Jemma: DON’T COME HOME.
“What’s going on?” I said, panicked. I looked over to where the person had been sitting, but they were gone. A flash of them caught in my rearview mirror.
“Baby.” Parker’s voice came as a shock to me as he rounded the back side of my car. He was in a pair of black sweatpants and a hoodie that he had lifted over his head. He was hunched forward, looking up at me through hooded eyes. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
He stumbled toward us, and Jemma partially closed my door and stood in the opening, blocking him from me.
“I told you, Parker, you need to leave,” Jemma warned him.
“My ride is coming; it’s just going to be a bit.”
“A ride doesn’t take over an hour to get here.”
“Leave me alone.” He hiccupped as he came closer.
“Don’t you fucking dare move any closer.” It was Beckett who was walking toward us this time. He stalked out of Jemma’s house, pulling a shirt over his head. Parker listened to Beckett, freezing in the driveway, not far from them.
“You’ve got a whole fucking backup team now.” Parker laughed and pointed at Jemma and Beckett. “Looks like you grew a backbone, baby.”
“Do not call me that.” I cringed at the word coming from him. My shoulder rose to my ears, and my back hugged the seat of the car, unable to move. I had no idea what Parker might do. It was clear he wasn’t in the right state of mind; he’d never been one to hit me, but he knew how to use his words to cut deep enough.
“You need to leave, Parker. If that means walking until someone can pick you up somewhere else, then so be it, butfucking leave, now.” Jemma was shaking in front of me. I wanted to move to comfort her as she protected me, but I was frozen. Unsure of how to help. I looked over her shoulder to see Beckett standing between her and Parker.
Parker was right. I did have a backup team.
“I’m not leaving until I tell her what I came here for.”
“No one cares,” Jemma said angrily, all penitence for Parker’s antics gone.
I sat there, frozen, unsure of how I’d gone from planning a weekend getaway at Ryker’s to being at my house, terrified to move. I just wanted Ryker. My phone sat in my hand, but I wasn’t processing how to hit the call button or send a message that indicated I needed him here. I was scared and had no idea what was going to happen or come out of Parker’s mouth.
“She will once I tell her. I was looking everywhere for you and when I found you at the beach, it was like the universe was telling me to make us work. That I needed to make you mine again, make sure no one is in our way.” Parker pointed to me over Beckett’s shoulder. “Your precious boy has a secret as to who he really is.”
Everyone’s attention snapped to Parker. I had no idea what he had up his sleeve, but if he knew about Ryker, this was the worst-case scenario.
“What?” I said, finally moving out of the car, pushing past Jemma, but she held onto my waist, making sure I didn’t get far. That I was still safe with her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I wanted to give Parker nothing to fuel whatever he might think he knew, but my initial reaction and jumping out of the car had sealed my fate. He tossed back the hood of his jacket, and the smile on his face grew. He knew he had me, that he had information I wanted.
He tried to take a step closer, but Beckett placed a hand on his, and Parker pushed him out of the way, but Beckett was on him in a second, his hand wrapped around his throat, feet dangling off the ground by an inch. Parker laughed while staring down at Beckett and then back at me.
“He’s CovertRetriever. Your so-called boyfriend is hiding the biggest secret the world would die to know.” A car pulled into the drive, and the door opened as Parker finally confessed to what he knew.
“And if you don’t want to be sued, I suggest you keep your fucking mouth shut.” I watched as Beckett’s hand tightened around Parker’s neck. The smile on Parker’s face grew wider, more sinister.
“I second that statement.” Melody agreed and made her way over to where Parker and Beckett were. The smile quickly faded from Parker’s face as he realized his assistant was here. Beckett released Parker from his grip; he stumbled back into Melody, who caught him with an unenthusiastic humph.
“About fucking time.” Jemma shot her a glare.
“It’s a bit of a ride from Buffalo, okay?” Melody was trying to wrangle Parker to stand on his own, but all he could do was lean his whole body against her.
I stood watching all of this happen, but all I could think about was how Parker would have found out. How could he know? I spent days with that man, and I had no idea. A pit in my stomach dropped at the thought of Parker outing Ryker. A man that I let into Ryker’s life.
This was all my fault.
My legs became weak, and Jemma’s arm tightened around me.
“I’ve got you.” She whispered in my ear.
