Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Pennsylvania
Gideon was tense for the next couple of days. Every time Danny would come into the house with an update on the commissioner, it was never good. Either Lorcan was paying him a lot, or he was just loyal to the asshole.
Paul was heading a group of men in the search for Lorcan, but he was well and truly hidden. As each day passed, it was becoming obvious that the best course of action would be me going to the police station and pointing the finger at Anders.
“Bainer’s right—the commissioner has a hard-on for getting you locked up, but he’s doing everything he can to stop that.” Danny was reporting to Gideon for the second time today.
“Eventually, he will simply call you in, Gideon, and then you’ll be out in the open. Why not beat him to it?” I offered only to get glared at. “You promised, and this is all we’ve got right now. You’ve devastated his businesses, he’s hiding. Force him out and end this.”
“Boss, I agree with Penn on this. The longer he’s hidden, the more probable it is that he’ll rebuild.”
Gideon squeezed his eyes tightly, his jaw clenching. “It’s dangerous.”
“So is doing nothing,” I argued.
Gideon’s hands slammed against the couch on either side of him. I knew he wasn’t angry at me or Danny but upset that it’d come to this.
“Fine, we all go and—”
“No,” I interjected.
“Penn, you’re not going to the police station on your own.”
I slid closer to Gideon, and took his clenched fist in my hand. “How do you think it’s going to look if you or any of the guys who work for you stroll into the station with me? The commissioner will see right through it if he’s there, or anyone loyal to Lorcan’s side will jump on that.”
“You can’t be unprotected for the same reason you don’t want me showing my face right now.”
It was a valid concern and perhaps if I compromised, he’d relax. “What if two of your guys drive me there and stay outside? They can’t go in with me, though. Then when I’m done, I’ll text them, and they’ll make sure I get out safely?”
He hated every part of this. I saw it in his eyes, felt it in the way he squeezed my hand. I glanced at Danny, who took the hint and left us alone.
“Gid?”
“I hate this, Penn. I feel out of control, and I don’t like it.”
Without a second thought, I swung my leg around and straddled him. When my butt hit his lap, he immediately pulled me infinitely closer.
“It will be fine.”
“You don’t know that.”
I turned my head and pressed my lips to the side of his neck. “Fair, I don’t know. But if this could make Lorcan Anders go away, it’s the right thing to do and you know it.” I lifted up enough to peer into his dark eyes. “Your kids would be able to come home, Gid.”
He sighed and rested his forehead against mine. “Can we wait until tomorrow morning?”
Personally, I thought waiting even another minute was foolish, but he was trying to find control, so I’d give this to him. “Sure.”
Morning came and I woke, wrapped in Gideon’s arms. The night before, he’d taken me into the shower and washed every inch of my skin, so sweetly. The reverent way he’d looked at me had brought tears to my eyes.
Gideon Hendrix was a dangerous man; there was no doubt about that. If you crossed him, he’d destroy not just you but the memory of your existence. And yet, he’d been on his knees for me. So breathtaking…so powerful.
When we’d gotten to bed, I’d thought we’d fuck but he’d covered my body with his, blanketing me, his head pressed to my chest, and that was how we’d fallen asleep.
We dressed in silence, ate in silence…it was fucking quiet. I moved to leave, but he stopped me.
“You go in, make your statement, and get the hell out of there.”
“I will, Gid.”
“Maybe I should have my lawyer meet you there.”
I chuckled. “Gideon Hendrix’s lawyer? That would invite trouble.”
His nostrils flared. “If you get into a situation, I’m sending my lawyer over. I don’t give a fuck what it looks like.”
“Okay.”
He nodded curtly, leaned in, and kissed me until it felt like my lungs would give out. Alex was staying behind with Gideon, and Danny and Raff were taking me to the station.
I’d rehearsed what I was going to say, so by the time I’d arrived, I was ready to help take this son of a bitch down.
“We’ll be right here. Text before you come out,” Danny said. I nodded and got out of the car.
The station wasn’t busy, and when I walked up to the counter, the female officer looked up and smiled. “Good morning, what can I do for you?”
“Morning, my name is Pennsylvania Garrand. I was hoping to speak with Chief Bainer.”
“The chief’s a busy man, could I ask what this is in regard to?”
I bit my tongue, trying to play off the nervous habits people had. “I’d rather not say in public.” I peered over my shoulder to where two other people were in the sitting area. “It’s taken me a while to come forward as is.”
She pursed her lips and nodded. “Chief Bainer isn’t here right now; he’ll be back in an hour. But I will have a detective come out.”
Fucking hell. “Look, Officer Reed, I…I don’t know who to trust. I was told to talk to the chief only with the information I had.”
“Like I said, he won’t be here for an hour. Do you want to wait?”
That certainly wasn’t ideal—getting in and out was the name of the game, but what choice did I have? I wasn’t sure what detectives were on what side of this war.
“I guess I’ll wait.”
She motioned to the sitting area. I took the chair furthest from anyone and texted the group chat Danny and Gideon were in with me to let them know what the officer had told me.
Absolutely not. Get out of there. Of course, that was Gideon’s response.
Danny stayed silent.
I gave her my name. If I walk out, she’ll either look me up or tell a detective. I’m fine, really.
I waited a moment and saw Gideon typing. Then the door opened and a man stepped out.
“Mr. Garrand?”
Who was this guy? “Uh, yeah.”
He was all teeth, walked up to me, and held out his hand.
I stood and took it in a handshake. “I’m Detective Tolland.
I know you wanted to speak with the chief but Officer Reed there, she messaged him you were here, and he asked me to take whatever statement you had.
He is running behind—it’ll be longer than an hour. ”
I eyed the detective and glanced at Officer Reed, who smiled at me. If I refused, that was going to appear super suspicious.
“Okay, I guess if the chief vouched for you.” I grinned and glanced at my phone with Gideon’s message.
Don’t care. Get out.
“Great, right this way.”
As I followed the detective, I shot a message off telling them what was happening, gave them the detective’s name and once it was sent, slipped the phone into my pocket.
“Now, Officer Reed said this appeared to be something that required secrecy?” The detective stopped moving and regarded me.
“Yeah, for me mostly, my protection.”
He hummed. “Okay, I think doing this at my desk won’t work. Are you okay if we do it in an interrogation room? No cuffs.” He laughed.
“That’s fine.”
I wasn’t sure it was, in fact, fine and judging by my phone vibrating in my pocket, I knew Gideon wasn’t happy.
“Coffee, water, anything to drink?” The detective sat across from me, placed a recorder on the table, as well as a pad and pen.
“Not right now.”
He nodded. “Okay, Mr. Garrand, let’s begin.”