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)
Madison stood, excusing herself to the ladies’ room. The second she was through the arched door, Matt followed. He wasn’t terribly surprised when she didn’t find the john, but rather let herself outside, trekking through the oppressive evening air.
Genie dabbed away tears before she looked up with a fake-as-fuck smile. “I’m sorry. Am I taking too long? Are they holding dessert for me?”
“Neither,” Madison assured the woman, grasping her hands. “I wanted to speak to you, and I don’t have much time. I’m so sorry for your loss. I wish I could have done something to stop it.”
“Oh, dear. There was nothing you could have done. Brent and Todd had always had a love-hate relationship. I was concerned at times, but I never imagined in a million years that your husband would accidentally—”
“It wasn’t an accident.” Madison cast a nervous glance around, caught Matt’s gaze, then led the other woman away from the window and onto the expanse of lawn, prompting Matt to follow. “What do you know about Brent’s death?”
Genie frowned. “Just that they fought, and things got out of hand.”
“Yes.”
“Then there was some mishap. Todd tried to revive my son, but—”
“No, he didn’t. And I know that because I was there. I saw everything.”
When Genie gasped and recoiled, Matt growled in Madison’s ear. “What are you doing?”
“If I don’t tell her the truth, no one will. Can’t you see she’s grieving? I can’t bring her son back, but I can give her the truth.”
She was right. Genie deserved honesty. Matt stepped back.
“You were…there?” Genie’s voice shook.
Madison nodded. “I went to the penthouse Todd keeps that I’m not supposed to know about to ask him for a divorce. He and Brent were arguing. There was a knife, and…they fought. The two of them threatened each other before Todd decided to put an end to whatever threat Brent posed to him once. Todd didn’t try to resuscitate Brent. He just called Winston for clean up.”
Genie pressed a trembling hand to her gaping mouth. “Why? I don’t understand…”
“I’m not sure what they argued about. It sounded as if Brent intended to go public with some knowledge he had about Todd. But they never said what.”
“Though I don’t know precisely what my son was into, I don’t have any illusions. I know he didn’t grow into a good man, but in my heart, he will always be my little boy.” More tears welled in her eyes. “For years, I’ve clung to the hope that he would find the right path, maybe meet the right woman, find the right light…and eventually have a good life. I believe he would have someday. And now I’ll never get to see that.” She blinked at Madison. “Why did Montrose lie to me?”
“Maybe he was trying to protect you?” Madison suggested.
Or maybe Montrose didn’t want to give up the blood money and dream job Winston gave him for his silence.
“I debated what to say to you,” Madison went on. “But once I saw the depth of your grief, I couldn’t stay silent. I thought the truth might… I don’t know. Help in some way? You’ve already lost so much, I didn’t want you living with lies, too. If you would rather have not known, I’m sorry.”
“I needed to know. Thank you.” Genie sniffled. “Not that it will bring my boy back. Montrose seems quite happy to accept a check with a lot of zeroes and a prestigious new appointment to bring him solace.”
And she sounded bitter.
“I wish I could have done something to stop it,” Madison said.
“If you had, Todd may have killed you, too. I’m glad you got out.” Then she frowned. “But you didn’t, did you? Somehow, he found out that you’d witnessed Brent’s death, and he used some means to drag you back.” Horror crossed her face. “You weren’t beset upon by a violent mugger in a parking lot, then suddenly decided to visit your father during his cancer treatments. You ran, and Todd found you.”
Madison neither confirmed nor denied. She just gave the woman a painful smile.
“Oh, honey.” Genie squeezed her hands. “When I was barely nineteen, my father married me off to Montrose, a man almost double my age. I had no idea what marriage meant. It took me decades to see my husband for who he is, and by then… Well, it was too late for me.” She slid a gaze Matt’s way. “I remember the way the press tried to scandalmonger about you two before Madison married Todd, so I know who you are and what you’ve been to her. Don’t let her die here.”
He exchanged a glance with Madison, who gave Genie another squeeze of her hands. Clearly, she trusted the older woman.
“I won’t,” he vowed. “No matter what I have to do or sacrifice, I will get her free from the Pershings.”