“Five,” I continue with a vengeance, “getting Min and me fake identities so you could sneak off to New York, thinking we wouldn’t follow. Six, leaving me at the hospital while you went back to RedArm without a word. What if something had happened to you, Rich? What would I think? What would Min think?”
“Penny, stop. You’re complicating things.”
“I am not complicating things!” I yell. “I’m trying to get you to see all the moronic decisions you make over and over again, by yourself, with no regard for the people around you!”
“If you’re insinuating that I’m like my father…” Rich begins, his voice low.
“What?” I exclaim. “No! Of course not! I’m saying—”
“I know what you’re saying. I heard it loud and clear. I don’t care how my actions affect the people around me.” Rich gets up and angrily stuffs his arms into his jacket.”
“Rich, that’s not what I said!” I argue, exasperated. “Where are you going?”
“Out. You’ve given me a lot to think about.” His eyes flash at me. They’re dark again. “Stay here. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“Rich, wait. I’m—” sorry, I was going to say. He slams the door before I get the chance.
Chapter Fifteen
I pace around the tiny room, unable to sit still. My movements feel like they should be short and angry. But I can’t manage that with my rib.
I’m furious at Rich for the way he left me. Again. His accusation that I claimed he was like his father stung. He should know me better than to think I would go for such a low blow.
I’m angry at myself, too, for letting the words spill out of me. I know Rich has a quick temper. That’s all the more reason for me to choose my words more carefully in the heat of the moment.
I sit on the bed. After I pause, I lie back and stare at the ceiling. Why were we fighting? That’s not the way things should be. Especially now.
Rich is clearly stressed from the events of yesterday and today. I am, too. We should be supporting each other, not arguing.
How can he go from sweet and caring to brash and angry at the flip of a switch? The way he talked about the things he wants to do together in the future was touching. I never knew he thought so far ahead.
In the aftermath of all that happened after last night’s dinner, I’d nearly forgotten about the offer he made. He wants me to move to New York with him. That’s a big step. It shows how committed he is to our relationship.
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten angry. But the casual way he just brought up talking to Amanda blindsided me. That’s a big decision. Wasn’t it part of his promise to consult me on things like that first?
I know it was. That’s the reason it upset me so much: trust.
Rich claims he trusts me. I want to trust him, too. But after a lifetime of being burned again and again by the people I should have been able to rely on, trust is a big issue for me. You’d think it would go hand-in-hand with love. Not in my case.
Do I love Rich? Absolutely. Do I trust him completely? …That’s still up for debate.
I groan and roll over. Part of this is his fault, too. If he’d just eased me into the idea of his talking to Amanda more slowly, maybe I would have been more receptive. He didn’t have to spring it on me the way he did. ‘Oh, hey, Penny, I’m going to go sit down and have a nice, normal heart-to-heart with my bat-shit-crazy ex who tried to kill us. No big deal.’
Should I apologize when he gets back? I don’t want this causing a rift between us. Especially not now. We have enough going on in our lives without the need to add relationship struggles to the mix.
I grind my teeth in frustration. Why do I always have to be the one to play peacemaker? I know the answer before I even pose the question: Because I’m not stubborn as a rock.
Dammit, I love Richard, but for all his good qualities he definitely has his share of flaws. I was hoping I could work on them by now. This new development with Amanda and Victor just threw a wrench into the gears.
I push myself up with a grimace and walk to the window. I look in the direction of the hospital, where Min still is. I wonder if she has woken up yet. I hope she hasn’t—not because I don’t want her to get better, but because I don’t want her frightened when she finds she’s alone.
Some—hell, a lot—of Rich’s actions don’t make a lick of sense. Why couldn’t we have had this discussion in the hospital, closer to Min, instead of in this hotel? He said she needs our support. And given what we’ve seen Amanda and Victor are capable of, is the extra protection he alluded to enough? Min is completely defenseless in there.
I look at the door. Rich didn’t say when he’d be back. Already, an hour has passed. How much longer will he take?
