Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Pennsylvania
I woke up alone, the sheets beside me no longer holding the warmth of Gideon’s presence.
I didn’t hear voices or sounds, so I knew he wasn’t in the bedroom.
I decided to get up, relieve my bladder, brush my teeth, and dress.
I was in boxers and a T-shirt so before I went downstairs, I made a stop in my room to put on some jeans.
The entire house felt different without the kids, Rita, and Dean. There was a lightness when they were here, flittering laughter would echo through the enormous space. Now, it was supercharged, and voices were deep, serious, strategic.
I descended the stairs, my gaze surveying the house. There had to be about ten men scattered about. Gideon was at the dining room table, Danny and Alex with him, so I made my way there.
“Morning.” I smiled.
Danny and Alex returned the greeting, and Gideon grinned at me.
“Sleep well?”
“I did.” I hooked my thumb behind me. “I’m going to get coffee, want any?”
“Sure, there are also some croissants and Danishes that one of my guys brought over.”
“Thanks.”
I moved into the kitchen; with the open plan, I could see and hear everything. The dining table had papers everywhere, laptops, and a map. Who even used maps anymore? I was sure there was a reason behind it.
“We can get five guys at every location. We time it and strike at the same time—it’ll be pandemonium for Lorcan.” Alex was marking up the map. Huh, I guess that’s why it’s there.
“Are we sure he won’t see this coming?” Some guy, I thought his name was Lyle, interjected.
“Lorcan is expecting me to go directly for him, to do what I did at Slice. He likely wouldn’t expect a mass attack on his properties and businesses at the same time, and in such an old-school way.”
I brought Gideon’s coffee to him and sat in one of the vacant seats. “Are you, like, tossing Molotovs in windows or something?”
Gideon smirked. “Actually, yes, among other things.”
I nodded and sipped my coffee. “Weren’t Molotovs what he used to burn down your brother’s house?”
Gideon sat back, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Kind of kismet, no?”
“He probably wouldn’t think you’d do something he would, so it’s pretty smart.”
“We strike tonight at eight; everyone knows their jobs.” Alex closed one of the laptops and tucked it under his arm. “Sir, you’ll stay here tonight and that way, if the cops he’s paid off try to pin it on you, you have an alibi.” He motioned to me.
“I want you all checking in before and right after. We won’t have head counts right away, but the numbers will trickle in. The likelihood of Lorcan being at any of these locations is slim, but it’ll cripple him further, and hopefully he’ll poke his head out enough that we can get him.”
“What about the mercs?” I asked, and everyone in the room looked at me. “What if he hires them again, or whoever he gave the job to?”
“I’ve made a lot of calls, found out he did, in fact, hire mercenaries—you were right. I couldn’t get much information other than how to contact them, which I have. I’m waiting for them to return my call.”
I snorted. “You’re going to counter any offer Lorcan makes in the future to guarantee your safety.”
He touched the side of his nose. “Bingo. But make no mistake. Those mercs killed my guys, they will be dealt with in due time. But Lorcan is the main problem right now, and I will not rest until he’s six feet under with his brother.”
An hour or so later everyone filtered out, dealing with last-minute things prior to the hit tonight. Once everyone was gone the house was silent, the absence of the kids noticeable.
“It’s eerie.”
“What is?” Gideon asked as he wrapped his arms around me from behind. I was making us some lunch—sandwiches—and he was helpfully supervising.
“The house. Without the kids.”
He grunted. “Yeah, it’s awful, isn’t it?”
I cut his sandwich into triangles, because it was the right way, and spun in his arms with the plate.
“I mean, yeah, but there are advantages.”
He took his food and moved to the breakfast bar; I joined him. “Are there, now?”
“Mmhmm.” I bit into my turkey and cheese, keeping eye contact with him.
He swallowed his morsel and hummed. “What advantages would those be?”
I wiped my mouth and shrugged. “I mean…” I patted the bar. “This is sturdy.” I turned in my seat and faced the dining table. “Bet that’s tough.”
He quirked a brow. “For what, Pennsylvania?”
Gah. I loved it every time he said my full name. “I say after we eat lunch, you give me a good, deep dicking on as many surfaces in this house as you can.”
His neck arched and an unfiltered, glorious laugh fell from his mouth. “You’re on.”
We ate our food much faster than was probably healthy. I’d just swallowed the last of my soda and Gideon was hauling me out of the chair, bending me over the dining table, and tearing my pants down.
He pulled a packet of lube and a condom from his pocket, and I cackled. “A bit presumptuous, weren’t you?”
He leaned closer, his front pressing against my back, his lips right near my ear. “Oh, Penn, if you hadn’t suggested this, I was gonna do it anyway.”
Fucking hell. Gideon absolutely fucked me there, in the kitchen, in the living room, and in the shower while we cleaned up. I was sure if I felt pain, I’d be very fucking sore. He informed me that my hole was red and puffy, so he put an ointment on it. It was a tender gesture.
We were eating dinner together at the dining table, after thoroughly cleaning it, when his phone vibrated across the wood. His eyes locked with mine.
Not breaking eye contact with me, he answered and put the phone on speaker.
“Yeah.”
“Teams are in position. Sixty-second countdown, sir.” I recognized Alex’s voice.
Gideon was staring at me—for what, I didn’t know. Did he think I was going to tell him not to do it? That I thought he was some vicious creature for defending his family? He wouldn’t find that in my eyes. I smiled, reached across the small distance between us, and squeezed his hand.
His shoulders relaxed. Huh. So my approval means something to him…maybe a lot.
“Proceed.” He then disconnected the call and released a heavy breath.
Neither of us said anything. We finished our spaghetti, drank some delicious wine, and moved to the living room to wait for the final call.
It took a total of fifteen minutes, which was a testament to how good Gideon’s men were.
“It’s done, sir.”
“Very well. Disperse.” He tossed his phone onto the coffee table and turned to me. “Now we see if this was the greatest takedown or the worst.”
I cupped his cheek, leaned in, and kissed him. “It was necessary, and hopefully the beginning of the end for Lorcan.”
He sighed and rested his head on my shoulder. We stayed like that for a long time, ending the night in bed wrapped around each other.