Chapter 4 - The Woman Matthew Could Never Afford to Love
The next morning began with pancakes.
Penny stared at the plate.
Then at Matthew.
“You cook?”
“No.”
“Then who made these?”
“Liam.”
She looked toward the enormous man across the kitchen.
“You cook?”
Liam shrugged.
“My mother would have killed me if I couldn't.”
Penny tasted one.
“This is actually good.”
Liam smiled.
Matthew looked irritated.
“Don't encourage him.”
“You're jealous.”
“I don't compete with pancakes.”
“You should.”
Liam laughed.
Matthew glared at him.
Penny realized something strange.
The man everyone feared could actually be funny.
That made him more dangerous somehow.
During breakfast, Matthew received a call.
His expression changed.
“What?”
He stood.
“When?”
Penny watched him.
“What happened?”
“My warehouse in South Boston was attacked.”
“By whom?”
“Victor Crane.”
Penny put down her fork.
“Is anyone hurt?”
“Yes.”
Matthew grabbed his coat.
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“I'm involved.”
“This is not negotiable.”
She folded her arms.
“I don't take orders well.”
“I know.”
He stepped closer.
“You're staying here.”
“No.”
“Penny.”
“I need to find my father.”
“I need to deal with Victor.”
“Then let's do both.”
Matthew stared at her.
“You're impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
He sighed.
“Fine.”
Liam stared at him.
“You're taking her?”
“Yes.”
“To an active crime scene?”
“Yes.”
“That's insane.”
Matthew looked at Penny.
“She won't stay behind.”
Liam nodded slowly.
“That is actually true.”
They drove to the warehouse.
Police had already been bribed, delayed, redirected, or otherwise persuaded to leave.
The building smelled of smoke.
Several crates had been opened.
One body lay covered in a tarp.
Penny looked away.
Matthew walked inside.
“Show me where Crane went.”
An injured guard pointed toward the office.
Matthew opened the door.
Inside, the walls had been covered with photographs.
Penny stepped closer.
Every photograph was of her.
Outside the club.
At the hospital where she visited her mother.
At the grocery store.
At her apartment.
Penny felt sick.
Matthew's face became murderous.
“He's been watching her for months.”
Liam looked around.
“How did he know about her?”
Penny stared at one photograph.
She was younger.
Seventeen.
Standing beside her mother.
“That's my high school graduation.”
Matthew walked over.
At the bottom of the photograph was a date.
Then he noticed something else.
A red thread had been pinned across the pictures.
All of them led to one final photograph.
Penny's mother.
And beneath it:
EVELYN KNOWS.
Penny whispered, “He has Mom.”
Matthew immediately turned to Liam.
“Call every contact.”
Liam moved.
Penny grabbed Matthew's sleeve.
“What if he's hurt her?”
“We'll find her.”
“What if we're too late?”
He turned toward her.
“We won't be.”
“How can you know?”
“Because I'll tear Boston apart before I let them touch her.”
His voice was so certain that Penny believed him.
They found Evelyn three hours later.
She had been moved from the care facility.
The trail led to an abandoned church outside Cambridge.
Matthew entered first.
Gun drawn.
Penny followed.
Inside, Evelyn sat tied to a chair.
Alive.
Penny ran to her.
“Mom!”
“Penny!”
They embraced.
Evelyn cried.
Matthew cut the restraints.
“Are you hurt?”
Evelyn shook her head.
Then she looked at him.
Her face changed.
“You're Matthew Cole.”
“Yes.”
Evelyn whispered.
“You look like your father.”
Matthew froze.
“You knew him?”
“Your father and Thomas were friends.”
Penny stepped back.
“Mom, tell me everything.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Thomas didn't work for the Black Crown.”
“Then why did Matthew think he did?”
“Because Thomas infiltrated them.”
Matthew stared.
“To find Daniel.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Daniel discovered the Crown Ledger.”
“What happened to him?”
“He disappeared because he trusted the wrong person.”
“Who?”
Evelyn looked at Matthew.
“Someone close to you.”
The silence was immediate.
Matthew's expression hardened.
“Who?”
“I don't know the name.”
“You do.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“I never met him.”
Penny sat beside her.
“What about Dad?”
“Thomas had the ledger.”
“Where?”
Evelyn looked at Penny.
“He split it.”
Matthew stepped closer.
“Into how many pieces?”
“Three.”
“Where?”
“One with Thomas.”
“One with?”
“A man named Arthur Crane.”
Matthew went still.
“Victor's father.”
Evelyn nodded.
“The third?”
Evelyn looked at Penny.
“You.”
Penny felt the room spin.
“What?”
“Your father hid the third piece where no one would think to look.”
“Where?”
Evelyn reached inside her coat.
She pulled out an old silver locket.
Penny recognized it immediately.
Her father had given it to her when she was six.
She had worn it for years.
“Open it,” Evelyn whispered.
Penny did.
Inside was a tiny folded paper.
Matthew took it.
Coordinates.
Nothing else.
Then a gunshot cracked outside.
Matthew shoved Penny behind him.
“Stay down!”
More shots.
Liam rushed inside.
“They found us.”
Matthew looked at Penny.
“We're leaving.”
Penny's heart raced.
“How?”
“Through the crypt.”
She stared.
“This church has a crypt?”
“Apparently.”
They ran.
The underground tunnel led to a wooded road.
When they emerged, snow had begun to fall.
Penny leaned against a tree, breathing hard.
Matthew approached.
“Are you okay?”
“My feet hurt.”
He looked down.
Her shoes were soaked.
Without warning, he crouched.
“What are you doing?”
“Get on.”
“No.”
“Penny.”
“I can walk.”
“You've been running through freezing mud in heels.”
“I'm fine.”
He looked at her.
“Get on my back.”
Penny hesitated.
Then obeyed.
His arms caught her legs.
She rested her chin near his shoulder.
“You know this is becoming a habit.”
“What is?”
“You carrying me.”
“I noticed.”
“I could get used to it.”
Matthew went silent.
Penny realized what she had said.
“Forget I said that.”
“No.”
He kept walking.
“I'm going to remember.”
She smiled.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Penny whispered, “Matthew?”
“Yes?”
“Are you scared?”
He looked toward the dark woods.
“Yes.”
She was surprised.
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
Penny's breath caught.
He stopped.
She slid down from his back.
They stood facing one another.
Snow landed in his dark hair.
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“I argue.”
“I know.”
“I make bad decisions.”
“I noticed.”
“I spilled whiskey on you.”
“Twice, emotionally.”
She laughed.
“You're ridiculous.”
“And you are trouble.”
“Maybe.”
He touched her cheek.
Penny didn't pull away.
Their faces moved closer.
Then an explosion tore through the woods.
Matthew shoved her behind him.
May you like
The moment was gone.
The war had begun.
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