“Matt?”
I looked up at Penny. I was so tired of hurting everyone aroundme because I was so fucked up in the head. “I’ll call him, okay?”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry, Penny. About not telling you guys about Scarlettsooner. About stressing James out.”
“Are you going to tell me what all this is about? How did youget tied up with Isabella’s father? Do you owe him money or something? Because Ican…”
“I don’t owe him money. The only thing that matters now iskeeping Scarlett safe. And I think I have a way to do that. But I’m going toneed one of James’ prototype cameras.” That was probably the worst segue ever. ButI had to ask her before she walked out the door.
“The prototypes are at Hunter Tech headquarters. Why don’tyou just ask Rob? It’s easier for him to grab them.”
Rob. Of course. Why hadn’t I thought of that? I couldhave avoided this whole thing. Well, not really. I’d made a mess of everythinglast night. And it was just like Penny to come try to pick up all the pieces. “Goodidea.”
“You really think you’ll be able to get out of this alone?”asked Penny. “Because you don’t have to. It’s my daughter’s life that’s on theline. I want to help. I need to help. If you would just talk to me.”
“Tanner’s actually helping me.”
“Oh. Well, that’s good, I guess. He’s a really nice guy.”
“Mhm.” I stared at her.
She just stared back, waiting for me to tell her how I’dgotten into this mess. Or what my problem was with James. Or maybe to talkabout how nice of a guy Tanner was. Or something. Anything. But I didn’t wantto drag her into this.
“I should probably go,” she said. “James is expecting me homefor dinner. I told him our plans were canceled, even though I never told you.”
I gave her a half-hearted smile.
“Call him soon, okay?” Before she could even turn around toleave, the sound of my front door opening made us both freeze.
But it didn’t take me long to get moving. I grabbed Penny’shand and pulled her behind the kitchen island.
“What’s going…”
I put my hand over her mouth to silence her. “Don’t say aword,” I whispered.
Penny looked terrified, but she nodded.
I didn’t know what was going on, but it couldn’t be good. Noone had keys to my place. Whoever had just come in hadn’t come in with goodmotives. It was like I could hear the seconds of my life ticking down in myhead. I’d purposely upset Mr. Pruitt. I’d provoked him into action. And I’deven come to my house despite Tanner warning me not to. I had no one to blamebut myself.
But instead of freaking out, all I could do was stare at thewoman kneeling beside me.
I relished the way her lips felt on the palm of my hand. Herlooking at me like she was relying on me. And for just a second, I forgot allabout the intruder. This would have been the perfect moment to kiss her. As theseconds ticked down. To show her how I felt. All I had to do was remove my hand.
Chapter 26
Tuesday
A tear trickled down Penny’s cheek, pulling me out of mydaydream. She was terrified. Her thoughts were probably swirling with her lovefor her children and James. Not me.
I didn’t want James to be right about me. I didn’t want toruin his life. Kissing Penny would be a mistake. And I was tired of makingmistakes. I slowly lowered my hand from her mouth, knowing that was as close asI’d get to her lips kissing my skin. My crush on her was unrequited. But thatdidn’t mean I wouldn’t give my life to save her. She was still one of my closestfriends. She was still able to make me smile when no one else seemed able to. Iowed her for that. For making a few of the years after Brooklyn’s deathbearable.
We both sat there and listened to the footsteps in the foyer.It sounded like whoever it was had high heels on. Or high heeled boots. Whichmeant it was probably the hitwoman. She wasn’t here to hurt Penny. She was herefor me. No one else needed to get hurt.
I glanced at Penny. Another tear rolled down her cheek. Weweren’t going to be able to hide in here for long. I hadn’t even had time tohit the lights to bathe us in darkness. We were almost completely exposed. Iput my index finger to my lips to remind Penny to stay quiet. And then I crawledalong the hardwood floors toward the other end of the kitchen island. I reachedup and grabbed a knife out of the knife block and then sat back down.
The footsteps were coming this way. I couldn’t save Brooklynall those years ago. But I could save Penny now.
I grasped the knife tighter in my hand. All I had was theelement of surprise.
Penny moved to sit next to me, then grabbed my arm and shookher head.
I reached out and ran my thumb along her cheek, removing thetears. “Tell James I forgive him,” I whispered.
She looked confused. But James would understand. He’d know Iwas talking about Brooklyn. The least I could do was make that right. I pulledmy hand away from Penny’s face.
I peered around the end of the island, but I couldn’t seeanyone.
“Matt,” Penny hissed.
The footsteps stopped. “Is someone there?”
Fuck. I made my way around the side of the counter andpoked my head out. I could see high heeled boots through my vantage pointbeneath the kitchen stools. They weren’t the high heeled black ones thehitwoman had been wearing the other day. They were shorter with a thick heeland kind of beat up in an on-purpose kind of way that I’d never
