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“Hey, I don’t know what you are talking about,” Patrick denied.
“Asshole, you’re here trying to rally public opinion for yourself as a victim. Standing here pretending you’d no idea what shit was going down in that family is utter bullshit. You were as culpable as them.”
One by one, Ezra laid out the rest of Patrick’s crimes as the man dashed away, ignoring the media, calling out to him. Ezra eyed the gathered reporters.
“You go looking. You’ll find the evidence like I did. The man’s a prick, and we don’t need him as a politician.”
“How’s Dana Tyne doing?” a woman called out.
“Dana’s recovering. And thank you to everyone who’s sent best wishes and gifts. It means a lot to her,” Ezra answered and moved away with Madison.
“So, that was interesting,” Madison said.
“There are lots of ways to deal with a bad man. And I will teach you all of them,” Ezra promised.
“I’ll look forward to that,” Madison replied as they reached the park.
Quickly letting go of Ezra’s hand, Madison rushed off to play.
Ezra relaxed on a bench, keeping a sharp eye on her. But all he saw was happiness and laughter, and it soothed his soul. Madison deserved this, and Ezra and Dana would break their backs to give it to her. One day, Madison would be a great big sister.
???
A huge manhunt was undergoing for Shania and Duke, who’d disappeared. Everyone at the house that day told the same story. They’d attacked and discovered Madison and Dana, but there hadn’t been a sign of Shania and Duke. Because Duke’s crimes crossed state lines, Willow was the lead for the FBI. But she knew it was a case of never finding them alive. Despite this, she fulfilled her duty until the bodies appeared, if they ever would. But Willow wasn’t fazed. Ezra guessed that Willow understood what had happened but was going through the motions.
It was three days after the press incident, during which the media found evidence of Patrick’s crimes and hung him out to dry. He’d also been arrested yesterday when Ramirez had dragged him from his home in cuffs. It’d played on TV, causing Ezra and Dana to laugh.
Dana had been released today, and she was now settled in the home Phoe had purchased for them. Phoe had done her job and worked with the figures that Ezra gave her, and they’d a beautiful house on the outskirts of the city, near everyone else.
Madison had gone crazy when she’d seen the swimming pool and then freaked at her princess bedroom. It was the only room that was properly furnished.
Ezra and Dana had already begun the paperwork to adopt her.
Ezra and Dana’s bedroom had the huge bed he’d ordered, and there was a sofa set he’d picked, but he’d left everything else for Dana to order. His personal belongings and Dana’s few bits they’d found in the car were also here.
Madison discovered the empty house made her voice echo and had great fun with that.
Dana had broken down this morning when Ezra had gifted her with boxes of items from her burned out home, including her grandmother’s blanket. It had been carefully washed several times over to remove the smell of smoke. Ezra and several of his brothers had braved the wreck to gather whatever they could that was still in good condition. And eight large boxes had been brought to Dana full of treasures.
Right now, their home was full of women, all on laptops, sitting around on the floor or two armchairs; no one wanted to crush Dana as she laid on the sofa. They were all showing her things for the home and as soon as Dana nodded approval, they were ordering it.
Ezra was relieved to escape, knowing shit was about to get serious with the old ladies when they were in a buying mood.
Their house would be fully decorated and furnished by the end of the week. The Hawthorne men had stopped by this morning, all carrying bags of goodies for Madison, who’d already been spoiled by Rage. It amazed Ezra that nobody duplicated anything until he was told Silvie had set up a shopping list, and they’d all used that.
Ezra was sneaking out now to meet Hawthorne’s and his brothers at their offices, which had been repaired after the attack. Marissa Hawthorne recovered from her ordeal and had been out and about, but he knew Hawthorne had noticed a change in his sister. Marissa was quieter, which worried him, and he’d urged her to get counselling. Ezra knew Hawthorne was wondering if something had taken place during the kidnapping that Marissa wouldn’t talk about. Not even to her cousins or best friends. Marissa was under close surveillance by many individuals who were worried about her.
Ezra marched into the offices and made his way downstairs to a room nobody knew about except Hawthorne’s and now certain members of Rage. The basement held four cells and a wide space. Tied to two chairs were Shania and Duke. Both were gagged and looked terrible, but Ezra lacked sympathy.
They were dripping wet, and he saw Max putting a hose away.
“They stunk,” Max stated as Ezra watched some bubbles float to the floor.
“Max took offence and chucked two bottles of soap over them and scrubbed them with a broom,” Apache added to Ezra, who chuckled.
That explained the scratch marks on Shania and Duke. Shania was sobbing behind her gag, her eyes filled with panic. All the Hawthorne men were present alongside Leila. From Rage, Drake, Apache, Ace, Texas, and Fish.
Ezra nodded at his brothers and approached Shania.
