Chapter 24

24

Gideon glanced at André from the corner of his eye. The other man hadn't said anything since they left their brief meeting with the president half an hour ago. His lover hadn't even asked where they were headed when their driver detoured from the way back to the airstrip.

"You okay?" He nudged André with his shoulder. After being introduced to the president, André had gone off and stood with Samir and the others—André's decision, not Gideon's—while Gideon conducted business. So André hadn't been privy to the discussion and many plays that were in motion. Gideon had expected him to ask about it as soon as they got back to the vehicle, but he hadn't.

At his question, André turned to him, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, just trying to wrap my head around all that's transpired in the past few hours."

That made sense, but Gideon didn't like it when André was quiet. He loved listening to the other man's voice. "Want to talk about it?"

"Why don't you tell me what the meeting was about?"

That he could do. Gideon settled back in his seat, throwing a hand around André's shoulders and pressing a kiss to his temple. "Joseph Morrow is the member of The Council I told you I'm about to get rid of, remember?"

"I do."

"Well, I didn't tell you the specifics. Morrow has a long history of holding young girls hostage and sexually assaulting and torturing them." He didn't allow André's gasp to stop the flow of words. "I have actual footage of it. Of him in the act. That was taken by my father when I was still in hiding. My dad knew we would have to remove members, and he made sure to get dirt on all of them." He didn't know how his father was able to do it, to deal with those people while maintaining his focus on the long game. Gideon was already losing fucking patience with those motherfuckers. "In the videos, Morrow is talking about it." Disgust twisted up his insides. "Not just talking, but boasting, gleefully bragging about all the barbaric shit he gets up to."

"So, your father knew about all this years ago and just what…kept it a secret until the right time presented itself?"

Gideon understood the sentiment behind André's incredulity and didn't attempt to make any excuses for it. "Yes. And I did the same because my father and I knew that Morrow's money and connections would easily sweep it under the rug if we didn't have a failsafe, a backup plan in place. It took a while for that to happen, but it has. Finally."

André leaned back, meeting his eyes in dawning comprehension. "That's what the meeting with the president was about?"

Gideon nodded. "Yes. Morrow got arrested but will no doubt make bail. We expect it, but the videos will all be leaked online the minute he walks out of the courthouse. Everything is in detail. His own words and actions will be used against him."

"Okay." André dragged the word out. "But what comes after that? Because from what I'm learning, every single one of the members of The Council is corrupt and fucked up—" He rolled his eyes when Gideon fake-gasped and touched a hand to his chest. "Yes, even you. So why would they get rid of Morrow?"

Gideon cupped André's jaw, stroking his skin as he spoke. "When she was fifteen years old, Nivea Arceneaux disappeared from a mall, taken right from under the watchful eyes of her bodyguards. She's been missing for three years. Weeks ago, she was rescued from Morrow's dungeon." He didn't need to tell André that he'd been behind the rescue. "Her family doesn't know it yet—as per her request—but she's in a facility being treated for the damage Morrow did to her body and her mind." He swallowed. No matter what his plans were, it wasn't easy being witness to evil like the evil Joseph Morrow perpetuated. That man had to go. Permanently. "She is the granddaughter of Robert Vale."

André's eyes bulged. "He's on The Council."

"Yes. Joseph Morrow kidnapped the granddaughter of a fellow member of The Council and held her captive for three years, all the while offering Vale and his family his help and resources in trying to find Nivea."

"Goddamn." André blinked. Then blinked again. "That's-that's diabolical." He shuddered. "How can people like that exist?"

"Easily." Gideon hated to tell him, but… "They get to live and thrive because they surround themselves with money and power and people who would enable their deviances. There's a reason Morrow ensured his spot on The Council, it made him untouchable, and he was…until he took Nivea. My father had to pretend to have the same proclivities as him in order to get close, to get him to lower his guard." He felt sick at the thought. "Robert Vale will get to deliver Morrow's death sentence. And Morrow's proxy, his son-in-law, will not be allowed to take his seat. That I will make sure of."

