“Nasty word.” Joey grinned. “Nobody twisted your arm to write those checks. You looked like you were happy to do it. Honeymoons are getting more expensive every year. See you around, Senator.”

The senator slid the dead bolt on the door, a huge sigh of relief escaping his lips. He called his office first, then his housekeeper, and gave her the rest of the week off. Then he took a shower, shaved, and made himself a cup of coffee. When he was dressed for the day, he opened his briefcase, withdrew his Blackberry, and sent a message to the only person he trusted to get him out of this mess.

Exhausted, the senator leaned back in his favorite chair and closed his eyes. This was a fine mess he’d gotten himself into. But he’d loved every minute of it. So what if he had to part with lots of money? So what? His “ex-wives” would have a veritable blast squandering it. Like the man of the cloth said, you play you pay. He laughed, a great belly laugh when he realized the lengths they’d gone to to track him down and get him to write those checks.

But he knew now he had to make his plans. Perhaps the Greek Isles. Mykonos. He’d been there twice, and the women were beautiful. Beautiful, lusty, and fiery. Uninhibited, too.

The Blackberry came to life. The message was short and simple. Bring what you need. I’ll take care of it. The senator smiled. How strange that the only person he trusted in the whole world was the man who had been hired to kill him. The only man who could make him disappear without a trace.

The senator looked around his apartment, knowing it was unlikely that he would ever see it again. Everything he needed was in his briefcase.

Downstairs, he looked at his security detail, and said, “There’s been a sudden change of plans. Take me to Dulles. I’ll call you when I plan to return, and no, none of you are going with me.” The senator closed the door, ending whatever argument his people were about to give him.

In the Town Car with the dark windows, the senator leaned back and sighed. Life was full of new beginnings. One more in his ledger wasn’t going to hurt a thing. In fact, he was rather looking forward to his stay on Mykonos.

As Senator Wyne contemplated his future, Pappy fired up his computer and his Blackberry. It took him all of two hours to arrange for safe passage to Greece for the senator. His business taken care of, he, too, leaned back in his comfortable chair and sighed. And, like the senator, he was also forced to look at a new beginning. He wasn’t sure if he liked what lay ahead of him, but he was out of options.

Chapter Nineteen