Throne of Truth (Truth and Lies Duet #2)(76)

An icy gale blew down my spine like it always did when I thought about Greg.

I hated that he hadn’t gotten in touch. The fact he’d gone from a patronizing presence—constantly popping into my office uninvited—to suddenly being completely elusive and silent...

It petrified me.

I’d told Larry what I’d done at the hospital—trying to bribe then blackmail him. He’d scolded me. Said how reckless I’d been. But after grilling me if there’d been anyone else in the room or any recording devices, he’d patted me on the back with pride.

The fact I’d put my neck on the line for Penn made his fondness for me triple. This entire stressful situation surrounding the man we both loved had brought us closer together than any normal situation.

Larry was the uncle I’d never had. My father-in-law, for all intents, if Penn ever did anything about our fake engagement.

“Okay.” The word was woefully underwhelming, but I had nothing else. I thought I’d be able to save Penn months of lock-up when we’d first begun this journey. The fact he was still imprisoned irritated me to angry tears.

Being part of the family dealing with freeing innocence was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do. Turned out, I sucked at this hero stuff while Penn was such a natural.

“Tell me what I should do, Larry.”

“I hoped you’d say that,” he replied. “What are you doing tonight?”

“Nothing, why?” I looked up as Fleur came into my office. She carried a bottle of wine with two glasses. Ever since the afternoon I’d spoken to the reporters, she appeared at the end of our workday with alcohol of some description—ready-mixed watermelon vodka, Midori shots, even champagne.

I’d told her I didn’t drink.

She’d told me I would have to start to survive the next few months.

I hadn’t argued.

We’d gotten drunk that night, and for the first time in forever, I was able to laugh even though guilt slithered inside me. I despised that I had a good time with Fleur, that my job kept me busy, my cat kept me sane, and my self-control kept me rational enough not to become a serial killer and hunt Arnold Twig or his son.

It was wrong that I lived while Penn was caged.

She cocked an eyebrow as Larry spoke into my ear. “Come over. I’ll be pulling an all-nighter. Need an assistant if you’re interested.”

The wine bottle in Fleur’s hand would remain untouched. “Consider me there already.”

A smile existed in his tone. “Excellent. Stewie will be relieved to see you. He wants to apologize.”

“Apologize? Why?”

“He finally told me what happened with the necklace at the charity event after he acted so weird around you the last time you popped over. He’s not coping well. Thinks he’s the reason why Penn is in jail like his brother, Gio.”

I rubbed at my heart. “Oh no, it’s not his fault.”

“Yep, all the more reason to come around. You can talk to him. I’ll brew a pot of coffee. See you soon, Elle.”

“Sure.” I hung up, looking reluctantly at the alcohol in Fleur’s grasp. “Can’t. Have to go do lawyer stuff to break Penn out of jail.”

“Oh, sounds fun.” She waggled the bottle. “Any room for this bad boy and me to tag along?”

I stroked Sage as she padded over my desk and hooked her claws around the stem of one of the wine glasses. She tipped it over before I could catch it. Luckily, the glass bounced on the carpet and didn’t shatter.

“Why would you want to come? It’s just more work. More computer time. More fine print.” I stood, slinging my black with pink-lace jacket on over the dark pink dress I wore. Pink didn’t spring to mind as corporate, but once again, Fleur picked it out and was right.

“Well, my hubby-to-be is out on a bachelor night with friends. I don’t want to sit at home wondering if he’s motor boating some stripper’s boobs.” She pulled a face. “I’d much rather be sitting with you doing exciting things like researching how to break your lover out of jail. It’s all very cloak and dagger.” Her eyes twinkled as if spending a night bent over paperwork was as raunchy as watching the Chippendales.

“Well, if you’re sure.” I smiled. “You’re more than welcome, and I’d love the company. I’m sure Larry would say we need all the eyes we can get.” I took the wine from her and placed it in my large tote. “And for the record, your hubby won’t have his face in some stripper’s boobs.”

“That’s what everyone says.” She rolled her eyes. “But bachelor parties are the Bermuda triangle of good decisions and decent men. They all get lost along the way, only to be spat back out the next day with no memory of it.”

Looping my arm with hers, I patted my thigh for Sage to follow and prepared to work my ass off for Penn. “In that case, consider tonight as reckless as a motorcycle crack party.”

“Oh, yay. I’ve always wanted to see what those two-wheeled outlaws do for fun.”





Letter from Elle


TWO WEEKS, PENN.

Two weeks until this is all over and you walk free.

Larry has everything arranged.

I have duplicates of his research and evidence locked safe.

We’re not backing down this time.