Page 59 of All That Glitters

He doesn't hear me. He never hears me.

“Let me in, Marcus,” he says, low and slow. “There are things for us to discuss, and I’d rather not do it out in the open.”

“Then perhaps you should have come to see me at my office. Better yet, set up an appointment for later in the day, and I'll be happy to clear some room in my schedule to meet.” It’s a giant fuck you gesture, and we both know it.

Parker, however, is done playing games. Even his body language changes with his next statement. He flashes his teeth and says, “We can do this the easy way, or we can do this my way,” he continues.

“You had your chance to talk to me, and right now, I’m busy.” I also know better than to try and slam the door in his face. Parker is the type to sneak a foot out and break a few bones if it means he’ll have a way inside. Right now, he wants in. He’ll muscle his way past me no matter what sneaky or underhanded tactics he has to employ.

I keep track of the two meatheads out of the corner of my eye.

Neither one has moved yet, but I’m willing to bet every cent in my bank account that they’re packing. Parker would be a fool to come here unprepared on any level.

I set my stance wider. Immovable.

“Marcus, you know me.” Parker holds his arms out at his sides.

“And I know you’re too busy to pay house calls,” I snap back.

“I’m a terribly busy man, which should give you an indication that I’m not playing around. I’m not going to make a fucking appointment with your secretary to see you.” He glances over my shoulder again. “Now, where is Empire?”

He wants her to see this, whatever this is, and I’ll be damned if she does, because there is only one way this is ending. I feel it in my bones. It’s a remnant of long buried instincts, and once again, I’m back on the street, sizing up an asshole bigger than I am.

Always underestimated, the same way Parker underestimates me now.

I might have gotten out of the game a long time ago, but that doesn’t mean I won’t fight back. He’s been bloated on power for too long, a pampered rich pooch at the end of his master’s leash.

Beyond the movie, beyond her part, beyond all of it, Parker and I have had this coming for a long time.

When I fail to answer his question, he snaps his fingers, and the car doors slam behind him. Two more men exit the vehicle and move to stand beside their meathead friends.

“You needed to bring your goons here to talk to me.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Seems like a pretty pathetic power move. If I thought you were here to deal with me man to man, I might feel differently.”

Empire needs to stay gone. I’m not sure how long her errands are going to last after her visit to the graveyard, but I send up a silent prayer that they take hours. Maybe she’ll get coffee with River again. Anything to keep her away from this house.

Away from Parker Heath and the “conversation” brewing between us.

“I need my men with me when we’re talking about money,” Parker continues. He sniffs, bothered and tense at once. “Or when I’m speaking to you.”

I wonder if he sees me as less of a threat now, with my distance from the organization. Does he think I’ve gone soft? I grit my teeth. He’s about to find out.

“The only thing I’d like to hear from you is an apology for what you did to Empire.” I step outside into the blinding sunlight and close the door behind me, using my body to physically block anyone from coming inside. If there are photographers hidden in the bushes outside the house, then so be it. Let them bear witness.

There’s always a snake lurking in the grass somewhere.

“I did what I had to do. You understand the business better than anyone else. You also negotiated her contract, Marcus.” He says it like I need the reminder, like he had no choice but to treat an untried actress the way he had. “The money to pay her what you demanded had to come from somewhere.” Parker steps closer and brings his mouth in line with my ear. “And the money for the production came from the mafia.”

The others don’t even blink, but the crassness of the word, the way Parker drops it so nonchalantly, has tension growing to a cracking point in my chest.

“Your world,” I remind him. “Not mine. We all made our choices.”

Parker sneers. “Yes, we did. And there’s no way you’re getting out this easily. Not this time. You knew exactly what you were doing when you got involved with me and this project. You can’t expect to skate away. You or your girl.”

My blood goes from a simmer to a boil. “I’m not involved in any of your dirty dealings. If you try to rope Empire into your spider web, then I’ll—”

“I’m sorry to tell you, old boy, but you are,” Parker interrupts smoothly.

The longer this goes on, the more chance the meatheads have to take advantage or for Empire to come home. I’m not willing to risk either one.

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