Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Penn
On our way home, we met Gideon’s journalist friend at a seedy roadside diner.
We passed it off, obtaining the promise that it would hit airwaves by the following day.
Then we picked up the twins, and Gideon was in such a good mood that he stopped for ice cream—who cared that it was almost November? —and we stopped at the park.
“Halloween is in two days!” Owen gave me a sticky grin.
“It is, how excited are you?”
“I can’t wait.”
“Me either!” Olivia shouted.
What a Halloween surprise it would be for Benito…a horror, really. Very festive.
We stayed at the park for about an hour even though it was a little chilly. The day was so mundane, so domestic.
After Monica had recorded her video, which was incredibly damning and no doubt would end his campaign, a lightness filled the air. She’d relaxed as if she’d been dying to tell her story for so long.
While there was an unpredictable cloud lingering above our heads as to what Benito would do, Gideon’s smile could fool anyone.
We were sitting in the living room, the twins nestled in their beds, when his cell phone buzzed with an incoming text. I watched his face as he read it, his grin only getting bigger.
“What?”
“The story will break first thing in the morning, and you know every news station will be reporting on it afterward.”
I squeezed his leg. “Are you going to tell Solange?”
“No, I’m telling nobody who doesn’t already know. Her reaction to this needs to be organic. She’s not stupid and will likely put the pieces together on her own, but I’d rather not give her anything right now.”
I hummed. That made sense. I leaned my head against the pillow on the couch and stared at my beautiful man. So dangerous, so lethal, and yet, he had this moral compass he tended to follow. I was fucking lucky to have Gideon Hendrix’s love.
“What are you looking at?” He reached over and gently squeezed my chin, beckoning me closer.
“Just thinking how lucky I am.”
His gaze fell to my lips. “I think that every day.”
He tugged me closer and pressed his lips to mine, his tongue delving into my mouth, drinking my breath, my heart, my soul.
“Bed,” he growled and I pulled away, quickly racing up the stairs.
I chuckled when I heard him on my heels, and I’d just made it into the bedroom as his arms wrapped around me and we tumbled onto the mattress.
He kissed every inch of skin as he removed my clothes. His fingers caressed, his tongue tasted. I arched off the bed as he engulfed my cock and once more as he impaled me on his. We made love, all parts of our bodies touching. Even in sleep, we were wrapped in each other.
My dreams were quiet and peaceful…perhaps the calm before the storm.
The television was on, we had hot coffee in hand, the kids were occupied, and the news just flashed a “Breaking News” banner across the screen. Gideon sat beside me as a female anchor spoke.
“Good morning everyone, and thank you for joining us today. I’m Ava Summers, and this is Morning Wake Up Call.
We start our program with some breaking news.
Monica Calvern, wife of candidate for governor, Benito Calvern, has come forward with some serious claims toward her husband.
JNN has obtained a video, made by Mrs. Calvern.
She wanted it out in the world, and we must warn you, some of the subject matter is disturbing. ”
A moment later, Monica Calvern appeared on the screen, and I once again listened to her harrowing story.
“Hello, my name is Monica Calvern. Many know me from my years as a model, others as the wife of Benito Calvern. I sit before you as a woman, mother, wife, and daughter. It’s important you all understand I am not being held against my will or coerced into making this video.
As a matter of fact, the reason I am able to make this video is because friends were able to get me and my children to safety and provide protection.
I have no doubt once this news comes to light, my husband will act horribly and try to find me.
I can’t let that happen. I left—not because I simply wanted a new life, but because if I didn’t, I believed he’d kill me and hurt my children. ”
She paused to take a sip of water. When she continued, it was as if someone had lit a fuse and, it was only a matter of time before it blew and all of Benito’s dreams with it.
Monica spoke of the physical and emotional abuse she’d faced through the years that had begun to trickle over to Lucia and Briar. I listened as she explained how he used his influence to lock her out of her own money, and made it that if she ever tried to leave, he’d kill her.
The cherry on top of this fucked-up sundae was the moment she reached beside her and lifted a file. Gideon and I’d had no idea what was in it until she’d laid them out on the ottoman in front of her.
One after another, photos of the abuse Benito had caused through the years. Monica had documented all of it. It was easy to see that she’d taken them from her home, likely because there was no way Benito would have allowed her to go to the hospital where there would be a record of any of this.
By the time the video ended, the anchors were visibly shocked, even somewhat speechless. I wasn’t sure if they’d had a chance to watch it before it aired, but even me watching it, having been there, left me with so much rage. I wanted to hunt Benito down and beat the living shit out of him.
Ava Summers cleared her throat and spoke. “We have no idea what any of this will mean for Benito Calvern’s election prospects or if charges will be filed. We will update you when we have more.”
Gideon reached for the remote and shut the television off. “Now, we wait.”
“Wait for what?”
He shrugged. “That part I don’t know, but I’m prepared for anything.”
“Are you?”
He looked over at me. “There’s no way Benito will recover from this. He will act on it—of that, I’m certain.”
“Do you think he’ll be arrested?”
He shook his head. “I doubt it. But at some point, Benito will lift his head, and I will take the shot. He doesn’t live at the end of this. He’s far too dangerous. He’ll hunt Monica and the kids down forever, and won’t be satisfied until I’m dead…and you. I won’t let that happen.”
I pressed a kiss to his lips. “We won’t let that happen.”
He smiled. “Right. We.”