Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
Penn
The twins would be home in about half an hour, so Gideon and I made something to eat quickly since they would have already eaten. We were sitting in the living room finishing up when Gideon’s phone vibrated.
“Alex,” he said by way of answering. “What?” He put the phone on speaker.
“We ran into a problem.”
“What kind of problem?” I sat and listened while Gideon talked to Alex.
“We were leaving the restaurant, and about four guys approached us. I had enough people with me to defuse it, but they were shouting some horrible things about you. Olivia started crying, which set Mila off, and she scratched one of the guys across the face. Owen got scared, which pissed her off even more…it was a mess. Cops were called, and we’re currently outside the restaurant.
Police won’t let us leave. Mila’s in the back of a cruiser because the man she assaulted wants to press charges. ”
I was watching Gideon; he pinched the bridge of his nose before he stood. “I’m on my way. Say nothing.”
“And Mila?”
“Are they sending her to the station?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll send Charles to represent her, and of course we’ll get there as soon as we can.”
“Okay, I’ll try to let her know. She was a hellcat, Gid.”
“She protected the kids—she’s a keeper. I’ll be there soon.”
I was already up and getting my shoes on.
If Gideon thought he was going alone, he was insane.
He didn’t argue when I followed him. Danny was with us and only a couple of other guys, and since there were a bunch of security at the restaurant, bringing a full entourage could come off as aggressive to the police.
It only took us ten minutes to get there.
Mila and Alex had taken the twins to their favorite diner.
Before I got out of the car I saw Alex with Olivia in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder and her eyes bloodshot.
The door to the car in front of him was open, and I could see Owen’s legs swinging back and forth.
Gideon got out and moved fast toward the twins. Olivia saw him first.
“Daddy!”
Alex turned and, upon seeing Gideon, he put her down and she ran right into his arms.
“Hey, baby girl, it’s okay, you’re okay.” She was crying again.
“Da…Daddy, they said mean things about you.”
I gently patted her on the shoulder but went to where Owen was. His eyes were downcast, and he was playing with a loose thread on his pants.
“Hi, bud.”
He glanced at me but returned his attention to his thread.
“Scary night?”
He shrugged.
“What did you have for dinner?”
“Nuggets, fries, chocolate milkshake.”
I nodded. “Classic.” I placed my hand on top of his, stopping his fidgeting. “Look at me, Owen.” He did and I could see the fear, sadness, and even a hint of anger in them. “It’s gonna be okay.”
“They said bad things, Penny.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t. You weren’t there.”
I moved even closer until I blocked out everything behind me and all he could focus on was me.
“Wanna tell me about it?”
He shook his head. “They said bad words.”
I smirked. “How about without the bad words?”
“They said my dad was a killer. He hurt people and that Livy and I should be taken away from him.”
Those motherfuckers. “Owen, nobody is going to take you away from your dad. He won’t let that happen. I won’t either. You believe me?”
He didn’t answer right away, which upset me. “Yeah.” His voice was small.
“Your dad loves you.” I made sure Owen was making eye contact with me. “Do you think what those guys said was true?”
“I know my dad does bad guy things, Penny. I’m not stupid.”
“But do you think he’s a bad man?”
He blinked. “Not unless he has to be.”
Owen was insanely smart. Add to that, observant, and not a typical seven-year-old boy, and I could see how with a brain like his, he’d dominate the world someday.
Olivia was smart too, but Owen, he saw things others didn’t, and it didn’t matter if you didn’t want him to know—he’d figure it out regardless.
“Let me see if I can get you guys home. Sit tight.”
I walked to where Gideon was. He was still holding Olivia, who looked like she was ready to fall asleep.
“How about I get the twins home?”
Gideon peered over my shoulder. “How’s Owen?”
“Smarter than any seven-year-old boy I ever knew.”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
I moved to a police officer and told them I was taking the twins home.
“We need their statement.”
I snorted. “No, you don’t. They’re seven. You try and talk to them, and you won’t like how that ends.”
The officer stepped closer. “Are you threatening me?”
“I am if you think I’m going to let you traumatize those kids.”
“Garrett, let him take the kids home.” We both turned, and the chief was there. “We don’t question little kids. We have enough eyewitnesses.” He nodded at me. “Go ahead, take them home.”
With one more glare at Officer Garrett, I spun on my heels and gathered the children. Danny and a few other guys accompanied us home while Gideon stayed behind with the rest of his security to clean up this mess.
By the time we pulled up to the house, the twins were asleep.
“Want help?” Danny asked.
“Yeah, you get Livy. I’ll carry Owen.”
Together we got them into their bedrooms and comfortable so they would be able to rest.
I went downstairs and decided to grab a beer and turn on the news. Local because who else would pick up a story about a tussle at a diner? Sure enough, there it was. I popped open the beer, took a sip, and listened.
“I’m being told four men approached Gideon Hendrix’s children tonight, screaming at them.
One eyewitness informed me that they were calling their father a murderer, and that he was killing this town with all the crime he brought in.
Now, Gideon Hendrix is a huge figure in Northchester and this state.
He’s brought jobs, safety, and stability.
However, he has been linked to organized crime, and only two years ago there was a lot of buzz that he was behind the disappearance of known mafia boss Lorcan Anders. ”
So, Benito was getting what he wanted, making Gideon look bad. I was sure that by morning he’d be in front of the cameras preaching how he’d clean up the streets starting with Gideon.
“Already on the news, huh?” Danny sat beside me.
“Mmhmm. Just like Benito wanted. This, of course, following the fight in the store that is still trending.”
“This piece of shit has got to go.”
I nodded. “Benito keeps coming at the kids.”
“They’re Gideon’s only weakness, besides you. And you are all Benito’s biggest targets, which was proved this week.”
I sighed and placed my beer on the table. “Something’s gotta be done.”
“And it will be.” We turned to the sound of Gideon’s voice.
“How’s Alex?”
He walked over to us and lifted my beer to his lips. After a long swallow he answered, “He went to the station. Charles is there too. We’ll get her out. I told him to bring her here. I wanted to thank her, but Olivia was worried when she saw the cops put her into the cruiser.”
“Did she really react like that because of some words?”
He shook his head. “According to Alex, one of the guys advanced and she didn’t wait to see what he intended, she slashed him right across the face with her nails.”
I chuckled. “Vicious.”
“Yes, she is…and I love it.”