she understands.”
“Make sure you do,” he snarls. “Now there’s one more thing we need to discuss before you drag her ass out here. I told you to take care of her financially, yet she still stole from me. Why?”
I scoff. “What could she have possibly stolen?”
“Money. I’ve got a contact at the bank who’s been keeping an eye on my father’s accounts. He told me a stack of cash has been withdrawn.”
“And you’re pointing the finger at Penny? What about your dad’s informants? Or your sisters? How do you know they didn’t take the money?”
“Because I called them. Neither know how to access the accounts. I also mentioned the issue to Penny, and she didn’t deny it.”
I straighten, not believing his story. “So she confirmed it?”
“Not exactly. I’m well aware she’s not in her right mind at the moment. That’s why I need you to discuss it with her. Find out where she keeps the keycard and destroy it.”
“It’s fucking impossible. She came home from Greece empty-handed.”
“Her hands might have been empty, but did you do a cavity search? Or did you save that until you got home?” He winks.
“Fuck you.” My nostrils flare as I grip the chair tight enough to make my fingers ache. “I’m not sleeping with her. And I’d bet good money she isn’t responsible for touching your father’s accounts.”
He shrugs. “I’ll have proof in the form of security pictures soon enough. I suggest you speak to her before then. Now get her out here; I’ve got other things to do before the night is over.”
I pause a second, unsure if I should be placing Penny in front of his barely leashed mood.
“I’ll be civil,” he drawls, as if reading my mind. “Just get her out here.”
“You better be.” I call over my shoulder. “Penny, can you come out here?” I wait for a response that doesn’t come. “Penny?”
“For your sake, I hope she didn’t steal my car this time.”
“Very funny.” I start for the hall only to be stopped by her walking into the living area.
“You wanted me?” she asks.
Without doubt.
Always.
“Take a seat,” Torian instructs. “I need to get details on what happened tonight while they’re still clear in your mind.”
She glances between the two of us as she approaches, wary yet confident. She takes the seat to my right, sitting tall, her hands placed on the table. “I can’t tell you much.”
I fling out my chair and sit beside her. “What happened?”
“I drove—”
“Where?” Torian interrupts.
“I don’t know. I was just driving, trying to get out of Portland. But I had to pull over.”
“Why?” I ask.
She shoots me a pained glance, then returns her attention to Torian. “I wasn’t in the best state of mind. So I parked on the side of the road in some sort of industrial area. Not long after, a car came up behind me. I thought it was Luc or Hunter. And because I was still angry, I didn’t even look as the man approached. I just waited for someone to order me out from behind the wheel.”
“You’re sure it was a man?” Torian leans back in his chair, still calm, still unconcerned.
“Yes. The frame was too big for a woman. He came right up to my door and tapped the barrel of a gun against the glass.”
Jesus.
Why the fuck didn’t she mention this earlier?
“Then what?” I reach for her hand and squeeze her fingers.
“I planted my foot. I tried to get out of there straight away, but the car wasn’t in gear. So I panicked, and scrambled for the gearstick. That’s when he fired at the glass. By the time I got out of there he’d shot at me four or five times. Twice against the window, a few against the side panels, and at least one in the tire.”
I wipe my free hand over my mouth, holding in the string of fear-filled aggression. My migraine pulses between my temples. She never should’ve been in that situation. I never should’ve forced her to run.
“Then what happened?” Torian asks.
“I kept driving, even when I lost the tire.” Her words accelerate, tumbling faster from those gorgeous lips. “I don’t know where I went, but the patrol car eventually caught up with me and pulled me over. I didn’t know what to do. I’m not even meant to be alive as far as the government are concerned, so when the officer demanded my ID, I asked if he knew Cole Torian, and when he didn’t react I made up a story about