As one, Matt, Logan, and Zy lunged for him, but Todd dragged her back. “Come a step closer, and I’ll stick this in her carotid.”

  Madison’s vision narrowed even more. All the voices sounded far away, even the man shouting over the counting and beeping in the background.

  “He’s not responding,” someone said. “Paddles!”

  An electronic beep followed by a jolt. Electricity seemed to fill the air. Everyone froze.

  Then Todd let out an inhuman sound and whirled on the EMTs. “You fucking keep trying.”

  With that demand, he loosened his hand on her throat enough for Madison to wheeze in a huge gasp of air. Her vision focused again. But Todd still clutched her trembling body, her back to his chest, the knife under her chin.

  “Sir, he has no pul⁠—”

  “Shut up and keep trying.”

  She caught Matt’s eyes. He looked terrified but stoic and resolved. He refused to lose her. That fact was all over his face.

  Todd’s instability was the wild card.

  Madison reached out for Matt, hoping to break free while Todd was distracted. But if there was any chance she was going to die, she wanted to touch the man she loved one more time.

  Todd yanked her back. “Stop it, you whore.”

  “I’m sorry,” the EMT said. “Your grandfather is gone.”

  “He can’t be dead!” Todd roared, shoving the edge of the blade harder against Madison’s skin. “No, goddamn it! No. This is your fault!” He yanked on her hair so hard her eyes stung. Her back arched. The dull blade scraped the delicate skin of her throat as he kicked at the EMT. “Don’t you dare give up on him!”

  “Winston,” Agatha’s voice warbled from somewhere behind her. “No. No!”

  “Dad!” Roger finally said his first words of the day, looking stunned and pale. He turned an accusing stare Todd’s direction. “You little bastard! You stupid, self-absorbed… You both called me lazy and cowardly all these years, but I let Dad have the spotlight he wanted. I let him play his political games. They were devious and wrong, but they skirted illegal. And I stayed out of his way. You changed all that. You dragged him deeper into the seedy underbelly of DC. You gave him ideas he’d never even entertained. And now you’ve ruined us all.”

  “My Winston…” Agatha dropped to her knees and gripped his limp hand, then turned on Todd. “What have you done?”

  His fingers fell from Madison’s neck as he reached to console his grandmother. Madison gasped before she elbowed him with all her might. As he doubled over with an oof, she gripped his wrist and sank her teeth into the back of his hand gripping the knife as if her life depended on it.

  She feared it did.

  The blade clattered to the ground. He shook his offended hand, then spun her around and backhanded her, sending her reeling and tumbling—next to the gleaming blade.

  Todd tugged her to her knees by the hair. “You’re right where you belong, cunt.”

  Then he reared back his fist and aimed it at her face. Vaguely, she was aware of Matt closing in, of the police running closer, shouting at Todd to stand down. Screams echoed in her head, and she was shocked to realize they were hers. Panic set in. Her body trembled. The sight of his threatening fist made her shudder.

  With trembling fingers, she grabbed the knife, aimed it at his belly, then shoved it in with all her might.

  Despite Todd grabbing her wrist as if he intended to crush it, the blade sank in to the hilt. Blood ran over her fingers. Vaguely, she heard Todd scream as he released her.

  Someone grabbed her shoulders from behind. Matt. He thrust her into Ethan’s waiting arms. Madison turned in time to see him yank the knife from Todd’s gut. They snarled at each other. She couldn’t hear their words over her roaring heart and her dizzy lurch to find her feet.

  The police closed in, surrounding the stage. Todd met his father’s stricken expression, followed by his grandmother’s mask of grief, and finally Genie’s hate. Then he glared at Matt—and reached for the gun in a nearby female cop’s hand.

  The officer shoved at him. “Stop! Or we’ll shoot.”

  “Do you realize who I am, you whore?” Todd sneered. “Give me your gun.”

