Page 86 of The Player's Obsession

“You bet.”

We return to our room to pack. It’s unfortunate that the weekend has come to a premature end. I still have Penelope around until the end of the month. I’ll have to make the best of it.

I had no way of knowing a fortuitous event was going to unfold, dropping Penelope in my lap.

* * *

Driving home,we pass the time discussing our families and listening to music. Before we know it, we’re at her apartment complex, looking for a parking spot.

“You can let me out in front of my apartment,” my little princess says.

“I don’t think so. I’m concerned with your safety.”

“Somehow, I survived before you came along. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

I park the car and ignore her attempt to convince me she can take care of herself. She can hold her own with the football wives, but she can’t fight off men twice her size.

“Seriously, you think something will happen to me if I walk fifteen feet to my apartment door?” She’s talking like this is still open for debate. She’s stubborn and opinionated. I never have to guess what she’s thinking.

“I’m not debating crime statistics with you. I want to make sure you get in safely, that’s all.” She doesn't need to know I’ve developed feelings for her—not a crush or an infatuation. This is different.

Penelope is the real deal. She’s smart and down to earth. My body is addicted to hers. She walks into a room, and I feel better knowing she’s there. When I stand near her, the air is charged with electricity. When we walk together, my hand naturally gravitates toward hers. After spending the last few days together, the thought of returning to the house by myself makes me sad and lonely.

I need to think of more ways to see her.

I open her car door and pull her luggage out of the trunk.

We walk to her apartment door, which opens before she gets her key in the lock.

She steps backward in surprise and crashes into my chest.

“Carlo, what are you doing here?” She’s clearly surprised to see him inside her apartment.

“Waiting on you, Sis. What else?” He steps aside to let us in. I stick to her like glue, like Gorilla glue. I’m big, like a gorilla too.

“We haven’t met.” I park the luggage just inside the door and extend a hand. Looking over his shoulder, I notice a guy on the couch with his feet up like he owns the place. An empty pizza box and beer cans litter the coffee table. They’ve been waiting for her.

Fuck. This changes everything. This is no longer a low-risk encounter with one guy. Danger levels have escalated with warp speed to a stage-ten alert. I have no clue what it means, but it reminds me ofMonsters, Inc.,where any contact with a child meant total containment of the monster and a sanitizing process.

“That’s Freddy over there,” Carlo says.

Freddy nods, his face void of expression.

I nod.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a warrant for Freddy’s arrest existed. This whole setup smells of a planned ambush. What is Carlo’s play? Penelope told me she’s broke. There’s nothing left for him to steal.

The problem is, she’s with me, and I’m worth billions. I’m not worried about him stealing it or hacking my accounts. I’m more concerned about what he wants from Penelope.

We need to get out of here.

“Carlo, what are you up to? Are you moving yourself into my apartment?” Penelope asks.

“I’m waiting for you to arrive, of course. We saw online you two were attending some event at RusLuxe and knew you’d be back soon.”

“I never gave you a key to my place. This is breaking and entering,” Penelope says.

“Sis, you’re being dramatic. We needed a place to crash, and I wanted to see you. Not like I can call you. You blocked my number.”

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