Page 80 of Parker
Every day I get rounder. My boobs get bigger. I spend my days waiting for Joel to burst through the door and demand to know who the father is.
I still haven’t decided what I’m going to say to him.
“Perhaps they’ve stopped watching you?” Sophie suggests, and I roll my eyes. She giggles. “Yes, stupid suggestion on my part. But seriously, Nicky, he’s going to find out soon, and you need to decide what you’re going to tell him.”
“I know. It’s not much of a choice, though, is it? If I tell him the baby is someone else’s, he’ll want to hunt them down and throw them in the river. If I tell him that the baby is his…”
I twist a curl between my fingers.
“My baby will be a member of one of the most powerful families in Glasgow. With that come expectations and responsibilities. Joel didn’t want them as a young man. He’s had to mold himself into who he is now. The man I met didn’t have that hard exterior all those years ago. That’s developed.”
And what if that hardness is all that’s left?
“Did you find out the sex?” she asks. I nod. “I’m going to guess it’s a boy after the little speech you just gave. I assume he’d be expected to follow in his father’s footsteps.”
The dam bursts, and tears stream down my face. She runs to me, almost tripping over a roll of fabric in the process.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she says, sounding taken aback by my emotion. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You’re right. I’m terrified at what being Joel’s son could mean for my little boy. Bodyguards? Guns? A life in the shadows?” Sophie passes me a tissue, and I wipe at my eyes. “Do I want that for my son?”
I’ve seen what Joel’s men can do. Pictures of men with blood running down their faces sent to him late at night. Those images were not intended for my eyes. But I saw them.
“No one would blame you for being scared.” She rubs my arm with her hand in comfort. “But we need to be prepared to answer his questions. You know they’ll come as soon as he’s told about that.” She signals at my swollen belly. “And that won’t be long.”
June in Glasgow this year has been exceptionally warm. Deciding my comfort is more important than Joel’s sanity, I slip into a fitted summer dress which displays my growing bump. Walking out of my flat, I march toward the underground, hoping to make it to work before he appears. I don’t think anyone follows me daily now, but I can’t be sure.
As I stand on the platform waiting to board the train, a huge man blocks my view by stepping in front of me. Another stands behind, making me feel enclosed. They’re both wearing dark denim and leather jackets, which is odd on a day like today. The stench of sweat from them strong. But you see all sorts on the underground, so I think nothing more than what a rude pair of jerks they are.
Placing my hand over my handbag zipper to be sure it’s not a ruse, we all pile on. I’m bumped from side to side by people coming and going. Thank God the journey only takes eight minutes, then I have a short walk to the shop. My eyes fly around as I make my journey to work.
Still no Joel. No Boyd. No familiar shadows. Just them.
Eventually, I arrive at my destination unscathed. Sophie has the day off to attend an appointment. She said she may stop by later for lunch. Hopefully, she’ll appear earlier. I hate opening the shop alone.
After unlocking the front door, I lock it again behind me. We don’t open until ten, and I find ensuring people can’t just walk in helps me focus on my daily tasks. In the sewing room at the rear of the shop, I’m busy reattaching trim to a shirt for the second time. The customer changed the color halfway through the process.
I exhale, settling into my routine. Just me and my fabric. Then a knock at the rear door comes…
Reluctantly, I leave my seat.
I push down the huge metal bar to open it; it swings away from me. The two immense men from the train stare back with a white van parked behind them in the alley.
“Can I help you?” My mind processes the situation, and I move to re-close the door. One man puts his hand on my wrist.
“Mr. Drayton has requested your presence,” he says with a sneer. “Come easily, or we’ll drag you.” My jaw drops open. He sniggers. The other man, slightly shorter than the first and with a long russet beard, prods his mate on the arm.
“Look,” he says, pointing at my belly. “She’s breeding. Did Drayton tell you that?” They both shake their heads. “Is it that bastard Parker’s? Drayton’s going to love dangling this over him. A baby is even better than you.” His focus returns to my belly.
“No,” I stammer, as all the pieces of the puzzle click into place. “It was a one-night stand.”
“With who?”
“I don’t know his name.”
“No matter. He’s probably dead anyway if Joel Parker found out he’s had his cock in you. Quite possessive, your ex, isn’t he? I tailed you for a while in the beginning. Before I jumped ship.”
A scream claws at my throat but doesn’t make it out. Where’s my phone? My eyes flick down. Sophie. Boyd. Anyone—please. But I’m outnumbered. Outpowered. My baby comes first. I can’t take the risk. I place a hand protectively over my belly. It’s my job to keep him safe.
