didn’t react I made up a story about being in witness protection.”
She looks entirely fragile as she relays the story. Fragile yet solid. Vulnerable and strong. Such contrasting facets that make her all the more mesmerizing.
“You mentioned Anissa, too,” Torian grates.
“I had no choice. I didn’t want to be arrested.”
“It’s okay. It’s over now.” I entwine our fingers, trying to offer more support. “Can you tell us anything else about the shooter? What did he look like? What did he say?”
“He didn’t say anything. Just tapped the gun against the window.” She shudders, her fingers trembling in mine. “He wore a thick, black ski mask. His entire face was covered, and his eyes were shadowed with the headlights beaming behind him. I couldn’t even tell you what color they were because all I wanted to do was get out of there.”
“Did you get any details on his car?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I didn’t see anything. I’d tilted the rear-view mirror away to stop the glare from his headlights. I have absolutely no information at all. Nothing.”
I meet Torian’s gaze. “What do you want to do?”
He pushes from his chair. “I’ll put out some feelers. We’ll find who’s responsible. Do you have any requests once I catch the culprit?”
“Yeah. Let me deal with them.”
Penny stiffens, but I’m thankful she doesn’t deny my revenge. Nothing will stop me from slaughtering the person who tried to take her life.
“I can do that.” Torian looms over the table, jutting his chin at our entwined hands. “You might want to keep that under wraps. I don’t feel like disposing of another dead body in the near future.”
Penny’s hand slips out from beneath mine, the retreat frantic, as I glare at Torian. “Thanks for the tip.”
He smirks. “I’m nothing if not helpful.” He starts for the hall. “If you remember anything, I want to hear it.”
I stand and turn to Penny as she rises to her feet. “I’m going to walk him out. Why don’t you take a shower?”
She nods, her eyes darting from me to Torian who stalks away. “Have I caused a huge mess?”
“It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry about.” I kiss her quick. Hard. “I won’t be long.”
I leave her standing there, lengthening my stride to catch up to Torian as he opens the front door and turns to face me.
“Do you know what you’re doing with her?” he asks.
“No,” I answer honestly. “I’ve got no fucking clue. The only thing I’m certain of is that I don’t want Decker finding out until she’s ready.”
“Well, he won’t hear it from me, but you realize it’s written all over your face, right? He’s going to take one look at you two together and know straight away. He probably already does, with the way you chased her into the house.”
“I’ve got time. I’d only finished telling him I hadn’t laid a hand on her when you pulled into the drive. The way she brutally ignored me when she got out of the car helped, too.”
“Seemed like a lovers’ tiff to me. But what do I know?” He steps outside, glancing at me over his shoulder. “I’ve got a hundred dollars that says he figures it out next time he sees you, and that he attempts to take your life with your own gun.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“I didn’t say he’d succeed.” He keeps walking. “Enjoy the rest of your night. It might be the last you have.”
Asshole.
I shut the door, locking it behind him, then make my way back toward Penny’s room.
She’s in the shower, the water loud through the pipes.
I decide to do the same, turning off the lights and checking the doors, before I shut myself into the bathroom to wash away the events of the day.
I need to scrub off the layers of lust she painted over me, the depth of her touch that makes it hard to concentrate on what’s important. All I can think about is that kiss… the way I pinned her against the wall… how she’d only just come home from being fucking shot at.
She would’ve been filled with adrenaline. Fucking crazed.
Now there’s a homicidal shooter on the run and I’m standing here with my dick in my hand.
I’m such an asshole.
I hope she’s already gone to bed by the time I wrench off the taps. I don’t want to see her again. Not when I know that the second I do, everything will come flooding back—the hunger, the need, the cloying obsession with wanting her