Chapter 25
Christian
“I told myself I should learn not to be surprised by anything from you.”
Penelope’s voice held apprehension, more so now that we’d been more truthful with one another than before.
“How so?” I asked, tossing her a helmet, which she caught then stared at, her chest rising and falling lightly.
“A motorcycle?”
“Not just any motorcycle but a Harley. There are two ways to experience my estate at sundown. One is on a horse, which I own several of, and another is on a bike, where you truly have a sense of freedom.”
“I’ve never been on either one,” she admitted.
I grinned as I slipped on the helmet. “Then I guess you’ll soon get to experience both. The question stands. Can you trust me?” At this point, I was surprised that was possible.
She’d all but accused me of killing people.
My surprise had been her reaction. What I’d learned from everything Kingston had shared with me about the lengths she’d gone to with her father had provided everything I needed to know about her strength, her resolve, and her ability to see past typical rules and laws.
Did that making killing people who betrayed me acceptable in her mind? Likely not, but she understood being willing to do anything to save someone she cared about.
However, it was a story she needed to tell me if and when she was ready.
Although, I was keenly aware Carrington Jacobs was prepared to use the scandal against her. That much I had the advantage of knowing. What remained in the shadows were his plans on destroying Tempest.
But she knew more than she’d been willing to tell me.
And why? Because she wanted to protect me. Now all I wanted to do was to wrap piano wire around his neck.
What both Penelope and I craved was closeness, but also the ability to let go without reservations. I’d come to that conclusion only while sharing pizza. A simple act yet one that had altered my viewpoint. The woman had more power than she could comprehend.
She fiddled with the helmet while studying me, her answer when she secured it on her head. “Alright. But if you kill me, I’m going to be pissed.”
“I have no intention of allowing anything to happen to you. Climb on behind me.” I swung my leg over the bike, twisting and patting the seat behind me.
She chewed on her bottom lip before moving closer.
I started the bike, revving it for her benefit.
“Keep your arms tightly wrapped around my waist,” I commanded. As soon as she clasped her hands together, I left the garage, heading down the long driveway. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had anyone riding with me.
If ever.
There were several firsts with her, an awakening of my senses and they were all electrified.
As I rode through the property, taking the backroads that also doubled as horse trails, she pressed her face against my back. The heat of her body kept me on edge as much as the words she’d offered lingered in my mind.
She didn’t know just how resilient she was.
In learning about what she’d gone through, I’d felt a sense of kinship more than before.
Not that she wasn’t a much better person than I was because she was truly a decent, loving human being.
More because she’d been able to look past what most would consider dangerous and reprehensible to see the man inside.
More than I’d been able to do or cared in doing. That’s why I didn’t mind sharing parts of myself that my father would chastise me for.
“You never divulge your secrets to anyone, especially those you dare care about.”
His statement had remained locked in the shadows of my brain. Knowing my mother had been purposely kept in the dark about so much of his involvement with the Carpella Crime Syndicate, I was even angrier than I’d been with him before.
Secrets between lovers were necessary, but those with someone who’d captured your heart led to despair.
What I was determined to do, even if it meant losing her, was to protect her.
She’d already balked at my interference, which was another reason I craved the woman.
But she couldn’t keep me from ensuring her safety.
With the minutes ticking away, the sun had created the perfect shimmer across the lush greenery and dense forests. I could sense the moment she’d relaxed, enjoying the ride as much as I did. Only when I slowed the bike did she lift her head.
Only a couple of minutes later, I pulled into a clearing, bringing the bike to a stop. Immediately, I jerked off my helmet, taking a deep breath as soon as I did.
I heard her whispered exclamation from behind me as she removed her helmet. The feeling of her long strands of hair skimming my cheek forced my cock to stiffen.
“This is magnificent. We’re still on your property?” Her tone held surprise.
“We are. This spot is one of the reasons I bought the place.” I got off first, not asking as I lifted her onto the ground. Her eyes never left mine and the way her long fingers dug into my arms allowed me to grasp she was still uncertain of me.
How could I blame her?
