my mind at light speed.

I’m also miserable and feel like I’ve only compounded my life’s mistakes by walking away from those two men.

At least this time, I made sure to say good-bye to them first and didn’t ghost on them. They didn’t want our separation to be permanent and I didn’t tell them otherwise, but I’m a realist. People like me don’t get happy endings.

Do I?

My father dying was only part of the battle. I knew if I didn’t get Olivia out of my life before our secret was exposed, none of us would ever find happiness. She and her family would have done everything in their power to ruin Daniel and Liam, and I refused to let that happen. Plus, The Fellowship might have tried to go after the men professionally.

Now?

Olivia’s no longer in my life, my father’s dead, and…

And Liam will soon be looking at another Senate campaign, even if he hasn’t announced he’ll be running for his fourth term. It’s assumed he’ll run, and he really doesn’t need to officially declare for over a year yet. He has no reason not to run. His poll numbers are incredible.

So when I remain at the office later than everyone else that evening, watching the clock so I can arrive at the hotel at least five minutes early, I’m certain by the time I finally collapse alone in bed in my small condo later tonight that I will have finalized my decades of heartbreak.

Just from the way Daniel didn’t even attempt to give me any of the silent cues we have tell me tonight will likely be a final good-bye.

Maybe he doesn’t want Liam here for it, afraid he’d be overruled.

I finger my bracelet, my day collar.

I wear it every day.

I’m already struggling against my tears as I walk down the hallway and find the room door propped open with the security bar.

I lightly rap.

“Come in,” he calls out. “Lock it behind you.”

The room is dark. Daniel’s at the window, sitting in a comfortable chair and staring out over the rainy Atlanta skyline, a drink in his hand.

He doesn’t look at me, at first. I stand there in the entry after locking the door and I wait.

“You’re on time, boy. That’s good.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

His deep sigh fills the room and he finally looks over at me. “You’re out of office now, your father’s dead, and your divorce has been final for three months.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Is Olivia giving you any