I can’t stand waiting here anymore. I hate feeling useless. I also hate feeling like I’m at the beck-and-call of another person. Being confined in this little room reminds me of waiting for Rich in the motel back in Oregon, the morning after we were chased out of his apartment.
I get up and put my jacket on. It’s part of the attire I wore to the restaurant last night. I wish I had something else. But, it’s not like the hospital offers a complementary wardrobe when they dismiss you. I write Rich a quick note, telling him where I’ll be. I’d much rather stay with Min, where I can be of some use, than stuck in this hole.
Rich is going to be pissed when he finds me gone, I think as I lock the door behind me. Whatever. I can withstand his anger. If that’s what I have to endure to be there for Min when she wakes up, so be it.
I walk down the long, narrow hall, absorbed in my thoughts. I’m looking at my feet, so I have only the barest amount of time to react when I turn the corner and almost bump head-first into a tall man.
“Sorry,” I mumble, looking up. “I…”
The words die on my tongue. My heart freezes in my chest. I know this man. I know his cold, beady eyes. I know his clammy, pallid complexion. I know his terrifying, slithering voice.
Tam.
I turn and run. But not before a hand darts out and grabs my elbow. I jerk free and stumble back. My feet tangle. I fall.
Tearing pain rips through my torso. I cry out. I try to scramble up, but I can’t gather the strength. My mind is screaming at me in alarm as I desperately scuttle backwards. Shit, shit, shit! I should have stayed in my room. I should have—
“Penny!” I open my eyes, shocked to hear Rich’s voice. He rushes to me and goes to his knees. “Are you all right?”
Did I just mistake him for Tam? What the hell is wrong with me? “Rich, I thought…”
I trail off. No, I did not mistake him at all. Tam is also here, standing behind Rich. Silently observing me with his haunted eyes.
I look back at Rich in alarm. Tam is one of the bad guys. He and Victor work together. Why is he here? Why is Rich so calm about it?
“Let me help you up.” Rich hoists me by my good arm, careful not to cause undue discomfort. I stand on my own feet, but I have to lean against Rich for support. I’m too shaken to manage by myself.
Tam still hasn’t said anything. I watch, horrified, as a slow, bloodless smile curls on his lips. For the first time, I think I see a tiny spark in his eyes. Is he… amused?
“Richard,” I say very slowly, not taking my eyes off the other man while pressing my back into the wall to get as far away from him as possible, “Would you please tell me what he is doing here?”
“Penny, relax. He came with me.”
“With you?” I repeat, breathless.
“Yes. Tam has offered to help us find Victor.”
I blink, not understanding. “Why would he do that?”
“Because, dear, I am a professional,” Tam offers. His voice is just as I remember: Soft and slow. Dangerous. It sends a shiver down my spine.
“I went to RedArm,” Rich explains. “To see if Calloway could help us track down Amanda and Victor. He said he already has someone on it.” Rich looks over his shoulder to make it cryst
al clear who he means.
“You’re helping us now,” I say softly, looking at Tam. He watches me impassively. It’s scary how he can keep such perfect control over his emotions. “So you… work for RedArm? Or are you like a contractor?”
“It does not matter who I am or what I was,” Tam answers. “All there is to understand is that, now, I offer my services to you.”
“Huh.” I turn my head toward Rich. “And it’s not the least bit discomforting to you that last week, he had me tied up in a freezer?”
“To me, no,” Tam offers.
Rich takes my arm again. “Come here, Penny. I need to talk to you.” He leads me away from Tam, who calmly watches us go. We turn a corner.
“Are you insane?” I hiss at Rich as soon as we’re out of hearing. “You brought him here?”
“From what I understand, he’s one of the best,” Rich says.
“Rich, he tried to kidnap your sister! Not to mention everything he did to me!”
Rich’s eyes focus on me. “Everything he did to you? You weren’t supposed to be touched! Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“No, no! Not like that!” I backtrack. “I mean, the whole held-captive-in-a-chair thing.”
