Chapter 21
Holden
Parker’s head shakes and relief washes over her expression. “How did you find me? I didn’t think you were coming. Wait, how did you get here so fast? Do you live in the city too?”
My eyes shift back and forth as each speaks.
“Oh. I think you’re confused. I’m not here to help you…” The mystery blonde, who I believe is called Ophelia, holds her hand over her chest while continuing to casually walk toward us, and adds, “And I’m not taking questions at this time.”
Parker is at a loss for words, as am I. Her mouth keeps opening to speak, only to close once more.
Tiny shakes of the head never stop as her eyes squint.
The atmosphere in the warehouse has shifted.
What once was an intense exploration of my victim’s body has turned into mass chaos and confusion.
Two things I do not subscribe to. I am orderly. Everything has an intention.
The unknown has entered my safe realm, and I don’t care for it one fucking bit.
Before the blonde, apparently also know as Ophelia, is able to get closer, I hold my hand out, stopping her. The intruder stays in place only feet away from us. Watching the blonde, she scrunches her nose and places a finger in front of her lips before glancing back at Parker.
Shock drips off each word as Parker says them. “I didn’t see it going down like this.”
Tilting my head at the blonde, I look for clarity in Parker’s recent statement.
Wagging her finger, she smirks and takes one more step forward. “Now she gets it.”
I refuse to allow this evening’s activities to be derailed. A sigh of frustration leaves my lungs. Those are my fucking points. Mine. “I need whatever this is to wrap the fuck up, now.” Ophelia laughs hysterically at my statement. Which only further irritates me.
Fuck it, double or nothing on a two-for-one night. Let’s fucking go.
Stepping toward the other psychopath in my presence, and no, I am not one of them, Parker is clearly unhinged, I pat my back pocket for the syringe.
This chick is on my last nerve and I need her to sit tight until it’s her fucking turn.
What the… My brow furrows in confusion as my body freezes. Where is it?
Parker yells, “Holden!” with urgency. The fear in her voice makes me uncomfortable.
It feels like my skin is on fire. I hate it.
Spinning around with wide eyes, it occurs to me I am already too late.
A sharp prick pinches my neck. Parker cries, “Mr. Burly, no,” as my body collapses to the cool cement floor.
The landing is rough, my head bounces before my body settles.
This is one state I have never been in before, helpless and vulnerable. It’s dangerous.
“Thank you, Derek. He was getting horribly annoying,” Ophelia praises. I assume she’s talking to the fucking giant who just paralyzed me with my own shit. Her feet step over me as I lay here completely frozen.
“You never did ask how I knew you fucked him.”
Ophelia’s feet crinkle against the tarp. She’s right in front of Parker now and if she takes what’s mine, those points, I am going to lose my fucking mind.
“I don’t think you mean just the points,” Mr. Carlisle tosses back. I want to glare back at him but can’t, though I know he can fucking feel it, the asshole.
Ophelia continues taunting Parker, which interrupts the side conversation Mr. Carlisle and I are having silently.
“Your pants were torn in the back when you stepped into the hallway. You had your entire ass out, with no shame or guilt. The only expression on your face was shock.” Her voice lowers, turning smug.
“Your boy Tac fucked up. He still had the stream in your building accessible. I was watching as you went in and came out.” Ophelia’s fingers snap before she declares, “That’s the moment you lost me. ”
“I’m… I apologized. I sent the text… Didn’t you see it?
” Parker trips over her words nervously.
I’ve never seen her like this. She is always confident, carefree.
This is the first time I have witnessed her being scared.
Even under my knife bleeding for me, not a wink of fear revealed itself, until now.
“Since you couldn’t be bothered to capture the bounty, I’ve decided to do it myself.” Ah, okay. They work together. And more information presents itself that I didn’t get in the PDF. The pieces slowly come together.
“Then fucking take him. He’s yours,” Parker insists, and Ophelia laughs manically in response.
“He’s not the one I’m here for.”
No.
Parker gasps in horror. Then attempts to work the human side of the giant man. “Mr. Burly, I thought we were friends.”
Ophelia doesn’t let the man speak for himself. “Derek works for the highest bidder, and today that’s me.”
“It doesn’t need to end this way,” Parker pleads.
Heavy footsteps trample on the tarp next.
Mr. Burly has joined Ophelia. Dammit. Then the sound of the chair crashing to the ground follows.
One of them must have pushed or kicked the legs out from under it.
A loud scream erupts from Parker followed by moans of pain.
Her hip and shoulder would have felt most of the impact.
And the girl has no meat on her to absorb anything from the fall.
Fuck. Unless they pushed her backward. Her head would have bounced like mine. Both scenarios enrage me.
