Page 249 of Saving Her

“I didn’t have a choice. He threatened to tell Cole everything. And you kept refusing to give him information. You thought you could handle it on your own. You were going to get yourself killed.”

“She’s lying.” Benji looks at me. “She had no idea where I was. Nobody did. But it’s true about that fucker threatening us. He’s going to tell everyone. That’s why I was late yesterday. I was trying to find him and fix this myself.”

I glance between them, having no clue which one is bluffing. “I swear to God, if I don’t get the full story, without contradictory bullshit, I’m going to lose my shit.”

“I already told you.” Layla’s tear-soaked eyes plead with me. “I had Benji’s location on my phone. I always do.”

“Like hell,” he spits. “I was using a burner.”

“Yes, but you had your main cell with you. In your bag or the car. I don’t know where exactly, but it was with you, Benji. I’m not lying.” The first tear escapes as her lips tremble. “I did this. I’m responsible for that woman’s death. And for the attack yesterday. It’s my fault.”

I stare at her. At the beautiful face that hid those sinister actions.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Benji collapses against the wall. “Why the fuck—”

“Because you wouldn’t have given him what he wanted. You were more likely to come clean to Cole,” she sobs. “I had no choice. I did it to protect Stella.”

“You did it to protect yourself,” I snap. “To protect your perfect fucking life in your perfect fucking house—”

Benji straightens, shoving from the wall to pull Layla into his side. “What’s it matter? The damage is done now. We need to move on. We can bury this.”

“Bury it?” My head fucking throbs. “And then what? Wait for Robert to come after Penny?”

He scoffs. “You barely know her.”

I gnash my teeth to the point of pain. Clench my fists until my knuckles burn. I could kill him. Right now. In this moment. I could retrieve the gun from my waistband and shoot him for his blatant disregard for her life.

“This is myfamily, Luc. My daughter.”

“If you tell her, it’s one more loose end,” Layla pleads. “If Cole finds out, he won’t hold me accountable. He’ll blame everything on Benji. He won’t care that it was my fault.”

“That’s because your husband is a grown-ass man who never should’ve done this in the first place. Now tell me what else you told that son of a bitch.”

The back door swings open and Hunt and Sarah step outside, their curiosity switching between the three of us.

“What are you doing here?” Hunt directs at me. “Aren’t you meant to be at Torian’s with the klepto?”

I ignore the taunt as they continue down the stairs, the door banging shut behind them.

“Who died?” Sarah asks.

“Nobody,” I sneer. “I’m just trying to have a conversation with my brother.”

“Must be a serious conversation.” She plasters her hands on her hips, all smug and superior. “I’m sensing a wealth of hostility.”

The door squeaks opens again, and I curse under my breath at the added audience. It isn’t until I glance up to see who it is that my world drops.

Penny.

Her gaze treks over me, from my clenched fists and intimidating stance to the stupid asshole in front of me who bears the brunt of my anger.

It takes a brief second for her expression to change. From curiosity to horror, the color draining from her features.

“It was him,” she whispers, still holding the door as if unsure whether to flee back inside. “It was your brother.”

Benji’s gaze bores into the side of my face as her eyes beg for answers.

I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to fix this.

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