Penelope grinned, the anxiety fading at least enough she pulled away from me. I stood where I was, watching as she moved toward the edge of the brook. I waited before I moved beside her, and we stared out at the water together.
“Nature has a way of making anything seem beautiful,” she said in a quiet, reserved voice.
“Yes. The most notorious, brutal leaders often found peace while being outdoors. My father was no exception. Every time he returned from a business trip, he spent time outdoors. My brother and I knew never to bother him at that point. He was decompressing.”
“So you’re like your father?”
I took a deep breath. “More than I want to be.”
“Your father was in the mafia.”
She made the statement as if knowing changed nothing. I still tipped my head in her direction. “And I thought I held all the power in investigative skills.”
Her laugh was almost nervous. “My best friend discovered the little secret.”
“It’s not really a secret, Penelope. My father never wanted his sons to step into his world. In fact, my mother made him leave the crime syndicate he was working for when my brother was born.”
“Did he ever fully leave?”
She could cut through the thick layers of pretense better than anyone.
“Not entirely. Of course he hid that from my mother. Crime syndicates don’t usually ever allow anyone to leave.
He wanted her to be truly happy, which was why he kept his continued involvement from her.
For once, she was truly joyful about life, which had been difficult for her.
Dad had already created Tempest International by then, so any absences were easy to disguise. You can’t change colors on a snake.”
“And you fear you’re just like him.”
I gave her words some thought. “I am. I fought the truth for years. If anyone dared accuse me of being like my dad, I’d fight them including physically. But now that I’m almost forty years old, I realize there is no way around the fact I’m very much like him.”
“But you don’t need to be.”
“In some ways, I do.”
“Did your mother ever learn the truth?”
I shoved my hands into my pockets. “No. She died believing her husband and the father of her children had honored her single wish. After all she’d tolerated with him, including his anger, and never being taken on a vacation or enjoying what couples traditionally did, she believed in him. The secrets got her killed.”
“How so?”
Now I turned toward her, needing her anchor with her beauty. Her smile calmed me. “My father acted on orders of the crime syndicate don, killing a direct enemy. The man’s family retaliated by having our mother murdered.”
Instantly, she reached out and touched my face. The woman was so tender, so loving and at that moment, I knew I’d do anything for her. “I’m so sorry. Secrets have no place in relationships.”
“No, they don’t, even if in doing so one party believes the lie is being used for protection.
I haven’t lied to you about who I am, Penelope, although I don’t believe details are needed.
I will tell you that when I saw you in the coffee shop and soon after, my dark cravings carried me at first. I had some buddies at the conference.
We went to college together. We all came from privilege.
You know the type. Brains with no common sense and we certainly weren’t decent human beings. Perhaps our fathers were to blame.”
She curled her fingers, doing nothing but allowing me to confess. I could sense her tension.
“We enjoyed a game, a contest between the three of us. Who could lure a woman first into our darkness.” I laughed.
“Very childish, but at the time, we used the experience to gain power, have our grades changed, to keep from being tossed off a sports team. When we graduated, we tossed the challenge aside. Until you.” I waited for her reaction.
“So I was just a game to you?” Her voice was whispered.
“Until the dance.”
Penelope cocked her head, slowly turning it away from me.
Thirty seconds passed before she responded and when she did, I was rewarded with another surprise, one I shouldn’t take for granted.
“Don’t do that again. Ever. You know what they say about a woman’s wrath.
It’s all true.” This time when she looked at me, I could see both scorn and mischief in her eyes.
But she was dead serious, fighting a moment of disbelief and hurt. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her in any way.
With a dark chuckle, I offered her a deep nod. “Yes, ma’am. I have no intention of it.” I moved closer, trying to take her into my arms, but she pushed me away again. “And do you know why?”
“Because I’m your possession?” she teased.
“Because you’re someone I care about very much.” The admittance was… unexpected.
Her features softened. “You can’t put anything past Carrington.”
“I’m not, but I can handle him.”
Once again, she pulled away, this time turning completely away from me. “You need to know something because he will shove it in your face.”
“Is this about supposedly killing a member of the Dubois family?”