Chapter 6 #2
Penny’s lower lip trembled, but she didn’t cry.
Instead, she took a deep breath and said, “What do I do? How do I keep Bowie safe? He threatened to sell her. I don’t know for what or to who, but I’ll die before I let anyone lay one hand on her.
She’s paid enough for her father’s actions. I can’t lose her, Pyro. I won’t.”
“Of course you won’t. I’m going to make sure you’re both safe.”
“Why?”
“Because…in the week I’ve known you and your daughter, you’ve gotten under my skin. I’ve never felt this way before, Penny. And honestly, it’s scary as hell. I’d rather face down a dozen insurgents with RPGs than say the wrong thing to Bowie and upset her.”
Penny’s expression softened, and she reached out and squeezed Pyro’s hand. He kept hold of it afterward, enjoying the warmth of her skin against his too much to let go. He’d never been a touchy-feely man. But he couldn’t get enough of Penny’s touches.
“I feel the same way,” she admitted. “Not facing missiles, but I enjoy spending time with you. But that’s not why I asked ‘why’.”
“It wasn’t?”
“No. Why would Colvin come pursue me all the way to another country for some measly amount of money? Measly to him, not to me. A drop in the bucket to a millionaire. Would he really go to such extreme measures to get his payment?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not willing to risk your or Bowie’s safety by not at least considering it.
Tex informed me that he’s left Gabon as well.
Most foreign nationals have left the country because it’s pretty unstable at the moment.
He had a ticket to go back to the UK, but he didn’t get on the flight.
He’s in the wind, and that isn’t giving either of us warm, fuzzy feelings.
He could’ve flown almost anywhere using one of his aliases, or a new one we don’t know about.
Tex is working to find him, but he warned it could take a while, especially if he’s using a new name.
Not to mention, he could always send one of his minions to collect the money, like I said. ”
“Crud,” Penny muttered under her breath.
Pyro couldn’t help but smile at the very G-rated curse word.
Then he sobered. “I’m committed to keeping you and Bowie safe.
My friends and I don’t like bullies, it’s part of the reason why we do what we do.
We’ll do anything we can to keep you safe, but you have to do your part too.
Be smart. If someone comes to your door, do not open it.
If someone catches you on the street or at the grocery, give them whatever money they demand.
We’ll fight Colvin from the back end, but that might take a while, especially if he can’t be found. ”
“The last amount he told me I owed was like forty thousand dollars. I don’t have that, obviously. And giving him two hundred bucks a month, it’ll take me forever to pay him off. And that’s without interest!”
She sounded a little hysterical, which both pissed off Pyro and made him want to do whatever it took to calm her. He leaned forward and put a hand on the nape of her neck, pulling her close and resting his forehead against hers.
“Breathe, Penny. I’ve got you.”
She closed her eyes, and he felt her attempt to rein in her emotions. What she didn’t do was pull away from him. Instead, she clasped his other hand tighter and put her free hand on his upper arm, digging her fingernails in lightly.
“We’re going to figure this out,” he reassured her once again. “I promise.”
She sighed, then pulled away from him and nodded.
Pyro let his hand slip from her neck. Her hair felt like silk, and it was all he could do not to run his fingers through it. That would be creepy for sure. And the last thing he wanted was to do anything that might make this woman leery of him.
“Now…can we talk about your living arrangements when we get to Virginia?” he asked. “Have you decided what would be best for you and Bowie?”
“I appreciate your offers to pay for a hotel or give up your apartment for Bowie and me more than you’ll know. But I don’t want to put you out, and I don’t think it’s smart to incur more debt.”
“My offer to pay for a hotel would be a gift. Not something you need to pay back. In fact, I’d be offended if you even tried,” he told her sternly.
“I figured. But it would be really hard for me to accept a gift like that. So I think, if it’s okay and if she agrees, I’d like to move in with Zita.
Obi-Wan said he sent her an email explaining the situation, and got confirmation she was going to move into that building with the security.
And that she was actually excited about having someone living there with her.
But I want to be sure. Bowie’s a good girl, but again, she’s six.
And I’m sure Zita didn’t expect to get a kid as a roommate. ”
“Zita’s good people. If Obi-Wan says she’s excited about the prospect of you and Bowie moving in, then she is. I mean, she’s from Hollywood, where lots of people are all about appearances and lying for a living. But that so isn’t her.”
“Yeah, but now that we’ve talked, I’m kind of reconsidering it. What if Colvin comes for me or Bowie? What if he hurts Zita in the process?”
“The building has security,” Pyro reassured her, even though he was thinking he and Obi-Wan might want to get together and add cameras to the apartment and extra locks on the door, just in case.
“This is exciting and nerve-racking at the same time,” Penny admitted.
“Concentrate on the exciting stuff while I deal with the scary parts,” Pyro ordered. “There’s an elementary school not too far from the apartment complex, and you can get Bowie enrolled.”
“That’s awesome. I need to find a job, too, which might be difficult considering my lack of experience.”
“You’ll find something, I know it. And you’ve got some great contacts now. We all know a lot of people. After all, it’s more about who you know than what you know. We’ve got your back, Penny.”
“This is all so hard to believe. I mean, in a single week, my life has completely changed.”
“For the better,” Pyro said.
“Absolutely. And it’s all because of you. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“It’s not because of me. It’s because of you. You’re a good person with a huge heart, and you deserve a break.”
“There are a lot of good people out there, Pyro, I’m not sure why I’ve been singled out, but I’m not dumb enough to reject the help. If not for me, then for Bowie.”
Pyro wanted to kiss her. Badly. But he held back. This wasn’t the time or the place. Penny was still getting back on her feet. He wanted her to choose to be with him, to kiss him because she wanted to, not because she felt obligated or thankful for what he was doing for her.
He could be patient. Good things came to those who waited…or worked hard. And he could do both. He’d show Penny and her daughter that he was a man they could rely on. Someone who had their backs, no matter what.
Because if this week had proven anything, it was that he wanted this woman and her daughter for his own.
He wanted to claim them, spoil them, show them what a good man looked like.
Up until now, he hadn’t been sure he had what it took to be a decent partner or father.
But the more he was around Bowie and Penny, the more he was certain.
He wouldn’t let them down. Not as long as he had breath in his body.