Page 10 of Saving Penny
He slowly followed her toward her bedroom and stopped at the door, curious about his Penny. Her room was a master suit with a en suite connected to it. A king size bed was the star of the room. It held his attention as he began to imagine the both of them entangled on it in the throes of passion, naked and sweating.
“Oh!” She jumped back as she came out of her walk-in closet.
“I’m sorry I startled you. I was just getting a layout of your apartment,” he lied, stepping into the room.
“Of course.” She nodded, her wide eyes locked on him as he walked around her room. He moved over to the window that held a flimsy sheer curtain in front of it. It would not hide anything. Whoever wanted to look into her room would get an eyeful at night if she left her light on.
“Where are the items that were sent to you?” he asked, turning to her. He tried to avoid looking at her bed, but his eyes went in that direction anyway. He turned back to her and found her eyes on him. Her teeth pulled at her plump bottom lip, and he held back a growl. It should be him nibbling on her bottom lip. He strolled across the room, stopping in front of her. She tilted her head back so that she could look up at him. “Nothing will happen to you. I promise this to you,” he growled.
He meant it.
Whoever this was would have to go through him to get to her. Thirty years he had dreamt of her, and he would be damned if he let someone rip her out of his life.
“For some strange reason, I believe you,” she murmured. Reaching up slowly, she laid the palm of her hand against his jawline. He grabbed her hand and brought the back of it to his lips, placing a chaste kiss against it.
“The items,” he reminded her. She blinked her eyes before turning away.
“I stored them in the spare bedroom.” She motioned for him to follow her. He walked behind her and paused at the other bedroom door as she grabbed a large box off the bed. She brushed past him and led him back to the living room. Sitting the box on the coffee table, she perched herself on the edge of the couch.
He unbuttoned his suit jacket and removed it, laying it on the arm of her recliner. He remained standing as he reached inside the box and removed the manila envelope first.
She remained silent as he looked at each picture and studied them. Whoever this was had been following her much longer than she’d let on. Each photograph of her were at places that he could tell she frequented. The way she was captured led Drake to believe that not only was this a stalker, but the person was obsessed with her. Each picture was almost professional quality. This person had taken the time to make sure they captured her in the perfect light, perfect angle, and highlighted her best features.
She was definitely in danger. This person would make due on his promise.
“Do you have any enemies?” he asked, pausing to look at her. “Anyone that would want to harm you?”
“Not that I know of.” She shook her head before pausing. “Well, there is—never mind. I don’t think he’s that crazy.”
“Who?” he snapped. “Let me be the one to make the decision to cross someone off the suspect list. Right now, you can’t trust anyone. Everyone is a suspect until we can prove they’re not your stalker.” He reached inside the box and opened the smaller box that again, he could tell, the person went through great lengths to ensure the gift was perfect.
“Well, the only person I can think of would be my coworker, Nolan Andrews, who has always been an ass to me. Especially recently—”
He cursed as the object came into view. Growling, he glanced at Penny to find her frozen in her chair with fear in her eyes. He had to pull back his incisors and his inner beast. He ached to sink his teeth into the person threatening her. His wolf wanted to rip him to shreds.
He blinked his eyes and cursed at himself for scaring her.
“Go on.” He nodded to her as he reached for his cell phone inside of his jacket. He walked over to the large bay window that overlooked the front courtyard of her apartment building. She would have to leave this place until it was deemed safe. He shot off a text to Doru, to ready one of their safe houses.
“I’ve been acknowledged as the top seller for the past three quarters, and he’s just been a little obnoxious to me, trying to spread rumors that I’m sleeping my way to success, which is a lie. I bust my ass every day to get the numbers I do,” she huffed, sitting back on the couch. He turned back to her and took notice that she had kicked her shoes off, displaying her small delicate feet.
“Do you have to finish out the two week notice?” he asked, leaning against the wall.
“I was just trying to finish up some last-minute things to help with the transition of my accounts to my coworkers. It was more so for my clients than me,” she admitted. “I can’t just leave them high and dry. My conscious won’t let me do that.”
“That’s very kind of you, but you won’t be able to stay here. We’re going to move you to a safe house.”
“But what about work?” She sat up with concern etched on her face. “I have to finish this—”
He held his hand up, cutting her off.
“You’ll stay at a safe house, and you will be escorted to your job. We will ensure that there’s someone near you at all times. My men are good and won’t be seen. Continuing out the remainder of your time will allow us to eliminate your coworkers. We don’t want to alert him that we might be onto him.”
She nodded in understanding. His phone dinged and he glanced down to read the message from his brother.
Not a problem. Who do you want assigned to her?Doru asked.
We won’t need anyone. I’m taking this case, he shot back and glanced at her.
