Page 85 of Parker
“I can’t just sit here and do nothing,” I hiss. “I should be with them. If Drayton wants me, he can have me.”
“Son, you and I both know that he wouldn’t swap you for her. You being there would just be a distraction to the team and the enemy. He would use it to his advantage if he caught wind. It’s not worth the risk.”
“She’s my wife,” I shout, hitting the steering wheel with both hands. It vibrates violently. “And she has my child inside her. They’re always worth the risk.”
What’s the point of having all this power, all this money, if I can’t even protect the people I love?
My head drops into my hands, and I lean forward onto the wheel. The feeling of hopelessness, fury, and lack of control are all-consuming. My mother’s phone vibrates. It’s Boyd.
In position.
“Let them do what they’re trained to do,” she warns me. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Anything stupid!” I spit. “The stupidest thing I did was paint a target on Nicky’s back. I should never have gotten involved with someone from outside of our lifestyle. She was dragged into this because of my selfishness. My inability to stay away from her.”
“No, son. Nicky is still in your life because she loves you. If she really wanted to leave, she would have accepted your offer of a new life abroad. She would have gone and never looked back. But she didn’t.”
“We’re not together. And after this, if we get them out of there alive, she’ll never want to come near me again. Never mind, letme see my son,” I mumble into my hands. “Can you see the ambulance?”
She nods.
There is a private ambulance and specialist doctor on standby to check Nicky over as soon as she’s free. Then I’m taking her home, to our home, no excuses. Together or not, she’ll be staying with me until our baby is born.
My mother’s phone beeps again. Boyd refused to contact me directly; he said having distance would be better and my mother would keep me updated about what I needed to know.
I was too emotionally involved to make sensible choices apparently, and having too much information could lead to me making a rash decision which could cause more harm than good.
Moving in.
The next thirty minutes are the longest of my life, sitting in my car in an underground garage waiting to hear if they’re safe. I go to turn the key in the ignition, not able to wait for news any longer. My mother reaches across and puts her hand on mine.
“Joel,” she cautions, “stay here.”
“Get out!” I snap. Her eyes widen in shock. I never speak to my mother like that. She settles herself further into her chair in defiance. “Fine, come fucking with me then.”
I turn the key and the engine springs to life, then we reverse out of the parking bay and make our way to the exit. One of my men steps out in front of the car. I stop and roll down the window.
“Boss, I’ve not received any updated instructions,” he advises. “You’re to remain here until the threat has been minimized.”
I glare at him. “Open the barrier.”
“Boss, Boyd’s orders were to stay here until otherwise told.”
“Open the damn gate,” I roar. “Now, or you’ll not be standing here tomorrow. I’m fucking in charge.”
He retreats from the car window and opens the barrier. It lifts excruciatingly slowly. We race out underneath it, into the lamppost-lit streets. My mother’s phone springs to life ringing in her palm within seconds.
“Hello,” she says. I hear Boyd’s brisk voice on the other end of the line but can’t make out what he’s saying.
“What’s happening?” I hiss, and she narrows her eyes at me.
“We’ll be there in a moment,” she replies and disconnects the call. “They’ve got her. She’s out. She’s alive.”
My mother places her hand on mine, and I breathe for the first time since Sophie came to my office to alert me Nicky was missing. We drive in silence the rest of the way.
The private ambulance arrives moments after us as we pull to a stop next to the river. Men are scattered all over the road. Jumping out of the car, I run in the direction of the biggest group.
“Where are they?” I shout, and they all turn to face me.
