Page 47 of Parker
My mind races as I drive home. It’s now eleven at night, and I haven’t heard from Nicky since this evening. Normally, we stay in touch throughout the day if I’m not in the office or will be back late. Often, she will send me sexy messages and pictures, teasing me on my way home. Not today.
The dark gates remain locked shut, as they should be. They slide back on command. The house looks as it always does, but a sick feeling claws in my gut when I see two black cars in the drive. On one of them, the number plateW0 RTHleaves me in no doubt who is here.Reginald Worth.
Anger coils in my gut, burning like acid. Our families have feuded since I canceled my marriage to his daughter; the conflict has played out on paper and in the city’s back alleys during the early hours.
Never has one of us entered the other's home and involved their family, though. This is unknown territory. It makes me nervous. I have no previous experience with this situation.
Stopping my car behind the two visitors, I climb from my seat and slam the door.
Two men dressed in dark suits stand on either side of my doorway, each holding a handgun. “Evening, sir,” they say in unison. “Mr. Worth is inside and is requesting your presence.”
I nod but don’t speak, showing no fear, then press the SOS button on my watch. It will send a silent alert to Boyd to inform him that all is not well. He will tap into the house security system and assess the situation. He’ll know what to do.
Nicky is sitting on one of our white leather dining chairs in the center of the room. A circle of six men stand around her, all eyes fixed on my wife. Rope secures her arms to her sides, tying her to the seat. Someone has taped her mouth shut, and her terrified eyes meet mine. She looks so defenseless that it knocks the air from my lungs.
“Parker,” the acidic voice of Reginald Worth says. “So glad you could join us. Your wife has been waiting patiently for you since eight this evening. I apologize, but we have eaten your meal.”
The dining table is set for two, but I see a smashed glass on the floor. Everything else looks in order. Nicky looks unscathed so far.
“She’s quite feisty, this one, isn’t she? Put up quite a fight, but she has previous form, I suppose.”
“This has nothing to do with Nicky,” I say. “Let her go. Take your hatred out on me.”
He chuckles under his breath. “Oh, Joel, did your father teach you nothing? When taking one’s revenge, it’s best to hit the person where it hurts most, and often that involves someone else.”
I open my mouth to protest, but he holds his hand up to silence me. “You can take the common whore out of the jail, Parker, but she’ll still be just that. I find it somewhat offensive that you chose that over my daughter.” He waves a hand in Nicky’s direction. My jaw clenches with his open disrespect for my wife.
“You’re not fit to lick the soles of her shoes,” I snarl. His mouth twists, enjoying my reaction.
“Your father always said you were a disappointment. You didn’t inherit the required ruthlessness of a Parker. Perhaps tonight will change that, and you will become better competition.” He raises his eyebrows. “Consider this as your first lesson in the life you inherited. Lesson one: power doesn’t wait for permission. Let’s see if you’ve finally grown some teeth or just the bark.”
Tears are running down my wife’s cheeks. She doesn’t deserve this. All she knows is that I left that man’s daughter and he tried to ruin my family business. She knows nothing of the nighttime activities our families participate in, and now it’s all going to be blown out in the open. I’m going to have to face up to who I am and deal with the hand life has dealt me.
“What do you want, Reginald?” My fists clench. I want to make a move, but I’m severely outnumbered. The men openly carry guns on their belts and knives in their hands, regardless of the legalities.
“Payback. I want to cash in on what you owe me. So far, Joel Parker, you’ve broken my daughter’s heart and my son’s leg. Your wife will pay the toll for your dirty deeds.”
My eyes narrow in warning. Where the fuck are Boyd and his men?
“You touch her, and this will be war,” I snarl.
He laughs out loud. “It already is, you stupid boy. But I see your father in your eyes, and I look forward to our futuremeetings.” He nods to an enormous bear standing to the left of Nicky. “Take payment.”
Two men move to my sides and secure my arms so I can’t move. Nicky screams against the plastic across her mouth. My heart breaks as I struggle, powerless to help her. My pathetic attempt is halted when one of my captors lifts a gun to my temple.
“I dare you to move,” he whispers menacingly. “I’d love an excuse to sink a few holes in you, asshole.” The giant moves in front of my wife and draws back his fist before connecting with her torso. She wails in agony. I watch on helplessly.
“Nicky!” I scream as he repeats the process, and the chair falls to the floor. “Fucking bastards! Let her go! I’ll fucking kill you.” She lies on her side, still tied to the chair, sobbing uncontrollably. Reginald holds up his hand to stop the attack. He turns to me and smiles ominously.
“Next time,” he says. “It will be more than a few bruises. Hurt my family again and be prepared to most definitely lose yours.”
Boyd bursts through the door as the bastards leave. He scans the room, surveying the scene. I rush to Nicky and remove the tape from her mouth, then untie her bindings. She crawls into my arms.
“What’s going on, Joel?” she whispers, her whole body shaking. “Who were those men? What were they talking about?”
“Shh,” I tell her as I rock her in comfort. “You’re safe now. I’ll explain everything later.” It’s then that I notice the white of her jeans turning red between her legs. Confusion clouds my mind. “Boyd,” I order, “call an ambulance.”
***
