Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Knowing Agatha? “Probably. She and Winston didn’t keep many secrets from each other.”
“The press and gossip rags are portraying her as a coconspirator,” Haisley added. “They’ve been vicious.”
After she’d ruled the DC correspondents for so long with an iron fist? Madison smiled. “Couldn’t happen to a more deserving person.”
“I think it’s safe to say that her life of wealth and privilege is over,” Deke assured. “And I don’t think she’s going to look good in orange.”
“Definitely not. Oh, well.” Haisley grinned.
“Before we leave town, do you need anything, Madison?” Hunter asked, all business.
“No. Thank you.”
“Are you sure? The feds have already seized all the Pershings’ assets, Winston’s and Todd’s. You won’t be able to remove anything out of that apartment for a while.”
“Honestly, there’s nothing there I want.” The place was tainted by bad memories, and she’d prefer to take a match to it.
“Fair enough. Where are you going next? How are you getting there?”
Madison blinked at Hunter. She hadn’t gotten that far yet.
Deke raised a brow. “You won’t be able to go anywhere in public without being swarmed for a while.”
Haisley nodded. “He’s right, girl. Your face is everywhere.”
That sounded horrible. Madison didn’t want fame, just peace. And one place brought her that more than any other. She turned to Jack. “Is your cabin available for a few days?”
She wished Matt would be with her, and she questioned her sanity in wanting to go to the place where she’d fallen irrevocably in love. But the twelve days she’d spent in that homey, handmade slice of swamp had been some of her happiest.
“As long as you’re not planning any gator wrestling, of course.”
“I really, really appreciate it. I need some time alone.” She had decisions to make. Since it appeared Matt wasn’t coming back to her, and she refused to ask his boss or his friends his whereabouts or intentions, she would use the seclusion to decide what the next steps in her life would be and how to prepare for her coming baby.
Hunter’s thumbs suddenly flew across his phone before it dinged a few times. Then he looked her way. “You’ll have a private jet waiting for you at six this evening.” He rattled off the name of an airstrip she’d flown from before.
How did he expect her to pay for the flight if Todd’s assets had been seized? Her late husband had possessed millions, but she doubted she would ever see those again. “I appreciate that, but I think my days of flying charter are over.”
“I called in a favor. Xander Santiago is my little brother’s best buddy. He and Javier offered as a way of thanking you for helping to bring down the trafficking ring.”
She’d met the shockingly handsome defense contractors at a DC party or two, along with their beautiful blond wife. Rumors about them always abounded.
Madison shook her head. “Matt did all the work. I was just trying to survive until the midterms.”
Hunter dissected her with his blue, blue stare. “He did a lot of heavy lifting, but he would never have done it if not for you.”
Madison disagreed. Matt was a hero, and he took his job seriously. It wasn’t his fault if his feelings for her hadn’t survived the danger. Of course that fairytale part of her was still hoping that he would show up, profess his undying love, and whisk her away. But with every tick of the clock, that hope withered.
“You’re too kind. I mean that literally.” She tried to smile.
“Just being honest,” Hunter contradicted. “We need to be on our way. We’ve answered most of the feds’ questions and given them copies of our evidence. They’ll be by with some questions for you soon, but you’ll have a top-notch attorney and one of our guys with you at all times.”
“An attorney? I-I don’t have one. Who—”
“I do—a damn good one. So I’m sending him your way,” Genie said from the doorway, then nodded at all the big, testosterone-laden operatives. “Gentlemen.”
“Mrs. Westbrook,” Hunter greeted.
“Just Genie. I filed for divorce this morning, and I’ll be going back to my maiden name. I don’t want anything to remind me of that bastard I married, least of all his name.”
“Of course. Excuse us. We’ll let you ladies talk.” Hunter nodded and filed out, Deke behind him.
“I’ll ready the cabin for tonight. Let me know when you land, and I’ll take you there.”
With more waves, Jack followed the others out. Haisley excused herself to the restroom. Madison found herself alone with Genie. They had never been particularly close, but she felt as if the last month had changed that.
“I’m so happy to hear that you’ve left Montrose.”
Genie smiled through her tears. “I haven’t made a decision for myself since the day I got married. Montrose would never allow it. It’s going to feel so good to stand on my own two feet. It’s weird to finally decide to be my own woman at almost fifty, but I’m ready. And I’m never getting married again.”