He couldn’t stop the photos or recording devices from being shoved in my face, but he could at least get me to the vehicle a lot faster than before.

Penn’s words echoed in my head. “I’ll be out soon.”

Would he?

The more time I spent with Larry, the more I understood his mannerisms. Just like Penn favored shoving his hands in his pockets, Larry favored scratching his jaw where salt and pepper stubble appeared at the end of a long day when he was either unsure or telling a white lie.

I said white because I doubted he’d ever truly lie. But he definitely wasn’t showing his own nervousness about Penn’s particular case.

He’d already been locked up for four weeks, four days. The fear that he could be held so long before a resolution or verdict was reached petrified me.

It couldn’t be much longer.

I can’t leave him there.

I have to do something.

If Greg wouldn’t retract his statement and admit he lied under oath about the attempted murder, then I’d have to find other ways to free Penn.

I slammed to a stop in the midst of our rush from the paparazzi.

Larry glanced at me. “Are you okay? Did you trip?”

David looked back, his eyes darting to my feet. “Do you need me to carry you, ma’am?”

I scoffed. “No, I do not need to be carried.” Peering at the reporters, losing count after seven of their eager faces and blinking cameras, I said, “I wish to make a statement.”

“Of course, Ms. Charlston. We would be honored!” A female shoved her mic close.

Another said, “We offer great packages for exclusives if you’d like to come with me to the office!”

I ignored both, pushing Larry away to stand firm and on my own. I shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t feed the vultures when they circled over carrion. But if I could start the campaign on Penn’s innocence, perhaps it would help us get him home faster.

David’s shoulders tensed, but he didn’t try to grab me or interrupt what I was about to do. Thank God because the picture of a silly little CEO being bundled up by her security guard and driven away was not the look I wanted to portray.

Dad will kill me.

But I was past caring.

Inhaling hard, I said, “Penn Everett is innocent.”

Questions landed around me like slingshot pebbles. I tuned them out, focusing on the short statement I wanted to make on his behalf. “Penn is innocent, and we will prove that.”

“What do you mean by that, Ms. Charlston?” another reported asked.

I held my head higher. “I mean that Mr. Everett has been incarcerated unjustly and when he’s freed, I won’t stop from persecuting those who stole weeks of his life with lies.”

The irony that lies had come back to bite the liar wasn’t lost on me.

Penn wasn’t innocent on that account. But I’d claimed him, and I wasn’t an enemy people wanted.

I had funds.

I had power.

I had a grudge.

I’ll make those people pay.

Smiling at the flashing cameras, I hoped my stand had finally shown New York (and my father) that I wouldn’t run away from this; I strode confidently to the getaway vehicle and climbed inside.

“Let’s go home, David. I have work to do.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Penn

ANOTHER THREE WEEKS passed like soldiers marching me closer to battle.

Two months in this shitty place.

Two months of slop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Two months of bad sleep, aching misery, and unbearable loneliness.

Two months that Elle and Larry went above and beyond for me.

Twice a week—which was my total allotted amount—regardless if I argued or begged for more—she and Larry would call. His conversations were upbeat and positive. Her chats were sex-loaded and frustrated. Talking to Elle made my cock ache and heart squeeze with need.

We never stepped over that line of turning a call into a pleasure fest, but it was hard. So fucking hard.

Especially when her innocent questions like if I was comfy in bed at night were answered by my libido admitting how hard and uncomfortable it was—just like every inch of me dying to sink inside her.

When visitations were permitted, she and Larry came as a pair. A new duo with a bond building by the day. They were no longer acquaintances brought together because of mutual affection for me. They were friends fighting the same battle.

Elle came with gifts such as freshly baked lemon squares from her kitchen. Prisoners weren’t allowed to take such presents back to our cells, but we were allowed to eat as much as we could while in the common room, listening to tales of the outside world.

The world I should be a part of but had been stolen from.

Would I have gone after her if I’d known this would happen? Would I have beaten Greg up or merely waited until David arrived to do the dirty work?

I liked to think my answers would switch on those questions. But they never did.

I wouldn’t change a thing. I wouldn’t have waited for her father or bodyguard to do my job as her lover and protector. I wouldn’t have been able to keep my hands to myself, knowing Greg had touched her.

He got what he deserved. And who knew? Maybe I got what I deserved, too.

I’d been an asshole to her. I’d lied and manipulated and cheated her feelings for me three years ago with the feelings she had for me now.

If this was my karma, I’d learned my fucking lesson.

I just wanted to go home with her and never let her out of my sight again.