(Noah)

A single gunshot wound to the forehead. It sprayed the wall behind Andy’s desk. Pictures of his wife and kids were splattered with blood and brain.

“Don’t touch a thing,” I said. “Don’t even come in here. There’s going to be a shit storm here later.”

“Later?” Penny asked. “Noah…”

“No, Penny,” I said. “We can’t do anything right now. I’m sorry. This was Erik.”

“I know that,” she said. She looked at Andy and then turned her head. “He…”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I know he was a friend. A boss. A colleague.”

Penny backed away. “I’m going to be sick.”

“We’re out of here in a second,” I said.

I surveyed the office. My guess was that Erik came to check up on Andy. Andy hadn’t gotten to me or Penny so he was punished. It was obvious we were both alive. Andy was supposed to come to my apartment and make a kill. He didn’t. That made me wonder if Erik was tailing us. Or maybe using the attack on Dalton to see where we were.

This was getting deeper.

And Nathan wanted nothing to do with it.

My only hope was to win the fight and then demand Nathan step in and end this. If he wanted me to be alive as his moneymaking fighter, then I needed Erik off my ass.

I started to step back when I noticed a notebook on Andy’s desk. It was open and was scribbled with notes. I stepped carefully and made sure not to touch a thing. It wasn’t easy to block out the dead man sitting in a chair, but I did it. I looked at the book and saw my name. I saw Penny’s name. Then there were several lines and notes, trying to connect me to Penny and Penny to Seth. There were so many names, so much information about me, my fights, everything.

My heart raced.

Andy had been creating his own story to tell.

“Oh, shit,” I whispered when I saw another name.

There was an arrow that went from my name and Seth’s name.

Emily.

Andy knew about Emily? Or did Erik know?

Then it hit me.

She was the only other person in the world Erik could hurt to get to me. He had gone after Dalton to make a statement. He had killed Andy to make a statement. And now, assuming Erik had read the notes, he knew about Emily. That would lead him right to his brother’s murder.

I rushed from the office and went to the kitchen. I hurried to grab some cleaning chemicals and made sure to clean up everything Penny and I had touched in the house. I moved fast, ignoring her questions.

I could barely think straight.

We left the house and got into my car. There was a chance that someone could have seen us. I felt foolish for just pulling up to the curb like I had done. But I didn’t know there was a dead guy in the house. I honestly had wanted to talk to Andy. Find out everything he knew about Erik. And, yes, I did want to help him.

“Shit,” I growled as I drove away.

“Noah, what’s happening?”

I shook my head. “You have to wait for me in the apartment again.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have to go for a ride. Alone.”

“What?”

“Honey, Andy had been looking into me. Into you. Drawing connections on his own. He had Seth’s name written down. And he had Emily’s name written down.”

“Oh.”

“I have to make sure she’s okay. And if she is, warn her. Tell her to get the hell out of wherever she is.”

“How do you know where…”

Penny didn’t finish the question.

Some old habits died really hard.

I knew where Emily lived. I knew she was married. It was none of my business to know any of it, but until I met Penny, Emily had been the only woman I ever loved.

“Nothing is going to happen,” I whispered. I reached for Penny’s hand. “Understand me?”

“Why would I think that? Why would I care?”

“Because of how we feel,” I said.

I left it at that until we got back to my place. I checked to make sure the place was empty and made sure Penny had her gun.

“Same as before,” I said. “Do not answer the door.”

She nodded. “Please be careful.”

“There’s a cell phone in my nightstand. An emergency phone. If I’m not back by tomorrow then you need to call that number and explain everything.”

“Where does it go?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Marcos gave it to me. Trust me, you’re not going to have to make that call.”

“Noah… I can’t lose you. I…”

I hugged her tight. “You’re not going to lose me, Penny. I have to make sure Emily is okay. Then I’m going to win this fight and force Nathan to help us. I promise.”

I looked down at her. She looked ready to cry.

“I think I’m in love with you, Noah,” she said.

A tear formed in the corner of her right eye. I hurried to put my thumb there, not wanting to see her cry as she confessed her love to me.

“Ah, Penny, honey,” I whispered. She wants you to say it, Noah. She wants to feel it from you. I wasn’t used to a sense of responsibility that included someone else’s feelings. I lowered my mouth to hers and kissed her. “Me too. I’m in love with you, Penny.”

I slipped away and left the apartment.

I waited until she locked the door.

I slipped my hands in my pockets. I had a gun in my back pocket. Taking a deep breath, I had to go step back in time.

I had to face the woman who broke my heart and was the reason why my future looked fucked.