"Fuck!" Penny cursed for the hundredth time. She had been in that house for two days and she'd found nothing. She'd looked everywhere for something, anything she could use as leverage but nothing. The guys in that house weren't like the ones at Jonathan's. These ones were serious especially when Wes was present.

She'd heard the rumors about him. He was ruthless, the kind of guy that killed first then asked the questions later. He gave her the creeps which is why she had made sure not to be in a situation where she was alone with him. She wasn't a little girl and she could take care of herself but that didn't mean she had to be stupid. Why put herself in harm's way when she didn't have to? The plan she had concocted worked better than she had hoped. But she didn't have long. Bianchi would eventually figure out she had lied about her father sending her there then God knew what he would do to her.

Currently, she was in his office rummaging through the drawers in his desk. Most of them were locked but she had her own of prying them open. It was past midnight and to avoid attention Penny hadn't turned on the lights. She was using a small penlight she held up with her mouth and boy was her jaw tired since she'd been at it for a while. As she was opening the last drawer she heard footsteps coming her way and froze. She couldn't get caught. Not it that house. But she also couldn't leave without what she went there to look for. She went to open it and curse her bad luck, it was closed.

She tried to open it with her pins as fast as she could but she knew deep down this was the end for her. She wouldn't go down without a fight but she was outnumbered. Even so, she wanted to at least know she hadn't died for anything. She couldn't have come all this way just to die for nothing. There had to be something in that last drawer which is why it was locked so tightly. Struggling with it, it finally clicked just as the door opened. She turned off her pen light but not before it shone on the contents lying in that drawer. An envelope. She had to know what was inside before she was taken to the slaughterhouse. Deciding to stay where she was, she fixed herself in the space under the desk where no doubt Bianchi fixed his legs every day. The other side was shielded so she hoped that whoever it was would leave without seeing her. She also counted on the fact that they hadn't turned on the lights too. 

"Come out. I know you're here" or not. Dammit, how did they know where she was if they hadn't even moved from the door? Were there cameras in that room? She doubted it. Just like in Jonathan's house, there was no way Bianchi was going to put cameras in his office. It was where he conducted his business and unless he wanted there to be evidence of his business meetings then she doubted the room was being monitored. It had to be bare. "Will you come out or do I have to come looking for you? I promise you it won't be pretty."

Fuck. "Okay, I'll come out. Just don't shoot" she said making a ruckus of coming out from under the desk. She used the noise she made to disguise the noise the envelope made when she took it and tucked it in between her breasts. It wasn't that big so it fit perfectly. Standing up straight, a light was shone in her face making it harder to see the person on the other end. Or maybe people. What if it wasn't just one person? Here's to hoping they didn't have a gun or there would be a gaping hole in her chest. Lifting her hands up in surrender she waited for them to approach her.

The desk was between them so she thought how she could handle this better. Running wasn't an option. So fight it was. When the other person was right in front of her, she suddenly knocked the light out of their hands making it fall to the floor so that they were both in the dark. The problem was the light had been in her face and she needed a few seconds -that she didn't have- for her sight to adjust. He jumped, she moved aside counting on her sense of touch rather than light. His hand wheezed past her face and out of reflex she took it and twisted then jumped on the desk landing on the other side.

The guy managed to get out of her hold and landed one on her in her face. Wincing she tried to trip him so he would be flat on his back but he had anticipated that move and instead punched her in the stomach. Wheezing she jabbed his elbow in his face with her right arm while her left landed punch after punch in his ribs. He easily lifted her up by her waist slamming her down on the desk then growled "Stop or I will kill you"

She snorted using her legs to kick him so that he stumbled back. "You'll still kill me anyway" when she tried to get up he grabbed one of her legs twisting it. Penny used that as her anchor kicking him with the other leg although the move landed her on the floor. That move wasn't as easy as they showed it on TV damn it, she needed a minute to catch her breath. But the man didn't give her a minute. He pounced landing a blow that had her blacking out. The last thing she remembered was excruciating pain in her face before everything went black...  