André swallowed. "You're gonna kill him?"

"Yes." Gideon blew out a breath. "Morrow has two daughters, one who's a socialite and the apple of his eye, married to the man who is his current proxy. And the other has been estranged from her family for close to twenty years. She's a civil rights attorney and is engaged to be married to the president's son."

"Ah." André smiled. "Now the picture is getting clearer."

Gideon chuckled. "Is it?" He kissed André's nose. "Amy, Morrow's estranged daughter, has zero connections to her father. Her fiancé comes with his own money, his own power, and his own connections."

"The biggest being the president?"

"Nah." Gideon waved a hand in dismissal. "The biggest being the reclusive Saudi prince he's fucking in secret."

André coughed in shock. "Jesus."

"I know." Gideon shrugged. "What can I say, finding out people's secrets is a gift."

André shook his head, though his expression held zero judgment. "So you'll blackmail the president's son into taking Morrow's seat and work and spy for you?"

"He'll report to his father, which is what The Council will expect. The president will talk him into accepting the position, and it's through the president that I will give Alexander instructions on what to do and when and how to do it. I also have a few names I'm kicking around for choice of his proxy." In putting a buffer between himself and Alexander, the president's son, it removed any suspicion that The Council might have about Gideon.

"And Prislaya's empty seat?"

"That remains as is for now. As the one who holds the purse strings, they can't put anyone in there unless I'm onboard. And I'm not."

"Oh, so you got it like that?"

"I do." It was just a matter of fact.

"But now that you've filled your father's seat, you'll need your own proxy. Won't you?"

"I had Samir sworn in as my proxy the moment it was confirmed that I was who I claimed to be," Gideon told him. "You haven't asked where we're going." He gently elbowed André, who leaned against him.

"I figured you'd tell me when you were ready."

Gideon gazed at him, greedily drinking in his features. He especially liked that sparkle in André's eyes. The softness of his expression as their gazes held. "You trust me." That was… It humbled him. Made him feel as if he didn't deserve it. Made him want to do anything he could to ensure he never lost it.

"I do." André pursed his lips, silently begging for a kiss, and Gideon gave it to him. Softly at first, just the press of lips. Then André parted for him, inviting him in, and Gideon swept in with a low moan.

That easily he lost himself in André. Oblivious to the other members of his team who were up front in the SUV as they sped along the highway. It was only them, he and André, lost in their own world. In each other.

Until Samir cleared his throat. "Morrow made bail. He's holding a press conference, talking about baseless allegations."

Gideon reluctantly lifted his head from André and licked his lips. "Have our techs release the videos. One each hour beginning immediately after Morrow wraps the press conference." He eased away from André. "We're going to see your father."

André froze, eyes narrowed. "Why the fuck would we do that?"

"Because Ennis will be the one to put Alexander's name up for nomination as Morrow's replacement. I can't do it, otherwise they'd suspect I have an agenda."

"Which you do," André so helpfully pointed out.

"Which I do, but they can't know that yet."

"Okay, but why would Ennis do anything for you? You killed his daughter, his lover, and left him stranded out in the middle of nowhere."

Gideon didn't need reminding. And he'd do all of it all over again. "I think your father would do anything if you asked it of him."

André stared at him.

Gideon stared back.

André broke first. "Ugh. You're lucky I love you."

"I know." Smile splitting his face, Gideon pressed his forehead to André's. "I'm very lucky."

André stared.

Gideon's driver had pulled up to a gate that was at least seven feet tall. Between that and the abundance of large trees, he couldn't see anything of what was hidden beyond. He hadn't known where Ennis lived, but clearly Gideon knew. A part of André didn't want to be there, didn't want to lay eyes on the man who'd fathered him, but Gideon had asked him for this favor.

The least André could do was try.

"Up to you," Gideon told him gently. "We could leave and I'll figure out another way if this is too much for you."

