“And what makes you think I’ll let you just walk away?” I glared at the man, but he just smiled softly.
“Because even though you’re what many would consider a bad guy, you’re also a fair one. You’d never hurt Fee to get me to do what you want. Innocents aren’t a target for you. It’s why I never minded working for or with you. Is there illegal activity happening in this state? Yes. But it doesn’t touch kids, and you protect us and our families.”
“If you know I’d protect your family, why don’t you believe I can’t keep you and Fee alive?”
He swallowed thebruschetta. “This is delicious, by the way.” He wiped his mouth. “If I stay on the ticket and win, they’ll kill me. I believe them and I can’t risk it, Gideon.”
I fisted my hands under the table. I wanted to threaten Victor with the same violence that was making him run from his seat as governor, but he was right. Fee wasn’t part of this, and I would never harm her like this asshole would. I could tell by Victor’s resolve that he didn’t want to call the bluff of whomever this was.
“Solange is being encouraged to call in every favor and do whatever she can to win the election. I’m not happy, Victor. But I’ll allow you to resign on a couple of conditions.”
“Okay.”
“You make the same calls for Solange, get your people to help her beat Benito.”
“I can do that. What’s the other thing?”
“After you formally resign, you pack up and get the hell out of my state, and never return.” I couldn’t threaten him with death, but banishment I absolutely could. He had family here and now he’d never be able to visit.
He stared at me for a beat, sadness in his gaze. “Okay, Gideon, I understand.”
Throughout the rest of the dinner, we discussed all the people Victor needed to reach out to after he’d resign and exactly what he’d say in his speech. When we said our good-byes, I hated how much this hadn’t gone my way.
“Hey.” Penn took my hand in his in the back seat of the car on the way home. “It’s gonna be fine. It’s not ideal, but Victor is just one person in a long line of people who make Northchester and this state run like the machine you want it, too.”
“I know, but one broken cog can take the whole thing down.”
He pressed a kiss to my hand. “Nah, we’ll just duct tape that bitch.”
I laughed. “Duct tape, huh?”
He nodded and moved closer. “I know what will cheer you up.”
“Not in front of Danny’s and Alex’s impressionable eyes.”
Danny snorted and Alex grimaced.
Penn brought his mouth to my ear, his breath fanning over my skin and making goose bumps break out. “The kids are sleeping at Dean and Rita’s tonight; that means we have the house to ourselves. Want to see how many rooms you can fuck me in before my legs turn to jelly?”
I faced him and answered by way of sucking his tongue into my mouth. He chuckled but didn’t break away. Not even once the car stopped at the house. Not even as we walked, awkwardly, into the foyer. Penn was determined to keep me distracted for a few hours, and I’d happily let him.
CHAPTER SIX
Penn
“A warning would have been nice,”Rita growled at us as Gideon and I arrived to pick up the twins.
“A warning about what?” Gideon was genuinely confused, but I had some idea.
“Olivia starting piano lessons.” She stood akimbo.
“Oh, yeah.” Gideon smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t think to tell you.”
She inched closer. “I wish you would have so I could have had Dean lock the music room.”
I cackled. “Rita, are you saying princess Olivia is…bad?” I pressed a hand to my chest. “Gideon, are you hearing this?”
He shook his head and sighed. “I’m disappointed in you, Rita.”
