Page 10 of Parker

And most importantly, Quinn was done being a jinx.

1

Richmond,Virginia

Present day…

Parker Collins lookedout the large window to his right but saw nothing. Not the illuminated streetlights or the cars passing by. Even the people walking past were a blur, their images smudged by the distracting thoughts filling his brilliant mind.

Thoughts of a woman he’d never met in person but who, in many ways, knew him better than anyone else. A woman who went by Jinx—her gaming username—and who’s raspy voice made him think of sex.

But more than the erotic fantasies his healthy, thirty-year-old brain had conjured starring the nameless, faceless woman, Parker cherished their purely platonic—albeit sometimes a tad flirty—conversations.

What had started as gaming opponents turned into a two-person, online alliance. Before he knew it, an honest-to-goodness friendship had developed.

And then she’d vanished.

Damn it, Jinx. Where are you?

It had been a month since Parker had last spoken to his online friend. The spunky, mysterious woman had called him, just to chat. As with all their shared phone calls, the two had talked about nothing important, teasing and laughing as they filled the time with each other’s company.

He could still hear her sweet voice from that night…

“You give anymore thought to my proposal?”

“To meet IRL?”She’d sounded so hesitant.“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Parker could still feel the disappointment her answer had brought with it. When he’d pushed for an explanation as to why, Jinx had kept her answers vague.

“I just don’t think it’s the right time. Maybe…maybe later?”

“How much later?”

“I don’t know. Maybe like…”

But Jinx hadn’t finished the thought. Parked could still hear the audible gasp that had cut her words off at the pass. She’d gasped and then…

“What the…shit. I have to go.”

Parker remembered the chills that had raced down his spine when he heard the panic in her words. He’d asked her what was wrong. Was ready to spin his car around and go to her…no matter where in the world she was.

But Jinx never told him. All she’d given was…

“Can’t talk right now. I’ll call back when I can.”

Her tone had become hushed. Parker distinctly remembered thinking maybe Jinx was scared of someone else hearing her. Someone who meant her harm.

“Jinx, wait!”He’d practically yelled those words.“Tell me what’s going on!”

“I can’t,”she’d whispered back.“I’m sorry.”

He’d hollered for her again, but she’d already ended the call.

Worried for his friend—and regardless of the unconventionality of it all, theywerefriends—Parker had immediately tried calling Jinx back. The first couple tries it just rang and rang. And on the third, he’d gotten the automated voice telling him the number was no longer in service.

Though the evidence was all highly circumstantial, Parker’s gut told him Jinx was in danger. And he’d give every penny he had to find her and make sure she was safe.

“Helloooo…” A female voice tore through his spaced-off mind. “Earth to Parker…”

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