to block with my forearm. At the same time, the other lunged at me, and I crunched my knee into his balls. The one who had stumbled back from my punch reached into his pocket, and with perfect timing, Patrick entered the fray, brandishing a gun.
I kicked the thug to the ground and stood on his hand while Patrick had the other man in a headlock. It all happened in a matter of seconds.
I moved my foot onto the fat man’s gut. “Are you just trying to rob me? Or are you connected to Fox?”
He struggled to speak. “He’s sent us to remind you.”
“Give him this message: if he wants to talk to me, he knows where I am. He doesn’t need to send fat thickheads. Got that?”
Patrick asked, “Should I call the cops?”
I shook my head. “I just want to get home.”
Pointing his gun at the pair, Patrick waited until they disappeared before he got back into the car. That was one of the many advantages of having a driver who’d fought for the Special Forces. In addition to his unwavering loyalty, Patrick had the strength of six men.
As we drove past them, I turned and noticed the pair shuffling off, looking the worse for wear.
Penelope handed me a tissue. “Are you okay?”
Her glassy-eyed fear broke my heart. I took her hand and nodded reassuringly. “I’m fine.”
She shook her head. “I’ve seen plenty of fights. But hell, where did you learn to fight like that?”
I almost laughed, more out of nervous tension than humor. “Where I come from, kids did that for a pastime. We didn’t have coloring books or video games to entertain us.”
Her lips turned up at one end before tightening again. “Was that just a random attack?”
“Yep. Random,” I lied.
For someone running a crime syndicate, Dylan Fox hadn’t chosen his minions well. Apart from that recording, I now held another trump card. The thugs who’d attempted Penelope’s abduction had become mine to manipulate. All it took was a little cash and witnesses promising to testify against them. I shook my head in disbelief at Dylan’s stupidity, which shouldn’t have surprised me. Even as a young boy, he’d been brainless and sadistic.
50
* * *
PENELOPE
TWO SECURITY GUARDS LOITERED by my house, looking very conspicuous. Blake had arranged it. He’d also insisted that Patrick drive me everywhere, mumbling something about keeping me safe, which fed my paranoia.
Blake sent me a quick message that he had a pressing deadline. I hadn’t seen him for a whole day and night, which wasn’t long, but given how inseparable we’d become, I still felt it. I’d become accustomed to sharing my bed with him. I missed his hungry mouth crushing mine, and his hot needy body pressed against me, touching me in a way that opened me wide as his big dick ravished me.
That proposal of marriage hung in the air. I wondered if I could spend my life with such a man, who could go from being hot and passionate, to icy and remote within a breath.
Yet, my body, heart, and soul belonged to him.
All these thoughts followed me along as I made my way to his house. I thought that if Blake could pop in whenever he liked, then so could I.
I lifted the brass knocker tentatively. Pierce answered, and although normally jovial, he seemed a little taken aback.
“Hey, Pierce.” I used my jolliest voice.
He hesitantly led me through.
I heard a female voice and looked at Pierce, who returned an apologetic smile, which only served to incriminate Blake and knot my gut.
I headed toward the voices, which came from his office, and knocked on the door. Being ajar, it opened.
A very attractive woman with a notepad sat opposite him. Blake had his legs stretched out, denoting a casual, intimate discussion. He turned toward me, and the color in his face drained away. “Penny.”
I bit my lip. “I thought I’d drop in.” I looked over at the blond woman with the long legs and fitted blouse showing her curves. I felt faint. “Am I interrupting something?”
“This is Amelia.” Blake looked at her and said, “And this is Penelope.”
Not his girlfriend? Just Penelope. Mm…
My fingernails impaled my sweaty palms.
“I see you’re occupied. I just thought I’d drop in to say hi.” My eyes wandered over to Amelia, who remained blank faced.
I turned and walked out. Blake followed me into the living room.
“Hey.” He took my hand. “It’s not what you think.”
“Really? You looked pretty chummy. Why do I get this feeling I’m intruding?”
“Because