Page 159 of The Penalty

I flattened my hand on the doorframe. “Don’t remember inviting anyone over. You have three seconds to tell me why you’re here. Three.”

“This is—”

“Two.”

“We have somethi—“

“One.” I slammed the door in their faces.

A heartbeat later, Adam barged into my living room with his friend in tow. I gritted my teeth, regretting not locking the door. Last thing I wanted was company.

“Not really how I pictured you spending your recovery days after all the heroics on the pitch. This is sad.” Adam gestured around the room. “Drinking straight from the bottle and existing on take away?”

“What I do in my free time is none of your business,” I snapped. “What do you want?”

Adam turned toward the other guy. “Give him the envelope.”

Something that resembled a laugh passed through my lips. “I’m not taking anything from him. I don’t even know who he is.”

“You’re going to take the bloody envelope and read what’s in it.” Adam’s tone sharpened. Can’t say I’ve ever heard him speak to me like this before. “This is Philip Edgewood. And before you start playing dumb again, he’s the tech lead at Jordan’s company.”

Within seconds I had this guy backed up against a wall. “Where is he?”

Philip paled. “I don’t know.”

I grabbed his shirt collar. “The fuck you don’t. Tell me where he is.”

“I-I swear,” he stammered, shrinking into the wall. “But I do think you should see what’s in this envelope. Sooner rather than later.”

My grasp on his shirt tightened. I didn’t believe for a second that he had no idea where Jordan was hiding. Turning to Adam, I snarled, “Do you know where he is? And don’t even think about lying to me.”

“I would have told you already if I knew.” My stepbrother sounded offended. “Let Philip go and read what he brought.”

I couldn’t think straight. All I wanted to do was find Jordan and end this. After weeks of not knowing where he could be, I literally had someone in the palm of my hand who could point me in the right direction.

Eyeing Philip with distain, I loosened my hold on him. This stranger bearing gifts better provide the answers I needed.

“Show me,” I bit out, releasing him and walking toward the couch. Stopping in front of Adam I muttered, “I hope you’re not wasting my time.”

“I’m not.” He responded so quiet I almost missed it. “I just want to help you.”

There it was again. That look he’d had when we first met as kids. Like he idolized me as the older brother he always wanted.

Confusion swirled through me. After all the years of animosity and fights, he still wanted to help. My chest seized with the oddest sensation.

Philip approached in silence, holding an envelope.

“What’s in there?” I demanded.

“Information to keep you one step ahead.” He paused. “Unless you want Jordan to get away with what he has planned for Victoria.”

Barbed wire dug into my heart at the mention of her name associated with that prick. “Why should I trust you? You work for him.”

Any signs of apprehension dissolved from Philip’s expression. His mouth formed a hard line. “Let’s just say I’m gearing up for a career change.”

I glared at him. “I’m listening.”

He laughed at my dark expression, and forged ahead. “Jordan tasked me with gathering as much information on the Chase family as possible last year. Mostly financial.” Acid seeped into my veins. “He specifically asked me to target properties.”

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