Chapter 28
28
COLLINS
“He’s threatening her from the inside out,” Nic says, slamming his fist down on his desk. He scans through the mail that Graham confiscated from Penny’s place. Holding the bubble envelope in his hand, he reads aloud the prison address.
“And he’s been sending her shit like this for weeks?” I ask for clarification.
Graham nods. “Yes, apparently. One, two, three…”
How were we all not made privy to these mysterious deliveries?
Nic stands up and tosses the envelope onto the surface of his desk, nearly jostling the framed picture of one of Claire’s ultrasounds. “We need to get this handwriting analyzed.”
“On it,” I say, scrolling through my phone contacts until I find the one I’m looking for. I take a picture of the prison address and send it off.
Graham clears his throat. “There is zero reason to even write on the envelope. And yet the sender chose to print it by hand.”
I rub at the back of my neck. “To make this threat more personal.”
“Exactly,” Nic responds. “He’s tormenting her, and I want to rip out his heart and feed it to him.”
“His death is going to happen with the same emotion and effort as he has put forth haunting our baby sister. This has always been personal,” Graham says with a growl. “And I’m fucking over these games.”
Nic paces his new home office space. “Penny’s terrified. I could tell as soon as she arrived here.”
He’s right. I sense it too, despite her valiant effort at trying to keep calm and distracted. I’m sure my overprotectiveness isn’t easing her mind either. If anything, it’s making her more vulnerable.
“I’ve increased security on her,” I offer. “And now knowing this development, I’m glad I preemptively upped it.”
“Do what you need to do,” Graham says, “but don’t let Penny know too much about the process or she’ll have ample reason to try to divert the watch. That’s the last thing we need.”
I nod in agreement. I’m all too familiar with Penny’s view on a security detail. It was her reckless behavior that made it easier to get into this contract predicament in the first place.
The only way to keep that girl safe is to make sure she’s within reach.
Unfortunately, I can’t always be there to watch her every move and must find trust in the backup guard.
Chris may have seen a lot during his military days, but I doubt anything could fully prepare him for Penelope Hoffman. He saw a glimpse of her in action at Limit-X, but even then, he had me to orchestrate getting her safely back home.
“Is everything set for today?” Nic asks, changing the subject.
“Yes. I’m going to drop off a payment installment near the prison and get this ball rolling. The faster we can get Tanner into an altercation, the better. I’m getting impatient as fuck.”
“Tanner’s life clock is ticking,” Nic says with a snarl.
I crack my knuckles. “And his death couldn’t come soon enough.”
* * *
It takes me a solid four seconds to look at the trio of giggling women in the kitchen and know what they are plotting—and it’s not a Crock-Pot meal.
“No girls gone wild nights,” I say firmly, speaking for Graham and Nic. There’s no way they would approve of their women going out, especially with everything going on right now, so I feel confident being the spokesperson.
Yet, I am worried. These ladies look so determined, and if there’s anything I shouldn’t do, it is to underestimate them. I wouldn’t put it past them to use sexual favors to get their way.
Penny, for sure, would resort to anything to defy me—that’s a given.
“We will keep it tame,” Claire insists.
Lies.
When Angie and Claire aren’t paying attention, I pull Penny aside near the refrigerator. “You are not accepting an invite for a girls’ night. So start practicing how you will let them down, because you are not dirty dancing in a club while I sit back and watch.”
“No one is saying you just have to watch, Collins. You can join in too. There’s always room on the dance floor.”
My eyes penetrate into hers, hoping to see what she is really thinking.
I can tell she wants to run, and I hope she understands that I’m always calculating how fast I could get to her if she were to decide to be that ballsy.
A headache is already starting from the pressure to keep this girl safe and the revelation that someone is managing to send her mail from the prison. I feel on edge and in a volatile state with my emotions. The last thing I need is to chaperone a wild night out.
Nope.
This is where I draw the line.
“You’re not going.”
I glance over and see Angie and Claire move into the other room, probably to find their men, leaving Penny and me alone.
“I always heard amazing things about make-up sex,” she whispers.
“Have you now?”
Where is she going with this…
“Do you think we could use girls’ night as a little edging experiment, and then afterward fuck like horned-up bunnies to make up for all of the tension we had to endure? I like the idea of you going all feral and treating me like your slutty piece of real estate.”
My eyes darken. “I don’t think I’m physically able to guard you and keep our little secret when I’m certain other men will be wanting to shoot their shot with you.”
