I can see June getting more and more agitated, more and more impatient. “What news?”

Bridget smiles. “Your father is running for office. He’ll be the next Attorney General of New York.”

It takes everything I have to hide my grimace from these idiots. The news comes like a slap across the face. I can already see the hundreds of ways this will become a huge fucking headache for me.

Bridget is oblivious. “Your father has had political aspirations for a long time now, and he’s contributed significantly to the state. So now—”

“Campaigns require money,” June interrupts bluntly. “And unless you’re hiding millions I don’t know about, the two of you don’t have nearly enough to bankroll a political campaign.”

Luke fidgets in his seat. He keeps sneaking glances at me, waiting for me to make the offer so that he doesn’t have to ask.

There it is. The first way in which Luke Cole’s campaign becomes a pain in my ass.

“You know as well as I do that we wouldn’t dare hide money, not pay our fair share of taxes, that sort of unseemly thing. So we’ll just have to rely on donations,” Luke says diplomatically.

“Donations?” June repeats. Then her eyes slide to me as it all finally clicks. “So what you really mean is that you’re going to rely on my—” She breaks off. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Bridget’s smile might as well be painted on at this point. “Honestly, June, it’s like we haven’t taught you how to behave,” she hisses. “Such rude questions.”

June ignores her. “Dad?”

“If Kolya wants to contribute to his father-in-law’s campaign, then of course I’d welcome any support he’s willing to give,” he says.

That’s all the confirmation she needs. She buries her face in her hands. “Jesus Christ.”

“June!” Bridget shrieks, trying hard to salvage this visit. “Please, it’s rude to talk about money.”

“I’m not the one who came here with a begging bowl in hand!”

“That’s enough, young lady!” Luke interjects sternly. “As I said, we’re here to see you. There’s no ulterior motive to this visit. We just wanted you to know that we support you and your husband and we’re not going to let Geneva run her mouth all over town like she’s been doing.”

“How do you plan on stopping her?” June asks. “She’s a grown woman.”

“And an increasingly unstable one. This is what comes of letting you girls chase your passions,” Luke says, his tone growing increasingly bitter. “At least you chose a good marriage. But Geneva? She’s…”

“She’s a lost cause,” Bridget finishes, looking at me as if for confirmation, like a bad comedian hoping the crowd will egg her on. “We plan on letting her know that if she continues on pushing these wild accusations against Kolya, then we can’t be associated with her anymore.”

June’s gaze veers to me for a moment. “You’re saying you want to cut her off. As in, disown her?”