Throne of Truth (Truth and Lies Duet #2)(95)

He kissed my cheek as he opened the door. “Who cares about journalists and stories? We’re solid. Our business is thriving. And even it if wasn’t, it doesn’t matter.”

His eyes took on that whimsical glow he got whenever he thought of Mom. “I loved truly, and there wasn’t a day that went by that I wished I didn’t. Every morning, I was thankful. Every evening, I was grateful. No amount of money or good publicity can replace true love, Elle. And I’m a moron that I’ve fought for you to find that exact connection only to do whatever I could to break you apart when you found it.”

His face fell. “I hope you can forgive your old fool of a father.”

My tears dried.

Should I chase after him? What would I say?

But I had no choice.

Dad was right. I didn’t care about Belle Elle’s reputation. If we believed a few online articles could tear us down, then we didn’t belong at the head of the chain. And if we sacrificed our own happiness for material things, then we didn’t deserve to find love.

And I had found love.

I wouldn’t let it walk away.

“I won’t let him go.” The oath landed by my feet before I noticed I’d spoken.

Dad hugged me with Sage scrambling between us. “That’s my girl. Now go and knock some sense into that boy like he knocked sense into me. Tell him he’s part of this family, whether he likes it or not.”

With tear-slicked cheeks and racing heartbeat, I tore from my office.

Fleur asked where I was going.

Sage meowed.

Dad whooped.

And I flew on wings to claim Penn once and for all.





Chapter Forty-Five


Penn


I COULDN’T STAY in New York.

Not after this.

The moment I’d gone to Larry’s to collect the sapphire star Stewie had been keeping for Gio, he’d known things were about to get sad.

He hadn’t grilled me, but he had told me to call him when I got to whatever destination I would run to.

The reporters wanted to slander Elle and her company? Well, they couldn’t fucking use me because I wouldn’t be in town. By distancing myself, I was protecting Elle.

It hurt like hell.

But it was the best thing for everyone.

Arnold wouldn’t be able to drag her into my chaos. Greg would remain locked up. My connection to the Charlstons would fade, and Elle could remain the perfect princess who so many people relied on for work and income.

Throwing a duffel bag onto my bed, I didn’t pay much attention as I threw pants, shirts, and underwear into the general vicinity.

Everything fucking hurt.

My chest, my eyes, my motherfucking heart.

I hated myself for hurting Elle.

I despised myself for leaving her in tears.

But it was for the best.

The only way I could think of to protect her.

“You know, you should really lock your front door.”

What the—

I spun from shoving socks into the side pockets of the duffel, my mouth falling wide. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Elle leaned against my doorframe, the sapphire necklace dangling from her finger as she cocked her hip. “Getting you back, of course.”

My hands curled. “I told you. I won’t put you through any more stress and ridicule.”

She merely smiled. Her eyes bright and tear-free; her body poised and confident. “I want you to do something for me...” Her attention fell to my half-packed bag. “Before you go. Can you do that?”

I narrowed my eyes, searching for a trap, but she remained open and kind.

I nodded slowly. “Okay...”

“Great.” Pushing from the doorframe, she came toward me with a sexy sway in her hips.

My cock instantly reacted against my will. I gulped as she planted herself in front of me.

“You did all the talking in my office. Here, it’s my turn.”

I didn’t like it, but I nodded. “Fine.”

“Good.” She swung the necklace like a pendulum. “First, this no longer belongs to me. It belongs to the hooded hero who saved me. I told him that three years ago. I distinctly remember mentioning that if I had remembered to ask for it back, I would’ve given it to my rescuer in payment for saving me and walking me home.”

I couldn’t help myself. “And I distinctly remember telling you there was no way in hell I’d take it.”

She smirked. “Yes, I remember that too.” Tossing the necklace into my bag, she muttered, “Too bad, it’s yours. I don’t want it back. Know what else I don’t want back?”

I stood frozen, not falling into her trap.

The longer she stood in my room, smelling so goddamn delicious and being so brave, the more I wanted to kiss her until I passed out from oxygen deprivation and took back everything I’d said.

I was an idiot.

Worse than an idiot.

I deserved to be lonely after throwing her away all because I didn’t want to hurt her.

Eventually, I’d hurt her—either through my direct actions or indirect. It would happen. Could I afford to take that chance?

She means too much to me.

When I didn’t answer, she beamed. “My heart, Penn. I don’t want that back, either. It’s yours. So you might else well carve it from my chest and stuff it into that bag of yours because you’re not leaving without it.”