Tear It Down

Chapter Twenty

Tommy was busy reading over the notes he had jotted down that afternoon when Adrien had told him all she had gathered over the past week when Penny strolled into the kitchen. He didn't look up to her entering but held up the whiskey bottle before him in a silent question. She retrieved a glass and held it out, her gaze boring into him as he filled it.

"Has she found anything useful?"

"Yes. She's slow but she brings results. Best of all, no one notices her." Tommy took a sip and asked " Why are you here?"

Penny gave a laugh. "Straight to it Tommy. That's why you're the one I follow." She finished pouring her drink and sipped it with an appreciative sound. "Damn that's good."

"But also not an answer."

She smiled and leaned forward, her gaze hard. "I want to check that I'm not putting myself on the line because of her. I've had offers from others before, Damn good ones, that I turned down in favor of working for you Tommy. I want to ensure I didn't make a mistake in taking this job."

Tommy nodded and took a drink, watching her over the rim of his glass. "Straight to the point Penny. That's why I always liked you."

She gave a small laugh and leaned back, gesturing to the paper before her. "Did she fill these out?"

"No. She wanted to ensure no paper trail back to her." He looked to his hastily written words. "We've doubled check as much as we can as discreetly as possible and so far she's proven to be useful."

Penny scoffed. "So she is of some value."

"A Damn good thing too, I was beginning to doubt. But it seems like she values her life, so it works in our favor." He said as he picked up a paper and reread it.

"She spying on anyone of particular note?" Penny asked as she turned a piece of paper to her.

"We have a lot of enemies Penny," there were things that Tommy trusted her with, but this? He reached forward and plucked the paper from her hands, a roll of her eyes her response. "None of which concern you. You have your priorities, I suggest you stick to them."

She gave a slow nod of her head, her long braid falling forward and resting along side her right breast. "Should be easier without Adrien there to get in my way."

"Yes. We'll be able to earn back the money lost, something I'm eager to do."

"Don't worry yourself Tommy, I have things out there under control." She stretched out, her breasts rising and falling slowly as she tried to ease a days tension from her.

Watching her it became achingly clear that he hadn't been able to visit Lizzie the other day.

Sitting back he crossed his arms over his chest, looking her face over. She was a pretty thing, with skin that looked soft to the touch, plump lips that when stretched into a smile could dazzle anyone in the room. Her eyes, dark and framed with long lashes, could enchant a man if she so wanted. When she did smile dimples appeared and made her look younger than her twenty-four years.

"Something wrong Tommy?" She leaned forward on her elbows, her tone taunting. "Or should I call you Thomas?" He knew she was trying to get a rise out of him like Adrien, but she didn't say his name in the same manner so it hardly bothered him. He only laughed and she frowned.

"Call me what you like so long as you do your work." She leaned back with a shake of her head, laughing under her breath. "What's so funny?" He asked, voice low and the corner of his mouth curling as he leaned forward.

"How you let her get to you. I thought you better than that."

"I am better than that." He said as his gaze fell to her lips. "You should know that."

A fire lit in her gaze, one that had her breath coming a little faster as he stood, rounding the table to her. She stood eagerly but they both froze when a door opened off in the distance. With a curse Tommy returned to his seat as his wits came back to him.

Cursing himself he sat back down, Penny turning away quickly as she occupied herself with looking at anything but him. The footsteps that entered through the door came stomping down the hall into the kitchen, Arthur's voice loud as he stormed in, reaching for the nearest glass and filling it with drink. Penny looked and a different fire lit her gaze as Arthur drank from her glass.

"Put that down you mongrel." She snapped.

"Fuck off." He said before throwing back the rest of his whiskey.

"What the hell happened?" Tommy asked as he looked Arthur over, his hair disheveled and his clothes stained and torn.

"It's-" Arthur began but looked to Penny and scowled. "Leave."

"I thought I told you this before Arthur," She crossed her arms and glared, spitting out "I don't take orders from you."

"If you know what's good for you you had best learn to mind what you say."

"Arthur, what the hell happened?" Tommy demanded as he stood and looked at his older brother, his mind racing with what could have happened to him, whatever he had been feeling a few moments ago fading quickly.

"I went to see these two... women," he said and Penny rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what kind of women he had gone to see. "We were trying to find someplace when some big fucker comes out of nowhere and attacks me. They ran off and I had to deal with him myself."

"Did you get a good look at him?"

"Nah, too dark. But I'll never forget that voice. I ever hear it again I'll put a bullet between his eyes."

"If you can keep a hold of it that is." Penny grumbled and Tommy had to stop Arthur from advancing at her.

"What happened?" He asked yet again, needing to know everything. His mind was racing with who it could have been and why it happened. He looked to the information on the table, doubt forming at what kind of job Adrien had been able to do.

"He claimed it was a warning." Arthur growled.