“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 informedme 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.”
