Chapter 19
Parker
“You have lost complete sight of this hunt. You are getting sloppy. You are captivated by him, and, dare I say, addicted to tormenting this guy. What has gotten into you?” Ophelia is fuming.
If she knew anything about the other night, I would legitimately be concerned.
Right now, she’s only mad about the continuous toying, thankfully.
And she isn’t done. “You are fucking with the money. Not only your money, but our money, collectively. What is the one rule of business, Parker?”
Shamefully, I whisper, like I am being told off by a parent, “Don’t fuck with the money.”
“Exactly. So, for the love of all things holy, enough! Stop playing with our food. Fucking pounce already.”
The implication that I am being irresponsible perhaps is justified, but, because people only hear what comes after but, I am the boss.
I respectfully understand her anger. O has every right to feel any emotion, it’s valid.
This is a card I have never pulled in our entire time together.
Well, until now. Don’t fuck with the boss.
“I stalk my prey. Sparrows help circle them as I hunt. Observe. Fuck, sometimes I even play with them, toy with them and taunt them. And because of my process, I always get the job done. You know that. This team knows that. Nothing about this hunt is different other than the fact he lives next door!” I try to keep a calm voice, but by the end my vision is blurred and I completely black out.
I hate getting mad. When I do, it always takes everything out of me.
Anger has no place in my life when I constantly need a clear head.
Then my sweet Ophelia takes a play out of my book that I like to call ‘poking the bear’.
“Oh. I’m not done. I’m curious. Do you fuck all our bounties?” The rate of which my jaw drops cannot even be detected on a speed gun.
“I did not know you offered such a full service. Is it only for those we hunt or do you take private clients on the side too?”
A pin could drop on the carpet and we would all hear it.
The line has never been so silent. My face warms, the anger meter is rising.
A blackout rage is about to ensue and there is nothing I can do to stop it anymore.
“You have crossed the goddamn line and you know it. How fucking dare you!” My head shakes, eyes close, and my voice screams, “ HOW. DARE. YOU!”
“Con-Man, hang up. Mom and Dad are fighting and we don’t need this trauma to stunt our growth or cause further mental trauma.
” Tac jokes when he is uncomfortable and I so desperately want to laugh, but the anger has taken all joy away from me.
It’s to the point where I don’t think watching a possum video could even bring a smile to my lips.
Two clicks sound in my earpiece. It’s only us now.
“Don’t hold back now, O. Tell me how you really feel,” I encourage, because this is nowhere near being done. And Human Resources doesn’t exist here.
“Apparently, I have crossed a line. It’s best I keep the rest to myself. I would hate to upset the boss.” Her sarcasm is heavy and the attitude is that of a four-year-old. This conversation is not going to go anywhere constructive.
Regardless, I give her one more opportunity to get everything off her chest. “It’s just us. Talk to me. Something I’ve done has clearly pissed you off.”
“I’m good. Thanks.”
Awkward silence fills the void of voices. We allow it to linger for a couple of minutes. Not hanging up shows there is still something left worth fighting for. I feel it. There has to be.
“We have been together for years, O. This is our first big blowout. You are my best fucking friend.” I pause, letting that sink in before continuing.
“Once the anger simmers, please try to remember all the good times. Because the good times were fucking great, and they still will be once we get past this.” Emotion builds in my throat.
Dammit. “This bounty has been unorthodox for us, I admit it. No part of this hunt has been typical or normal. Bro has a dead guy for a best friend. It’s really next-level strange.
But we have him. We will get him. He’s ours.
” Now I’m basically pleading for her to believe me.
Not because it’s a lie, because it’s the fucking truth.
I find the truth always needs more convincing than the lie for people to believe it.
“Then take him.”
Her response is short. Tone has turned casual. Uncaring. That’s dangerous. A tiny piece of me wants to bite back and bark, “If you think you can do a better job, then do it.” Instead I stay silent. Adding fuel to this fire will only turn it into a bomb.
Eyes fall to the ground. Conflict is uncomfortable.
