34. Penelope
THIRTY-FOUR
I neededto talk this through. So, I hustled into the club to locate Natty, but found all three girls folding napkins at the bar. Red was baking bread, something she seemed to do nearly every day but no one had yet explained why.
“I need to talk…can we go to your room, Natty?” I asked, flicking a gaze to Callie and Laura. They all gave me a small nod, likely hearing how insistent I was about it. Red walked over and held out her hands.
“Let me have him while you girls go off and gossip.”
I handed over Connor’s car seat, where he was snuggly buckled in. “Are you sure?”
Red was already walking back through the kitchen, waving me off.
Natty slid off her stool and led us up to her bedroom. Once the door was shut, the girls all whirled on me.
“What’s going on?”
I sat down on Natty’s sofa and put my face in my hands.
“Jamie killed Luke…or ordered him to be…I don’t exactly know, but I asked him if he knew what had happened to Luke last week, and it all sort of just came out. Now he just informed me we’re moving. He bought us a house.”
Callie’s mouth was wide as she slowly sank down next to me. Laura’s mouth was pursed, but her brows were drawn in tight.
“Are you mad at Jamie for doing it?” That was from Laura, and her tone was so full of caution that I wasn’t sure what to make of it. “Both…I mean killing Luke and just randomly buying a house. Have you even seen it?”
Natty reached over and squeezed my hand. “You’re staying?”
I smiled at her, while trying to rein in my emotions.
“I am. I’m hurt more than anything because he said he would trust me from now on, and he didn’t. I know Luke was a bad guy, but he didn’t deserve to die. And yes, he took me to see the house. It’s on Gulden Drive, beautiful and perfect but still…who just does that?”
Laura’s gaze cut over to Natty’s and then Callie’s.
“What?” I searched between them. “What am I missing?”
Natty let out a sigh and tugged her braid over her shoulder while searching the floor.
“A few months back, right after you arrived, you heard about Senator Witt getting shot?”
I nodded. The details were all fuzzy, but I recalled hearing about that, never heard who did it though.
Laura’s face paled as she continued, “Jefferson showed up with Senator Witt…well he was my dad, but that doesn’t really matter. There was another man who had come in behind where Killian and I were standing. That man held me at gunpoint…”
My heart cinched tight in my chest. “Luke…”
Laura nodded. “His finger was pulling the trigger, Pen. He had every intention of shooting me. My mom fired a shot, and that is the only reason I’m still standing here.”
Oh my god. I shot my hand out, and Laura met me, gripping it firm.
“You knew Luke well; do you think he would have become a better person? One that didn’t cause fear, or kill innocent people?”
I hated the heaviness that seemed to fill up my lungs with that question. A tear slid down my face as I shook my head.
“I’m not saying Jamie was right, but this life doesn’t allow for a sense of true justice. There’s loyalty and honor and when you break it, you’re done for.” Laura gave me one last squeeze before she let my hand go.
Callie toyed with my hair, then rubbed a hand over her stomach. “And as far as the house…Wes built ours without my say, or even knowing. It was a sweet gesture, but I think these men, they just have to protect us in the best way they know how.”
Callie brushed a lock of hair off my shoulder. “Jameson loves you, Pen. I know if it were Wes, Killian...” Her eyes lifted to Natty. “Or Silas, they all would have done the same for us. Luke was a danger to you, and to Connor.”
“I know.” I sniffed, “But I just feel blindsided by the murder…he didn’t tell me, or include me at all. I just…I get that this is the life. I’ve grown up in it my whole life, but Jamie and me, what we have goes deeper. He should have told me.”
Natty’s hand came around my back, where she pulled me into a hug.
“You’re allowed to be angry at him, Pen. It wasn’t just his call. We’ll support you in whatever sort of silent treatment or burnt dinners you want to punish him with.”
A laugh escaped me as I swiped at my eyes.
“I punished him with sex…twice now.”
Laura waggled her brows. “Kinky.”
“Not like that…we just, it sort of just happened.”
Callie slapped my leg. “Oh my gosh! Wait, you’re not six-weeks postpartum yet.”
“Are you keeping track?”
She waved me off, pulling out her phone. “Sort of, you’re…six weeks tomorrow…so you had sex anyway, is that allowed?”
We all laughed, and Laura rubbed Callie’s belly.
“You’re such a little freak, Callie.”
She swatted her friend’s leg. “I just like to know what to expect.”
Natty’s phone suddenly rang, and when she answered, we heard someone screaming from the other line.
“I can’t underst—” Her brows pulled in tight as her eyes searched the air. “Silas, what?”
