Page 51 of Parker
“Men,” I announce, “We’re at war with the Worths. Things have moved from business to personal. They attacked my wife and killed my unborn child.”
There’s a collection of angry mutterings around the room.
“I’ve not been the strongest or most proactive leader. But I see now that my life is here as head of this family. From now on, I will make my father and you all proud. The Parker dynasty will live on. We will beat these bastards.”
Boyd stands and raises his glass; the rest follow his lead.
My mother joins me on stage and kisses my cheek.
“Gentlemen,” she sings with a huge smile on her face. “My son, the new leader of the Parker family. Follow him as you did my husband and me.” The men stand and cheer, lifting their drinks.
“To the Parkers,” they all shout in unison. “Forever on top.”
***
A soft knock on my office door distracts me from the message I’ve just received. Another man taken down overnight.
The Worths are getting braver since the attack on Nicky. Nightly random attacks, men gunned down in drive-by shootings. We’ve lost one man; the rest were injured, but it’s only a matter of time before someone else loses their life.
Living in the world we do, it’s expected, but that doesn’t make it any easier to stomach.
“Come in,” I call, and Ebony wanders in. A huge purple bruise surrounds her right eye. “What happened this time? Was it the door or the table?” She grimaces. “You need to get out. One of these days, you’ll leave in a body bag. Let me help you.”
“No, it’s okay. I made him angry,” she mumbles. “He said he will sell our secrets if I leave him.”
My friend’s asshole husband is an ongoing problem. An influential business owner, he has connections throughout Glasgow and could cause me endless issues if he wanted to.
My father arranged her marriage—it made sense financially, another man in his corner around the boardroom. But because he’s fist-happy, Ebony has started sporting bruises.
It boils my blood, and I’ve spoken at length to the team about how we can solve the issue. They all tell me that the relationship between husband and wife is not something we get involved with. We can only intervene if she requests it. As she’s a Parker woman, we would need to respond.
Husbands are free to discipline their wives as they want, Boyd said the last time. Ebony’s a handful. We know she pushes his buttons. It took all my willpower not to argue with him. It wasn’t the right time.
My views on the treatment of women differ from those of most of the men under my command, but there are certain battles I must avoid to ensure their loyalty.
“Does Nicky get home tonight?” Ebony asks, which returns my attention to her.
I nod.
“How is she?”
I raise my eyebrow in question. She’s barely asked after her since the attack.
“Quiet,” I say. “Not talking to me about anything important. Hopefully, once she’s home, I can explain everything and we can move on.”
She places her hand on mine. The gesture is intimate. “Joel, not every woman can be the wife of a man like you. You need a woman who understands the darker side of the family. One who will accept the life she has to lead.”
“Don’t fucking write her off,” I growl. “She married into this family under false pretenses. She’ll have the chance to decide for herself.” As I pull my hand from under hers, her face drops. “Now go. Get back to work. Parker Fashion still needs to operate, and that’s to be your focus. Stick to what you’re good at.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “But don’t come crying to me when she lets you down. Or fucking throws you under a bus. It takes a certain type of woman to live this life.”
With that, she turns and storms from my office, her heels sounding loudly as she leaves. I sink back in my chair, considering her words. Will Nicky step up and be a Parker wife? Or will I be left with an enemy much closer to home?
Chapter twenty-three
Joel & Nicky's Home, Glasgow
Nicky
