“Yeah. I thought so. And it was your good buddy James that we have to thank for all of this. Because those shots going into the club are nicely incriminating.”
I pointed my finger in his face. “The underage girls lead back to you, Fox.”
“That club’s not in my name.” He smirked.
I exhaled a breath. “So what next?”
“I want my inheritance.”
I cocked my head. “I think you can stop calling it that now, don’t you?”
“I don’t give a damn as to whether I’m a Fox or a…”
“Or a Wolf.” Now it was my turn to smirk. “How apt. Gareth Wolf, the gardener your mom was bonking, was your dad. I always thought you were fucking common.”
He shrugged. “Unlike you, I’m not a fucking snob. I couldn’t give a shit where I sprouted from.” His beady eyes wore a smarmy grin.
“You’ll hear from my lawyer.”
He nodded. “Good.”
“If you go anywhere near Penelope, your balls will be the first thing to come off.”
“You get your solicitor onto this. You were ignoring my messages. We had to do something to gain your attention.” He arched his ugly eyebrow.
44
* * *
PENELOPE
MY NERVES WERE SO raw I hadn’t slept. After that encounter at the estate with those thugs, I decided to stay with Sheldon. I should have all along, but I needed to go back to where my life began to wallow and howl. I couldn’t stop blaming myself for not being there to care for her. If I hadn’t been indulging in Blake, I would have been there to call for help. And if Jimmy and Brent hadn’t kicked the living daylights out of those heavies who’d tried to force me into their van, I wouldn’t have been there to arrange my mother’s funeral.
The chill in my body had not yet thawed. Talk about stars misaligning. It had been one hell of a crappy week.
I stepped into the local hall. Given my mother’s staunch atheism, it would have seemed hypocritical to have a service in a church. Instead, Frank and I decided to hold it at the local hall, the same place where as kids we’d attended lessons or whatever community services were offered in a bid to give us a break from our miserable lives. For me, it was art. I’d learned how to paint in that little hall, which changed my life.
Sheldon held one of my hands and Lilly the other. Brent sat by her side.
Tears poured out of me as though an artery to my soul had burst.
“Oh, Penny. I’m so sorry.” Lilly’s tears became mine, and it all started again. My throat was so thick I couldn’t talk.
I looked up at Brent. “Thanks for yesterday.”
“Hey. It’s cool. You can always count on me.” I cast him a sad smile of gratitude.
Sheldon whispered, “Blake’s here.”
My legs trembled. I was too frightened to look. My eyes were blurred from weeping. I was a train wreck.
It had been a week since I’d run out of his home.
I loved him so much it hurt. That bone-chilling image hadn’t diluted the intense passion I felt for him. Knowing what I now knew, ours was a dark descent into desire—a feast of fucking. But it’s more than that, my soul whimpered.
He stood so close that a dizzying haze engulfed me. Sensing his breath on my neck, I leaned against Sheldon, who whispered, “I’ve got you.”
“Penelope.” Blake’s deep voice penetrated through me.
I turned, and his sky-blue eyes fell into mine. Suddenly, we were alone. He looked tired and beautiful, and I just wanted to forgive him. But who is he?
“Thanks for coming.” I kept it brief.
Normally clean-shaven, Blake had stubble around his jaw, accentuating his sensual lips. I tore my eyes away from him and looked down at my knotted fingers to maintain composure.
“Penelope.”
Gazing up at him, I struggled to fight back more tears.
He took my hand. “I’m really sorry about your mother.”
I looked away. “Thanks.”
“After the service, will you give me a moment, please?”
Tears dripped down my cheeks. I must have looked a wreck as I glanced up at him. Drowning in his eyes, I surrendered with a nod before returning to my seat.
During the service, people spoke of my mother’s kindness and how she’d helped the local kids with their reading and writing. My heart expanded, knowing that her life hadn’t been a complete waste.
There was no end to my tears, and I sagged, weighed down by a heavy heart.
After the service, I witnessed Blake handing Jimmy a check. I took a deep breath and joined them.
“Hey, man, this is unnecessary. Penny’s one of us. I mean, she’s the good one.” He turned and, acknowledging my presence, nodded. “Hey, I’m sorry about Sandy. She was a good woman.”
“Thanks for coming, Jimmy.” I nodded to the other guys, who’d gathered around him. The dealers. The so-called bad guys.
“Hey, we didn’t supply her. Ever. You know that, don’t you? She was like our mom.”
“Yeah. I know, Jimmy.” I looked down at the check in his hand. “Take it. He can afford it.”
“But fuck. One hundred thousand? Shit.” His face contorted in shock.
I almost smiled.
“Go somewhere. Start afresh. Stop dealing,” I said.
He looked at Blake. “I can’t take this, man.”
“Please.” He nodded. “It’s yours. The other guy…”
“Brent,” I corrected. “That’s Lilly’s brother.”
“I gave him a check too. Take it.” Blake tapped Jimmy on the arm. It was a strange pairing, and my heart went out to Blake. He seemed so soft. I wanted to fall into his arms and kiss him.
“Penelope.” He looked deep into my eyes. “Can you please give me a moment alone?”
I followed him behind the hall. Over the road, at my old playground, I saw kids kicking a soccer ball around, full of energy and laughing like any child. I wondered if their moms or dads were junkies or alcoholics or sad, weak creatures that society had forgotten about.
“Blake, that was incredibly generous of you.”
“It’s small change. I would’ve given everything to save you. I’d go poor tomorrow if need be.”
“You’d lose everything for me?” I asked.
“I might be about to.”
My face pinched. “You can’t give into blackmail on my behalf.”
His face lit up slightly. “You believe that those photos were doctored?”
“How did they get that image of you on your side?”
“One of the women I was with must have taken it.” He cleared his throat. “Before I met you, I used to hire professionals for my needs.” He paused, looking contrite. “You know my views on relationships and …”
“Then what was I?” I interrupted, refusing to overanalyze the fact he’d used prostitutes for sex. Would I prefer a bevy of bitter exes following us around?
“You were—I mean you are…” He took a deep breath.
For someone normally eloquent, Blake couldn’t articulate his feelings. Just as I was about to push for more, Sheldon and Lilly found us.