Chapter 259

After handing Mia to Steven, I chase Neil down the hallway to the front door.

“You can’t mean to go out there,” I say. “These people aren’t your allies.”

“Some of them are,” Neil says. “Our candidate has supporters here too.”

No wonder a fight was about to break out then.

“Neil.”

“I appreciate your concern, Chloe,” Neil says without slowly. “But I will be fine.”

“Did you know it would come to this when you gave your father’s opposition your support?”

“I considered it.”

“And you still went on with it? You think this is the right choice?” My question came from a place of concern. Neil and his brothers supporting the secondary candidate made their private war against their father more open. The public would take sides, like they were doing now.

As we reach the front door, Neil finally stops and turns back to look at me over his shoulder.

“This is only the beginning,” he says, and then marches out through the door. “Stay inside, Chloe,” he orders, and I halt, holding the door.

I want to follow him, to help protect him, but I don’t want to make everything worse. For now, I will stay right here. I’ll hold this door, listening and attentive to what Neil is about to do. If I see one person inch out of line, I’d rush down and handle it myself, whether Neil wants me to or not.

I guess I shouldn’t worry overmuch. I know the others are watching on Steven’s cameras. They’ll rush out here if they’re needed. The fact that they aren’t already here means they think Neil perfectly capable of handling this on his own.

I wish I could share that confidence. I know Neil is capable. But my desire to not see him hurt is overwhelming all other thoughts, beliefs, and senses.

Too often, I’ve seen him hurt. Unconscious. Hospitalized.

Let it be someone else’s turn for a change.

Neil lifts his hands, and like magic, the roar of the crowd dies down so that his voice can be heard. He truly has a way with people. He’s a master orator. His mere presence seems to carry weight.

Someday he’ll undoubtedly be a politician himself. It’s like he was born for it. I wonder if it’s something he actually wants.

No time to think on that now.

“My good people,” Neil says. “Thank you for coming here tonight. The right of protest is sacred, and it is an honor that you would choose my home and my decisions as the basis with which to practice said right.”

“You boys betrayed your father!” shouted a shrill voice in the crowd.

“Did we?” Neil asks. “Or is my fealty to my father the very reason I can no longer, in good conscious, wish him remain in power.”

Some of the crowd began to murmur. Specifically those on the Alpha King’s side began to look at each other.

“You’ve seen photos of him lately,” Neil continues. “He’s been… stressed. I love my father deeply, and I cannot begrudge him his pride. You must understand, friends, how difficult it can be to see our own ailing health. Our own tired minds…”

He’s lying. His father is as quick and malicious as I assume he’s ever been. From the stories the brothers have previously told, I have no reason to think the Alpha King has lost even one step.

But Neil is truly selling it now. The protestors supporting the rival candidate are nodding in agreement. Those on the Alpha King’s side look confused and concerned. Some of them lower their signs. None of them seem interested in fighting anymore.

“Thank you again for coming out tonight,” Neil says. “If you will excuse me.”

Not a raised hand or a raised voice follows Neil as he turns and comes back up the stair. I hold open the door for him. He enters, then closes and locks the door behind us.

I’m speechless for a long moment. Neil directs me away from the door. We take the long way through the Pyramid, avoiding the living room as we come to Neil’s bedroom door. He must want to speak privately. I still don’t know how to process what I’ve seen.

I’m both impressed and mortified. Neil played that crowd like a master violinist would play the strings. But he also lied.

Neil, as I know him, is an earnest and steadfast man. He’s not the type to tell lies, not even to protect himself.

Neil frowns as he looks at me. We’re in his bedroom now, with the door closed behind us.

“Say it,” he says.

“You lied.”

“I did.” He doesn’t deny it. I want to believe that’s a good sign, but it only makes me more worried.

“You aren’t a liar,” I say.

Neil looks away from me, his gaze falling down to the ground. He rubs at his upper chest, where the silver had for so long been embedded under his skin.

“My parents stopped deserving fair treatment the minute they made threats against you and Mia. Now, I don’t care what I have to do. I will end this.”

Gods, his words only make me more concerned. “Neil,” I say, stepping closer to him. As I draw nearer, he looks up, and I’m awash in an ocean of blue. I shiver, suddenly cold. “You aren’t yourself.”

“I’ll protect you, Chloe. I’ll protect all of us.”

“At the cost of who you are?”

He shakes his head. “I’m not losing myself.”

“Then why do you look and sound like a stranger,” I say. “I’ve never heard you sound so cold.”

His brow furrows. He opens his mouth, likely to argue. But then he stops. He considers. And he lets all of his tension go. His shoulders droop like he’s a puppet with the strings cut.

“We have to win, Chloe. By any means necessary.”

“I want to win too,” I tell him. “But I don’t want to lose the person you are to achieve that.”

With a sigh, he steps closer to me. Gently, he nudges me with his shoulder.

“All the more reason to keep you here with us then,” Neil says. His voice has dropped deeper. He sounds very sexy like this, and much more like himself.

It’s doing things to me. My panties are starting to get wet.

He inches closer still. I look up at him and he looks down at me. Our faces are mere inches apart.

“You can help remind me who I am,” he whispers.

His gaze drops down to my lips. I barely have time to lick them with my tongue before his mouth drops to mine.

His arms immediately wrap around my waist. I lift mine and grip onto his upper arms. The muscles flex under my hands.

“Neil,” I gasp, as he nibbles on my lower lip.

“Remind me, Chloe,” he growls against my mouth. “I feel like I’m losing myself again.”

I swat lightly at his arm. “You liar.”

He hums. “I’ll say whatever I need to, to get you to kiss me again.”

“You know all you have to do is ask,” I say. “Or… tell.”

Gods, I love when he gives me commands.

He smirks as he lifts one brow. “Would you obey all my commands, Chloe?”

Yes. Undoubtedly. Without hesitation. “Maybe,” I say.

A fire ignites in the depths of his eyes. This is the Neil I know, hungry and confident and about to devour me whole.

“Ride me.”