Page 97 of Oblivion

“What do you mean?”

“Between you and Penny?”

Annoyance ticked in my jaw. “It’s nothing.”

“Doesn’t seem like nothing if he’s commenting on it.”

“Just show me the video.”

Jackson pressed his lips into a firm line, then pressed play when I refused to give in. He sat back and linked his hands behind his head as raucous laughter and yelling from the video filled the air.

Disappointment wove through my gut. This was most definitely the video from Jenny’s phone. I cringed, then chuckled under my breath as I watched myself piss from the open van window as Fucker zig-zagged back and forth over the southbound interstate.

When the video cut out, I ran a hand over my stubble. “Shit.”

“You could say that,” Jackson drawled.

“Who sent it?”

“Anonymous. But whoever it was, they have it in for you. Threatening to leak this if I don’t fire your ass.”

I swallowed, hoping it would ease the burn in my chest. “So, I’m fired, then?”

He scoffed. “Fuck that. But I would like to know who you think sent this. You said you left with bad blood between you and the guy you testified against?”

I folded my arms across my chest. “Of course I did. But he didn’t have access to Chen’s phone. And Jenny is as loyal as they come. There’s no fucking way he would have sent this.”

“And this also brings me back to Penny. How do you know her?”

I didn’t back down from the hardened look in his blue-green eyes. In fact, I stood taller and squared my shoulders.

“Vegas.”

He thumbed at the laptop. “This trip?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you fucking tell me at the start? You specifically denied knowing her.”

“To be honest, at the time when we were looking for her, I didn’t think it mattered. I didn’t anticipate being forced together and me being her fucking live-in babysitter.”

“So, we’ll get someone else to do it. Problem solved,” Jackson reasoned, splaying his hands wide.

“No.” I bit my tongue and exhaled slowly, nostrils flaring.

Jackson exited out of the video and sighed. “I get it, Dante. You had a thing in Vegas and now you think you’re the best man for the job. And I agree. Even if Tate hadn’t made the suggestion, I still would have assigned you to her detail. I just need to know that you aren’t letting your dick blind your head. Until after the election, we need to ensure Penelope’s security is tight.”

“It’s tight,” I stated gruffly, then clarified, “Thesecurity,”when Jackson arched an eyebrow.

“Good to hear. As for the video, thanks. It gave me a helluva laugh first thing this morning. And whoever sent it can get fucked sideways with a rusty fork.”

“Now there’s a thought to make a man pucker.”

He let out a rumbling chuckle. “Ain’t it just? Now, before you go rescue Penny from that fucking idiot that’s no doubt talking shit about the both of us, I needed to talk to you about the facial recognition sketch Penny did with Mia.”

My entire body primed with hunger for information. “It got us a lead?”

I was hopeful. It had already been days, and the longer it took to find the guy, the more our chances slipped.

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