He didn’t answer me right away, and he didn’t push me off him. After a beat he leaned in, and it wasn’t until his lips met mine that my heart calmed.
“Okay, Gideon,” he whispered between kisses. “I’ll stay.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Pennsylvania
The next coupleof days everything had been quiet, both inside the house and outside. I knew Gideon was readying for something to happen, but it was actually nice right now. He was called away to talk with his men, but he spent a lot of time with his family—more than I’d thought a mafia boss would…and yeah, I knew he didn’t like the label of “mafia,” but what else could I refer to him as?
One evening after dinner, Gideon excused himself to take a call. The twins and I lounged on one of the huge sofas, Matteo hopping onto a different sofa. Rita joined her son, and Dean sat beside Olivia.
“What are we watching?” Dean pulled up the menu.
“It’s Owen’s turn to pick.” Matteo said.
Dean listed off a few movies, and as soon as he got to one Owen wanted, he simply whispered, “Yes.”
It was the only time I’d heard his voice; he really didn’t talk much. When I’d first gotten to Sunshine House, I’d had little to say to anyone about anything. Through the years thathadn’t changed much except with Tenny—I’d talk to her about everything.
We were about twenty minutes in by the time Gideon returned, but judging from the fucking hot fancy-ass suit he had on, he wasn’t staying.
“I have to go out, but I’ll be back in a few hours.” He leaned down and kissed Olivia on the head, did the same to Owen, and as he brushed by me slid his fingers on top of my head.
“Be safe,” I shouted.
“Yes, dear,” he returned, and everyone laughed.
By the time Rita had put the twins to bed, Gideon still hadn’t returned. I played a video game with Matteo until it was time for his bedtime, and Gideon still wasn’t home.
In the kitchen, Rita and Dean were pouring themselves some wine.
“Drink?” Dean offered.
“No, thank you. Uh, you think Gideon is all right?”
Rita grinned. “If he wasn’t, we’d know. Someone would have contacted us.”
“Of course.” I scratched the nape of my neck. “Where’d he go?”
Dean sipped his merlot. “Not sure, didn’t say.”
I’d guessed that when Dean had told me he wasn’t involved in Gideon’s business, he truly wasn’t. I saw why calling it “mafia” wasn’t accurate and that Gideon lived two different lives.
“Right.”
They were watching me with obvious amusement. It was ten o’clock, so I just decided to go up to bed. I was sure Gideon was fine, likely trying to end all this mayhem, and that was time consuming, no doubt.
I showered, brushed my teeth, slipped on a pair of boxers, and got into bed. My mind was racing, so I grabbed a book andstarted it from the beginning. I read for a long time before my lids began to droop and I was finally able to fall asleep.
Something was wrong.I opened my eyes, and sunshine wasn’t pouring into the bedroom, so it wasn’t morning. I glanced at the clock, it read three a.m. What woke me up?
Whispered voices in the hallway…that had to be it. I pulled the sheets off me, grabbed a T-shirt and pair of pants, and went to investigate.
Danny and Alex were talking right by my bedroom; both looked worse for wear.
“Hey, guys, what’s going on?”
They turned toward me. “Nothing, go back to bed,” Alex answered.
