Chapter 3 - The Crime Boss’s House and the Woman Who Was Supposed to Hate Him
Matthew Cole's home was nothing like Penny expected.
She had imagined a fortress.
Something cold.
Maybe steel gates and armed guards.
Instead, the house sat on a quiet hill outside the city, surrounded by old trees and stone walls. It was beautiful in the way old New England houses were beautiful: dark wood, massive windows, fireplaces, expensive antiques, and too many rooms.
Penny stood in the entryway.
“You live here?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“Mostly.”
“That sounds lonely.”
Matthew removed his coat.
“I don't mind.”
“That sounds like something lonely people say.”
He looked at her.
“Do you always talk this much?”
“When I'm nervous.”
“You've been talking since the parking lot.”
“I've had a stressful night.”
“I noticed.”
Liam walked in behind them.
“Safe perimeter.”
Matthew nodded.
Penny looked around.
“Where is everybody?”
“Who?”
“Your staff.”
“I don't keep much staff.”
“You have a mansion.”
“It's a house.”
“It's a mansion.”
Matthew shrugged.
Penny frowned.
“Money really does change people's definition of things.”
He almost smiled.
“You should sleep.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because my father is alive.”
Matthew looked away.
Penny saw the change in his expression.
“You cared about him.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He saved my younger brother.”
Penny's voice softened.
“What happened to your brother?”
Matthew was silent.
Then he walked toward the fireplace.
“His name was Daniel.”
“What happened?”
“He was seventeen when he disappeared.”
Penny stared.
“You never found him?”
“No.”
She came closer.
“What did my father do?”
“Your father discovered someone inside the Black Crown was selling information to a rival organization.”
“Who?”
“We still don't know.”
“And your brother?”
“Daniel found evidence.”
Matthew's voice dropped.
“The same night, he disappeared.”
Penny realized she was staring at him.
“I'm sorry.”
Matthew looked at the fire.
“Don't be.”
“Why?”
“Because pity doesn't bring people back.”
“That doesn't mean you don't deserve sympathy.”
His eyes met hers.
That was the first moment Penny understood how much pain he carried beneath the controlled exterior.
She touched his arm.
He looked at her hand.
Neither moved.
Then Penny pulled away.
“I'm sorry.”
“You don't need to apologize.”
“I shouldn't have touched you.”
“I didn't say that.”
Her pulse jumped.
A knock interrupted them.
Liam entered.
“We found something.”
Matthew immediately became alert.
“What?”
“We pulled footage from the club.”
“Show me.”
Liam placed a tablet on the table.
The footage showed the gray-suited man who had crashed into Penny.
Matthew leaned closer.
“Zoom.”
Liam did.
The man's face became clearer.
Matthew's expression hardened.
“That's Victor Crane.”
Penny frowned.
“Who?”
“A former member of my organization.”
“What happened?”
“He betrayed me.”
The video continued.
Victor bumped Penny.
But when the camera angle changed, Penny saw something.
He had deliberately brushed against her purse.
“He put something in my bag.”
Matthew looked at her.
“Your purse.”
She rushed to the sofa.
Her hands shook as she emptied it.
Lipstick.
Wallet.
Keys.
Receipt.
Gum.
Then a tiny black memory card fell onto the carpet.
Everyone went silent.
Penny looked at Matthew.
“What is that?”
He picked it up.
“Evidence.”
“For what?”
“Whatever Victor didn't want me to find.”
They inserted it into the laptop.
Files appeared.
Shipping manifests.
Bank transfers.
Photos.
Names.
Politicians.
Judges.
Police officers.
Businessmen.
Penny leaned back.
“This is huge.”
Matthew nodded.
Then the final file opened.
A photograph of Thomas Hayes.
Penny's breath caught.
Underneath it was a date.
March 14, 2020.
And one sentence.
THOMAS KNOWS WHERE THE CROWN IS.
“What crown?”
Matthew said nothing.
Liam looked at him.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“You know.”
Matthew's expression darkened.
“The Crown Ledger.”
Penny frowned.
“What is that?”
“The records of every illegal operation the Black Crown ever ran.”
“Who has it?”
“We thought Thomas did.”
The room became silent.
Penny suddenly understood.
“My father is alive because he has the ledger.”
Matthew nodded.
“And whoever has the ledger controls everyone in Boston.”
“Then why hasn't anyone found him?”
“They've been looking for six years.”
“And now they know I exist.”
Matthew's eyes met hers.
“Yes.”
Penny sat down.
“I need to find him.”
“We will.”
“You said we.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because my enemies are now hunting you.”
“That's not the whole reason.”
Matthew looked at her.
“No.”
“Then tell me.”
He walked toward her.
“You're the first person I've met in a very long time who looks at me and sees a man instead of a threat.”
Penny swallowed.
“I do think you're a threat.”
“I know.”
“But…”
“But?”
“You're also kind.”
Matthew looked genuinely surprised.
“No one has ever called me that.”
“I don't believe that.”
“You're wrong.”
Penny smiled faintly.
“So what now?”
“Now you sleep.”
“And you?”
“I stay awake.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because you're under my protection.”
The words sent an unexpected warmth through her.
She turned away.
“Good night, Matthew.”
“Good night, Penny.”
She walked upstairs.
Matthew stayed below.
Liam watched him.
“You're attached.”
Matthew glared.
“No.”
“You're already attached.”
“I am protecting a witness.”
“You've threatened politicians for less.”
“This is different.”
“Exactly.”
Matthew looked toward the staircase.
“I won't let them hurt her.”
Liam shook his head.
“That wasn't what I meant.”
Matthew said nothing.
Upstairs, Penny opened a bedroom door.
Then stopped.
There was a handwritten note on the pillow.
For Evelyn's daughter.
She picked it up.
The message contained only one sentence.
Your father should have stayed dead.
Penny's blood ran cold.
Then a second sheet slid from beneath the pillow.
A photograph.
Her father.
Standing beside a much younger Matthew Cole.
And between them was Daniel Cole.
Alive.
Penny stared.
Three men.
One secret.
One missing ledger.
And an enemy who knew exactly where she was.
She ran downstairs.
“Matthew!”
He was already running toward her.
“What happened?”
She handed him the photograph.
He froze.
His face drained of color.
“That isn't possible.”
“Why?”
“Because this photograph was taken the week Daniel disappeared.”
Penny whispered, “And my father was there.”
Matthew looked at her.
“For six years, I thought Thomas Hayes betrayed my family.”
May you like
He looked back at the photograph.
“Now I think he was trying to save us.”
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