I hate it and never did I expect it to happen here.
Our team is lighthearted, but we get shit done in our own way.
We all play a unique and intricate role.
I could never do what Con, Taco, and Ophelia do and vice versa, for all of us.
We complement one another. And none of us claim to be the smartest in the room.
We are experts in our own area and we bring that knowledge and experience to the table with each job.
Until now.
I’m at a loss for words. So, I give her the only response she’ll accept. “I hear you.”
“Good,” is all O says before the line goes dead. She’s done. Frankly, so am I.
Taking the earpiece out, I place it down on my desk and walk to my dining room.
A staircase rests against the far wall. My bare feet take each step slowly.
I’m exhausted and confused. Once reaching the top, a small landing presents itself with a steel door.
My hand grabs the cool metal knob. While turning it, I use my shoulder to help push the heavy door open.
Immediately, I am welcomed by the warmth of the summer’s night heat.
That’s right, my friends, I have an outdoor space in New York City.
And not any outdoor space, a rooftop outdoor space with a magnificent view of my city.
What you thought my place cost, double it.
And every penny was worth it for this escape space that I can call my own.
Dare I say outdoor space one more time? Please, come see my outdoor space.
The air is warm, but cool patio blocks comfort my toes.
A natural wood partition wall is to one side, because unfortunately Holden has the other half of the roof.
Not for long, fucker. On the other side, my side, is beauty under the night’s sky.
Bright lights from the cityscape tinkle.
Taking a deep breath in through my nose, I allow it to fill my lungs.
The air up here is different. I can’t describe it or explain why, but it just is.
If you have been to the city, you know what I mean.
Faintly, in the distance, I can hear some of the traffic below.
It doesn’t take away from the peace this space offers.
If anything, it brings me great comfort.
Walking farther in, a stone gas firepit sits in the middle of the outdoor couch and a few chairs.
Pots of lush green outdoor plants line the ledge, with fairy lights crisscrossing overhead.
Don’t worry, I have a ‘guy’ who comes to water the plants.
We all know if it were left to me, they would be dead and we don’t want that.
There is a bunch of decorative shit throughout.
I hired another ‘guy’ to turn this into an escape, my sanctuary, and that they did.
Behind me, the building wall that was once an eyesore, is now covered by a green wall.
During the day, I sometimes find myself up here for hours watching the bumblebees.
The odd time they get drunk off pollen from the flowers that bloom and fall asleep in the flowers, with their little tooshies sticking out. It’s really the cutest thing to see.
A stone outdoor kitchen with a beautiful wood dining table and benches sit on the other side of a potted plant wall my ‘guy’ made.
It feels like two separate spaces in one.
I fucking love my apartment. And I wouldn’t have been able to afford it if it wasn’t for the bounties with the agency and my team.
Dread ruins the high. Walking to the couch, I throw myself onto it, resting my head on the pillow and crossing my feet on the armrest.
Staring up at the onyx night, bright stars attempt to battle the city lights to be the center of attention. Why must everything be a battle tonight? Dammit.
The fun of fucking with him may have gotten slightly out of hand.
He wasn’t supposed to call my bluff. Why did he do it?
It might be an answer I will never get, but at what point did my brain go, Y’know what?
This is a good fucking idea. I saw how much I could make him tic and I got immense joy from it.
The team enjoyed it too. We knew this hunt was going to be more fun than stress for once, and we took advantage of that. I took it too far.
Perhaps we played with our food for too long.
Something about Holden fascinates me. His history, his present persona, and all the quirks.
The man is a stonewall with a dead bestie.
A small piece of him is human. Mr. Carlisle brings out a side of him I’m not sure he even knew existed.
The psychology of people is something that interests me.
And his could make an entire textbook. My mind continues to battle between the idiosyncrasies of our bounty and the events of tonight.
Avoidance would be preferred, but what happened can’t be ignored.
If O had such a serious issue with everything, she should have communicated that to me in private.
Tonight was wildly unprofessional, regardless of our friendship. Work is work.