Page 75 of Penn
Willa’s eyes sparkle. “You’ve got it bad.”
“I do,” I admit without hesitation. “And I’m hoping…” I falter for a beat. “I’m hoping this thing with Jace gets handled. And that maybe this thing with Penn is just the start of something bigger.”
Mazzy reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “I think it already is.”
I might actually be starting to believe that’s true.
CHAPTER 26
Mila
Mornings after aloss always seem more somber. It was that way even back when I lived under my parents’ roof and my dad coached the Wraiths. Penn and I got home late last night after dropping an overtime game to the Minnesota Raiders. There were no beers to bond over, no lingering at the arena. Penn had been quiet, frustrated like any competitive athlete would be, but it didn’t stop him from taking me to bed and giving me two blistering orgasms before claiming his own. The memory alone is enough to put a secret smile on my face as I stand at the stove, flipping bacon while the smell of coffee tinges the air.
I hear the shower cut off down the hall, and a minute later, Penn pads into the kitchen—hair damp and mussed, sweatpants hanging low on his hips. His eyes land on me, and before I can even greet him, he’s behind me, arms sliding around my waist, pulling me back against his solid chest.
“You’re too damn perfect for me,” he murmurs against my neck, pressing a kiss to the sensitive spot just below my ear. “I don’t deserve this.”
“Yes, you do,” I whisper. “I think we both deserve it.”
I should be enjoying this, but I’ve had a quiver of nerves in my stomach all morning. I can’t stop thinking about Jace and Peter. They were supposed to meet yesterday afternoon and we haven’t heard a thing. For all I know, they could both be hiding outside of the front gates, ready to take a shot at us.
No. Peter wouldn’t do that. I trust he’s on my side in this.
The doorbell rings and Penn’s body tenses against mine for a moment before he releases me. Without a word, he heads to the front door while I flip off the heat on the stove. When he opens it, Kynan and Malik stand on the portico, both dressed casually in jeans and heavy coats.
Penn welcomes them in and they both offer me a smile. The mood I’d been reveling in just moments ago shifts so fast it’s like a cold front rolling through the door. Penn offers quick handshakes and I follow them all into the great room, perching next to Penn on the couch as Kynan takes the lead.
“Peter met with Jace yesterday for several hours and then came straight to Jameson to debrief us,” Kynan says, resting his elbows on his knees.
Penn’s posture stiffens beside me and I blindly reach for his hand, feeling immediately secure when he takes it.
Malik stands off to the side, arms crossed, but his expression is hard. Focused.
“And?” Penn asks, already tense.
Kynan doesn’t sugarcoat it. “Jace clearly wants revenge against both of you, but he would not give Peter specifics. We’d coached Peter on how hard to press him and it appears he played it appropriately cool, but Jace doesn’t quite trust him.”
“So he got nothing?” I ask.
“He got something.” Kynan’s gaze locks on me. “He wants Peter to arrange a meeting with you to talk.”
“Talk?!” Penn barks, leaning forward on the couch. “We all know he doesn’t want to talk.”
“Agreed,” Kynan replies calmly. “He clearly wants to hurt you.”
Penn is on his feet, dropping my hand before I can process that fully. He paces in front of the coffee table. “So he wants a hand-delivered victim? Jesus Christ.”
“Jace isn’t stupid,” Malik says. “He knows something feels off. This is his way of proving Peter’s really on his side.”
Kynan leans back in the chair. “Which brings us to what we’re here to discuss. We have a plan in mind to lure him into a controlled environment. We would set up a meet—someplace neutral, somewhere we have full control. You’d be protected every second, but you’d need to be there to bait him in.”
“Are you fucking crazy?” Penn yells before Kynan can even finish. “Absolutely not. I’ve already told you, we’re not using her like that. Figure out something else.”
“It’s the best shot we have of catching him in the act,” Malik offers calmly. “Something we can pin on him that will actually stick. Those threats he made don’t mean anything to the cops.”
Penn throws his hands wide. “Then get his plans on a recording. Wire Peter up and send him back.”
“Words on a wire aren’t going to cut it,” Kynan says. “If we don’t get him making a move on either Mila or you, he’ll just come after her again.”
