Page 140 of Forged in Deception
“Yes, well, we are a family, aren’t we? We should figure it out together, especially since you all seem to be so eager. But don’t worry, I’ll put you all to work. That includes you, Penelope.”
Penelope smiled, while the others cheered, then lost themselves in their conversations.
She leaned back in her chair, her hand finding Lucia’s under the table as she took in these women who had completely changed her life.
Outside, the sky had darkened, casting the windows in soft indigo. Candlelight flickered across the table, catching smiles and glints of wine.
Lucia squeezed her hand, smiling at her so openly and so full of affection that Penelope’s breath caught.
What had begun as a plan rooted in hurt—justice tangled with revenge—had become a lifeline Penelope hadn’t known she needed, guiding her to a place where she truly felt like she belonged.
Her research into Belgrave Trust had stalled; Lewis remained little more than a ghost, leading nowhere. And for now, she was at peace with letting it rest.
Life with Lucia and with this wondrous collective, so unlike what she used to think family meant, filled her with warmth, joy, and a quiet thrill for whatever came next.
