Chapter 7

7

PENELOPE

H ow did we even get here? One minute we’re upstairs preparing for our evening ahead, and the next we’re standing in Harker’s basement. Bright white lights shine over a pristine boxing ring, and scores of people surround it.

Not once while we were upstairs had I realized these people piled into his home. Even now, I’m completely dumbfounded at the sheer mass of people who entered without so much as the rumble of a car’s engine coming up the driveway.

Armed men stand guard, taking patrols throughout the basement. The underground lair runs what I can only assume is the full length of Harker’s mansion. It’s sectioned off with barricades and Harker’s soldiers, and there are no lights beyond the boundaries. It’s as if we stepped into a void, and this place is the last remnant of humanity.

And all the while, no one has dared come to Harker for so much as a hello. I’ve seen them staring at us, eagerly awaiting their turn to kiss his ring, but without a direct invitation, they’ve remained far away.

We’re standing at the bar. To my left and right, it’s packed to the brim, but the people ordering their drinks have created a circle around us. A few of Harker’s gun-wielding men make sure they don’t come close.

How exciting.

“What makes this fight so special?” I ask, turning my attention back to the stage. An announcer has already called the first name. Jimmy Roberts. A buzz cut boy in blue shorts with gloves to match.

The unsavory sorts Harker mentioned earlier are frothing at the mouth to see the two boxers fight. They’re laughing frantically, taking thousand-dollar shots of whiskey and shouting huge bets across their tables to bookies who seem to hardly keep up.

“Nothing.” Harker waves down a bartender. He orders a cocktail for me and malt whiskey for himself. “They’re going crazy for the bloodshed. See, these matches are unregulated, which means the ref in the ring can turn a blind eye as long as the crowd stays pleased. It’s why Benjamin over there tried pulling his fighter out last minute.”

Benjamin’s eyeing us from across the room. He’s angry and expressed his discontent to Harker earlier in the evening, but as he awaits the opponent’s entry into the ring, I can’t see the rage on his face. Only fear.

“Has anyone ever died in one of these matches?” Do I even want the answer? Probably not. I’m not stupid enough to believe that everything is sunshine and rainbows. It doesn’t matter what happened in Harker’s office. He’s a bad man who’s done bad things to keep his empire thriving.

But maybe hearing him say it will finally be the wake-up call I need to realize my situation isn’t peachy.

“Of course.” He raises a concerned brow. “Happens more often than you’d think.”

“Have you…?”

“Yes, I’ve been in the ring,” he says bitterly. “But tread carefully with your next question. You might not like the answer.”

I don’t need to hear it to know whoever Harker fought fell to his hand. Somehow, his admittance doesn’t make me want to turn away and run. It strikes a match in my heart. A blazing inferno that has me wanting to throw myself into him for another round of tongue fucking and … so much more.

The bartender brings our drinks, and I turn my attention back to the crowd. To the far end, a board reads the bookies listings. Twenty-to-one odds on Jimmy Roberts.

I understand why Benjamin was so eager to tuck tail and run. But as I observe the people enjoying their fight night, I catch a glimpse of my father. He’s dressed in a tan suit, with a coat to match, and a white scarf running down the length of his body. A fat cigar hangs from his lips, and a fedora rests loosely atop his head. The worst part is, he’s walking toward us.

“You didn’t tell me he was going to be here,” I whisper. My tummy bubbles anxiously. Everything’s going perfectly, and Father always has a way of ruining things.

A deep rumble emits from Harker’s chest. “I hoped he’d keep his distance after what happened at your party.”

Both the crowd and Harker’s guards yield to my father and allow him to pass.

“You’ve got to be shitting me. You let the girl come?” He doesn’t sound angry or even confrontational. It’s just a jab to ruin my good mood. “It’s fight night. She’s just going to get in the way of our fun.”

Harker sighs. “Here we go,” he mutters to me. He stands up from the bar, puffing out his chest, but his hand snakes down my arm as he takes my hand in his. “I’m only going to say this once. From now on, when you speak to Penelope or speak of her, you do so with respect.”

“Woah, woah, woah, calm down, buddy boy. I’m only messing.” Father’s eyes drift to our hands and a disgusting smile mutates behind his cigar. “I take it you two are getting along, then?”

“Incredibly so,” Harker says. A swarm of butterflies flutter in my belly and consume the nervousness I felt with Father’s arrival.

“Good. Glad to hear it.” He removes the cigar from his mouth and ashes it on the floor. “Say, are you going to take care of that little thing for us?”

“Yes, I’m going to make sure the money is laundered,” Harker spits. “You don’t have to use code. I’ve told her everything.”

“You did what?” Father roars. His pale face turns a deep shade of red.

“We share a home, Zander. I’m not going to lie or dance through hoops to keep secrets from her. She asked and I answered.” Harker squeezes my hand in his grip. “Is that going to be a problem?”

How could I have ever doubted Harker at all? Why would I ever want to run from the man who has done everything in his power to make me feel comfortable and safe? He’s even willing to go toe to toe with my dad and put him in his place where necessary.

Yeah, there’s no escaping him. Not even with the knowledge of the fucked-up stuff he’s done and will continue to do. He’s perfect just the way he is.

“Why are you even here?” Harker raises a quizzical brow. “Shouldn’t you be home coddling your newborn heir?”

“It’s fight night, baby. I’m not missing this shit for the world. The woman will take care of the kid. He’s not much use to me right now, anyway.” With that, Father spins on his heels and makes his way back to Uncle Percy at the bar.

“What a dick,” Harker mumbles to himself.

“You said it,” I sigh and collapse into the barstool.

“The fight’s going to start soon, so I should take care of our business. You’re going to be safe here while I’m away.”

I never had a doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be.

“How long will you be?” I tighten my grip on Harker’s hand. I don’t want him to go. Not because he’s about to sign off on some shady deal but because I can’t get enough of him.

“I’ll be back before the first bell rings.” He leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek and grabs his drink. After one last, long breath, he steps into the crowd and disappears among the sea of people.