Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Penn
My right eye was swollen, but they’d finally let up after an hour of nonstop punching. I was getting bored, to be honest. I heard Olivia whimpering, but true to their word they kept their eyes closed.
“Keep your eyes closed. How are you two doing?”
Owen had tears streaming down his face. “They’re hurting you.”
“Meh, I don’t feel a thing.” It was true, but that didn’t mean damage wasn’t being done—just that I wasn’t hurting.
“Can I hug you?” Olivia asked. They weren’t tied up, and while I’d have loved a cuddle with my best girl, I didn’t want them to see me like this.
“I’ll make you a deal. Wait till your daddy gets here, so I can hug you back.”
She didn’t speak, just nodded her head. The metal door opened, and this time instead of the brute assholes that had been beating the shit out of me, Benito stepped in.
“Ouch,” He chuckled. He sauntered closer, hands in his pockets. “That must hurt.” I didn’t answer him.
“My guys say you won’t speak.” He shrugged. “Maybe you don’t give a shit if they hurt or kill you.” He looked over his shoulder at the twins. “But maybe you’ll talk if it’s not you in the shackles.”
I saw red. “You touch either of them, and I will kill you twice.”
He released a boisterous laugh. “And how do you plan on doing that?”
“Oh, I’ll find a way.”
He hummed. “Right. So, here’s how this is going to go. You have one hour. If you don’t tell me where my family is by that time, I will have to try other measures.” He gestured to the twins.
“Fuck you.”
He merely smirked and left.
“I won’t let him touch you guys.”
“I know, Penny,” Owen said.
Fuck, Gideon, hurry up.
After yet another hour of endless punches, kicks, and even a slice across my chest, the men left. I wasn’t hurting but my body was tiring. I wouldn’t close my eyes, though. I had to stay alert.
When the door opened again, I expected Benito. With both eyes swollen almost completely shut, I couldn’t make him out. It wasn’t until the scent of vanilla and roses hit me that I realized it wasn’t him, it was Jennifer.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“Fuck off.”
“I didn’t know he was going to do all this. He promised he wasn’t going to hurt anyone.”
I scoffed. “Did you miss The Red Wedding, Part Two?” I said, referencing Game of Thrones.
“It was too late by then…I didn’t know the type of man he was. He told me he loved me and needed help. I was just getting him information from inside the house. He told me to get Olivia to the van during the wedding so she wouldn’t get hurt. I didn’t know all of this was going to happen.”
“Save your tears.” I felt her hands on my face and flinched away. “Let me help you.”
“You can’t help me unless you have a key to these cuffs. Do you?”
“No.”
An idea sprung to mind, hopefully not one I’d end up regretting. “Did anyone see you come down here?”
“Came through the side entrance. No one saw.”
“Can you get out that way undetected?”
She was silent for a beat. “Probably.”
“Good. Take the twins and get them out of here; bring them to Gideon.”
“No, Penny!” Olivia shouted.
“Hush, now,” I ordered softly.
“If I do that, he’ll kill me.”
“If you don’t, he definitely will. If you want any chance to survive this, you’ll do as I ask.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be better if I know they’re safe.”
“Penny,” Owen whimpered but I ignored him. I could barely see Jennifer, but I made out her nod.
“Go now.”
“Penny, please,” Olivia cried.
“You both promised to do anything I asked, no argument, remember?”
I heard their sniffles followed by Owen and Olivia answering, “Yes.”
“Good. I want you to go to Jennifer. She will take you to Daddy.”
“Penny.” Olivia whispered. “They are going to kill you. I’m not stupid.”
I laughed wetly. “No, Livy, you’re the smartest girl I know. But I’m gonna be okay. Better if I know you and your brother are safe.”
“We don’t have a lot of time,” Jennifer interrupted.
“Please, you two go with her. I won’t be far behind you.”
Owen’s voice nearly shattered me as he sobbed. “We don’t lie to each other, Penny.”
“Jennifer, take them out of here.”
“Penny!” they both cried.
I hung my head, not wanting to even see the shadow of them leaving.
When the metal door closed and I knew they were gone, I let the tears fall.
Olivia wasn’t wrong. Benito was sure to kill me, especially after he found out the twins were gone.
I hated that through all the beatings I never felt an ounce of pain, but right now my heart hurt.
“What the fuck!” The shout roused me. I must have passed out, but for how long I didn’t know. “Where are they?” My head was yanked back and Benito’s stupid face was in mine.
“Lose something?”
“Motherfucker!” He hit me three times, closed fist. I spit out my teeth onto the floor by his feet.
“I’ll send you the bill for those. They are totally going to need to be replaced.”
“I’m going to kill you.” The cool metal from the barrel of his gun made me freeze.
I closed my eyes. This was it, and that was fine. His anger meant he hadn’t found the twins and they were with Gideon. He’d avenge my death, and soon Benito would join me in Hell.
Benito didn’t say anything and I wasn’t sure how long I had until he pulled the trigger, so I pretended I wasn’t here.
My mind went to the summer Gideon and I had taken the twins to the Bahamas, and we’d had a sandcastle competition.
His smile in the sunlight and his kisses in the twilight.
I thought about karaoke night with Rita and Dean, and Matteo trying to teach me cool slang and making me watch weird YouTube videos.
I even thought of Tennessee and the joy on her face whenever she saw me.
I’d had a good life. It had started rough, but it would end full. I had the love of a good man and his beautiful children. I’d been hugged more in the last two years than any before. I had zero regrets, just a heart filled with love.
I took one last breath, and my peace was shattered with a single gunshot.