Page 80 of As Thick As Thieves

“Penn—” Cruz started, but Rory glared at him.

“Shut it. Penn is quite capable of talking for herself. Don’t interrupt her.”

Nerves kicked in as she gave me a nod, and Stone’s fingers brushed my back gently, giving me the strength I needed to keep going.

“Stone’s an asshole, he fucked me over, and he fucked you over, but can’t you meet in the middle with a punishment? Why does death have to be the answer? Punish him so he can learn from this. If a lonely little rich girl wandered into your family’s lives and started interfering with shit, wouldn’t you try to make her disappear out of fear? What if he’d been right, and I was just having some fun with a bunch of bad boys, then got scared and ran home to my father? I knew enough to tear the organization apart. He wasn’t trying to fuck you over that day he told me to break into your house, he was only thinking of a way to make me vanish from his life,” I explained, her eyes narrowing.

“You think he should live after handing you over to your father?”

“I think he deserves a second chance. Everyone does,” I confirmed, ignoring the dirty look Knox threw at me as he and Drake moved to stand beside me, too, showing their support even if they didn’t like it. “Beat him up or put him to work, but please, don’t kill him. I love when you take down bad guys who rape and abuse women and children, that kind of crime deserves death because there’s no coming back from it, but Stone just made a mistake.”

“You’re a smart girl, Penn, but I really don’t understand what you see in him,” she replied, flicking her sharp gaze to Stone who’d been silently waiting for the verdict. “You’d better roll out the red carpet for that girl and kiss her feet, she just saved your life.” Skeeter threw his hands in the air and stalked off with annoyance, but everyone else stayed put. My shoulders relaxed as fatigue took over, but I stood straight when she added, “You’re not escaping punishment, though.”

“What will you do to him?” I asked softly, but she was done being nice to me, her eyes not leaving Stone.

“None of your concern. You’ve done your community service for the week by keeping him alive. Count your blessings and get out of here. He’ll probably wish he was dead by the time we’re done, though.”

I turned to face Stone with worry, but he gave me a nod. “Go. They’ll keep their word. I don’t want you here when they do it.”

“But—”

“I need you to go,” he said firmly, cutting me off and reaching out to take my hand, giving it a squeeze. “I’ll be fine.” Drake tugged me back from him as Cruz warned him not to touch me, but Stone didn’t give a shit. His eyes remained on me, the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. “Thanks, Penn.”

I nodded, letting the guys drag me from the office, and I just knew I was going to be getting the talking-to of the century when we got home.

Stone

I stared at Penelope as the guys took her from the room, a weird feeling bubbling in my chest. She’d stood in front of a gun to keep me safe, even though I’d done nothing but hurt her.

“Do you believe her yet?” Beckett asked as she moved to stand beside me, and I was under no illusion that she was a friend right now. She was simply filling in time until Penn was out of the compound so they could hurt me without her within earshot.

“I don’t know how to begin making it up to her,” I answered, turning my attention to her. “I don’t think she’d appreciate a severed head from her enemy like you would.”

She smirked, tilting her head to the side. “I don’t know. Where does she stand on murdering her father? Maybe she’d appreciate that one.”

“I don’t think she’d be upset if someone killed him, but I don’t think she’d like it to be done by the hands of someone she knows,” I replied dryly, taking my phone from my pocket and placing it on the desk. I didn’t want it broken when they beat me up. I wasn’t born yesterday, so I knew Rory’s warning about me wishing I was dead by the time they were finished punishing me would be accurate. I could take a beating, but this wasn’t going to be a few punches and kicks, this was really going to suck.

“Girl’s like Penn just want your time and attention. If you really want her in your life, that’s all you’ve got to do,” Beckett said in a low voice, nudging my shoulder. “And good dick, but you two have had so much tension and frustration built up, you probably have nothing to worry about.”

“I don’t want—”

“Don’t fucking lie to me, asshole. You’ve got a major hard-on for that girl these days. It’s okay to want her, but you really have to prove yourself. She’s growing on me a little, so fuck her over one more time and you’re dead.” Hearing that was almost amusing coming from her, but I nodded.

“She’s grown balls. I think you’d have to wait your turn if I fucked with her again.”

“Bet you came in your pants when she stood up to Skeet and Mom like that, huh?” she chuckled, patting me on the back.

“I thought they were going to kill her, my dick was flaccid as fuck,” I grunted, bracing myself as Hunter wandered over with a grim look on his face.

“You’re about to be out of action for a few weeks, I hope you know that.”

“I know.”

“I really don’t see why she thinks you’re worth saving.”

“Me either,” I mumbled, taking a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with.”

Didn’t have to tell Beckett twice.

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