André didn't know what it was to him yet, but he knew he couldn't disappoint Gideon, so he just shook his head and climbed out of the vehicle, Gideon following closely behind. There was a guard booth near the inside of the gate, but it was too far away from him to see or talk to whoever was inside. He pressed the buzzer on the retaining wall on the outside of the gate and waited for someone to respond.

They didn't make him wait. "What do you want?"

Okay, rude much? "I'm here to see Ennis."

"Who are you?"

"Tell him André is outside." The sooner they got this over with, the better. Gideon stood next to him, silent and watchful, on guard as they waited. "What if he refuses to see me?" he muttered to Gideon.

A hand settled on his lower back and Gideon leaned in. "Your old man is a lot of things, but stupid isn't one," he said softly. "He won't pass up a chance to see you."

Maybe Gideon was putting too much faith in Ennis. All his father seemed to want was a way to get André away from Gideon, and that definitely wasn't happening.

A low clank sounded and they spun around, watching as the gates opened. Gideon glanced at him, eyebrows raised in a told you gesture. Rolling his eyes, André grabbed Gideon's hand and tugged him back to the vehicle.

They had to drive almost a quarter of a mile more before they arrived at the massive house. André frowned as he exited the SUV and stood with hands on his hips. This was where Ennis lived? Where he raised his daughter while ignoring André's existence? It all seemed so over-the-top.

Or was that just his bitterness talking?

Armed men appeared, approaching them from all sides. Huh. Someone had upped his security since the last time he'd tangled with Gideon. Gideon didn't protest when they were told they would need to be searched, so André didn't either.

"They're staying out here," Gideon said, voice barely above a growl when Ennis's men turned to Samir and the others in Gideon's security detail.

André hiked a brow at that. "Is that a good idea?" he asked Gideon out of the corner of his mouth. "I mean, I'm pretty sure Ennis will shoot you the moment he sees your face." And the thought had him ready to drag Gideon back into the vehicle and drive them far away.

If he was concerned, Gideon didn't show it. Instead, he shrugged. "He can try."

"Okay, stop." André placed a hand on Gideon's chest, glaring into his eyes. "You are not fucking bulletproof, nor are you invincible. Stop acting as if you're not flesh and blood." It terrified him how nonchalant Gideon was about his own safety.

"I'm fine." Gideon wrapped an arm around his shoulder, gaze searching their surroundings before he dropped a quick kiss to André's lips. "I know what I am," he murmured. "And I know what I'm not. Your father can't touch me. He knows better."

André released a sigh. Maybe that kind of delusion came with being a Winters; he wouldn't know. But he wouldn't leave Gideon's side, no matter what happened beyond those doors.

They held hands, just him and Gideon following Ennis's men into the mansion. The outside might have been a monstrosity but the inside felt…like a home. As if an actual family lived there. And they had. Just not him. Not André. Resentment flared and he swallowed the bitterness as their footfalls echoed on pristine white floors. Proof of Ennis's wealth was everywhere—in the oil paintings and gold chandeliers.

Hell, even the painted walls looked like money.

"You okay?"

He nodded at Gideon's question but didn't look at the other man. He just might break down. He just might turn around and walk out, never looking back, always hating the man who didn't raise him.

They were led to an office, its door already open, and waved in. Gideon entered first. Then André. The door closed behind him as he met the back of the man who'd fathered him.

Ennis stood at a window, staring out at his expansive and perfectly manicured grounds, a hand in the pocket of his dark slacks. Guess he was feeling better. André tore his gaze off the older man to study his surroundings. The office was just like everything else in his father's house: enormous. Furnished in rich supple leather and black. Lots of plaques and paintings.

Pictures all over the walls of Ennis and people André recognized, like his dead wife and his dead daughter. Other members of The Council, billionaire businessmen, and foreign dignitaries.

None of André, though.

And why had he expected anything else?

"You have some fucking nerve." Ennis moved away from the window, facing them with a scowl. "You come into my home after all the shit you did?" he spat at Gideon, who regarded him with an impassive expression. "You think you're untouchable?"

