Chapter 6 - Penny Discovered Why Her Father Had Chosen Her
The funeral was private.
Only six people attended.
Penny.
Matthew.
Evelyn.
Liam.
An old priest.
And a detective named Sarah Morgan who had once worked with Thomas.
Penny stood beneath the winter sky.
She watched the coffin disappear into the earth.
She thought she would feel anger.
Instead, she felt empty.
Matthew stood beside her.
“You don't have to be strong.”
She looked at him.
“I don't know how not to be.”
He took her hand.
She held it.
That simple gesture became the only thing keeping her from breaking.
Later that evening, Sarah arrived at Matthew's house.
She brought a file.
“Thomas left this for Penny.”
Penny opened it.
Inside was her birth certificate.
A bank account.
A photograph.
And a DNA report.
She frowned.
“What is this?”
Sarah's expression was careful.
“Your father wasn't your biological father.”
Penny's entire world stopped.
“What?”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Penny looked at her mother.
“Mom?”
“I wanted to protect you.”
“Who is my father?”
Sarah placed another photograph on the table.
A younger Richard Cole.
Matthew's father.
Penny stared.
“No.”
Matthew went completely still.
Sarah said quietly, “The DNA confirms it.”
Penny turned toward Matthew.
“We're related?”
“No.”
Sarah shook her head.
“Your mothers are different.”
Penny looked confused.
“Then why?”
Sarah explained.
“Thomas raised you because Richard Cole asked him to.”
Penny stared at the photograph.
“Why would Matthew's father ask my father to raise me?”
“Because you were born with information.”
“What information?”
Sarah opened the final file.
“The Crown Ledger was never just paper.”
Penny frowned.
“The information was encoded into DNA.”
“That sounds impossible.”
“It was designed to be impossible.”
Matthew leaned closer.
“Explain.”
“Richard Cole had a genetic key created.”
Sarah looked at Penny.
“You were born carrying one half of it.”
Penny felt sick.
“You're saying I'm a key?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what am I?”
“The only living person who can unlock the final ledger.”
Matthew's face darkened.
“Who knows?”
“Victor.”
“Anyone else?”
“Whoever has been hunting your father.”
Penny sat down.
“So all of this is because of me?”
Matthew crouched in front of her.
“No.”
“You don't know that.”
“I do.”
“How?”
“Because they tried to kill me before they knew about you.”
She looked at him.
“Then why did they start hunting me?”
“Because they realized you were connected.”
“Through my father.”
“Yes.”
Penny covered her face.
Matthew gently lowered her hands.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“You are not responsible for what your family did.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I don't even know who I am.”
Matthew looked at her.
“You're Penny.”
“That doesn't feel like enough.”
“It is to me.”
The words silenced her.
Matthew continued.
“I don't care whose blood runs through your veins.”
“I care.”
“I don't.”
“What if I'm dangerous?”
“You've poked me twice.”
She laughed through her tears.
“That's your standard?”
“It is now.”
He smiled.
Then kissed her.
It was gentle.
Unexpected.
Nothing like the brutal world around them.
Penny froze.
Then kissed him back.
When they separated, both looked stunned.
“That,” Penny whispered, “was a terrible idea.”
“Yes.”
“Because you're my protector.”
“I know.”
“And I'm supposed to be your witness.”
“I know.”
“And you're a criminal.”
“I know.”
“And I'm…”
“Penny.”
“What?”
“I've spent years telling myself there are lines I won't cross.”
She looked at him.
“I crossed them the night you poked me.”
Her heart broke open.
Then someone shot through the window.
The glass exploded.
Matthew pushed Penny to the floor.
Liam fired toward the trees.
Sarah drew her weapon.
Then came an explosion downstairs.
The house filled with smoke.
Penny grabbed Matthew.
“What's happening?”
“Someone breached the property.”
“Who?”
“Doesn't matter.”
He pulled her up.
“We're leaving.”
They raced toward the basement tunnel.
Before reaching it, Matthew stopped.
Liam appeared.
His shirt was covered in blood.
“Boss.”
“What happened?”
“They took Evelyn.”
Penny's blood ran cold.
“No.”
Liam looked at her.
“I'm sorry.”
Penny grabbed Matthew's arm.
“Get her back.”
“I will.”
“Now.”
He looked into her eyes.
“You stay here.”
“No.”
“Penny—”
“You promised.”
He stared.
She had tears in her eyes.
“You promised you weren't leaving me.”
“I won't.”
“Then don't ask me to stay behind.”
Matthew pulled her close.
“Fine.”
They ran into the tunnel.
May you like
Behind them, the mansion burned.
And somewhere in Boston, Victor Crane was holding the woman who had kept Penny alive.
