Chills scattered down my spine. “He?”

Larry made a hate-thick noise in the back of his throat. “Arnold Twig.”

The name alone made me shudder with anger and the need to scratch out his eyes for being the cause of Penn’s misfortune. “And who is Arnold Twig?”

“Sean Twig’s father. Penn’s nightmare.”

* * * * *

I couldn’t stop replaying the strange conversation over and over.

Larry had been forthcoming but cryptic at the same time.

How had this Arnold Twig got away with framing Penn?

Why had nothing been done about it?

Why hadn’t Penn himself been a whistleblower and shouted to the world what had happened?

Why had I never been contacted to testify about the rape and assault charge the night he was stolen from me?

The man in the hoodie from the alley had honor and backbone. He didn’t let me get raped because he morally had to help. That strong ethic code would stand up for himself, too, surely?

With my questions keeping me constant company, the day passed like all the others.

But it didn’t feel like the others.

It was different.

Strange.

However, the calendar hadn’t changed.

I had.

The second I’d wandered into Belle Elle after heading downtown with David and Dad to answer police questions and provide my statement about Greg, I’d had no mental capacity to work.

Even Fleur had frozen in shock and demanded to know what I was doing there.

I’d given her the socially acceptable response that I was head of this empire and I’d already had a few days away. I wouldn’t miss more.

That was a lie.

The real reason was I couldn’t sit at home on my own anymore. I couldn’t raid Penn’s safety deposit box and stare at the handsome passport photo of a slightly younger man with aged wisdom and persecution in his gaze.

The same prettiness that had beguiled me now broke my heart that I couldn’t pick up a phone and call him or knock on his door and hug him.

He was untouchable, unreachable, and it hurt so damn much.

The only good thing was the knowledge that Greg had been questioned. He was under arrest pending discharge from the hospital. On the flip side, Greg had submitted his own statement about Penn’s treatment and wanted him punished to the fullest extent possible.

It’s a damn racket.

Greed had caused this and greed could kiss my ass.

My stomach never stopped roiling at how vindictive Greg had become. How a boy from my childhood could become such a conniving, jealous asshole.

I had no idea if he’d end up in the same prison as Penn or what it would mean for Steve’s future at Belle Elle, knowing his best friend’s daughter had sent his only son to jail.

But it wasn’t my fault, and I was too tired to worry.

* * * * *

Six p.m. rolled around, and instead of having a productive day, I couldn’t remember where the time had gone.

My website browser had court processes and information on what happened to reoffenders. My history painted research on how unlikely a release was when the victim was pushing for full penalty.

Greg had not only tried to take Belle Elle away from me, but he also had the power to take away Penn.

The fermenting anger inside threatened to boil over. Nothing was simple all because of him. All because Greg thought he deserved something for nothing.

He can’t get away with it.

I wished I had more knowledge on how to argue cases that weren’t just black and white. But I was sheltered in that respect. I just had to hope Larry knew what he was doing—which drove me nuts, as I needed to do something to help.

Another kernel of loathing layered on top of my anger as I Googled Arnold Twig: chief of police, part-time volunteer at the soup kitchen, father to one son, and all-a-round good citizen. The scarce photos of him online depicted an older gentleman who preferred crisp ironed clothes and sensible shoes.

I couldn’t see why he would be such a threat to Penn.

A knock raised my head.

I glanced at the door, yanked from my scattered thoughts. “Come in.”

I expected Fleur. I smiled with kindness and welcome—grateful to see my helpful assistant and friend before she left for the night.

The true visitor turned my smile to marble. I hid my grimace behind it. “Steve...what a surprise.”

I had no desire to see him. He’d done nothing wrong, he’d showered me in apologies, but I couldn’t separate my fondness of him against the dislike of his son.

Steve lingered on the threshold. “Elle, I wondered...can I have a minute?”

My heart raced, noticing for the first time the similarities between Steve and Greg. Matching jawline, the way their mouth formed certain words, even their nose shared the same genetics.

It had never bothered me before, but that was before Greg punched me and drove me across the state to try to do what exactly? Rape me into falling in love with him? Arranging someone to marry us under duress and believing the marriage certificate would’ve held up against the lawyers I would’ve hired to bury Greg under litigation?

Idiot.

I stood, planting my hands on my desk. “I think you’ll need more than just a minute to explain what the hell Greg was thinking, Steve.” Nothing but swift authority was in my voice. No gratitude for his guidance over the years or friendship toward a father figure I’d grown up with.

I was his boss.

He was my employee.

He was also the father of the man I never wanted to see again.