35. Vaughn
Vaughn
“Sire. Unavowed.”
The Reeve’s voice sounded through the door before the knock even connected against the wood.
I paused in putting down the phone’s receiver, hanging up after my call with the Garden of the Gods’ second in charge, Melissa LaRoe.
Just as I looked up, the barrier swung open.
The Reeve stood there holding a medium-sized box.
Right behind him, a winded Theodore fought to catch his breath as he stepped through the threshold.
“What the devil is going on?”
“Ms. Penelope had a package delivered to her parents’ townhome today. I believe she left it for you.”
I bolted around my desk, taking the box from his hands. Immediately, my head drew back in confusion.
Marian LaRoe GS Tower 123 Regency Row Kensington London SW7 3AB United Kingdom
“This says Marian LaRoe.”
“Yes, Sire.”
My head shook and everything felt like a blur.
I could barely even function as I fought to make sense of what was happening.
“I don’t understand. I just got off the phone with Marian’s mother.
Why would Penelope have a box delivered to her parents’ address with Marian’s name on it? How would she even know—”
“Because she’s at Grove Square Towers,” Theo said, still fighting to catch his breath.
“I saw her. I saw Penelope. I raced over here as fast as I could. It was by pure chance, really. I’d only meant to see if I could question Ms. LaRoe over some interesting connections she had to the building you saw Penelope go into when the SLB took her.
Marian’s family owns that building. Anyway, while I was talking to security at the front desk, I glimpsed them both from across the main lobby.
They were heading into a bakery that sits inside the building. ”
“Penelope is with Marian? They’re together?”
“Yes. I’m positive of it. Penelope looked right at me, and she was with the blonde woman with red highlights. It was Marian LaRoe.”
I blinked through the news, trying to wrap my mind around the coincidence of the two women being together.
Marian LaRoe was almost the woman I had chosen before I knew about Penelope.
What were the odds of them being together?
And what about Melissa? I’d met her not days ago when she happened to be in town.
But she hadn’t said anything. I wasn’t sure she even knew.
Everything was strictly business. It had been since I’d chosen to work with her instead of Elec, the Garden’s Main Master.
My gaze lifted back to Theodore, and I pushed everything else away. “How was Penelope? Did she look okay?”
He hesitated before nodding. “I think so. She seemed suspicious of me, but she didn’t appear upset.
I will tell you this.” His head shook. “You’re not getting into that building.
I’m not sure I can either. I tried to pull every card I could.
Especially after I spotted Penelope, but it’s impossible.
They have it locked down. The amount of security is staggering.
It truly makes me wonder what’s all going on there, because it’s definitely not normal. ”
Racing took over my mind as I turned, placing the box on the desk. I grabbed the letter opener, breaking through the tape along the edges. When I pulled the top open, confusion had me looking back up to the men.
“It’s books.”
“Books?”
Theodore leaned forward.
One by one, I began taking them out, placing them flat across the top of the papers I’d been working on. As I scanned the titles, my heart began pounding.
“The Art of Solving Mysteries,” I read slowly. My finger trailed to the next. “Return When I Can. A Queen’s Own Journey. No Rescue Required.”
Theodore dove forward.
“Switch them around. Like this.” He moved the books, rearranging the order. “She’s smart.”
“I’ll be damned,” I breathed out. “The Art of Solving Mysteries. A Queen’s Own Journey. No Rescue Required. I’ll Return when I Can.” I looked up, meeting Theodore and The Reeve’s gaze. “She’s solving a mystery? Her own journey? What mystery would she need to solve by herself?”
Silence filled the room as we all looked at each other. The Reeve spoke up first.
“Whatever it is, your queen seems to know what she’s doing. She really is something else. You don’t think?” He stopped, seeming to analyze his own question. “Would Penelope be trying to help you?”
My head shook. “Very unlikely. I don’t see why she would. We didn’t often talk about my past.”
Theodore shrugged. “That doesn’t mean she’s not thinking of the future.
She’s definitely up to something. Should we deliver the books?
Ooh! I can do it. I’ll say I stopped by her parents to talk to her and came across the box which had this address.
I can refuse to hand it over without personal delivery. ”
“I don’t know. That could jeopardize her sending another message in the future if they find out.”
“But she’ll have me,” he insisted. “I can give her my card. It’ll have my phone number and email address. It even has my office address on there in case she needs it. Penelope needs to know that she has rights. As a barrister, I can provide her with those.”
“They’ll never let you through. Even with the box. Not if they’re keeping her isolated.”
He took in my words. “Perhaps, but I swear she knew there was something about me. The way she was looking back at me. I think she wondered if I was connected to you. I got the impression that she very much wished I was. Let me try to deliver the books and see what happens.”
“I have a better idea.”
My mind was swimming as I weeded through the best course of action.
“We print a new card. It won’t take half an hour.
” I snapped to The Reeve who nodded, talking into the mic at his shoulder.
