𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝟏𝟖+

42. deception

GABRIEL DALTON

✥

Later that evening Zane sends me all the information he has on Poppy. I know what I'm doing isn't right but I have to figure out who did this to her before I lose my sanity. I sit in Lonzo's office at home and go through all of her paperwork.

The address she put down on her forms is the same one she asked me to drop her off at multiple times. I make a note to check it out when I know that she's at work tomorrow evening and I have the chance to investigate.

But as I dig deeper I find the address that is attached to her payee details is different. I frown at the address and type it into Google maps. It's only a few minutes away from the first address she gave me which has me questioning things.

I note them both down and search for anything else unusual but the rest is clear. Her name is the same, along with her age and a picture of her passport on file. When I stare at the photograph attached I almost don't recognise the girl on the passport. Poppy's green eyes look brighter and more vibrant than they do right now, there aren't heavy bags under her eyes and she's even smiling.

After a few moments I remind myself that she was younger then. Things were different and she said the first time someone laid their hands on her she was twenty-three. She looks barely twenty in this picture.

A sigh falls from my lips and I lean back into the chair. I hate snooping but I know this is something that I need to do. Tomorrow I plan on visiting both of these addresses. I don't care who busts in my way, I'm going to make sure that Poppy is safe–if she's living at either of these addresses.

The next evening when I know she's at work, I text her asking if she's okay and to have a good night tonight as I won't be there. She responds that she's sad that she won't be able to see me, but she will soon.

I tuck my phone away and collect a few of Lonzo's men for back up. I wouldn't be stupid enough to turn up by myself but at the same time I don't want to ambush these properties. I want to seem as less threatening as possible otherwise I might make things worse in the long run and that's the last thing I want for Poppy.

As I pop the door to my car open and give the signal for others to get into position around the building. I don't expect anything to kick off but I want to be prepared just in case. I head upstairs to the third floor and locate the number on Zane's database.

I pause in front of number seventeen. I know I have back-up down the hall but for some reason I feel like this place isn't the type that draws in violence or danger. It's far too pretty and built up from the outside.

My knuckles raise to brush the door. It's now or never. I stand back and wait, shoving one hand into my pocket and the other by my thigh in case I need to grab my gun from my waistband.

After a few moments the door opens and a small blonde woman in her late thirties opens the door. She stares up at me with tight brows. "Do you need something?"

"Does someone called Poppy live here?"

The woman continues to scowl at me. "Poppy?" She repeats. "No. You have the wrong door."

"Red hair, green eyes?"

She shakes her head and by her body language I can tell that she's being honest. I've never seen this woman before. "Nope. It's just me and my partner who live here."

"And you haven't seen someone matching this description around here?"

"No," she shakes her head with a shrug. "Sorry. I can't help you."