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“Yes…I’m so scared, Iris.”

For some reason, Penny wanted me to think Sapphire wanted to hurt her.

“Um…Isaac just arrived. I need to go.” She hung up.

I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but I was going to find out.

Sapphire stood, kissed her son’s cheek, got into the town car that had just pulled up, and left. Isaac stayed, sipping his coffee.

“Stay, Nia.” I shoved my door open and strode across the street. Isaac looked up as I took the chair his mother had just vacated. We were in a public place, so even if he wanted to hurt me, he couldn’t. Not out in the open.

He sipped his coffee. “What the fuck do you want?”

Fine. I didn’t have time for small talk either. “What’s going on between you and Penny Morgans?”

His eyes narrowed. “Why would I tell you a damned thing?”

“Because, apparently, the two of you are in a secret relationship. And she just called and told me your mother was at her house, threatening to hurt her, and you’d just arrived to save the day. But you’re not, you’re here, and so was Sapphire up until a moment ago.”

Fury and confusion filled his gaze. “What the fuck?”

“Are you in some kind of relationship with her?”

He curled his fingers into a fist. “I don’t know what the fuck she’s playing at, but we are not seeing each other, not anymore,” he bit out.

“Not anymore?”

“We used to fuck,” he said. “But I haven’t touched her for over a year.”

He’d been sleeping with Penny? Innocent, shy, sweet, little Penny. “But Penny said…she’s…”

“An excellent actress.” Isaac sat forward. “I don’t owe you anything, but I won’t have that bitch saying shit about my family.” He ground his teeth. “Penny was intimately involved with me and Elmer, but that was a long time ago.”

“Both of you?”

He bared his teeth, a shark’s smile. “We liked to share, and she was all for it.”

Fuck, this guy was a major asshole, but I didn’t think he was lying. How could I not believe him? Penny had just called with a fake SOS. What reason would she have for any of this? “You two looked close at the council chambers.”

“She’s been trying to start something up again. Constantly calling, following me, trying to get me to meet with her. I shared with Elmer, but he was more into her than I was. She favored my brother, anyway, says she was in love with him.” He sat back. “I’m not interested anymore, and that’s what I’ve been telling her.”

What the hell was going on?

“You didn’t send those demons after me, did you?”

“No,” he ground out. “I’ve been trying to get on with my life, but you won’t stay the fuck out of it.”

“Was Penny with you that day? The day I came to your offices with the hellhound?”

His brows lowered. “Yes, but I sent her away.”

Fuck. It was Penny. She’d seen me there and sent the demons after me. Why? Why the hell would she do that? And why was she trying to make me believe Sapphire was threatening her?

Isaac’s expression changed to one of fury. “She actually suggested we reanimate my brother, that we dabble in the foulest of magic to bring him back. As if I would ever do that to him, bring Elmer back as some fucked-up, twisted version of himself.”

Oh goddess.

Reanimate.