Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Gideon
The day of Victor Horn’s resignation speech was here. I wouldn’t be attending it personally as it would attract too much attention. I sent Toni and Raff in my place and since it was in front of the State Capitol Building, they’d blend in well enough with the crowd.
I was currently sitting on the couch in the living area with Penn and watching it on television. It was the twins’ last day of school before summer break, and I’d promised them ice cream, so this conference had better hurry the fuck up.
“Here we go,” Penn grumbled as we saw Victor take to the podium, his wife Fiona beside him.
“Good afternoon,” Victor began. “I want to start off by telling you all how much I have loved being the governor of this great state. It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve each and every one of you. As you know, the elections will be in November, but I will no longer be on the ticket.”
There was some buzzing from the press, but they quieted quickly.
“Effective immediately, I am resigning from my position as your governor and leaving you all in the capable hands of Solange Herbert.” He gestured to his right where she stood stoically.
“I believe in Solange as she has believed in me, and I feel she will do an outstanding job as your governor. I hope come November you will give her the same love as you have bestowed upon me all these years.” He smiled sadly at the audience.
“I’m sure you all want to know why.” He glanced at Fiona, who squeezed his arm.
“I’m getting up in years and have had some health problems.” The health part wasn’t true.
“Fee and I long for warmer weather and to spend the rest of our days in peace. I wanted to give you all the chance to see what Solange Herbert could do for you before the election and felt it best to step down and give her that time.”
“Oh, that was a clever explanation,” Penn said.
“I thank you all once more for trusting me in this office and for your support through the years. I wish this great state all the best, and believe me when I say you will get that with Solange at the helm.”
I lowered the volume as the press began spewing questions, and faced Penn. “Now we see if Solange can bring in the votes.”
“Benito doesn’t seem to think she can, otherwise why wouldn’t he threaten her too?”
“It would look suspicious if both the governor and lieutenant governor resigned, would it not?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I suppose.”
The sound of the door opening meant the twins were home. I’d wanted to watch this press conference, so Danny had offered to go grab them.
“Vacation!” Olivia shouted as she ran into the living room, dropped her bag, and jumped on top of me and Penn.
I oofed while Penn simply chuckled. “Excited?” he asked.
“Yes, I want to do so many things.”
Of course she did. I turned and watched a more sedate Owen enter. He placed his bag by the stairs, then came over to us and calmly sat beside me.
“Hey, buddy. Happy school’s over?”
He shrugged. “I like school.”
“You have art camp in a couple of weeks; I’m sure that’ll be amazing.” Penn ruffled his hair.
“Yeah.” It had been hard to find a camp that wasn’t a sleepover one. While Owen really wanted to try camp, he panicked at the thought of not sleeping at home. Rita had found one, and the drive was an hour each way, but he was worth it.
“How about that ice cream?” I clapped my hands and stood.
“Yay!” Olivia shouted while Owen nodded.
There was a local ice cream shop nearby that we loved to frequent. It had limited seating, but you could sit outside under the umbrellas and people-watch, which was Owen’s favorite part.
Danny in tow, we all headed out. It was a bit crowded, likely because other parents had come up with the same idea as I had.
“Penn, why don’t you and Owen go see about finding us a table?”
Owen didn’t like crowds and was attached to Penn like Velcro. “Sure, what ice cream do you want?” Penn asked Owen.
“Soft vanilla, rainbow sprinkles.”
I smiled at him. “You got it. What about you?” I looked at Penn.
He hummed. “I’ll just have a chocolate shake.”
“Okay.”
I watched as the two of them moved outside. I didn’t know how, but I was sure Penn was going to find a table.
I got the four of us, and Danny, ice cream and joined Penn and Owen outside. As predicted, they’d found a nice-sized table we could all sit at.
Olivia hummed happily around her cone of strawberry ice cream with chocolate sprinkles. We were all silent as we indulged. I sat back and looked along the street. It was quiet minus the kids all happily chattering, shaking off the school year and ready to embrace the memories summer held.
“Good?” I looked at Livy and Owen. They nodded, too busy devouring their sweet treats.
“Isn’t that Monica Calvern?” Danny jutted his chin, and I turned in the direction he was glaring.
Sure enough, across the street was Benito’s wife, entering a salon.
“What is she doing in Northchester?” As far as I knew, they didn’t live in this town.
“Not sure.” Danny already had his phone out. “I’m on it.” He pressed the phone to his ear and got up, likely to find somewhere quiet.
“An awful lot of coincidences happening, if you ask me,” I mumbled under my breath with a smile, not wanting to upset the twins.
Penn was squinting at the salon, and I could practically see the wheels turning in his brain. He hadn’t thought there was anything to worry about; I wondered if he’d changed his tune.
Danny returned a few minutes later with an update. “Got off the phone with Toni. He informed me that Benito Calvern is in the market for a home in Northchester, and get this—he’s put an offer in on the old Marion Estate.”
My eyes flared. “That’s on my street.” I looked at Penn. “Still think there’s nothing to worry about?”
He didn’t answer me, and he didn’t have to—judging by the expression on his face, he saw what was happening. Benito Calvern was moving in. His time sitting quietly was over, and I had a very strong feeling that he was looking at dismantling my power and taking it all for himself.
Well, I’d teach him what happened to people who tried to challenge me and if needed, I’d bury him right next to Lorcan Anders.