Page 142 of Saving Her

She shrugs. “Put that title on a T-shirt and I’ll wear it with pride, because realistically, having my opinion without emotional attachment works in her favor when you’re too close to see what’s really happening. You’re enabling her. There’s no way Decker would let his sister get away with this death by melancholy.”

“I’m doing my best. He wanted me to treat her right. And I am. I even thought about buying her a goddamn puppy.”

Her face turns deadpan. “Donotbuy her a puppy, you fucking pussy.”

“Stop calling me that,” I snarl.

“Then stop acting like one. Seriously, who the hell are you, and what have you done with the badass I used to know? Where’s the real Luca? Because this right here—” she waves a hand in my direction “—is a fucking pitiful replacement. You’re pandering. To a woman. She’s never going to be reunited with Tobias in this state. She’s never going to be strong enough to return to her family. You need to push her again.”

She slides from her stool and smoothes her leather jacket. “And just FYI. Torian came home yesterday, so you’re—”

“Why the fuck am I still being kept in the dark?”

“Because I asked him to.” She straightens to her full height. “You need all the space you can get. And as I was saying, you’re running out of time to fix this. Hunt and Deck are still in Greece tying up loose ends, but they’ll be back soon and what do you think will happen then? Decker won’t continue letting you make choices for his sister when she’s a goddamn mess. So buck up, asshole. Or prepare to stand aside.”

I stiffen at the truth in her words. At the looming separation.

I won’t let someone else take over Penny’s care. Not even if it’s her family. Especially when it’s not what she wants.

“Handle it, Luca.” Sarah grabs her keys and purse from the counter and makes for the hall. “And donotbuy her a fucking puppy.”

She walks herself out. I’m too busy wallowing in self-loathing to follow.

I hate that she’s right.

Fucking detest it.

The thought of hurting Penny again makes me livid. But I need to make my move—before it’s too late.

And, from the sight of Penny approaching the French doors in my periphery, now is as good a time as any.

“Did she leave?” She steps inside, cautiously looking around.

“Yeah. It’s safe.”

I receive a half-hearted smile in return, the gorgeousness quickly fading. “Why did she come over this time?”

I could lie. I could blame my upcoming actions on Sarah, too.

“Luca?” She approaches, her brows raised in question, her eyes bloodshot from recent tears. “What did she want?”

“To help.”

“With what?” She continues to the fridge, turning her back to me as she grabs a bottle of juice.

“With you. She convinced me of something I didn’t want to acknowledge.”

Her movements slow while she pours a mouthful of OJ into a clean glass, drinks the contents, then returns the bottle to the fridge without a word.

I wait for her to ask for clarification. But she doesn’t, instead placing her glass in the sink before walking toward the hall. She’s already predicted what’s coming. I swear she already knows.

“Penny,” I warn. “Your time’s up.”

Her posture stiffens, her chin raising an inch in defiance. “Excuse me?” She doesn’t turn to face me. Doesn’t even glance over her shoulder.

“I said, ‘your time is up.’ You’re not wallowing anymore.”

There’s no response. Nothing at all, before she continues walking.

---