Survive

Chapter 7

"What do you want? Who are you?" I demanded.

"I want to talk to you." she said with that same smile.

"Listen lady, I don't really care who you are so I'm leaving."

"Not quite yet, no bags so you're not shopping."

"No, not like you. What brings you here?"

"Work."

"Must be payday." I said, starting to get frustrated.

"How was the soccer game? Your daughter's team won, right?" she asked, raising her right brow.

"You stay the hell away from my children." I growled.

"I'm not interested in them."

"I don't know what kind of game you're playing here . . ."

"Oh, this is a very different game, that I can assure you. This? There is something much greater at work here . . . this is fate." she stated.

"I choose my own fate, lady." I smiled.

"Not today you don't. I've been working very hard to find the right moment to speak to you. A moment where you would have your guard down and I finally found it. Right after your daughter's game, they're having fun getting manicures aren't they?"

"Now that I'm here, what do you want?" I asked.

"I want you to work for me."

"Haha, I could've saved you a lot of time. I'm out of business, retired. There's also the fact that I don't work for anyone but myself. Sorry, you wasted your time."

"You can't walk away from this Penelope, we're gonna have this conversation one way or the other. See, that's the funny thing about fate . . . it's cunning. It can bring you beautiful things and it can also bring you moments like this . . ."

She held out a phone and I grabbed it because I'm obviously not getting out of here without indulging her. I really want this to be over. There was a video of my sister playing with her kids, she was just sitting in front of the house with Jack and Brianna.

"What the hell is this?"

"That is only part one, there's also this." she said, pulling up another video.

"Elena? What the . . . oh my God . . ."

"Your nephew, he's an adorable little thing, isn't he? I have them, both of them and you can free them if you work for me. Free them and keep your sister safe. All for the love of your nieces and nephews." she muttered.

"You bitch."

"You're gonna want to work for me. You're gonna betray your brothers, abandon your code, shatter your family. You see . . . your team is about to go up against the only thing they cannot handle." she smiled.

"What's that?" I asked, raising my brow.

"You. Oh, and Penelope, I wouldn't mention this to anyone. I have your number, I'll be in touch." she said before walking away.

As soon as she was out of sight I let out a deep breath. Who the hell is this lady? Why the hell does she want me? When I was settled again, I went back to my family at the nail salon with a smile on my face. I have to take care of my family . . . my brother's son. He has a baby and he doesn't know and she has him. I have to get him, I have to protect my family and do whatever's necessary.

I'm going against my family. God help me.

"Hey babe, I was just about to go looking for you." Luke said when I walked into the salon.

"Sorry, I got caught up on the phone with Kaylee and I stood outside to avoid the noise."

"No problem, the girls are ready and moms are coming to pick them up here." he said.

"Works for me." I smiled, getting up on my toes to kiss him.

The moms took their time when they picked up their daughters to gawk at my husband and I'm slightly distracted so I didn't really have any nasty comments for them. When we got home we called Lisa and explained the situation to her. She's gonna come and take care of the girls while we're . . . on the road. The next step is calling my brother, he's gonna hear me and know that something is wrong so I have to get my poker voice.

"Hey, Dom." Luke said, putting the call on speaker.

"Hey, guys."

"We got a job in Berlin, and we need a favor." I told him.

"What about the girls?" my brother asked.

"I'm going with you guys."

"I thought you were done with this."

"I was, but this is something that I have to do. I will always protect my family."

"No Penny." he sighed.

"If my husband doesn't have a problem with it, what makes you think I'm gonna care if you do? I'm going and that's it so deal with it. We'll see you soon."

"No problem, I'll grab the rest of the team and meet you in Berlin." he huffed.

"Be grateful for the family reunion." I told him.

"Not the time." he chuckled.

"Whatever, go get packing and I'll see your pale ass in Berlin."

"I'm in Cuba and I'm not pale." he argued.

"You're always pale Toretto, you tan like a lobster. You get pink and red, not pretty and tan. I'll see you soon."

"See you." he replied, before hanging up.

"Luke, amor, how dangerous is this?" I asked.

"Very, I'll protect you." he said and I had to fight the urge to cry.

"I'll protect you and we'll keep our babies safe." I said, willing to be so.

"Yes ma'am, we'll come home to our babies before you know it. Then we can work on giving Sam and Kei another sibling." he said, nuzzling my neck.

"Really? You think so?"

"Yeah, what do you say we have one more, Penny?"

"Are you ready for three kids?"

"I'm down if you are. You in?"

"You just want a boy." I scoffed.

"Damn right I do, I want me a little boy."

"What if I had another girl?"

"Then I'd be blessed with three princesses." he smiled, wrapping his arms around me to pull me onto his lap.

"Daddy, me tired." Lani said, running into his office and climbing on top of us to cuddle on our laps.

"Alright, it's bedtime for you." I told her.

"Daddy put me sleep."

"Sure baby . . . we need to talk first." Luke said.

"What wrong, daddy?" she asked, her big old eyes just beaming at her father.

"Momma and daddy have to go to work, baby. We'll be home as soon as possible but both of us are going away. I promise you, we will come back home as quickly as we can." he said.

"You come back home?" she sadly asked.

"We promise." he said.

"Auntie Lisa is gonna take care of you baby." I told her, caressing her cheek.

"Auntie Lisa come here?" she asked, perking back up.

"Yeah, you'll spend a few days with auntie Lisa." Luke replied.

"Okay." she yawned.

I got off of Luke's lap, Keilani in my arms to take her to bed. She started to squirm so Luke got up and took her out of my arms to take her to bed.