Sleeping With Da Opp: The Sequel To The County Seat

Chapter Twenty-Four :Election Time

**Chapter 24: Election Time**

Election time in Lake City was chaos wrapped in a storm. The sheriff, once a self-assured enforcer, was now on a desperate mission to secure votes and keep his badge. With the pressure mounting, he was all over town, shaking hands, making silly faces at kids, and throwing on that fake smile like it was part of his uniform. Every appearance was a performance, every promise another rehearsed line in his campaign to save his career.

But the people had already chosen their side. The town was split, divided down the middle like a cracked sidewalk. Those who voted against the sheriff were Vito's people — crooks, hustlers, and anyone with their hands dirty from playing in the city's underbelly. Voting against the sheriff was a vote to keep the city in the stranglehold of corruption, and the battle lines were drawn.

The sheriff had a lot to prove. He was out here hustling just as hard as any dope boy on the corner, pushing his agenda to clean up the streets. But what nobody said out loud was that these were the same streets he helped poison with the very drugs he was now trying to clean up. His past was catching up to him, and it was ugly.

Then came Tropical Storm Betty, rolling in like an uninvited guest with a nasty attitude. The rain came down in sheets, drowning the city in chaos. Streets turned into rivers, schools were closed, and businesses were nearly underwater. The city looked like it was being baptized in dirty water, and no one was prepared. But in the midst of the storm's wrath, the corruption only grew bolder. Betty brought floods of water, but it also brought a flood of lies.

City officials saw the chaos as an opportunity, using the storm's devastation to cover up their dirty deeds. The money meant for recovery and aid disappeared quicker than the floodwaters. Contracts went to friends, kickbacks were made, and the city bled out money faster than anyone could keep track. But Betty had washed away more than just debris — it was uncovering the truth. Lies were being swept away, leaving behind a bare, uncomfortable reality.

Election day felt like a trial, a sentencing not just for the sheriff but for the entire city of Columbia County. The ballots were more than votes; they were a declaration of what kind of city Lake City was going to be. Would they stay stuck in the mud of corruption, or would they finally find a way to climb out?

As the rain poured down, the sheriff sat at his campaign headquarters, sweating bullets despite the chill of the storm. He knew this wasn't just about winning an election — it was about survival. And as the votes rolled in, it became clear that Lake City was at a crossroads. The truth had finally surfaced, bobbing like debris in the flood, and it was up to the people to decide whether they'd swim or sink.