The floor began to shake, then a shudder was followed by a massive boom from outside. Natty dropped her phone as she fell to the side, and I pulled my arms over my head. Plates fell and crashed to Natty’s kitchen floor, glasses went next, and dust began falling from the ceiling.
There was another boom from a different direction, closer to where Laura’s apartment sat. Laura pulled Callie’s hand, helping her get on the floor, and then they crawled under Natty’s coffee table, but I had gotten to my feet and began running toward the door with Natty on my heels.
“Pen, wait!” Natty screamed, but I had to get to Connor.
The hall shuddered and shook as another boom sounded from outside. The explosion had the pictures falling from the walls, and dust from the beams shifting, filling the air. I jumped over a piece of ceiling that fell, and then took the stairs, running down them as fast as I could without getting hurt. Natty was still right behind me.
“I have to get to Connor,” I screamed, covering my mouth and nose with my sleeve.
Killian burst through what was left of the front door, sliding over all the debris that fell.
“Where’s Laura?” His frantic gaze nearly robbed me of breath.
I pointed up. “Safe with Callie in Natty’s room.”
I rushed past him, aiming for the kitchen, when Jameson burst through the back door, his chest heaving, and a huge bloody gash ran down the length of his hairline. He didn’t waste a second before closing the distance between us and wrapping me in his arms.
“Connor?”
“With Red, I’m going to find him,” I muttered as we separated. His hand was in mine, his other was at his side, holding a firearm.
The pantry door was closed and when I opened it, I saw the floor had a door that likely led to a cellar. Jameson pulled on the bronze handle and, sure enough, a set of stairs led down to a dimly-lit basement.
I scaled the steps quickly hearing Connor’s cries. Red was trying to soothe him by rocking him in her arms. She had a nasty cut on her head, and she was limping.
She set my son into my arms immediately and Connor began to calm.
“Is he hurt?” I practically sobbed, but Red shook her head.
“I slid his car seat under the big kitchen counter down there, nothing hit him. But I think the loud sounds scared him.”
I let out a sigh of relief as Jameson brushed his fingers over Connor’s head.
“We have to get up there and see what’s going on,” Red said, looking up at the trembling floorboards above our heads.
“Do we know who’s attacking us?” Jameson asked, pulling me closer to his side.
Red shook her head.
“No idea, but whoever they are, they have a shit ton of firepower.”
Jamie pulled out his phone and placed it to his ear.
“The cellar, yeah, bring them down.” He hung up and looked at me then Red.
“Killian and Wes are bringing Callie and Laura down; I think Natty is coming too…Red, do you think you can stay with them? We’re leaving you with a few shotguns.”
Red nodded. “Send me Brooks, Harris and Hamish.”
Jameson nodded right as new footsteps sounded on the stairs. Callie rushed over to me, her hair white from all the dust. Laura’s lashes were coated, but her eyes were wild, as if she were ready for a fight.
“I need to feed Connor, he’s so upset, I can’t seem to soothe him,” I muttered, finding a crate set against one of the walls.
Killian and Wes rushed down next, but Natty was nowhere to be found.
“Where is Natty?” I asked, pulling a blanket from the diaper bag up over my chest while I adjusted Connor on my left breast.
“Natty ran outside, I think Silas was trying to get to her.”
Fuck, that made me nervous. Callie and Laura walked over and sat on either side of me.
“You need to stay down here with Red. We’re sending a few men, but stay here and stay safe.”
“What if this place goes up in flames? I don’t exactly love the idea of being trapped,” Laura asked pointedly.
“There’s another exit through here, I know the way,” Red said, checking one of the guns.
Harris and two older men all filtered into the cellar next. They each had a shotgun strapped to their back and handguns in holsters over their cuts.
Callie jumped up and ran to Wes, similar to Laura going to Killian.
Jameson knelt down in front of me, a wariness in his eyes that had me feeling restless and afraid.
“Whatever is up there, just be sure to come back to me,” I muttered, searching his face, making sure I had memorized every tiny detail.
His easy smile nearly had a sob itching up my throat.
“You forgive me then?”
Rolling my eyes, I wanted to push him, but he merely placed his palm against my cheek and then traced my lips. “I promise.”
It felt like a vow, taking me back to that first time we were finally together. It took me back to our wedding, and for some reason, I had to know.
“Your vows…did you?—”
His smile was slight as his eyes seared my heart. “Every word, Pen. I meant every word for you. It was all real for me. All from the start.”
I leaned forward and pushed my lips to his. “Me too.”
“Good, then it’s settled. We’ll live happily ever after.” He laughed into my neck right before pressing a kiss to the top of Connor’s head.
“I’ll be back, Son.”
My heart tripped over itself and then he was walking away.