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I managed a slow nod as her words sank in. Before I knew it, Sammy was leaning over to reach down into her very large purse. From beneath the table, she produced the most horrifying, lifelike doll I had ever seen.
When its cold, dead eyes moved in my direction, I jumped, my knee banging into the underside of the table, and splashing even more water onto the surface. “Oh, Jesus.”
Sammy laughed as she bounced the doll, pretending to walk it toward me. “Hi, Lee. I’m Elsa. My mommy thinks you’re cute!” Sammy giggled as I did my best not to recoil and scream like a baby.
What. The. Fuck.
“Oh, wow. Sammy. That’s...”
Sammy sighed wistfully as she looked at her unholy creation. “I use silicone to mold the faces. Even the skin feels real. Isn’t she darling?”
“Sure. Yeah, she’s...” I swallowed hard. “Great.”
“And you’re a firefighter.” Sammy rocked the doll back and forth and took on a high-pitched, doll-like voice. “Mommy hopes that means you’re good with your hose!”
A laugh burst out of me. I looked around, fully expecting to see Annie hiding somewhere in the corner, laughing her ass off. There was no way this chick was for real.
When the server came to deliver our coffee and pastries, my eyes pleaded for help as he made a horrified face at Sammy and her doll.
“You are very handsome, Lee. We both think so.”
We?
Sammy pulled out her phone and scooted from her side of the booth and into mine. “Do you mind if we take a quick selfie?”
“Um.” I was still trying to get over the shock of Sammy producing that horrifying doll. “Sure.”
She leaned in close, squishing the doll between us as she held out her phone. The dark, beady eyes of the doll seared into my soul, but Sammy’s sweet face was smiling, so I leaned in slightly and tried not to wince as its silicone skin brushed my arm.
“Thanks! I have the perfect frame for this.”
Frame? What in the hell?
“So, Lee...” Sammy inched closer, and I was acutely aware of the fact a doll, which was more than likely possessed, was touching me. “Should we go to your place? Or mine?”
I blinked once.Wasn’t that my line?“I’m sorry. What?”
Her big green eyes blinked up at me. “I’m only a few towns over, but your place is probably closer.”
Was I having a stroke, or had this completely unassuming, doll-loving woman just propositioned me in the middle of the morning on a Thursday? I blinked my eyes—no double vision. Twitched my face—no paralysis.I inhaled a deep breath—oh shit. Is that burned toast?
“Uh, okay. Somebody’s a little shy.” Using her doll voice, Sammy cooed as she moved the doll’s tiny hand to stroke my arm.
“Okay.” I gently muscled my way out of the booth, shoving Sammy and her creepy doll across the bench until we were both standing. “It’s been ... interesting. Unfortunately, I don’t think this is going to work out.” I pulled a pile of bills from my wallet and dumped it on the table without bothering to count it.
With a pout, Sammy waved the doll’s arm goodbye as I turned and beelined toward the door. Once outside, I hustled down the street until I could duck into an alleyway and pull out my phone.
Me:I’m coming over. You better be there.
I didn’t bother waiting for a response. I knew Annie would be working at her shop, talking with customers or starting a new project. I stomped up the sidewalk toward the lake, where her shop was tucked next to King Tattoo.
Just outside, Royal King was unlocking his tattoo parlor. When we caught eyes, his narrowed. He knew us Sullivans were lying in wait, and he was anticipating a comeback for the latest prank they’d pulled—delivering seventy-two pizzas over the course of two days to me, Kate, Duke, and even Dad at Haven Pines.
Joke’s on them. I fucking love pizza.
But Royal was right to be suspicious. I already knew how I was planning to get back at them, but I hadn’t found the right opportunity to exact my revenge quite yet.
While I didn’t love that Annie’s shop was next door to Royal’s, I also knew that with his imposing stature and extensive tattoos, most people were too afraid to fuck with him. The Kings were known to be ruthless in business and in a fight.
