Page 155 of Here and Now
I tense as he grows near. “I’m not going to hit you.”
I try to appear relaxed, but I’m anything but that. I’m terrified, and I know that I’m nearing the end of being able to stall until my brother or Miles realizes what’s happened. I’ve tried my best, but I don’t know how else to delay this.
For six years I’ve run, and this is when I finally have nowhere else to go.
“This is ridiculous!” Anthony bellows. “The bitch knows. She knew everything from the start. We should kill her and the kid and get it over with. She’s a liability. Let’s get rid of the loose ends and be done.”
The senator sighs and shakes his head. “I don’t enjoy killing women and children.”
He scoffs. “No, you just like to use them to gain the power you want.”
The senator’s eyes get hard and his jaw tightens. “And you don’t?”
“I’m not a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I’m well aware of the monster I am,” Anthony spits back. “Now let’s get this shit over with or I’ll do whatever I have to, because I have business to attend to. If you don’t have the balls to handle her, then I will, and I’ll handle you as well.”
Anthony starts to move toward me, but the senator lifts a hand and signals with two fingers, and before I can turn and shieldmy eyes, the bodyguard pulls a gun out with a silencer and shoots Anthony.
I gasp and feel like I’m going to be sick. Oh God, he just killed Anthony. Right there. Shot him like it was nothing.
Oh God.
I start to tremble, and the senator looks to me. “I’m sorry you had to witness that, but I don’t appreciate threats, and he was a liability.”
I nod, fear causing all my limbs to shake. I try not to look at the dead man on the floor. I focus on the senator’s face as tears leak down my cheeks.
“I don’t have your book,” I say, my voice barely a whisper.
It’s true. I don’t have it.
He sighs heavily. “We went over every inch of Edward’s office. We went through his home, your apartment, and anywhere else he spent time. Then I found a note in a file that was hidden. It just had your name and the word ... book. I haven’t gotten to the place I am by being stupid. I’ve amassed wealth and power by being smart and calculating. Why would Edward leave something like that? Why would he point the finger at you and name the one thing he knew we’d want?”
“Because he was a sick asshole. He would hit me and he knew I was leaving him.”
“Or ... he told you where the book was if anything happened to him.”
That’s exactly what he did. While I may not have wealth and power, I’m also not stupid. I gave the book to my brother because I knew at some point I’d need it as a bargaining chip.
I try once again to be stupid about the book, knowing the sand in the hourglass is running out.
“He wouldn’t. He didn’t trust me or even like me. I was a toy to him, and he wouldn’t give me information. If anything, he kept me in the dark about everything he did.”
It’s true. I didn’t learn about Edward’s illegal dealings until much further in our relationship. There were no signs that the money he made came from illegal gambling, drugs, and backdoor deals that hewas paid off to keep quiet. To be honest, I didn’t care to ask. He lulled me into a false sense of trust.
I didn’t get the rug pulled out until it was much too late.
The senator shakes his head, walking around. “If you truly know nothing, why did you run?”
“Because he was dead.”
“And that upset you?”
I scoff. “Not in the least.”
“So you didn’t call the cops? You just chose to pack your belongings and spend your life on the run? That doesn’t make much sense, Penelope. Here’s what I think. You’re a smart girl and knew what he was up to. You also knew about the book, because Edward needed insurance and a way to barter for his life. Just as you do now. So you have or had the book, and when you realized he was dead, you set into motion your plan of spending your life in hiding. It worked, much better than I could’ve ever thought.”
Every word of what he says is true, and I keep my features schooled, but inside I’m freaking out.
I shake my head.
