She hesitates long enough for the silence to become awkward. Uncomfortable. I lock every muscle, not wanting the barest twinge to spook her and still she doesn’t move.
I’m about to straighten when she lunges toward me, the tension on the string pulled tight before a twang announces she’s followed my order.
Her retreat is swift. The slide of her steps moving toward the vanity, the rush of water letting me know she’s washing her hands.
I hide a smile from my lips as I drag myself to my feet, making sure to keep my distance as I turn to the mirror. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She doesn’t meet my gaze. Not once as she shuts off the taps and backs away.
Her visual disconnect doesn’t stop me from staring at her though. I barely drag my gaze away as I take her place at the sink and cup water in my hands to splash over my face and head.
“You should probably try to keep it dry for a while.” She wipes her hands on her stained pants, keeping her attention downcast. “I don’t know a lot about infection, but I think moisture doesn’t help.”
“I’ll make sure to do that.” I will her to look at me. To trust me. I do it for so long it seems as though a day passes in the thickened silence until footsteps sound in the distance.
“Luca?” Cole calls from the bedroom. “Where are you?”
Penny’s attention snaps to mine, her eyes flaring before she rushes to the tub.
Fuck.
“The bathroom.” I grab the towel stashed beneath the numerous T-shirts I brought in for the kid and lob it at her. “Here. Dry him off with this.”
She catches the plush material and spreads it wide as Tobias splashes to his feet.
“Don’t panic.” She smiles at the boy, the expression fake as she wraps him in the towel. “We’re safe, remember?”
Her rigidity doesn’t fade as Cole comes to stand in the doorway, Hunt and Decker flanking him from behind.
For a while, nobody speaks. None of them have to. Their visual accusation is loud enough.
The weight of everyone’s focus shifts from Penny, to my fucking naked chest, the resulting glower from Decker harsh enough to cut stone.
“I’m told my brother is sick,” Cole grates.
Penny lasers a frantic glance my way. Those dark eyes are filled with indecision. She’s weighing her options. Wondering if she should trust me or keep forging ahead on her own.
“He isn’t sick,” I answer for her, holding her gaze. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
She stares at me, the questioning slowly fading from her features, transforming her look into something more threatening.
The building hardness in her expression is a warning. A blatant you-better-know-what-you’re-fucking-doing. And with this, I do. Without a doubt I know she shouldn’t fuck with Torian.
“Then why the hell was I told differently?” he asks.
“It was a miscommunication.” I wipe the lingering moisture from my face with my forearm. “Tobias is fine.”
“Fine?” Torian’s eyes narrow. “I was told he was in urgent need of medical attention. Isn’t that the story she gave my sister?”
“Like I said, it was a miscommunication.” I pin him with a stare. With a silent warning I’m not going to budge. “But it doesn’t change the fact her friends are stuck back at your dad’s house. We need to get them out before someone is instructed to dispose of evidence.”
“They’re my family,” Penny corrects. “Not just friends. They’re my sisters.”
“So I’ve heard.” Cole scrutinizes her, the slow appraisal moving from head to toe. He’s weighing his options, judging her concern and the worth of her sisters against the risk associated with rescuing them. “Keira is being rather pushy about sending us back to Naxos to get these women. What are your thoughts, Luca?”
Penny’s focus snaps to me and in an instant she regresses from strong warrior to begging beauty. I could stand here for hours drowning in her silent pleas, the gentle sweep of her lashes, the subtle waver to her breathing.
“I need more details,” I admit. “At the moment, I’m not entirely sure what we’re up against, but I don’t see why Hunt, Deck, and I can’t go on a recovery mission. We could get information while we’re there.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Torian gives a subtle nod. “I’d be interested in any hard drives you could find. A prisoner would be even better.”
“I’m sure that could be arranged.” I grab a clean shirt from the counter and slowly drag it over my head, making sure not to bump the newest addition to my scar tally. “If Penny came with us it could save time.”
“Fuck off.” Decker pushes past Torian to get into the bathroom. “She’s not going anywhere.”
“Please.” Penny ignores her brother and speaks to my boss. “I could get you whatever you want—files, computers, money—I can even show you where the safes are. Nobody else knows that place like I do. Not even the guards have been there as long as I have.”
“Me too,” the boy adds. “I know all Baba’s passwords.”
“Over my dead body,” Decker snarls. “I won’t allow it.”
Penny hardens—her face, her posture, those damn eyes. “You’re not my keeper.” She returns her focus to Torian. “He’s a stranger to me. He has no right to make decisions on my behalf.”
Decker pulls back as if the verbal attack was physical. We’re all quiet as a kaleidoscope of emotions barrage his features. First shock, then pain, and finally volatile fucking fury as he pins me with a glare. “You did this. I don’t know how, but you’re fucking responsible.”
“I didn’t do shit.” The pound in my head increases, my vision darkening with the onslaught of raised voices. The gift of unconsciousness hovers close, but if I pass out Penny won’t get what she wants. Nobody else is going to fight to get her friends back. “I’ll make sure she’s protected.”
Decker snarls. “Like fuck—”
“Stop.” Torian raises a hand in warning. “We’re moving this conversation into the living room. Let the boy dress in privacy.”
He stalks from the doorway.
Nobody follows.
Decker continues to glare at me. Penny remains on edge. And I’m pretty sure Hunt is only hanging around because he enjoys the dramatics.
“You heard him.” I push from the vanity, willing my legs to keep holding my weight. “Start moving.”
Decker sneers at me before storming from the room, Hunt shadowing.
I wait until their footsteps fade, for everything to dissolve into the distance, and turn to Penny. “You okay?”
She raises a brow. “Are you? Your skin has turned grey.”
“We’re not talking about me right now.”
She nudges closer to Tobias and dries his hair with the corner of the towel. “I’ve been through worse than an argument with my brother.”
That goes without saying. The thought of what she endured at the hands of Luther sits like a lead weight in my gut.
“I can look after myself.” She keeps ruffling the kid’s hair with the towel. “I just need you to convince them to take me when you go back to Naxos.”