Parker nods. “Right.”
“There was no empathy there, his voice was empty…it was weird. I need to get a lock on him, Park. He’s already seen me, plus, I can’t be impartial,” I admit. “Even if Vito’s completely out of the picture, Poe’s a problem. I just don’t know to what extent, so I want you to deliver those to Annie and get a feel for him.”
“Got a script or want me to wing it?”
“I need to know if he knows it’s not her birthday. Play your identity however you need, but remember I told him I was her boyfriend, and he did not like that.”
Parker moves his head side to side while he thinks. And when he comes up with a plan, he grins wickedly. He puts a pinhole camera on his hat and a mic on under his shirt. We test the audio and visuals, then he heads inside to fuck with Poe’s head.
“You sure about this?” Shep asks when Parker is out of sight. “I trust your instincts, but this guy just might be a friend who has a crush on her.”
“It’s not just a crush. There’s something off about him. Parker’s gonna fuck with his head, just wait and see.” We watch the live feed through Parker’s camera on my phone, and when he gets to the fourth floor, I hold my breath. He pounds on Annie’sdoor obnoxiously, and then Parker turns around and Poe’s face appears on the screen.
“Damn.” Shep whistles. “You’re right. He’s got crazy eyes.”
He does. And no matter what happens, there is no way I’m going to allow Annie to live across from him anymore. She’s been too far away for too long, and I’m going to change that—now more than ever, I need her close.
Poe
An incessant knocking forces me to get up from my recliner. I mute the sound of nature on my smart TV and close my magazine.
I look through the peephole and see the back of a man’s head at Annie’s apartment, and immediately feel my body fill with hives of venom. But I won’t allow vexation to consume me, not again. I pinch my fingers together in front of me, close my eyes, and count to ten.
“One, two, three, four, five, six, sev—” The knock comes again, and so does my disdain. I haul my door open and bark. “Quiet.”
The guy turns around with a big vase full of flowers…and a birthday balloon. “Sorry, did I wake you?”
“No, but you’re being rather rude and extremely inconsiderate.”
“My bad. Just want to give these to her, and I’ll be gone.”
“She’s not home.”
His shoulders hunch. “Aw, man. Are you sure?”
“Yes. She hasn’t been home since yesterday.” But I know she’s with that man who calls himself her boyfriend, and that doesn’t make me happy. “Who are you?”
“Oh, sorry. I’m Parker.” He sticks his hand out for me to shake, but I cross my arms. “Okay, then.” He puts his hand back on the vase and seems confused. “Is everything okay? I don’t mean to disturb you. I’m just looking for Annabell.”
Annabell? “I think you have the wrong person.”
“I don’t think so. Short hair, really fuckin’ pretty, great rack, nice ass, about this tall.” He holds his hand up to his shoulders.
She’s all that he said, and more, but she should only be referred to as nothing less than an angel. I wish I’d finished counting because that mocking itch is starting to turn into a rash on my scalp, and I know it’s soon going to seep through and poison my brain. Like a tic I can’t control, I scratch the top of my head. “I’m sorry, how do you know Annie?”
“You call her Annie?” he asks, dejected. Good.
I stand tall, proud. He doesn’t know her like I do. “She insists on it. Again, how do you knowAnnie?”
“We used to date, but I messed it all up, hurt her really bad.” An evil growl locks in my throat. His eyes get big, and he shakes his head, taking a step away from me. “Not like that. Not physically. I might be a cheating bastard, but I’d never hurt her like that.”
My palms are sweating, and my neck is hot. I regain that step he took, then another. “Did you make her cry?”
He winces. “It was the biggest mistake of my life.”
“Of course it was. Annie is perfect.”
“I know, man. I know. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her, and I…I want to make it right. I just want another chance to prove to her how sorry I am.”
