“Why are you doing this? I didn’t do anything.”
“I need a mallet,” I ordered Toni, but Danny handed it to me. I was still upset with him, but there was something in his eyes. He knew Elijah deserved this, knew that this was for Matteo and Owen.
“Want me to hold the stake in place? He’s wiggling.”
“Good idea.”
“Wait!” Elijah yelled.
Danny and I turned to him. “Something to say?”
He sighed. “It didn’t matter.”
I leaned closer. “Say again.”
He glared at me. “I said it didn’t matter. Kids or none.”
I wanted to stab him in the heart right then and there, but I needed more from him. “Good, next question.”
“No more.”
“Oh, there’s more, Elijah. How painful this process is lies solely in your hands.”
He gritted his teeth. “I don’t know everything. What if I don’t really know something?”
I smirked. That was the same thing Nathanial had said. “Let’s cross that bridge if we get to it. Next question. Why did Benito wait two years to come at me? Why not strike while I was rebuilding?”
Judging by the expression on Elijah’s face, he had the answer to that question but wasn’t going to admit to it easily.
“Okay.” I nodded and looked at Danny. “Hold the stake.”
It took a lot for Elijah to crack but in the end, I got my answers, and Elijah released his last breath knowing his boss would be joining him soon enough.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Penn
Gideon didn’t return homefrom dealing with Elijah until three in the morning. I heard him trying to be quiet but failing miserably. He went straight into the en suite and a moment later, the shower turned on. I knew times like this he likely wanted to decompress, so I left him to it.
My lids drooped, but I became alert as soon as the bathroom door opened. I could tell he still thought I was asleep because he slipped into bed so gingerly.
I rolled over and faced him. “You okay?”
“You’re awake?”
“No, this is me sleep-talking.”
He snorted. “So much sass. Yeah, I’m okay. Processing everything.”
It was too late or early depending on how you looked at it. Gideon would tell me everything Elijah had confessed to when he was ready. He moved to his back and patted his chest, his silent signal that he wanted my head there. I obliged, of course, and he immediately wrapped his arms around me.
We lay in silence, and I focused on the sound of his heartbeat against my ear. Eventually, I fell asleep again and by the time I woke up in the morning, I was alone. I wondered if Gideon had gotten any rest at all.
I showered and got ready for the day. It was the weekend but Olivia still had piano lessons. Jennifer would be here in half an hour. When I got downstairs, Gideon was at the table with Owen and Olivia.
“Good morning,” I said as I made my way to the kitchen for coffee.
“Morning, there are pancakes. I kept them warm.” Gideon smiled.