-----------------------------------

Jonathan looked at Wes from across the desk. The man was talking about more expansion and it was all it took for him not to bounce his feet in impatience. He'd arrived two hours ago hoping to see Penny but Wes had ambushed him claiming they needed to talk about business. He didn't give a shit about business. If they laid a hand on her he'd kill them all one by one. He had tried to call his contact in that house but they hadn't picked up and that put him on edge. He didn't like not knowing what was going on.

Not that he hadn't tried to get a read on the guys they passed. If they'd caught Penny, the house would be buzzing with a certain kind of feeling. But the men he'd come across went on their way like it was a normal day. Worse, he hadn't caught a glimpse of Winston ever since he came in. What the fuck was going on? He realized Wes had stopped talking and blinked. The man had probably asked him something but since he wasn't paying attention he didn't know how to answer so he came up with the only excuse he could think of. "Can we talk about this later? I'm jet-lagged and in serious need of a shower"

Wes raised his eyebrow "You've been acting strange ever since you got here kid. Are you sure it's just jet lag?"

"Yeah. And I'm also guessing the cyanide isn't out of my system completely so I'm not back to my full strength yet"

"Did you find the culprit who shot you?"

"I thought it was you," Jonathan said. It came out as a joke but his face was serious. Even though he knew who had shot him, Wes didn't. And he wanted the man to think that he was suspicious of everyone including him.

"No. I still have a use for you kid. When I decide to kill you, you wouldn't survive" it was a threat. They both knew that. Even if Wes laughed after a second and Jonathan joined him, they both knew that the second one would try to kill the other, they wouldn't do it in the dark. It would be an all-out war.

"Good to know that old man. I'll head to my room to rest. Let's pick this up later" he stood up and left the office going straight to his room. This house was organized like that. It didn't matter if you lived there permanently or not. Everyone had their own rooms assigned to them so that even when they weren't there, it was still theirs. Taking the stairs two at a time he went to the third door on his left and threw it open then froze. "What the Fuck?"

"Close the door," Winston said.

"Why the hell are you in my room?" he asked kicking his door shut with his leg.

"I couldn't think of anywhere else to take her"

"Where?"

"Bathroom" Jonathan stalked to the bathroom and sighed when he saw Penny in the bathtub. She was okay. A little banged up, tied and really mad but alive. Then it registered that Winston had fought her and hit her. Turning around he almost bumped into the man who took a step back in fear. "She fought me. I had to restrain her somehow"

"So you hit her?"

"She hit me back so it's fair game. I think she broke my ribs too"

"I hope she did. Because if she didn't then I will" he turned around and went to untie Penny. He took the towel Winston had stuck in her mouth out saying "Hi"

She flexed her jaw for a few seconds then replied "Fuck you. Both of you"

"What do you think you're doing here Penny?"

"Untie me. My hands are cramping up"

"Don't be such a baby. I didn't use that much force." Winston said from behind him smirking.

"You're right. You didn't" she flew out of the tub knocking Jonathan on his ass and landed a blow on Winston who went down cursing.

"Motherfucker." that's all he said before Penny was on top of him doing a number on his face. Winston had to go on the defense since she didn't give him a chance to hit her back. He was also scared his boss would kill him if he added any more bruises on this crazy lady.

"Stop it" Jonathan snarled lifting her off him. She kicked and tried to throw punches at him but he restrained her hands then carried her back to the bedroom. Dropping her on the bed, he climbed on top of her holding her wrists above her head. "Stop it, Penny"

"Get off me you jerk. I'm not done with that idiot yet"

"Keep your voice down."

"Get off me or I'll cry rape"

"Yeah you do that and you'll cry rape for real after Wes's men find out why you're really here" she stopped fighting but glared at him. "Why are you here anyway?"

"I'm representing my father's interest"

"Bullshit. You're going to tell me the truth or I will hand you over to Wes."

"Bull-Shit," she said smirking

"Fine. I wouldn't hand you over to him but I could stick you in a hole and throw away the key"

"Okay. You do that."

