Page 54

thirty-eight

As soon as Pippi leaves, I call my father over.

There’s pain behind his eyes as he scans my frame, the cuts and bruises. “What did you do to her to deserve this?”

“Nothing you wouldn’t have done.”

His lips form a straight line, and he gives me a little nod. “Touché. You are too much like me.”

“I think Aiden is.”

“You all are.”

“Even Henry?”

“Yep. Every one of you, except Olivia. Fortunately, she takes after her mother.”

I blink, considering him for a moment as he studies me. His admission that I’m like him, and not just Aiden, makes me warm up to him in ways I haven’t in years.

That settles the burning question I’ve held on to for weeks.

“Was mom Professor Devon Hall’s student?”

He sits down on the end of the bed with a strange look on his face. “The fuck? Where did you hear that name?”

His snappy tone confirms my suspicions.

“Did he hurt Mom?”

Dad’s hand slaps across his face as he trails it down his cheeks. His eyes wince as if he’s in pain. “He tried.”

“And so you…”

“Did what needed to be done.”

My throat gets tight. Respect for him not just as a good father, but also as an amazing husband and man grows.

Confusion still tugs at my brain, and it won’t go away. Mainly to myself, I whisper, “But why not me ? Why go after her ?”

“What?”

“His daughter is now a professor of Criminology here at Northview.”

My father’s shoulders stiffen. “Oh?”

“Yeah. And Pen, er Pippi, has been in her class, except…she’s been giving her a terrible time.

In fact, Pen just went to drop it now after Amanda told her to.

I asked her to, because I don’t think she’s safe.

Her roommate was slaughtered, and then her ex-dance partner went missing, but if you’re the one she wants for revenge, why not come after me? ”

With a completely flat response, Dad says, “I don’t know.”

“So you do know.” I sit forward with a gasp. “Oh…”

Everything falls into place.

His hand works itself to the back of his neck, then he stands and paces the room.

“I see,” I say, barely able to look at him now. “Were we set up?”

Whipping his head to me, he asks, “Who?”

“Me and Pen.”

The muscles in his neck flex as he swallows. “No. I think that must have been a wild series of coincidences. Fate’s way of making a joke, perhaps.”

“I think we were meant for each other.”

“It would seem that way.”

Taking a deep breath, I shift to a more comfortable position. “So you and Max took care of the problem of Professor Hall together… Were you friends ?”

“What? No. A mafia boss who owed us some favors lent him to me. Before the incident, I’d never seen him. When he showed up as the hired muscle, he called himself The Bear . We completed the job, and he left.”

“So his was for money.”

He nods. “And mine… for revenge .”

“This is what I don’t understand. Why hasn’t Amanda come after me then? Does she not know of your involvement, but of Max’s?”

“We hide our records very well. No one should be able to figure things out. I have no idea how she would know about Freidenberg’s involvement at all unless it was a slipup on his ex-employer’s side.”

“Maybe.”

“You can’t tell your mother any of this.”

“Mom doesn’t know?”

He scratches his stubble and gets a dreamy expression. “I think she does, but we just don’t discuss it. Mainly, I don’t want her worrying about this situation until I can alert the Board to take Amanda out of here. We’ll protect Pippi, Son. Don’t worry.”

“ I can protect her.”

“That’s my boy.”

Before he leaves, he gives me an easy hug so as not to disrupt my bandages.

By later afternoon, I’m itching to see my girl again.

Me

where u at? I need dinner. I’m starving

But it goes unanswered. Worried, I call Henry.

“Sup. I’m training and too busy for you. I am also a superstar. One who doesn’t piss off brothers and get beat up.”

“Where’s Pen?”

“She’s in class! I took her there!”

“You took her to her afternoon class?”

There’s hesitation on the line. “Well, I escorted her dutifully to the admin building.”

Fuck. “That was this morning, Henry!”

“I gotta go.” He ends the call.

My jaw pops as I clench it. After calling Amelia, Aiden, and Max, the lead balloon filling my gut grows heavier.

She’s gone.

“Oh, wait! Here she is. It’s fine,” I tell Max, so I don’t worry him. “Sorry, her class ran late. Want to talk to her?” Please say no .

“Just tell her to call me later,” he says.

“Okay, I will. Bye.”

Think! Where would Amanda take Pen? Her office? No way. Catacombs beneath the cathedral? Not likely. The Board would hear about this…

Sanguine Manor?

It’s definitely worth a shot. I’d hate to have to burn down campus in order to find her.

But I definitely will.

It’s painful to put on a T-shirt and hoodie. Bending over to tie my boots almost makes me pass out, but my worries push me forward. I grab my Smith & Wesson and stuff it into my hip holster, then pull my sweatshirt over it, and I’m out the door.

A drizzle falls to the ground as nightfall rapidly approaches. Shadows from the streetlamps grow longer as I stroll up to the Manor’s derelict gates.

Part of me wonders if I should have asked Aiden to come…or Adal. They would, but I can handle one little professor. Especially with one in the chamber, ready to pop as soon as I find my girl.

But if I have to torture this woman for laying a finger on Pen, then I want to be quiet about that. Though, I do wonder how she could restrain Pen, who’s highly capable of taking care of herself. Unless she got her by surprise. Or drugged her.

There’s no noise around the house, other than the sound of pattering rain, which soaks my clothes.

The gray boards creak loudly beneath my boots as I shuffle across the front porch to the door.

As expected, it’s locked, but I slide over to a few windows, which are barred and covered in black fabric.

I head down to the side of the house, hoping to find a way inside, or at least peek through the transoms in the cellar. The thunder picks up, and the rain fattens as I round the corner.

When I do, I’m met with a baseball bat to the head before everything goes black.