Page 91 of Saving Her

Her lips part on silent words and the pained betrayal she levels on me is fucking brutal. I’ve gone from being her rescuer to her tormentor in the space of a few heartbeats, and I’ve gotta admit, the punishment is more severe than the pound in my head.

Iwantto help her. I always have. But right now, I can’t stop agreeing with Torian. She needs to get out of here. If not for safety reasons, then for her mental health. “Leaving without him will be a good thing. You can focus on yourself to start healing.”

“Donotmake decisions for me. You can’t do this. You promised,” she implores, clinging tighter to a boy who seems more frightened of her reaction than his future. “You said—”

“I promised to keep you safe. To protect you.”

She backs herself into the wall, frantically dragging Tobias with her. “You said you wouldn’t hurt me.Thisis you hurting me.”

“Penny,” I warn. “You’re scaring the kid. I’m sure you realize the last thing you want to do is drive a wedge between him and the people who will now be taking over his care.”

She swallows, her tongue frantically snaking out to swipe her lower lip. “I’m all he’s got.”

Somehow, deep down, I think she knows she’s got the statement backward.He’sallshe’sgot. He’s her hope. Her light. He’s probably the only thing she has left to fight for, which makes this even harder.

“Penny, it’s okay. I don’t mind staying.” Tobias peers up at her. “They were nice to me while you were gone. Keira told me lots of things about my family that I didn’t know. I even have a niece who lives in Portland where Baba came from. But she’s my age. Isn’t that weird?”

The poor fucking kid is trying to console her and I’m sure she sees it.

Her wince says it all.

“She’s also Luca’s niece,” he adds. “Luca and I share the same family.”

Penny glances at me, her wince transforming to confusion before settling into more betrayal. She’s judging me, disapproving of yet another connection to a crime-riddled syndicate. “You’re family?”

I wish I could ignore my spike in annoyance but that fucker increases the pressure in my skull. “My brother married Torian’s other sister, Layla.”

She narrows her eyes. “Congratulations. Their relationship must be lucrative for you.”

I don’t respond, not with more than a mimicked squint.

I can be her punching bag if that’s what she needs. Yeah, it fucking stings after everything I’ve done for her. But I get it. She’s hurting.

“Tobias, why don’t you let Penny have some space for a little while?” I reach out and beckon him forward. “She needs time to think.”

“Penny?” The boy looks between me and the woman holding him hostage, searching for guidance from opposing sides. “What should I do?”

She drags her gaze to him, the tip of her nose turning red.

“It’s okay.” I keep my arm outstretched. “She’s going to be right here. I just want you to get to know your family better before she leaves. It will be good for her to see you settle in.”

Tobias continues ping-ponging his attention between us, raising the tension in the room. When he takes his first step away Penny’s face falls, her arms wrapping around her middle as she squeezes her eyes shut.

“I’ll take him.” Decker reaches for the kid, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go see what Keira is up to.”

Penny turns her back to me and faces the wall, her posture stiff as Tobias is led from the room. She doesn’t cry. Or if she does, I don’t hear it. There’s no tremble in her shoulders. No more sniffling.

She remains strong. So fucking strong.

I don’t break the silence and neither does she. I just watch her, wishing I knew how to make this easier.

“You promised,” she mumbles. “You said you wouldn’t hurt me, but you already have.”

“This isn’t me hurting you. Being sent home is a result of your actions, not mine. We needed that guard to talk and now he’s useless.”

“Useless?” She swings around to face me. “Why?”

“You hit an artery. He passed out from blood loss. And if he isn’t already dead, he soon will be.”

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