“As long as they don’t shoot their loads…”
“Penny,” I hiss.
“Just kidding.”
“I’m being serious.”
“Maybe you won’t have to guard me.”
I know I make a face. Is she for real? But I humor her anyway. “And why not?”
“You’ve taught me a dozen or more self-defense lessons over the course of the past few weeks.”
“I have. But I don’t leave things precious to me in vulnerable positions to be taken away from me, Princess.”
Her expression tightens, marring her once calm expression. “Don’t you get it? There was an entire year where I didn’t get to experience life. I was trapped in a mental prison, where the only key that would open the lock was the truth.” Choking back tears, she straightens her posture, and instantly, I want to hug her to me. “I need to live my life to the fullest and not constantly fear my own shadow.”
“Let me think about it.”
We walk into the living room, joining the girls with the Hoffman men.
“We will keep it Disney,” Claire promises Nic. “Rated G.”
Nic stands beside me, and I’m silently relieved that I’ll have support on this cause. We think a lot alike when it comes to privacy and security.
“No,” he says flatly.
“Just let it marinate at least,” Penny pleads.
Nic looks at his little sister like she is on his last nerve. I can so relate. “I need you to keep a low profile, Penny. There’s going to be a lot of things happening over the next few weeks, and I need you safe.”
“Like what type of things?” she challenges.
If it wasn’t for my own concerns over her safety, I’d feel refreshed that someone else is on the receiving end of her attitude. But I’m not. Instead, I’m stressed and ready to lock this princess up.
Penny props her hands on her hips, poking out her bottom lip. “You aren’t even giving us a chance to prove you wrong.”
“We are never wrong,” Graham says, making Nic and me chuckle. He’s not usually the one to lighten the mood, so it catches us off guard. “You ladies are predictably a disaster out in public where music and margaritas are active catalysts in your often impulsive plan.”
It’s true. And none of us need this added anxiety to tack on to the day.
I just spent the better part of an hour going over prison layouts, looking at surveillance video, and cross-referencing employee schedules. The last thing I want to do tonight is have a migraine from worrying over Penny being out in public, making inevitably bad choices.
And unfortunately, I need to drop off a bag of cash as discreetly as possible to a prison contact who will be doing us all a huge favor.
Mark Tanner is going to be taking a little trip to the hospital for an unfortunate injury. It’s going to be tragic when he doesn’t make it back to good health in time for his trial.
Poor guy…
But at least he’ll be attending his own funeral.
I just need the driver of the prison transportation to understand his responsibilities prior to getting to Portland General Hospital. And I need a solid alibi for every member of the Hoffman family.
“You guys look stressed,” Angie responds. “Maybe if you all had a fun poker night, we could relax at a club.”
“The last time I hosted a big poker game,” Graham says, pulling his wife into his side, “you decided to take out your aggressions on?—”
“Your bitchy ex-girlfriend who deserved every scratch and bruise I served up to her.”
I stifle a smile. She sure is fierce.
All these women are—especially Penny. She’s understated and subtle about it though. But faced with a challenge, I know she’d be able to throw down.
She learned her moves from the best—me.
But by no means do I want to be separated from her while she gallivants around town—and I lose hands in poker because I’m obsessing over her.
With this added stressor of transporting a bag of money, I need a clear head so I don’t miss anyone following me or noticing anything out of place. I’ll even need to get a rental vehicle just as a precaution.
“Let’s table this discussion for now,” Graham says, giving me the look. He knows I’m on a strict timeline to make my discreet deposit.
“Penny, I need to talk to you.”
She looks over at me, her face marred with confusion. “It’s time to go?”
I nod.
“We would give you a ride back,” Graham explains, “but we need to swing by Dad’s office first and drop off our donation check. Then Angie has an appointment soon afterward.”
“Oh, for the charity event coming up?” she asks.
“Yes. Are you attending this year?”
I notice a sadness wash over Penny’s face. She couldn’t make it last year, but this year is different. She is stronger—stable.
“I’m going to try.”
Her dad’s ambitious efforts have continued to increase the overall donations every year to benefit the construction of community centers all over the state and the entire West Coast. It’s honorable to help fund the production of buildings that benefit every age group and socioeconomic status for the patrons that choose to enter through their doors.
Graham gives her a look. “Please don’t volunteer for the auction.”
“Why?” Then she crosses her hands in front of her chest. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
“The last thing I need is to fake bid on my sister so no rich idiot thinks you’re for sale.”
