Since I was a kid, making it into the World Hockey League was the ultimate goal. No relationship could match my first love, and after my rough childhood, I wasn't putting my heart on the line.
When Bellerive makes a successful bid to move the Califo...
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"Hey Tamiko," I say before I leave our weekly briefing about my press appearances, which includes a list of talking points for interviews. Any talk about a trade, and I'm supposed to fluff them off, which is the approach I'd prefer to take, so at least I'm on the same wavelength as team communications. "If I had a problem I need fixed, who do I go to?"
"Me, silly," she says with a laugh.
"I don't think this is the kind of problem you'd want to deal with."
"Is it illegal?"
I just look at her and wait.
"Fuck, do you need a lawyer?"
"Not yet, but I might if I can't get a handle on Dalton Worthington."
"Dalton? Is this about the trade?"
"It is not."
She gives me an assessing look. "He's so suave I knew there had to be a dark side. Was he a dick to Sawyer?"
"I just need to know how I can deal with him in a way that won't get me in trouble. And, I'm sure it goes without saying, we never had this conversation."
"If we were having this conversation I'd tell you the only person on the island with enough clout to deal with Dalton in any real way is Celia Tucker. But," she says with a warning glance, "if we were really having this conversation I would never suggest Celia."
"Because Sawyer isn't speaking to her?"
"Only Ava is speaking to her, and I honestly think that's probably more about the fact that Ava has a kidney Celia might need. Brutal, but true. Ava's never been the favorite, but she is now. The two of them are thick as thieves."
"If Celia can help Sawyer—"
"Sawyer would not forgive you. If you knew the family hi온라인카지노게임, you'd know."
"She's told me some of it."
"It's not even just the family hi온라인카지노게임. Celia is notorious around the island. Her help comes with strings. Honestly, I might go so far as to say concrete shoes. It might seem like the kind of help you want, but what you end up owing her might be a lot."
"Other than Celia, then?" I ask.
"King Alexander. That's the kind of weight you need. Devious or really fucking powerful. Last I heard, the king's not available unless it's an emergency. This second pregnancy is apparently kicking Queen Aurora's ass, and there is no one in the world that man love more than his wife. It's his only endearing quality."
That makes me laugh. Having met King Alexander a few times, I didn't mind the arrogant directness all that much. He's almost literally King Shit—might as well own the wealth, power, and entitlement.
"Dalton's not going to risk his political career. He campaigned hard to get on the Advisory Council. As long as you two avoid him, I'm sure whatever it is will blow over."