  He lunged for it again, smearing his blood on the policewoman’s face and gouging at her eyes. With her distracted, he pulled the weapon from her grip. Before anyone could shoot him, he spun, firing a shot at Ethan’s feet. Her tattooed bodyguard loosened his hold for half a second—long enough for Todd to jerk Madison against him like a human shield. He panted into her face, grinning with wild eyes and a vengeful smile. He dug the barrel into her temple.

  God, that face. Her heart jolted. Her life flashed in front of her. No! Her baby—the one Matt didn’t know about. The future she still hoped to spend with him. Daddy. Her friends. All her regrets. She couldn’t go out like this.

  As she fought back, Todd’s finger wrapped around the trigger. Suddenly, he aimed at Matt, his smile widening maniacally. “Goodbye, motherfucker.”

  “Nooooo!” Madison screeched, trying to wrest free so she could push Matt out of the path of Todd’s bullet.

  Ethan yanked her away and held her back from the fray, despite her struggles, then covered her body with his own. Deafening explosions filled the afternoon and resounded in her head. She heard more screams. Children cried. Time seemed to stand still.

  Then Todd’s smile froze. She saw a hole in his chest, which buckled until he curled in on his spine. Blood splattered. Some seared Madison’s cheek as he staggered back, gasping and flailing. The gun in his hand clattered to the makeshift stage.

  Matt raced to his side to kick the weapon away, then stepped on Todd’s wrist so he couldn’t reach for it again. “You’re done.”

  “Fuck…you.” Todd’s voice sounded strained but defiant.

  Madison stared at her husband, pale and getting paler by the moment, blinking in disbelief. He was dying. And no one seemed in a hurry to stop it. A hush fell over the voters, watching raptly. Even the police and EMTs stood as if shocked and transfixed.

  “No, Toddhole. Fuck you.” Then Matt spit in his face.

  Tit for tat.

  As the breath seemed to leave Todd’s body for good, Matt reached for Madison, pulling her from Ethan’s protective arms, and clutched her face. “Honey. Oh, god. Baby…are you okay? Talk to me. Tell me you’re all right.”

  She tried to nod, but she felt frozen. Was her ordeal as Mrs. Todd Pershing over?

  From the corner of her eye, she saw an EMT lean down and settle his fingers at Todd’s carotid artery. Then the medical technician shook his head. “Nothing. Time?”

  Todd was gone? Really? Her torment was finally over? She could walk away a free woman? What came next? And what about Matt? Their baby? Did they have a future as a family?

  “Madison!” He shook her gently, but she felt her vision narrowing again. “Honey? Honey! Someone help her. She’s fainting, and she’s pregnant.”

  Matt knew?

  That was Madison’s last thought before her consciousness slipped away and blackness welcomed her.

  Chapter Twelve

  The following day, Madison ended her call with Daddy and set her phone aside with a bittersweet smile.

  “How is he?” Haisley asked. “Good?”

  “Yeah, he’s just not happy I hadn’t told him about the crap I’d been going through with Todd.”

  “Obviously the press did, since it’s all over the news.”

  “And the vultures want more.” Sighing, Madison gestured to the reporters hanging outside the hospital, just waiting for her discharge. “I wish I could have told Dad myself about the baby. He’s worried.”

  After Daddy had asked how she was feeling, he’d asked about Matt. She hadn’t known what to say. She hadn’t seen or heard from him since she’d fainted in his arms yesterday. Other visitors had come and gone. Ramona, Willa, and Sadie had popped in last night to give her all the exciting details about clandestinely recording the Pershing men, hug her, and assure her they would always be there for her. She’d thanked them and cried on their shoulders. Heck, Haisley had flown in from Lafayette and been by her bedside by the time the orderly had taken away her cold, untouched breakfast this morning. So where was Matt? Had she misunderstood yesterday? Had he chosen Graciela after all?

  “Of course your dad is worried. He loves you. I’ve always envied that, you know?”

  Madison took her hand, her heart breaking for her bestie. “You deserved better than the father you got.”

  She snorted. “Sperm donor. He’s no father. So…what are you going to do next? Any idea?”

