“That’s our deal? I thought it was until you tired or me.”
He shifted, a scowl splitting his face. “Yes, that is what I meant.”
“And then?”
“And then you go on your way and I go mine and that is that.”
“And I’m worth two hundred grand, am I?” she asked. “Fucking me for however long is worth all that money?”
He shrugged one perfect shoulder. “It is small change to me, Kleftisa.”
Small change. Penny glared, anger chasing through her. Did he have any idea how insulting those words were? “Let’s get this over and done with then.”
Getting into her home presented no problems. The door frame was hollow at the top, something they’d done not long after they moved in. Back then they’d had one key only and they took it in turns to leave it in the hollow. Besides it wasn’t as if they’d had anything worth stealing. No one in their block did.
The key was in her hand before Sebastian moved back and she turned the lock, opening the flat up. It was dark, because obviously no one had been back in a while. The plan was firm in all their minds. Once they left they did not return until each of their missions were complete.
Lyra. Rachel. How she wished she could see them now. How she needed their comfort and advice. Because for the first time Penny was thinking, really thinking, about the bargain she and Sebastian had made.
In the plush luxury of his home it seemed to make a weird sort of sense. She’d seduced him and he’d seduced her. Because of it he was unable to call the police and lock her up as he should have done. So what was left but to keep her with him where he could find out her secrets and ensure she wasn’t burglarizing anyone else? But the money. He’d given it to her without so much as a murmur. He’d fucked her, fed her, and then driven her out to spend the money she’d stolen from him! Only now was she realizing how odd it all was, how little sense it made.
Sebastian was a fine specimen of a man. Rich, good looking, sexual dynamite. He had no need to pay women to share his bed, so why in essence was he doing that with her? Why?
She had to ask those questions. When he asked his she would have to ask hers, whether she liked the answers or not.
Her ID was in the bedroom and Penny left Sebastian where he was as she went to gather it. The room was cold and musty after only a couple of days. She shivered, running a hand along her bed as she bent down to gather the kit.
“You share a room with your sisters?” His voice intruded on her thoughts and Penny shot up, kit in hand.
“Yes.”
“How…odd.”
He looked so out of place. His jeans were probably worth a month’s rent. It pained Penny to see it. “I thought whilst I’m here I might as well grab my clothes,” she said. After all she could hardly live in his sweats.
He nodded. “That makes sense. Bring them all.”
“All?”
“Yes. You will need them.”
“For a few days?”
“I never said it would be a few days, Kleftisa. You assumed that. So bring them all.”
Not even wanting to ask about his time scales, Penny gathered her jeans and tees and dumped them in her backpack. The ID followed and she zipped it up. “I just need one more thing.”
Sebastian trailed behind her as she headed for the main room where the picture of she, Lyra, and Rachel was. The only one they’d ever had taken, it sat pride of place on top of the aged fire place. Framed in cheap glass, it was taken just over three months ago. The day they’d handed in their notice at the chicken packaging plant. They’d gone out for a little celebration and the picture had been taken by a roaming photographer. Even though it had been an extravagance they’d all chipped in to buy it. It captured them all so perfectly. Rachel was wearing a flowered top and skirt, her blonde hair blowing in the breeze. Lyra was kitted out in tight, faded blue jeans and red shirt, her hair piled as haphazardly as ever. She was in her usual black jeans and tee. Her sisters. She couldn’t help but sigh as she added the picture to the backpack. Just a couple of days and she missed them so much.
“Is that everything,” Sebastian asked. “There aren’t more clothes? You don’t need a suitcase?”
“No,” she sighed. “These are all my clothes.”
“Okay then. So let’s get this done and get out of here.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “Let’s get this done.”
Chapter Eighteen
She directed him to
Langley Place , a nasty, run down sort of hotel that he was unfamiliar with. On one side was a betting shop and on the other a Payday loans store. The shops opposite were boarded up. As with all the other streets they’d driven or walked up hardly any of the street lights were working and it looked as though the rubbish collection crews hadn’t visited in a while.