“We print one with two phone numbers. Your phone number on the top, and mine underneath. Put “fax” next to mine. It’s a bit outdated, but maybe they won’t bother to pay it any mind if they confiscate the card.
Point to the second number so she knows which one to call.
Make it clear that I’m not leaving her a choice.
She will call and let me know what the hell is going on.
I don’t know what she’s up to with this mystery talk, and I’m not sure I like it. If this does revolve around me…”
Just the thought of her digging into my past made me feel ill. Everyone who tried to uncover the truth was murdered. To think that Penelope was putting herself in harm’s way, and I couldn’t protect her, left my stomach twisting in knots.
“You said you saw her there. That means they saw you too. You have to go today. As soon as possible. Especially if you want it to be believable that you found these books.”
I turned to The Reeve. “On your way to get the card, erase the footage of who picked up this package. We don’t want anyone to see that it wasn’t Theodore.
Also, tape back up the box that way it doesn’t look tampered with.
Theo.” I turned back to him. “Don’t take no for an answer.
You get eyes on Penelope and give her that card.
I want her calling me before the night is over with. ”
“I’ll do everything I can.”
Nodding, I collected the books, putting them back in the box.
I was tempted to write my number on a card and stick it in one of the pages, but it was too risky.
They obviously wanted Penelope hidden for a reason, and I knew it was because they suspected that I was behind her abduction.
She was former nobility. What if word was out that I was interested in settling?
Mr. Prescott knew. Others might as well.
And Penelope was a perfect choice. That’s what worried me. It was too obvious.
The Reeve took the box, and Theo paused at the door.
“I’ll fight like hell to get her down so I can deliver the message. If anything, I’ll see if Penelope will play along with my game. I have an idea. Don’t hate me. Don’t fucking kill me either.”
I stepped around the desk. “What are you up to?”
“We’re both eligible and young.”
A smile appeared—half amused, half threatening.
“You’re going to pretend you two share something.”
“You can say that. Like I said, I’ll do everything I can.”
Slowly, I nodded. “Thank you.”
“You bet. I’ll call the moment I know something.”
Theodore disappeared, closing the door behind him. I lowered, still staring towards the barrier.
I couldn’t deny feeling some sort of connection with Theodore Hart. I even sort of liked him. It wasn’t often I felt that around other men. For some reason, I felt like I could trust him. Not that I would, but a part of me did feel comfort in the possibility.
My head lowered, and I looked at the papers I’d been immersed in not twenty minutes before. Going back to looking at numbers was inconceivable. The wheels in my mind were spinning. I felt like I was going at the speed of light when in reality, time ticked by in torturous seconds.
For weeks I had been going crazy with wanting information.
I had continued to drive around when I could.
I stalked the streets. Nothing. And now that I had something, I was still powerless.
There was nothing I could do to bring Penelope home.
To make it worse, it appeared as if she were refusing to return, even if she had the opportunity.
What did this mean? What sort of mystery was she trying to solve?
I lowered my head to rest in my hands. The more I gave it thought, the more the fear grew.
There was only one mystery I knew of. Me.
Unless Penelope had something she wasn’t telling me, I couldn’t imagine her staying away for anything else.
Unless it was an excuse to keep us apart.
Maybe she just didn’t want to be with me and was too afraid to be honest about it.
Was it possible she was finished with me?
Minutes passed as I weighed the sickening thoughts. I couldn’t just sit here and wait. Not while Theodore might possibly see Penelope. I wanted to be there. I wanted to see her, too. If I had to wait another day—an hour—
Standing from the desk, I left my study, heading down the halls of The Order. The stone walls and guards blurred as I headed for the north entrance.
I wouldn’t see her. I knew it in the deepest crevices of my soul, but it hurt too badly to accept the truth.
I hated it. The pressure inside me was going wild.
It was pressing against every part of me so heavily that I was sure I’d burst. The sensation was as thick as it was hot, and it packed so much anger that it begged me to end this now.
To get Penelope back no matter the cost.
I took out my phone, texting The Reeve.
Me: I’m taking position outside of Grove Square. I want to make sure no one is going to be waiting for Theodore after he leaves. A second appearance might trigger suspicion.
Reeve: Smart. Your followers will trail behind.
I didn’t bother to answer or argue. I didn’t want to be followed, but now that I had stepped into my position as High Master and The Unavowed, there was no going back. Privacy didn’t exist anymore. It couldn’t. If I needed help, it would be there.
Two guards rested ahead, and I nodded, heading up the stairs and exiting The Order. The private underground parking garage opened up, and I left the darkness of the small room to step into the dim lighting of the parking spaces. I unlocked my car, climbing in and starting it.
How many times had I said, call Penelope? How many times had I sat in this very seat and listened to her talk for hours?
My jaw clenched as I threw it in drive and squeezed into the steering wheel. As I wound around and emerged into the light of day, I couldn’t stop from calculating a way to see her.
I wasn’t used to not getting my way. What I wanted was mine. What I wanted was her.