Ben
Parked on the curb in front of Annie’s building, I have binoculars aimed at the industrial complex across the way, searching for anything or anyone out of the ordinary. A gigantic distribution center with a direct view of her apartment would be the perfect place for someone to observe her. Not only that, but I’d guess there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people, trucks, and trailers coming and going every day—the ideal recipe for a creep to blend in.
My phone vibrates, so I retrieve it from my back pocket and check the screen. Annie’s still sleeping in the passenger seat, so I lean against the hood and answer, knowing exactly why my brother is calling. “Hey, Drew.”
The line is quiet for a solid ten seconds before he speaks. “Are you going to make me ask why Annie Farrow showed up at two thirty in the morning, then an hour later you’re giving her apiggyback ridethrough the alley to grab an arsenal of supplies before you take off without fucking backup?”
I wasn’t exactly stealthy at the Agency earlier. I knew whoever was in surveillance saw me on the monitors and word was going to spread. “Someone broke into her place, and she got scared, so she came to me.”
“And you didn’t think to give anyone a heads-up about where the hell you were going?”
Nothing pisses me off more with him is when he stops being the big brother and tries to be my boss, or worse—my dad. “Who else knows?”
“Why, you trying to hide her from everyone?”
I double-check that she hasn’t woken up, but still lower my voice. “Yeah. I am. You think I need to hear the same shit you’re giving me right now from everyone else? She’s terrified, Drew. Someone’s been fucking with her for the better part of a year, and last night, when she came home, her window was open, and her cat was gone. She’s being stalked, and I don’t need to tell you what happens when this kind of shit escalates.”
“Are there not cops in Annapolis?”
“Yeah, but when she tried to report that things were moved around her apartment, she was told there’s nothing they could do without evidence.”
He sighs. “Shit.”
The Lawless in Lawless Protection Agency isn’t just part of the name—it’s our family’s history. My father was fired from the police department after—very successfully—going after the men who assaulted my mom. We respect law enforcement, and we understand they have laws to abide by, but we don’t. Because when it comes to protection, there are no rules.
What’s happening with Annie is a prime example of what our company is all about.
“Who else knows about her, Drew?”
“Just Fitz. When he saw it on the live feeds, he tracked you, then pulled me into the control room before I made it to my office.”
This is good. Fitz will keep his mouth shut. “I’ll brief you when I get back, but I want this quiet until I know more.”
“As long as you—”
“I know what I need to do, and right now, it’s not talking to you.”
I hang up on him, just like I did during our conversationthat night,reminding me he still treats me like I’m incompetent. Maybe I was back then. I got complacent, and I fucked up, but I own that. Not only did I learn from my mistake, but I paid for it, and I’ll pay for it the rest of my life.
My focus shifts back to where it needs to be—on Annie, who’s still dead to the world.
I hate to wake her, but I want to get this over with so I can start nailing down whoever’s been breaking into her place. I return my binoculars to the duffel, haul it onto the sidewalk, then open her door.
She jolts uptight with a startled gasp and rubs her eyes. “We’re here already? Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” She unbuckles her seat belt and swings her legs around, but I don’t give her space to get down. Her eyes are on my chest, then she blinks and tilts her head back. “Is something wrong?”
“I just want to make sure you’re ready for this.”
That little space between her eyebrows wrinkles. “Of course I am.”
I glide my tongue across my teeth and carefully choose my words. “We don’t know what we’re walking into, Annie.”
“I couldn’t care less if my place is trashed and everything I own is gone. I only care about Joan Wick, and I’m trying to be optimistic that she made her way back.”
“Good.” I am, too, because if we don’t find that cat, it’ll destroy Annie. I help her out, grab the duffel, and put my palm on her back.
From what Annie’s described, I’m not anticipating imminent danger, but I still have a Glock holstered at my waist. I hope whoever’s been watching her has eyes on her now. I want him to see me carry a bag inside with her and have his assumption push him over the edge.
I want whoever’s been stalking her to try approaching her with me here. I’d take great pleasure in fucking up some piece of shit who’s been messing with her head. It’d actually bring me immense pleasure to make him suffer…watch him bleed, see him cry, hear him beg.
