Page 154 of The Penalty

A heartbreaking smile lifted my dad’s mouth. “I remember this. Your sixteenth birthday. Charlotte wanted everything to be perfect. She was the consummate hostess, always making sure people had enough food and drink.” He sat next to me. “You, on the other hand, kept flirting with the Anderson boy. Nobody else at the party existed.”

“Oh my god.” I smiled sheepishly. “I forgot about that. Thanks.”

He chuckled, putting an arm around my shoulders. After staying quiet for a beat he asked, “What has you so upset, love? Is it your mother?”

I shook my head. “We haven’t spoken since the cottage fiasco.”

“Not even on your birthday?”

“Nope.”

“Hmm.” He squeezed my shoulder. “That surprises me.”

“Yeah, well, it doesn’t surprise me.”

“Is it Xavier?”

A knot of emotion tangled in my throat. Such a loaded question. I decided on a brief, sanitized answer. “Yes and no. He’s going through something right now and I feel helpless being so far away from him.”

Astute hazel eyes studied me. “He’s lucky to have you. I’ve no doubt he appreciates your support, no matter the distance.”

I nodded, willing myself to get to the actual reason why I wanted to see my father.

“I need to ask you something.” I clasped my hands together. “It’s about one of your clients.”

His brows furrowed in confusion.

“Someone from a long time ago, when Charlotte and I were babies or maybe even before we were born.” I forged ahead, ignoring my erratic pulse. “The family name is McKennie. Are you familiar with them?”

A few moments of reflective silence passed.

“I knew a Samuel McKennie in my younger days. We went to the same school. Son of a lord if I remember correctly. He and his wife died in a boating accident about ten years ago.”

My heart rate spiked.

“Did he ever invest with your firm?”

“I don’t know. Maybe when I was just starting. What is all of this about, Victoria?”

Too many jumbled thoughts clouded my mind. Maybe I should have asked Xavier to be here for this conversation, even if it’d only been on a video call. His presence always calmed me.

Charming and affectionate, protective and fierce. My safety in the swirling storm.

Everything he told you is a half truth wrapped in a lie.

Xavier’s words from our night on the terrace consumed me. Jordan preyed on weakness. I have to approach this from a position of strength.

Strategic, calm, steady.

“I need your help with something.” I straightened, regaining my composure. “How feasible is it to locate investment records from when you started?”

An hour after my father went back to his hotel, I paced around the living room.

Bringing down Jordan will take finesse and the element of surprise. Not to mention balls of steel.

If Xavier was willing to blow up his career and reputation to put a stop to all of this, so was I.

I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.

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