Coughs follow with muffled cries mixed in. Mr. Carlisle carefully whispers, “The chair fell backwards. Blonde’s boot is pressing on her throat. Tears twinkle in Parker’s eyes. She isn’t trying to fight. Her heart is broken, absolutely defeated by the betrayal.”
How he was able to interpret so much, with minimal visibility, is beyond my comprehension. But, I trust what he sees.
Ophelia’s head tilts down as she continues to speak to Parker.
“I convinced someone to put a bounty out on you, bestie. The agency accepted the offer, and now I’m hunting you!
” She is far too thrilled about this. “And I bet you’re wondering why the heck they would accept a bounty on their best hunter?
Well, let me tell you. It was amazing. I simply explained how you had gone astray.
Which, technically, isn’t a lie after you fucked the guy.
They saw the light, just as I did. You are a wanted liability now, until I confirm your capture and bring you to auction. ”
The fuck?
“Don’t worry, your precious boys don’t know shit. They aren’t involved. Since you’re going to die anyway, this is the least I could do. Give you peace of mind on that.”
Does Parker have kids? I’ve never seen them. The secrets only continue to get deeper. There is so much that wasn’t in those docs the guy I hired sent me. What is the agency? If you are convincing people to put bounties on other people, it can’t be police authority.
“And I’m splitting the cash three ways between myself, Derek, or Mr. Burly as you know him, and my kind friend who took the bounty out on you.
Then, you finally get to see the elusive cabin you have always been so curious about.
Gosh, you will get to see the entire compound if you make it out of the backyard. ”
Skin cracks, Parker breathes heavily in pain.
Ophelia must have slapped her. “From the hunter to the hunted. What was it that you always said?” Ophelia pauses, humming while she pretends to think.
She lets it play out for a few seconds before snapping her fingers.
Acting like it has miraculously come to her. “Right. Karma is real.”
Parker stays quiet. But we all know what’s being implied. This is Parker’s karma. But if Ophelia worked with Parker before, at whatever this agency is, then she is not different. The same karma will come back on her as well. Is she fucking stupid?
“What a shame if your precious raccoons or possums witness your death.” Now she is patronizing her. I’m not sure what raccoon or possum is code for, but I know from the tone she is being rude.
“Derek, grab her. And take care of him.”
I panic.
No, no, no.
Parker doesn’t speak another word.
Loud, heavy steps get closer to me.
The slivers of moonlight disappear as everything fades to black.
Blinking, a bright light stings my eyes. My face feels tight. Rolling my head, everything hurts and my ears ring. Hands brace on either side of my body as I attempt to rise. Weak, my arms give out. The day bleeds into the night as my vision fades once more.
A dry mouth turns into a dry cough. The warehouse light dimly shines.
My eyes glance around the space. Relieved, Mr. Carlisle remains where I had left him previously, a powder blue bucket hat still on his head.
I was worried they would try to snatch it or him.
Glancing down, I find a puddle of dry blood under my head as I rise.
Scratching my head, I wonder, how long have I been out?
Panic ensues. Parker.
Moving too quickly. The room spins as a dizzy daze consumes me.
Blinking rapidly, I try to focus on where she once was as my body shakes.
They left the metal chair with cut ropes behind on the clear tarp.
Dry blood stains where Parker once laid.
My music box is still open, but “Clair de Lune” ceases to play.
On shaking feet, I stand and feel like a newborn giraffe finding his balance for the first time.
“Mr. Carlisle. We have to find her,” I rasp, thirsty as fuck with a monster headache pounding in my head.
“I knew it was about more than points, my friend.”
“Nobody likes a know-it-all, Mr. Carlisle, including me,” I threaten. Changing the subject, I question, still in a haze, “Did she ever tell you about her boys?”
“No.”
Fuuck.
“But you should know, those two dickheads dragged Parker out of here. Her face was blank, eyes were dead. All of her spunk was gone. A girl unrecognizable.”
We need to get home. We need to get into her place and we need to find her before the fucking auction, whatever that is.
Parker Redacted Presley is mine. Mine to bend, mine to hurt, mine.
It’s at this moment that realization floods over me.
She has infected me so deeply that the thought of anyone putting their hands on her, for good or evil, has my blood boiling.
Her crimson only drips for me. It’s the only crimson I have, or will ever desire.
Sliding my phone out of my trouser pocket, I glance down to check the time, but only a black cracked screen stares back at me. It must have broken from my fall. Throwing it across the room, I hear the useless piece of shit shatter. Fuck it all to hell.
Regardless, the clock is ticking, because nothing after the auction sounds promising for her. Or for us, and our hopes of getting her back.
Alive.
To Be Continued in Lost & Found
A Blood Sport Agency Duet