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“Love you,” Mom said as she hugged me and kissed my cheek.
“Love you too.”
Kelly held me loosely. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
“They deserved it,” Zach told me in a one-armed hug.
I nodded.
Dennis held me tight and whispered, “I hope they die horribly in prison.”
I certainly agreed when it came to Johnson.
Josh held me by the shoulders. “Chin up, Sis. Tomorrow is another day.”
I nodded.
Dad gave me his standard bear hug. “Now that this is over, maybe you’d like to come along with your mother and me on a Mediterranean cruise—decompress a little.”
“Thanks, Dad, but I’ve got work.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Yes, I do.” This was an old argument. He wanted me to rely on his money, and I wanted my independence. He might also be trying to get me away from Duke.
“Okay for now. We’ll talk more later.” He let me go. “Lunch is on me,” he announced. “As soon as I deal with the press.”
Now, it was time for the next chapter of my life, and that chapter would not be complete without Duke.
Duke
The sentencing hearinghadn’t been on the court calendar until yesterday. If one ever needed confirmation that advertising spending could affect the interest level of local TV news outlets, this was it.
On the courthouse steps, Lloyd Benson stood in front of the microphones of a huge press group. “I’d like to thank the LAPD and the district attorney’s office for their hard work in securing my daughter’s safety and the conviction of the men responsible.”
My teeth clenched. The asshole didn’t mention a word about Hawk Security being the ones to rescue Serena. She had warned me that her father would take credit for the rescue and to not get worked up about it. Easier said than done.
“Our city is not a safe place for criminal scum like the men and women who were locked up today,” he continued.
“Are you satisfied with the sentence?” a reporter asked.
“I would have preferred that California allow the death penalty for their crimes, but this will have to do. If the men I sent after them had been better shots, maybe today wouldn’t have been necessary… But, well…”
Seething, I turned away.
Serena stroked my arm. “It’s just messaging.”
It was messaging all right—don’t mess with Papa Benson.
Lucas turned and strode away, probably equally insulted.
“Let it be known,” Benson continued, “that if any of my extended family is threatened in any way, the perpetrator will be brought to justice. I will spend every last penny of my wealth to hunt them down, and nowhere on Earth will be a safe place for them to hide.” His tone was icy, and that sentiment was one I agreed with.
I towed my woman away. “I can’t take any more of this bullshit—better shot my ass.”
“It’s just optics,” she assured me.
