Chapter 16: Filthy Crown: Chapter 15

I wrecked her. Wow. All this time I’d been lost in my misery and Pen was under the impression that I’d abandoned her.

Well, shit. I guess in a way I had.

My fingers wrap tightly around the steering wheel, the force making my knuckles crack. I should’ve known my visits meant something to her. Hell, I played a major role in her life for five years.

Not only did I take her out every Sunday so Austin and her mom could have some alone time, but I also went to every recital, birthday party, and soccer game.

And then four years ago, I just stopped, too consumed with my own issues to realize what impact it would have on a young impressionable mind.

I open my mouth to apologize, but nothing comes out. What can words do? Nothing. I need to show her I’m never walking out of her life again.

My mind is busy coming up with ways to show Pen I’m here for good when my sat phone rings. Pulling it out, I click it on.

“Hey, you’re on speaker. Pen and I are on our way into town.” The only ones who have this line are my brothers and the ranch hands. I need to give them a heads-up Pen can hear. God forbid they say something and she has a panic attack while we’re driving.

“Jack, it’s Matt. We were getting ready to come back to the ranch when we discovered our gas tank was empty.”

My eyes narrow and my heart rate picks up. I know for a fact that his truck was topped off before they left our ranch. That should’ve been enough gas to get them there and then back down to us.

“Okay, can you siphon some from Hunter’s truck and get you guys to a gas station?”

Silence stretches before I hear Hunter’s voice, “My truck doesn’t have gas in it either.”

Fuck. I know this isn’t a coincidence. Someone emptied their tanks. Question is, why hadn’t they slashed their tires instead. It’s much quicker than emptying tanks and equally as effective, if not more, at making a point.

“Okay. The men of WRATH are all up at the ranch. Call them and give them a heads up and tell them it’s okay to move on with what we’d discussed last night. If what I’m thinking is right, then the ranch hands aren’t going to cut it.”

“Sounds good. What about the gas?” Matt asks.

“Pen and I will bring some up for you.” I cut a glance over to her and see she’s nibbling on her bottom lip.

Reaching over, I give her thigh a squeeze. Looking her in the eye, I whisper for just us. “It’s going to be okay.”

She gives me a nod, her plump bottom lip dislodging from between her teeth.

A snort cuts through the line and Jace’s voice booms into the cab. “I know it’s going to be okay. It’s these two drama queens acting all concerned.”

Rolling my eyes, I finally remove my grip on Pen’s leg. “We’ll be there in a few. Call the men of WRATH and be vigilant.”

“Don’t worry about us, brother,” Matt speaks as the sound of a gun cocking plays out of the speaker. “Hunter’s got a fully stocked arsenal.”

I grimace, hoping the reference wasn’t too much for the girl sitting next to me to hear. Before he can say anything else potentially damaging, I say my goodbyes and cut the line.

“So I guess this means there’s a change in plans?” Pen has a hesitant smile on her face and I want to do nothing more than reassure her everything will be fine, but I can’t. That would be a lie, and she and I both know it.

“Looks that way, Princess. Your phone will have to wait just a little longer.”

“That’s okay. I wouldn’t mind another trip into the city with you.” Pen bats her lashes, and I swear she could get away with murder when she looks at me like that.

“Can’t say that I wouldn’t mind it either.” I give her a sheepish smile as I direct us toward the last gas station we saw.

“Jack?” Pen’s playful tone is gone, worry is now marring her pretty face.

“Yes?”

“Someone did this, right? Took their gas?” She’s back to biting her lower bottom lip and I want nothing more than to take my thumb and forefinger and pluck it right out.

“I don’t know for sure, but it looks that way. Don’t worry, though. We’ll get them gas, then they’re all coming back to the ranch with us. We’ll all be safe there.”

She nods before turning her head away.

I might’ve failed her four years ago, but I’m sure as hell not failing her now. I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep her and the kids safe.

“Are we almost there?” Pen pulls her cardigan closed, her delicate fingers working on fastening the buttons.

I chuckle. “Bet you wish you would’ve put some more clothes on, huh?”

Pen glares at me, and if looks could kill, I’d be six feet under. “I didn’t know we were going to be coming up to the mountains.” She huffs before muttering, “My dress was just fine for going down valley. There’s still snow on the ground here, for fuck’s sake.”

“Language.” I know she’s right, but I can’t help tease. “We’ll be there—”

A doe cuts across the road, catching me off-guard and making me swerve in order to avoid it. I jerk the wheel, praying like hell we don’t hit any black ice.

Despite my maneuvering, the truck fishtails into a ditch. In this moment, I’m thankful we weren’t further up the road where there are no ditches, just a good ol’ precipice leading you to certain death.

Looking over at Pen, I see she’s got both hands firmly on the grip handle, her eyes open as wide as they can go.

“I see why they call this the ‘oh shit’ bar.” Pen lets out a shaky breath.

I chuckle, thankful that she’s still got her humor about her. “Yes. And on the bright side, we didn’t hit Bambi.”

