Page 102 of Uncrowned

Angrier.

Cold.

I wasn’t sure how I detected it from three photographs, but I had seen the softness in her before. It was still there, but it was guarded now.

I wasn’t sure what to think about that. I was torn. The guilt had faded but what replaced it was desperation. I felt like I was losing my mind. What was replacing it was her.

I would find Penelope, and when I did, this time I wasn’t going to let her go. But I wouldn’t rush her either. Her fear wouldn’t allow it. Balance would be key, and once I figured out exactly what that balance required… she’d be mine.

CHAPTER 34

Penelope

Guilt.

I should have felt it. It should have had me shaking and terrified that Katia and the other agents would come back for me.

I felt nothing.

Nothing but determination to somehow reach Vaughn. Although I was set on this path of investigation, he had to know I was okay. That… I missed him.

“You’ve been awfully quiet in here the last few weeks. How’s the filing going, Penny?”

A smile came as I peered up to Marian’s receptionist, Cassandra, peeking in the doorway of my tiny office.

“Everything is great. How are you today?”

“You know, I’m okay. Fred hasn’t called, but that’s to be expected after the disaster of a date we had.”

“Oh no. What happened?”

Cassandra looked back and forth in the hallway, stepping into my office and lowering her tone to nearly a whisper.

“Do you remember last week how I was telling you about my ex, Harrison?”

“The flirty one. He hit on your cousin.”

“Yes. Well, Fred and I ran into him last night. Get this.” She leaned in closer. “He had the audacity to start running his mouth. He tried to get Fred to fight him.”

“No.” I gasped. “He didn’t. Not after what he did.”

“I know. The nerve. Anyway, now, no text, no call.” Her face fell. “I really liked him.”

Shifting in my chair, I tried to keep the impatience at bay, but the need to check my phone was constant. It had taken forever to get to this point. To get my accounts set up. To order my books. But I was here. I was finally here, and I was freaking out. Luckily, I withheld the frazzled emotion from my voice.

“If he’s a keeper, he’ll call. Just give him time to process. You’re worth the trouble with Harrison. He’ll see that.”

She brushed back her chestnut hair. “You’re the best, Penny. Truly, thank you.” She stole another look back down the hall. “I should go. I was supposed to be getting Marian coffee.”

“Oh. How is she? Marian sounded very angry earlier when she was on the phone.”

Cassandra laughed. “That’s normal. She’s totally fine. The woman amazes me. Okay, I have to go.”

I waved and she snuck out. The moment she was gone, I pulled up my new cell, checking the tracking on my package. Out for Delivery.

Marian LaRoe GS Tower 123 Regency Row Kensington London SW7 3AB United Kingdom

I bit my bottom lip at the business name and address. Putting the tower under the business name associated with my parents’ townhome had to work. Or maybe it would backfire and Katia would discover it first. Either way, I had an excuse. Buying things online was new to me. I wasn’t thinking. I’d never been taught how to set up packages to be delivered. I barely knew what I was doing on a computer.