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 gaped. “Bribed? I don’t even know why I’m surprised. Money, possessions, and power is all Todd understands.”
“Since we’ve been in DC, he tried all three. I made it clear that, no, I don’t want eight million dollars, shit that doesn’t belong to me, or the job of sheriff in my hometown.”
Her jaw dropped. “Eight million dollars? Oh, my god.”
“It’s pretty fucked up.”
“But you turned it down.” For her? That touched her.
“I don’t want his dirty money. But once I refused, he fucking came unglued and threatened you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.” The wrath on Matt’s face would make a normal man cower, and Madison knew it was all directed at Todd. “I didn’t think he’d do anything brazen in public, but just before you walked onto that stage, I pointed out that you looked pale and rumpled because you’d gotten overheated outside. He said you were about to have bigger problems. Then he dragged you to the podium. A handful of minutes later, you passed out. Your fucking heart stopped beating. Thankfully, it started up quickly, but I had to give you CPR.”
“I had no idea.” And it disturbed her that she couldn’t remember.
“Now that I know how far Todd is willing to go, I won’t underestimate him again. Neither should you. It’s taking every ounce of my restraint not to kill the motherfucker.” He hesitated then looked at her, his expression grave. “It’s time we got you out.”
“Out?” Did he mean give up? “Like, stop pursuing my divorce? Stay married to Todd?”
“Who cares if you get a divorce? We’ll live in sin. I don’t give a shit. The press, the public, the political figures—I refuse to give two fucks what any of them say about us. I love you. You love me, right?”
“Of course, but—”
“No buts. We’re leaving tonight. No more of this bullshit. I’m done playing his games.”
“Matt—”
“No. You’re not talking me out of this. If you stay here, Todd will kill you. It’s a matter of time. And no one else’s opinion about our personal lives is worth dying for.”
Madison saw his point. She’d known since the early days of her marriage that Todd had a dark, twisted side. That was why he loved drugs, hookers, orgies, and underage girls. He was addicted to the forbidden, and she’d always figured that was because, in public, he’d had to be perfect all his life. He’d also grown up both too indulged and too headstrong. Together, that made a dangerous combination. But Matt’s response also proved that he didn’t understand politics…the way she hadn’t when she’d first agreed to marry Todd.
“We can’t. I have to stay.”
“But—”
“No. I’ll never be free if I don’t divorce him. First of all, he’d never tolerate the hit to his pride. If the press forever calls him a cuckold or whatever the new Urban Dictionary term for a man whose wife cheats on him is, he won’t accept that. He’ll make our lives hell every single day. And while that might be something we could live with in the short-term, think beyond that. I don’t want to be known as Todd’s wife anymore. Someday, he’s going to get caught doing something truly horrible. I’d rather not have my name smeared with his or people wondering if I approved of his crap, or—worse—if I was involved. And what happens if you and I have kids someday? I don’t want to explain why Mommy is married to one man but procreating with another. You shouldn’t want to be the back seat guy to Todd.”
“I don’t. But I want you in danger a whole lot fucking less.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t like this. I hear what you’re saying, but I’d rather get you out, then devise a plan to finalize your divorce. At some point, he’s got to give you up. He can’t hang onto you forever.”
“But he would for spite, and that puts Todd in the driver’s seat—exactly where we don’t want him. He’s a wild card, and—”
“He fucking is. I can’t stand having you near him even when I’m around. When I’m not, I lose my goddamn mind. I worry about you all the time…”
She squeezed his hand. “I know. I worry about you, too. He’s got a cruel streak.”
“That he’s going to take out on you.”
“I’ve handled it this long, but he’s not even my major concern. Winston is. You don’t understand the things that man can do to you. Those IRS audits you’ve been threatened with? It can get worse. If we leave here together and make a mockery of the Pershing name—which is exactly how they’d take it if we ‘lived in sin’ together—there isn’t a hole remote enough for us to hide in. He can pressure your bosses to fire you or risk losing their government contracts. He can have cops drum up charges and have you arrested. He can come after all your friends, your loved ones, your coworkers… And he’d do it all without blinking.”