She rolls her eyes, but the smile on her lips tells me she finds my joke mildly amusing. I’ll take it.

I go to press the accelerator, but we don’t move. Banging on the steering wheel, I let out a string of curse words. God, this would be just my luck, wouldn’t it?

“Are we stuck?” Pen’s soft voice takes some of the edge off of my anger, thwarting the pity party I was about to throw myself.

“I think so. I’m going to head outside and see how bad it is. Maybe I can put something underneath for traction.”

Pushing the door open, I’m hit with that chilly mountain air. There’s snow covering the ditch, but underneath there’s icy mud. I let out a slow breath before getting to work, pulling something out of the back to use for leverage.

I give up after about forty minutes of trying. There’s no way we’re getting out of this without help.

Calling Mary, I let her know we might be awhile and thankfully she tells me she doesn’t mind watching the kids, which gives me one less thing to worry about. Finally, heading back inside the truck, I let the interior heat warm me up.

“God, you’re a damn popsicle.” Pen’s soft fingers trace over my cheeks.

“Yeah. Well, it seems our four-wheel drive is no match for these Colorado mountains and mud season. There must be over twelve inches of mud out there.”

“What are we going to do? The guys don’t have gas, so it’s not like they can come out to get us.” Pen nibbles on that bottom lip and I groan.

After being out in the cold and dealing with our frustrating situation, my patience is wearing thin. I can’t handle her temptation on top of that. A man can only take so much.

“We’re between national parks. One of my friends is a ranger to the one north of us and I know he patrols the area at least once a day.” I shrug and give her a sheepish smile. “I say we wait him out. It’s not like we can hike out of here.” Raising a brow and looking her over, I silently tell her ‘I told you so.’

“I thought we were going down valley!” She throws her head back, letting it thud against the headrest.

“Look, even if you were dressed in a parka, I wouldn’t let us hike it to the cabin. It’s too late in the day for that and the road gets narrow, with no shoulder to walk on about an hour up. It would be too dangerous and I wouldn’t risk your life.”

She quirks a brow. “But you’d risk yours?”

“Not if it meant ever leaving you again.” I reach up and caress her jawline with the back of my fingers, loving how soft her skin is. Such a contrast to my dry and calloused one.

She sucks in a sharp breath, her eyes wild and glistening. “Jack.”

I shake my head no. This—whatever this is—is all-consuming, coiling up inside and winding us up to the point of combusting. I’ve never felt anything like this before and I’d bet my ass that neither has Pen.

Even so, this can’t happen. I won’t allow it.

Penelope’s bottom lip trembles, and I swear it’s as if she’s ripped my heart out with her bare hands. Unwilling to let her feel any pain, my thumb brushes forcefully against her bottom lip.

“Don’t, Princess. It’s not that I don’t want you. It’s that I can’t have you.”

She works her jaw, her eyes narrowing. “Says who?”

“Says the law.” My face contorts as the memory of my brother comes rearing front and center. “Says the fact that I’m your uncle.”

The corner of Pen’s mouth lifts into a lazy smile. “Last I checked, there weren’t any cops in this car.”

I chuckle and shake my head. “You’re trouble.”

“But the good kind.” Her lazy smile has now transformed into a beautiful grin. One that steals my breath away.

“Definitely, the good kind,” I grumble under my breath.

Giving us some space, I lean my body back against the door. Hell, maybe it was a bad idea getting back in the car. She’d be less at risk of me mentally mauling her if I’d stayed outside.

“So what now?” Pen blows out a breath, the sharp exhale making strands of hair go flying.

“Now we wait. It’s a matter of time before Ericson comes out this way. Good thing we have gas or you’d have frozen your perfect little ass off.”

Pen’s eyes go wide at my words, the compliment not going unnoticed. “I’m sure you would’ve found a way to keep me warm even if we didn’t.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and groan. Visions of me bending Penelope over every which way flood my thoughts, making my pants instantly tighter.

Pen sucks in a breath, probably having caught sight of my bulge. “I meant you would’ve given me your flannel or, I don’t know, built a fire somehow. You know you’re super outdoorsy and one with nature and everything.”

My princess loves to ramble when she’s nervous, and immediately I feel like an ass. My mind flashes back to Mexico and, despite what the reports say, I wonder if the guards there ever assaulted her. “Hey, Pen. Just because my body reacts to you doesn’t mean that I’m demanding anything from you. I never want to make you feel uncomfortable or pressured.”

Pen snorts so loud her shoulders shake. “God. What on earth would make you say that? I’ve literally thrown myself on you, shamelessly flirted and made you feel uncomfortable, yet you’re under some impression that your dick getting hard for me is a no go?”

“Well, when you put it like that…” I rub a hand over my face, dreading where this conversation is going. “Look, I need to ask you something. And you might not want to tell me the truth, but I need it. It’s important.”

Her face transforms from a cheeky woman into that of a scared girl. Knowing this is something that needs to be asked, I push through any hesitation. The fact that they guys had their gas siphoned is concerning, and maybe her answer can shed some light on our situation.