“Did he hurt you there??” Rich demands.
“No,” I say, “But—”
“But what?” Rich sounds like he’s getting irritated again. “Penny, if something happened to you that you didn’t tell me about…”
“It’s not that,” I say. I shiver, remembering my time in that terrifying, dark room. “Actually, Victor was the one who tried to hit me. Tam stopped him.”
Rich exhales in relief. “See? Tam’s a professional, like he said. He was doing what he was paid to do.”
“And that was?”
“Delivering Min to New York to give RedArm leverage over my father. Calloway said it himself: Nobody was supposed to be hurt. Until last night, nobody was.”
“So what?” I ask. “You’re best friends with the man who sent thugs after your sister?”
Rich lowers his voice as he looms over me. “Look, Penny. My hands are tied here. We don’t have many allies. Let’s not spit in the face of the ones we do have, hmm? Calloway has resources we can use. I will use them if it means keeping you and Min safe.”
“Safe?” I gesture sharply down the hall. “You call working with one of his thugs ‘safe’?”
“Victor’s the loose screw, not Tam,” Rich stresses. “And he’s not a thug. He’s ex-FBI.”
“Great,” I say. “We have a trained killer with us.”
Rich rolls his eyes. “Don’t be melodramatic. All I meant is that Tam is trained for the job. Would you rather have him with us, or against us?”
“I’d rather not have him at all!” I protest.
“And then what? Think, Penny! You want to try finding Victor and Amanda by ourselves? Just me and you? Oh, and I forgot! We also have to watch over Min at the same time! Come on. Think before you suggest these things!”
“That’s not what I meant—”
“That’s what it sounded like. We’re wasting time. Tam is here, whether you like it or not. He is going to help us, whether you like it or not. Now, you can either accept that and start being useful, or you can get out of the way.
I stiffen. “What did you just say?” I ask dangerously.
“You heard me, Penny. Are you with me, or not?”
“With you?” I scoff. “You promised we would be a team, Rich. So far, I haven’t seen it.”
“God, this is ridiculous,” Rich spits. “Do you know why I didn’t ask you, Penny? Because I knew you would bicker with me like this!”
“Then why the hell am I even here?” I snap. I start to walk away, angry at him. “Screw you, Rich. You obviously don’t need me.”
He grabs my arm and holds on tight. “Where do you think you’re going?” he growls.
“Somewhere where my presence matters. I’m going to Min.” I look at the hand holding me. “Now let go of my arm.”
“Penny, you are not walking out of this hotel on your own.” Rich tightens his grip. His fingers dig into me skin.”
“Rich, let go. You’re hurting me.”
“No,” he says, “I’m not.” He barks a crude laugh. “You have no fucking idea what it would feel like if I really wanted to hurt you.”
I can’t believe my ears. “Are you threatening me?”
“You’re being an obstinate brat, so yes, I am. I’m warning you. Don’t walk down that hallway.”
I glare at him, refusing to back down. Even though he’s so much bigger than I am, I know he’d never hurt me. Not really. “Who’s going to stop me?”
“Penny, why are you being so fucking difficult?”
“Why can’t you keep your promises?”
“I don’t believe this.” Rich shakes his head. “Are we really back to that topic again?”
“Yes!” I exclaim, ripping my arm free. The sudden movement makes my side feel like it’s being sliced in two with a hot knife. I don’t show it. “This might be a hard concept for you to grasp, Rich, but trust matters to me!”
He looks confused. “Are you saying you don’t trust me?”
“I’m saying you don’t trust me!” I shove a finger in his chest. “I’m on your side, Rich. But you never treat me as such. You never ask me what I think, or how I feel. You don’t consult with me. You just… act.”
Rich snickers. “I told you the night at the pub. It’s what you do to me.”
“So this is somehow my fault?”
“It’s nobody’s fault.” Rich takes both my hands and holds them together. He softens his voice. I can even see the beginning of a smile as he talks. “Why are we arguing? That’s not what I want to do.” He looks into my eyes. “Do you?”
