Page 127 of Watching Her

My little voice was going to drive me nuts, but she was right.

Our relationship might be over, but Carrington’s intentions were disgusting. I’d need to handle George more delicately, but Christian? He was a big boy. He’d know what to do.

I grabbed my phone, looking up Christian’s contact information.

Then I debated one more time before starting an email.

Yep. I was one crazy girl who was head over heels in love with a real-life monster.

CHAPTER 27

Christian

“What do you want?”

Kingston snorted even as I was walking away from him, a drink in my hand. And yes, it was eleven in the morning. So the fuck what?

I knew he’d follow. There was no point in denying him entrance. I’d been holed up in my office since dropping Penelope off at her house. Had any work been accomplished? Fuck, no.

“What in the hell is going on? You missed a meeting today. Jessica said you haven’t returned any of her phone calls.” Kingston’s tone was accusatory.

“I’m entitled to a damn day off.” I stood staring out the window. All I’d been able to think about was the look she’d given me. Not when I’d confirmed the eliminations, but with invading her privacy.

“Yeah, you are, except that’s not like you. What’s going on and don’t tell me nothing. You also don’t drink this early in the day.”

“Well, for one thing. Carrington Jacobs has decided to use blackmail on Penelope. She worked at a strip club at sixteen and he decided she will use me to find out the bid number for the Paris project or he’ll do everything to ruin her.”

He didn’t say anything at first, but I could hear his wheels turning.

“O-kay. There must be more than that. Yes, she was sixteen, but that was years ago. I take it she had a good reason.”

“To try and save her father from dying.”

“There’s more to the story.”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “And I’m not going to betray her. There’s more. The bastard doctored a photograph. Supposedly, I killed whoever the Duboises lost.”

“The patriarch and the man who purchased the Parisian hotel. And yes, he was murdered in a drive-by.”

As I blew out air, I turned around. My own brother was looking at me much the same way she had. “I didn’t kill the man. I do have some sense of scruples.”

“That’s a good thing because the French police are all over the crime.” He eyed me carefully. “That’s not why you’re so upset. I know you too well. What is wrong?”

“I lost her.”

“Penelope?” A slow grin crossed his face.

“Yes. She found out I planted a camera in her house. I was going to install a couple more but decided against doing so since things had changed between us. I was even going to remove the one I’d installed because I didn’t need it any longer.”

“I told you that your stupid games would eventually bite you. Did you tell her everything, every last sordid detail?”

“What I didn’t, she guessed. She is one amazing, astute woman.”

“Did you tell her where the camera was located?” He lifted his eyebrows, still amused at my expense.

“No.”

“Did she find it?”