  “Go home, I guess. Figure out how I’m going to pay for Daddy’s medical treatments. He’s paid up through the end of the month. After that? Maybe I’ll bring him home and take care of him myself since I can’t afford to keep him there.”

  “You’ll figure it out. And I’ll help you however I can, especially once this baby is born. I’ll be the best auntie ever. I can’t wait to spoil him or her.”

  “Since when are you interested in children? You’ve always thought they were snot-nosed curtain climbers.”

  She smiled ruefully. “Since you’re having a baby. Yours will be perfect.”

  “Aww. You’re the best friend a girl could have.”

  Haisley rushed to hug her. “And don’t you forget it, because you’re never getting rid of me.”

  Madison squeezed her in return. “I’d never want to. We’re going to grow old together. Rocking chairs, cats, ‘oldies’ music, and cozy mysteries.”

  “Screw that. I’m also finding the hot guys in the nursing home and adding them to my to-do list.”

  They laughed. Then Haisley backed up, head cocked. “Seriously, why didn’t you call me and tell me you were pregnant? We’ve always told each other everything.”

  “I couldn’t. I’m sorry. Everything felt so big and scary, and I worried anyone I confided in could be in danger. Besides, what could you have done except worry?”

  “Supported you. Promised you I would be here for you each and every day.”

  “I already knew that. You’ve always been here for me.” Tears pricked her eyes.

  “Just like you’ve been here for me.” Haisley sniffed. “And don’t start that shit. You’ll ruin my mascara.”

  They laughed again.

  “It sounds like a party in here,” said a smooth Cajun voice. “Mind if we join?”

  Madison zipped her stare to the door. “Jack, Deke, Hunter… Thank you for coming—and not just to see me. I appreciate everything you did yesterday—more than I can tell you.”

  Hunter Edgington, Matt’s boss and a former SEAL, acknowledged her with a nod. “When we figured out Todd’s operation, there was no way we couldn’t get involved.”

  “Apparently, we’ve only uncovered the tip of the iceberg,” Deke said. “We’re working hand in hand with the opposition party in the House to expose the rest of the operation—who the money flowed to, where the victims went, how it remained secret for so long. People will be implicated, I’m betting all the way up to the president.”

  “And if they make a movie, they better find a good-looking son of a bitch to play me,” Jack teased.

  “I’m sure they will.” Madison smiled.

  “You might be interested to know that Agatha was caught trying to flee the country early this morning,” Deke drawled. “TSA picked her up at Dulles and detained her. Since she fought, I’m betting she has something to hide.”

  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.”

  Madison laughed. If she’d suffered during the two years she’d been married to Todd, she couldn’t imagine enduring nearly three decades of a similar bastard. “How did Montrose take the news?”

  “He was pissed, but when the feds dragged out dozens of hours of video of him defiling Todd’s ‘product’ over the past few years…” She shook her head. “I already hadn’t forgiven him for choosing his wallet and his ambition over our son, but raping girls young enough to be his granddaughter is another level of asshole I refused to deal with.”

  “I don’t blame you.” Every time Madison thought about Todd’s victims, she felt absolutely terrible that she’d lived a lavish lifestyle, even unknowingly, off their backs. “So where are you going to go?”

  Genie grinned. “Well, Montrose put the house in my name as some tax evasion scheme, so I kicked him out, and I’m putting it on the market. Then…I think I’ll move out west, get as far from DC as I can.”

  “Good for you. You deserve it. You were so brave to go through Brent’s things, and… I know that wasn’t easy.”

  “It wasn’t. And I would never have found the courage to do it if Matt hadn’t tracked me down and convinced me to. That man was willing to do whatever it took to save you. He loves you. You know that, right?”

  Her assertion was a knife to the heart. She couldn’t deal with the anguish now. There would be time in the swamp to cry and grieve what might have been. “I think Matt genuinely cares about making the world a better, fairer, safer place, and I really admire him for that.”