“No,” I admit. I look down and away from his penetrating stare.
“Then let’s stop.” He leans his forehead against mine. “I love you,” he whispers. “Even when you get feisty like this.”
“Feisty?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Feisty,” Rich nods. “I like seeing you all passionate.” He lowers my voice. “It turns me on. It’s a shame we’re not alone now, or I’d pick you up and fuck you right against this wall.”
Oh, wow. A rush of heat scorches through my body at his words. I can feel his smoldering eyes on me. I meet his gaze, and have to swallow. He’s serious.
Very, very, serious.
“So what do you say?” he rumbles in my ear. “Can you stand to let me make the decisions for now? At least, until all of this is over? And then, I promise you…” his voice becomes thick and raspy, “…I will take all of your suggestions to heart.”
I swat his arm to dispel some of the intensity between us. I don’t need him making me feel all hot and flustered when there’s no outlet for it.
“Tam’s waiting,” I remind him.
“I know. Are you ready to go back there? Do you trust me when I say we can’t do this without him?”
“It’s not exactly like you’re giving me a choice.”
Rich chuckles. “You’re right. I’ll try to work on that,” he pauses, “when the saga of Victor and Amanda comes to an end.”
“Agreed.” I hold out my hand.
Rich frowns down at me. “What’s this?”
“I remembered the only promise you ever kept was one we shook on.” I look at my outstretched hand. “I’m not about to forget that again.”
Rich laughs, takes my hand, and shakes.
Chapter Sixteen
“Here is everything I’ve seen,” Tam says, laying out a series of photographs on the small table in our room. The three of us surround it. I’m still uncomfortable with Tam’s presence, so I make sure Rich always stays between me and him.
The first set of photos shows Amanda and Victor together in a small car. I can tell by the landscape that the photos were taken in Oregon. The pictures show them getting out, then walking down the street together.
“I took these
two days after the incident in Amanda’s home,” Tam explains.
“Why were you taking pictures of your partner?” I ask, not understanding. “I mean, weren’t you two still… you know, a team?”
“In theory,” Tam acknowledges. “But I saw a change in Victor after he lost you.” Tam looks at me with no emotion on his face or in his voice.
“You mean after Rich rescued me,” I correct.
“Yes. Victor did not divulge the particulars of his failure.” Tam looks at Rich. “But they were easy to piece together.”
“I didn’t ask you this before because I wanted Penny to hear,” Rich says. “But how did you and Victor find Amanda?”
“She contacted us.”
“What?” Rich and I exclaim at the same time.
Tam tilts his head slightly. “She heard about the problem at RedArm. Of course, we knew of her relationship with you,” Tam’s eyes flash at Rich, “but until that moment we did not know of her more recent one with your father.”
Rich stiffens. “What did you say?”
“Amanda has been in contact with your father for years.” If Tam enjoys revealing this to Rich, he hides it extremely well. “Once we discovered the link, we found plane tickets, wire transfers, and other connections confirming their relationship.”
I see Rich’s hands form tight fists on the table. “Are you saying that—” he takes a breath, “—Amanda was one of my father’s mistresses?”
Tam’s lips curl in that frightening smile. “Yes.”
“GODDAMMIT!” Rich roars, bursting from the table. The outburst startles me. Tam remains unaffected.
“I don’t believe it,” Rich says, pacing the room. The combination of the hard boot on his broken foot and a normal shoe on the other foot make a clunk-clack, clunk-clack pattern against the floor. “Amanda and my father?” He shakes his head. “That’s fucking sick. Twisted.” He turns on Tam. “How long has this been going on?”
“The first rendezvous we found dates back four years,” Tam answers casually. “Since then, there have been countless encounters in hotels, rented properties—”
“Enough!” Rich snaps, glowering at Tam. “I don’t want to hear any more!”
Uncovering You: The Complete Series (Mega Box Set) Page 217