"He's not," André answered. " You just can't touch him."

Ennis turned to him. "You need to get away from him. He's not good for you."

André shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. But I'm the one who gets to decide, not you." He glanced around. "Now, this isn't a social call. We have things to discuss."

Ennis held his gaze for a beat, then barked out a laugh. "You sound like him." He shook his head, expression mournful. "Wow."

Sounding like Gideon was a good thing in André's opinion, so he ignored Ennis's words. "Joseph Morrow is on his way off The Council." He got down to business. "Alexander Grant will be taking his place; you just need to present the offer to him."

Ennis blinked at him. "What?"

"You need?—"

Ennis slashed a hand through the air, waving away his words. "That's not you. Telling people what to do is his role." He jabbed a finger in Gideon's direction. "What, suddenly you're doing his work for him?"

"I could make you do what I want." Gideon spoke for the first time. "But I was trying to help you save face in front of your son. Get Alexander to agree to take Morrow's seat."

"You can't make me do shit," Ennis told him, eyes narrowed. "You think?—"

"Maybe he can't," André said, cutting him off. "But I can. I hear you and Alexander run in the same circles, so you shouldn't have any problems getting him to agree to what we want by this time tomorrow."

Ennis straightened, folding his arms as he stared at André as if truly seeing him for the first time. He moved gingerly, André realized, likely still dealing with the effects of being ambushed and shot. The one where his daughter sent men to kill him. He still had her up on his walls and still showcased her everywhere, though. And where were his pictures of André? Hidden in a box in some dark basement?

If he even had any.

"You're really embracing this new life, aren't you?" Ennis eyed him up and down. "Do you even know what you're doing?"

"I'm your son, aren't I?" André challenged him. "Some would say I was born into this life." He felt Gideon's gaze on him, his lover's pride and love and satisfaction. And that urged André to be bolder. "What I don't know, I'll learn." A smile graced his lips, and he couldn't help glancing at Gideon. "I have the best teacher."

Silence settled around the three of them; Ennis's gaze locked on André's, Gideon off to the side just watching them, allowing André to handle the situation however he wanted to.

"That's what I want," Ennis said finally. Softly.

"What?"

"You." He stepped forward, eyes pleading. "I want my son."

André felt Gideon tense. And he swallowed the automatic rejection that formed on his tongue as Ennis continued.

"I want to have my son in my life. It's time."

André cocked his head. "Is it? Funny how it wasn't time when your wife was alive, when my mother was alive, when your darling daughter was alive. But now, you're alone. You're getting old and you're all alone in this big, echoing house. So now you want your son in your life?"

"I always wanted you," Ennis rasped. "Always."

"Hmm. I can't help but notice I'm nowhere on your walls." He made a show of looking around. "But the child you raised, the one who tried to end your life, remains. All I ever got from you was dollars in my back account every month." He chuckled, the sound cutting off when Gideon moved to stand at his side, his shoulder brushing André's. "Whatever. It doesn't matter. Get Alexander to agree to what I want. Not Gideon, me ." He tapped a finger to his chest. "And I'll see if I have room in my life for the father who didn't want me."

"André—"

He ignored Ennis's plea and walked out of the office, Gideon at his side, ignoring the security guys who guided them out of the house and outside to where Samir and the others waited, surrounded by armed men.

Gideon's team didn't seem to mind.

And they didn't ask questions when André and Gideon climbed into the SUV. Gideon's arm went around André as they drove off Ennis's palatial estate.

"Are you okay?"

No. He hated that he was still affected by Ennis's rejection of him. He hated that a part of him had wanted to agree, to say yes when Ennis said he wanted his son. Because the boy inside of André wanted his father.

But he didn't know if he could trust Ennis. He didn't know if he could forget all the years when he felt unwanted and unloved by the man who'd contributed to his life.

His tongue felt paralyzed though. He couldn't say those words to Gideon, so he just shook his head, burying his face in the other man's neck.

While his eyes burned with tears.