Wait. What? There’s a bachelorette auction? I better follow up on that later.
There’s no way in hell I’ll allow Penny to prance around on stage while some fuckers in the audience bid on her. I don’t really need the details on any of it. Every scenario I can think of sounds equally horrible.
We finish up our goodbyes and walk out together to the front porch.
Penny turns to me. Her beautiful, crystal-blue eyes melt whatever hardness I’m feeling over the meeting with her brothers. “What’s wrong?” she asks.
“What do you mean?” Am I really that obvious?
“You just look so tense.”
“I need Chris to take you back to my place. Something’s come up that I need to check on.” It’s a half-lie. I’ve been planning these steps for weeks now and agonizing over every little detail while biding my time.
“Does it have to do with Mark?”
I look away. I don’t want to continue to lie to her, but I also don’t want her to have a setback on her mental health. And that fucker has already created enough turmoil inside of this innocent girl. “I won’t let him threaten you, Penny.”
“So you’re going to visit him in prison?”
I let out an exaggerated breath. “I don’t want you worrying about anything. I have this under control.”
“But that’s why you are convinced I won’t have to testify. It’s because Mark is going to die beforehand?”
Warmth creeps up my neck, and suddenly I feel overheated. “I’m not discussing this with you.”
She takes a step forward. “No matter how much you try to shield me, I’m invested in the outcome for everyone involved. If you get caught, you’ll go to prison. And I won’t survive that!”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he understands the message.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Silence.
“Seriously, Collins… This is my life.”
“I just need you to go back to Sky View and allow Chris to get you there safely. I’ll meet back up with you in two hours tops.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
* * *
Sweat forms along my forehead as the weight of this mission rests on my shoulders.
I have a very short window of time to make this deposit, and the reluctance to leave Penny nearly made me blow up the entire timeline.
Opening up the back door of the rental car, I toss in a cardboard box with the description of “kitchen supplies” labeled along the side panel in black Sharpie. It’s a decoy though. Actually inside the box is a black duffle bag that is full of cash.
It’s a good faith deposit. The rest will be paid when the actual job gets completed.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I take a deep breath and secure my seat belt. I’m usually never nervous and yet this has me twitchy.
We are getting close to the execution of the endgame plan, and there’s nothing that I’d like better than to see it all through.
Waste management costs a lot. Luckily the Hoffman brothers have the finances, and I have the intel to know just how to work around the system.
There’s no way we could trust the legal system not to jack this up.
Now there will be no room for chance or loopholes or technicalities.
Putting the rental into reverse, I pull out of the parking spot and then onto the main road.
About three miles before I get to the meetup location, I pull over along the side of the road. I place my nondescript ball cap onto my head and then send a text from my burner phone.
So many things are running through my head as to how all of this might play out over the next couple of months. First, Mark Tanner needs to not be placed inside solitary for any reason. Then there’s going to be a massive prison fight that will be sparked. And last, Tanner is going to need to take a trip to the hospital.
As soon as I get word that he’s on the transport, I have to make my move.
No matter how many dangerous and seemingly impossible missions I’ve done in my lifetime, this one is crucial for the livelihood of the Hoffmans.
Mark Tanner being in prison is not enough to exorcise the lingering trauma from Penny’s mind.
The only thing that could potentially do that is proof of a death certificate.
Rolling my shoulders, I shift the car back into drive and pull out onto the road.
When I get to the meetup location at an abandoned mechanic’s shop, just three-quarters of a mile outside of the prison’s southern perimeter, I wait for my contact to back in alongside me.
Lowering my window as he does the same, I hand over the moving box.
“Here’s another phone,” I say, handing over a new burner one just in case. “And inside the box is a little case with a tracking device inside. Place that on the transport vehicle, and I’ll be able to know the exact location when it’s go time.”
“Then we’re all set?”
“Yes. Just give the signal.”
“You know they have him on suicide watch.”
“He wants them to think that,” I say with a sneer. “He has to know I’m gunning for him the first chance I get.”
“Then it better be a brawl and not some hissy fit that derails this entire thing.”
“Exactly.”
Raising our windows, we leave the shop and go our separate ways. I turn on my phone that will be used to get the signal, just in case.
It’s a waiting game now.
I drive in silence back to Sky View, with just the sound of the car and asphalt filling the space. My mind wanders to what Penny’s doing. She’s probably driving Chris nuts with a million questions.