Page 29 of Punishing Penelope

The Bull will come back, telling me he can’t find it, that I’ll have to come for it another day when he’s removed any compromising content. Well, screw that.

He doesn’t close the door, but it still hides my corner of interest. I shoot to my feet, close the blinds by the door and kneel by the cabinet, trying out the first drawer. Locked. Of course. I look up at its top. It’s the kind with one lock for all the drawers.

I came prepared.

These standard locks aren’t rocket engineering to pick, and within a few seconds, it clicks open. My hands shake with equal parts fear and thrill.

I pull out the first drawer, finding neatly sorted files.

Borden.

No luck.

I close it carefully, then open the third from the top instead, finding M. My heart slams as I listen for steps as I flip through the files.

Miller.

Bingo.

I grab it, stand to push the drawer closed, but my arm is caught mid-air by a strong hand, gripping it with rough force.

My stomach plummets as I spin around to find myself face to face with my high school sweetheart.

Peter Hale.

I exhale in relief. Thank God, it’s only Peter. Amid it all, I even feel a tiny jolt of excitement.

Except there’s nothing sweet about his wicked grin. I glance between the folder, his hand gripping my arm, then back at his face, and real fear kicks in, making my chest tighten. He looks as if he’s a big jungle cat who just caught his juiciest prey ever.

Me.

Chapter Seven

Peter

“Penelope Wilder. Imagine finding you here, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. How… unsurprising.”

Tearing the folder out of her hands, I flick it open, but the names and the case don't ring a bell. I frown and look back at her. I thought it would be a high-profile case she’d risk everything for. This is just some pointless nothing.

Her eyes wide and frightened, she glances at the door, then back at me as she tries to squirm out of my grip. Yeah, good luck with that, little one.

“Peter, please,” she whispers, her voice a little shaky. “I need that, and you need to let me go!”

Oh, no, I really don’t need to let her go anywhere. She’s in so much trouble—so much fucking trouble, she doesn't know the half of it.

I have to make a quick decision. Weighing my options, only one of them appealing, I put the file back in the drawer and push it closed. It doesn’t lock, but I can’t do anything about that. Hopefully, Benny will think he forgot.

“There’s only one thing I need to do.” Spinning her around, I circle her wrists with one hand and push them up her back. Sniffing her sweet perfume is simply a perk that comes with the job.

I inhale and rejoice in what I’m about to say.

“I’m arresting you for so many fucking offenses, the judge will still be counting them tomorrow morning.”

That’s 101 on how not to make an arrest, but I have a feeling my rap sheet will be much longer soon because a bad, bad idea forms in my head. So bad, it sounds absolutely irresistible.

“I already know you can’t keep silent, so anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.”

My court.