Page 102 of Oblivion

Mindless minutes passed, until I was snapped from the haze by the building alarm screaming to life. The consuming anger instantly dissipated, creating immediate concern over Penny.

I shouldn’t have fucking left her.

I cursed as I hurried from the gym.

Fuck me, the elevator was in use, so I pushed through the emergency exit and ran up the outside stairs into the parking lot.

Her Mini was still there, which was a relief and worry all rolled into one. It meant that she was still inside the building, and if there was a fire, I had to get to her as soon as possible.

Swiping open the entry door and seeing the elevator working its way down to me, I stood much too close to the sealed doors, then rushed forward as soon as they began to open.

I expected someone in it, but Penny, head down and gunning for the exit with two suitcases in tow, was an unexpected bombshell.

My arms wove around her out of reflex and steadied us both from the impact. It took a moment to recollect from the shock, then she roughly shoved at my chest.

“Get out of my way.”

“I was coming to find you. Come on, we need to get outside,” I yelled over the alarm.

She rolled her eyes and pushed past, banging one suitcase into my shin in the process.

“The alarm is nothing.Iset it off,” she called.

The zero-fucks-given statement rekindled my anger. “What the?Youset it off? Why the fuck would you do that?”

“Because…” she cut off while shoving open the exit door. “I needed to use the elevator and didn’t have a keycard.”

“That’s no goddamn reason to use the emergency override!”

She looked over her shoulder and let out a wicked laugh. “Oh, trust me, it was more than necessary.”

I cussed and hurried after her. “I’m sorry, okay? I lost my cool and took it out on you. It wasn’taimedat you. You just happened to be there.”

Penny whirled with unbridled hatred blazing in her eyes. “Itwasaimed at me. Or did you just happen to forget the part where you called me a spoiled little brat and a daddy’s girl?”

“Look, I’msorry.It was…” I waved a hand around. “Just let me explain.”

Another bitter laugh flowed from her lips. “Not a chance.”

I glanced around the parking lot, not surprised that none of the other residents had appeared. It was a work day, and as far as I was aware, everyone in the building had day jobs in the city.

Satisfied it was just me and Penny present, I boxed her against the side of her Mini and towered over her.

“You gonna pay the five grand for the call out to reset the building alarms?”

Penny balked. “Five grand!”

“Yeah, that’s how much it costs. And because the alarm was triggered inmyapartment,I’mliable. So, when the building manager turns up, I expectyouto explain the situation to him.”

“Why me?”

I smirked and leaned closer, partly drawn in by her perfume and partly because I wanted to make her squirm.

“Because this, Penelope, is a life lesson about accepting the consequences of your actions.”

“Accept this!” she yelled, and jerked her knee up.

Pain burst through my balls and crippled me. I went down like a lead balloon and gagged as the overwhelming need to vomit reduced me to my knees.

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