“I don’t know,” I wearily said. xxx Pain exploded in my back, my stomach, my legs. I sat up on my elbows, looking at the bedroom door, frowning. All of our bodyguards had one. Violet buried her face into my chest at the sound. My heart hammered in fear. My cabinet was split; some championed Mark and his sexual politics, others thought he was the most dangerous threat to the US since the war of 1812, and should be assassinated. Around her neck, the bronze amulet smoked, the protection spell overwhelmed by the helicopter’s mini-guns. My heart hammered in fear. I couldn’t afford to wallow in self-pity. I saw 27 in the backseat of one of the Humvees and Desiree sat next to her. I found myself to be suddenly nervous as I spoke to an actual God.
