Unknown: Your girlfriend won’t live to see the end of the year at this rate.
Unknown: Neither will your sister.
Unknown: Fuck you, Archer Boone. I hope when I finally end your life, you go straight to hell. Piece of shit.
At the end of her slew of messages is a picture of Annie, and then another one pops up of Everleigh.
I immediately drop my cold brew and stop walking. “What the fuck?” I grind out, staring at the images.
Unknown: You can keep ignoring me, but the fun has just begun.
My adrenaline spikes, and I rush back to the gym. My next client arrives in fifteen minutes, but I really can’t work in this state of mind, not when I have some calls to make.
Tyler gives me an uneasy look when I approach him. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. Can you cancel my next two appointments? I have some last-minute business I need to take care of.” I know I sound panicked, but I don’t have time to wait for his answer. Immediately, I go outside and dial Annie’s number. She doesn’t pick up at first, and I grow more anxious, so I text Everleigh.
Archer: Hey, where are you?
Everleigh: I’m at home, getting some things boxed up to be moved in the shop.
Archer: I’m coming there now.
Everleigh: Okay, see ya in a few.
It’s not out of the ordinary for me to run home and grab lunch or check on her since she’s by herself all day. I try to get my mind right before I get there and redial Annie’s number. Thankfully, she picks up this time.
“Where are you?” I’m relieved, but even I hear the worry in my tone.
“I’m on my lunch break at work. Why?”
“Thank God,” I whisper, letting out a breath as I look around, making sure I’m not being followed.
“What’s going on?”
“Did anything weird happen today? Or anything lately?”
There’s a long pause, and I wait a moment before I lose my patience.
“Annie?” I snap.
“Nothing really, just been having a lot of car trouble. My brakes went out because my car is an old piece of shit, and it made for an almost dangerous situation. Thankfully Patricia, the nurse practitioner, is letting me borrow her van because she doesn’t need it right now.”
“What? Why didn’t you mention this sooner?” I grow more frustrated with her.
“Because I can’t afford to get it fixed and—”
“I would’ve sent you money, Annie. You need to tell me this stuff.”
She huffs. “I didn’t want you to have to do that, Archer. I know you’re trying to get back on your feet. I want to take care of things on my own. I appreciate you wanting to help, but I don’t need you saving me when I’m in a bind. You’ve already done that enough for me.”
I pick up my pace and round the corner that leads to my street. I suck in a deep breath, trying to calm down because just learning about her brakes going out pisses me off more than she knows. It also worries the shit outta me.
“I want you to move out of Wyoming,” I firmly say. “Somewhere new.”
“What? Why?” Her questions are clipped, and I know she’s not happy with my tone.
“I don’t know where to start.” I linger for a few seconds. “I keep getting threatening texts. Blocking them doesn’t do any good because as soon as I do it, another unknown number messages me.”
“Archer…”
“The threats are getting worse, and I’m getting photos of Everleigh and—”
“No,” she whispers.
“And of you and Sadie,” I continue. “Krystal knows where you live, Annie. It’s no longer safe for you to be there.”
The silence draws on, and it’s almost piercing. In the background, codes are being announced over the loudspeaker.
“Archer.” Her voice lowers. “I can’t afford to just pack up my life and leave. I’m a mom now and have to think about what leaving our home will do to Sadie. She loves her school and friends. We’re settled here.”
“You won’t be settled if Krystal harms you or Sadie because that’s where we are right now, Annie. This is fucking serious. Sadie is five. She can make new friends. You can find another job.”
“I’m not going to live in fear, Archer, and you are not helping. Neither is this conversation.”
I blow out a disgruntled breath. “I’m not there to protect you, and I can’t be in two places at once. Knowing that Krystal has photos of you guys scares the shit out of me. You’re the only family I have.”
“You don’t know if it’s actually her or someone she hired. You can’t be in two places at once, well neither can she,” Annie says.
“Either way, I don’t trust her intentions. She sends them with threats, and I feel like she’s building this up to do something, to lash out, to hurt one or both of you. Do you understand how serious this is?”
She sighs. “Yes. I do. But I can’t do anything about it. I could go to the police but tell them what, exactly? Someone took a picture of me in a public place, and now my brother is worried? I don’t have evidence. I haven’t been attacked. She hasn’t approached us, so she’s not in violation of the restraining order. Maybe you’re blowing this up to be more than it is because she’s playing mental warfare with you. She knows your weaknesses, and she’s using them against you. These types of intimidation tactics are meant to cause paranoia. Ever thought about that?”
“It’s deeper than that, Annie. You and I both know that she’s unhinged and was extremely upset when Chad died. Unless you’ve forgotten the smear campaign she went on? She hates that I got out of prison and has let it known everyone I love will pay. The woman is insane, and I wouldn’t put it past her to put her threats into action. That’s all I’m saying. I wouldn’t be able to handle it if something happened to Sadie or you when I could’ve prevented it all.”
“Listen...” her voice softens. “I understand that and I know she’s mentally unstable, but I can’t just be on the run for the rest of my life. I already left my hometown after you got sent away. I can’t put Sadie through that without plausible cause. I’m keeping watch and always checking my surroundings, Archer. I promise. If anything else happens, I will make sure you’re the first to know. Not so you can fix the problem, but so you can be aware. I didn’t think the car thing was her because it’s on its last leg anyway. Everything over here is fine. You need to relax and breathe, okay?”
The house comes into view, and I take the sidewalk that leads to the porch.
“I just love you guys so much and would be destroyed if she harms you. I’m struggling with wanting to be there and here at the same time.”
“I know, and I hate that you feel that way. But I promise, I’m doing my best to keep us safe too. But anyway, my break is over now, so I gotta get back to work,” she says.