Page 27 of Parker

Chapter twenty-one

Glasgow, Scotland

Joel

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 plate W0 RTH leaves 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 future meetings.” 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.”

***

The regular beep of the machine comforts me. She’s still with me. It had been touch and go. She lost a lot of blood, but the doctors assure me she will pull through. We got her to the hospital in time.

“Ten weeks,” the doctor told me. “Your wife was ten weeks into her pregnancy.” He paused, letting the words settle before continuing. “I’m very sorry, but she’s had a miscarriage.” I sat and stared at him blankly. The words not connecting into something coherent.

“A baby?” I mumbled. “I didn’t even know she was pregnant.”

“She most likely only found out herself recently, Mr. Parker. If she knew at all,” he says regrettably. “When she wakes, I will talk to you both about the support available to help you both deal with the loss.”

Confusion and sadness turn to fury as the doctor leaves the room. A knock on the door signals Boyd’s entry. “How is she?” he asks, his face serious. I look from him to my sleeping wife and back to my right-hand man.

Now is the time. Now I must decide what kind of man I will be. For me, for my mother, for our legacy, for my wife, and for our murdered child.

“She’ll survive. But those bastards killed my baby. A baby I didn’t even know existed. I want their heads, Boyd. I don’t care what it takes. You bring me the asshole who did this. We’ll use him as a warning.”

“Joel.” His tone is low—cautious.

“Boss,” I correct him.

“Boss, are you sure you want to start this? Going after one of their men puts a target on all our backs. You’ve always tried to avoid open conflict.”

“That was before they targeted my wife and killed my child,” I snarl. “Do as you’re fucking told. It’s time I stepped up and moved in the circles I was born to. Tell Drayton—no Worth men in any of our establishments. Parker territory is closed.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“If they come again, Boyd. We won’t send a warning. We’ll deliver a body.”

Boyd doesn’t argue. He knows better. Instead, he changes tack.

“What are you going to tell Nicky? She’s going to want answers.”

A heavy pressure squeezes my chest.

“The truth. She’s going to be furious that I kept this from her, but I was only trying to protect her. She opened the door and let them into our home without knowing who they were. Now she needs to understand. She needs to know exactly who she’s married to.”

***

Another twenty-four hours pass before she wakes again. I don’t leave her side. Her eyes flutter open for a few moments. She rewards me with a soft smile before going back to sleep. It’s a little light in an evil place.

The hospital chairs are bloody uncomfortable, but I don’t move. I sit at her side and hold her hand. She looks so vulnerable lying in her hospital gown, wires and tubes extending in every direction.

My men come and go regularly throughout the day. They’re searching the city for the asshole who did this. Darkness is falling when Boyd appears at my side. “We got him,” he says. “Where is he?”

“He’s at the docks. That warehouse we use for the contraband.

It’s quiet, secure.” Boyd cracks his knuckles.

“Want us to rough him up and dump him outside their HQ?” For the first time in my life, I want that.

No hesitation. Just blood. Excitement pulses in my chest. I want to be there when the bastard pays.

“No. Keep him till I get there. I want to issue this warning myself.”

His eyes pop wide. I never get involved. Today I must. Not only to send a message, but for myself.

Those in charge rarely get involved in the details; we typically have others handle that for us. My father never laid a finger on anyone after he took over the family. He didn’t need to.

“Secure him and make him uncomfortable. But don’t draw blood.” He nods and turns to depart. “And Boyd, ensure the boat is ready to dispose of the evidence if needed.” Without a word, he leaves.

When I turn back to Nicky, she’s looking at me warily. Shit. How much of my exchange did she hear?