She sniffed and nodded. “I know. I’m just terrified.”
“I know. When does he return from his fishing trip?”
“Sunday.”
“That gives us time. You can’t pack your life away, but I will get you everything you need to live and money, you’ll have your life back. Clothes for you and the kids, but here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to put them in garbage bags.”
She cocked her head. “What, why?”
“You’re going to tell your security they are donation bags. Rita, my sister-in-law, has specific bins that are used for her nonprofit. You’re going to drop the clothes there tomorrow—I’ll give you the address to one. That way if one of Benito’s men insist on going with you, it won’t be suspicious.”
She bit her lip. “That’s really smart.”
“There’s more, and it’s the hardest part in all of this.”
“The getting out?”
“Yeah.”
She sighed. “Lay it on me.”
She was a brave woman; I’d give her that much. “You’re going to take Briar and Lucia out to dinner tomorrow night after they get home. Do you know Harold’s Steakhouse?”
“Yeah, I went there a couple of times.”
“Okay. I know the owner. I don’t tend to eat there often, so it won’t raise any red flags. Just get there, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
“How?”
“I can distract your security. When I do, you and the kids are going to go out the back door, where an SUV will be waiting for you. Just get in the vehicle; that’s it.”
She chuckled nervously. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not,” Mila cut in. “What you’re doing is dangerous but so brave. You’re a great mother, Monica.”
“Mila’s right. I’d have helped you even if I didn’t want to take your husband down.”
She smirked. “You’re nothing like how he paints you.”
“Make no mistake, Monica, I’m a dangerous man. I’m a criminal; he’s not wrong about that. But Northchester, this state, everything around me, I value greatly and will protect it.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hendrix.”
“You can call me Gideon.”
She nodded. “Okay, so tonight I can start packing. The guards don’t come into the house.”
“Are there cameras?”
“Yeah, but like you said, put the things in garbage bags. It’ll look like I’m just getting donation bags together.”
“Right. One more thing. Does Benito know who Matteo’s parents are?”
She shrugged. “I doubt it. He doesn’t ask who Briar’s friends are—he said to me once that Briar would likely never have any friends.”
“For once, I’m glad he’d thought something so cruel.”
I gave Monica a number to a burner phone. If anyone asked, she’d tell them it was Angela’s number. I also told her which donation bin location to bring the clothes to. It was planned. We just had to hope that it would go off without a hitch. As soon as Monica and her kids were safe, she’d make the video, cataloging everything Benito had ever done to her and the children.