"I'm not joking Penny. Why are you here?"

"Like I said, none of your business. Now get off me" she used her body to push him aside and he moved. There was no getting through to her, not when she was like that. He wanted to know why she was risking her life like that but it was clear she wouldn't tell him so he had to dig it up himself. But for now, he had to keep her away from doing permanent damage on Winston's face.  Already she was matching to where he was by the bathroom door.

"I will hit back this time lady," he warned her but it was like she was deaf. She threw a punch which he ducked and pushed her down to the floor where they rolled around each trying to get the upper hand. Having had enough of their childishness Jonathan got up and growled.

"0001 Alpha. Stand down agents" they both froze looking at him in shock. The room went quiet for all of two minutes then they both scrambled up. Penny spoke first

"Are you kidding me?"

"Do I look like I'm joking? I've had enough of you two acting like children."

"Shit. Seriously?" Winston asked clearly still in shock. "I mean I knew you were my superior but Alpha? That's like...."

"The boss?" Penny answered her eyes still on Jonathan.

"Yeah. Not just my boss but everyone. Crap"

"If you two are done fangirling will you please leave my room."

"Uh yeah. I need to process all this" Winston left but Penny didn't move an inch.

"Alpha?" she asked advancing in on him. "After I bared my soul to you and told you things I hadn't told anyone and you still lied to me?"

"Lied? You are the one who's been lying all this time Penny. You won't even tell me why you're here"

"Who are you really? Is your name even Jonathan?"

"I think you know the answer to that."

"Yeah. I think I do" she said dropping down beside him. "I can't believe I didn't see it"

"Don't beat yourself over it. I'm that good"

"Good enough to be the boss. Who is Mr. Darhk then?"

"My friend."

"No. In the agency. Who is he? Just another agent holding your position until you go back?"

"No. That position is his. He just reports to me"

"Is that so? Good. Because now you're going to help me"

Jonathan snapped his head towards her "Help you do what?"

"Find my son"

"Your son?"

"Yes. Why did you think I stayed with that monster of a father for two years?" she asked running her hands through her hair. "I found out I was pregnant after the sex tape. When I gave birth, my father took my baby away and hid him then told me that if I did what he wanted he would give him back."

"But he didn't"

"Nope. After I found out he had no plans of giving him back, I left. And after years of looking, I finally found him. It turns out that my father had given him away the second he took him from me. I was a minor so legally he could do whatever he thought was right."

"Where is your baby now?"

"With Senator Allen. I figured if he adopted my baby from my father, he had to be dirty somehow because Edward Lewis doesn't do anyone favors. All I need is something I can blackmail him with so he'd give me my son back."

"And you thought you'd find that evidence here?"

"Stupid right?" she laughed sarcastically "He has ties to my father so obviously other criminals would have something to hold over his head. One shred of evidence. That's all I need"

"Penny...... "

"No. I'm not giving up. I might not have found something...." she stopped, taking something out of her shirt. A small envelope folded twice.

"What is that?"

"Let's see" unfolding it, she took out what looked like a photo. "Great. It's a stupid photo of Bianchi and his daughter. You'd think the way it was locked up it was something important" she said bitterly throwing the photo away. Jonathan looked at it in shock as it floated in the air slowly succumbing to gravity and landing on the floor.

"Penny" he whispered.

"What? I can't believe I was going to die for nothing."

"Penny," he said again this time louder.

"What? I'm sitting right here. You don't have to shout"

"Wes doesn't have children."

"Yeah, he does. Clearly, that is his daughter judging from...... Shit"

"Yeah. If this photo was hidden then it can only mean one thing"

"No one was ever supposed to find it" she bent down picking the photo up but Jonathan snatched it away swearing.

"Fuck. Of course, it's her"

"Her? Who? Do you know her?"

"No. But I just met her a few hours ago. Her name is Daniella"

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*wipes sweat from forehead*

That was a lot of revelations. And there's more to come. 😉