Page 73 of Parker

The decision not to tell Quinn he was coming here to see her ex had been an easy one to make. If he’d told her the truth about his plan, she would have insisted on joining him. And Parker didn’t want her anywhere near that piece of shit.

Not even with an armed guard standing nearby and at the ready.

The plan was simple. He’d introduce himself to Reynolds, offer him a sizeable donation toward his upcoming re-entry into society, and make sure the other man understood the cost.

If Reynolds agreed to sign the papers Parker’s attorney had drawn up as a back-up plan, Parker would wire five million dollars directly into the guy’s checking account.

For Parker, it was a drop in the bucket. For a guy like Reynolds—a man who’d spent his life chasing dollar signs—the offer would be impossible to refuse.

“Right this way, Mr. Collins.”

He followed the middle-aged woman through a secured door, which led into a long, tiled hallway. At the end of that hall, they went through another ID-required door. And another after that.

Typically inmates and visitors would meet in a different room, back near that very first door. But Parker wasn’t going there. No, this particular visit—with this particular inmate—required privacy.

And no witnesses.

“Here we are.” The officer lifted her chipped ID a final time before opening the door. “Sit tight, and I’ll go get your inmate. I’d say make yourself comfortable, but…”

“Thank you.” He gave her a tight smile. Alone now, Parker looked around at the dull, drab space.

Roughly ten-by-twelve, the room offered one small, rectangular window centered high on the wall to his right. In the center was a simple, stainless steel table with two metal folding chairs facing each other.

Filled with pent-up rage toward the man behind the notes and break-in, Parker was too wound up to sit.

You can’t kill him, Collins. Remember that. You kill him, it’ll be your ass behind bars. Who would protect Quinn if that happened?

Her face flashed before him and, despite his current surroundings, Parker smiled. He did that a lot when he thought about her. Or every time he saw her walk into a room.

When he saw her. Touched her. Tasted her.

There was a moment this morning when he’d come damn close to telling her how he really felt. But with Max nearby and Ash and Syd watching like hawks from the front steps, it hadn’t felt like the most apropos time for something that big.

And the three little words perched on the tip of his tongue were really fucking big.

Aside from his mom and Sydnee, who were both family, Parker had never told a woman he loved her before. Had never even been tempted.

But with Quinn, things were different.Shewas different. And he was different around her.

He was…happy.

I need her with me always. I need her to stay forever.

While that was his long-term plan, he knew he’d have to tread lightly. If he told her he loved her too soon, she might get spooked and run. But if he let too much time pass, she may get tired of waiting and leave him anyway.

Meanwhile, the indecision of it all was driving him mad.

The woman craves honesty. You should just tell her how you feel.

The sound of a buzzer echoing from somewhere down the hall brought Parker’s attention to the present. It also reminded him of where his focus should be.

Now wasn’t the time for thoughts of love and happily ever after. This was the time for action, hence his impromptu trip here.

He looked at the table but made no move toward it. Any minute now, Reynolds was going to walk through that door, and Parker wanted to be standing when he did.

Let them see you standing tall from the start, and they’ll be less likely to try to intimidate or swindle.

It was a well-known tactic in the business world, and one he’d used on several occasions. Although sitting or standing, it made no difference to him.

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