Parker is still in the dining room when we arrive. The chef, Maurice, says every meal Parker eats has to be a feast and this one is no different. The table’s covered in dishes of pasta and sausages, trays of meatballs and chicken wings, sides of pork and lamb and wood fire pizza.
Parker’s sitting in the middle of the table digging into a plate of lasagne. Emilia’s beside him, her tits falling out of her silver dress as she picks at her spaghetti with her fingers. Probably Xanaxed to the hilt as usual.
“Zachery,” the blonde bitch calls from behind me. “Hello!”
Parker swallows a mouthful of pasta and dabs his face with a napkin. “Mrs. Whitehall! You’ve finally come to see me!”
Duncan and I back away as they kiss each other on the cheek.
“Mrs. Whitehall?” Duncan mutters. “This bitch isn’t old enough to have a grown kid.”
“Stepmother,” I say under my breath, staring at her long, smooth legs.
I watch my boss pull out a hardback chair for Mrs. Whitehall. “Can I get you a glass of wine? Champagne?”
She shakes her head. “I can’t stay. My children will wonder where I am.”
“Of course,” Parker says, sitting back beside catatonic Emilia. “I’ll get right to the point, Corinne. I know you need money.”
The blonde bitch bristles and I think maybe she’s going to storm out, but then she slumps into her chair. “I do. I can’t tell you how bad things are getting.”
Parker studies her without emotion. “I’m sorry to hear that, but as I told you, I can’t marry your daughter and—”
The blonde gives a loud wail. “I can’tbelievethis has happened! All these years! All our planning, fornothing!”
“You think I don’t know that?” Parker snaps. “But I can’t go near January. Not that I’d want to. Morelli and his filthy friends have had every hole in her slut body.”
I expect the blonde to protest, but she just nods, leaning across the table. “I can appreciate that, Zachery. January being a virgin, that was always your priority.”
“It was. But priorities change.”
“What do you mean?”
Parker rubs his chin. “I shouldn’t tell you this, but since you need money and since you’ve made your way here on a cold rainy night…”
The blonde leans even further across the table. “What? Please tell me?”
I stare at her gaping cleavage and wonder if she knows she’s being played.
“I want revenge on the men who stole my wife,” Parker says. “I want every member of Velvet House killed.”
“But I thought you weren’t allowed—”
Parker slams a fist on the table. The blonde jumps and Emilia drops the piece of spaghetti she was twirling around her finger.
“Don’t…” Parker snarls, “…talk to me about what youthinkI can do, Corinne. Do you want my money or not?”
The blonde smiles, all big eyes and sweetness. “Of course.”
“Then you’ll help me.” Parker pulls out his phone. “Two hundred thousand dollars to deliver a message to your daughter and a hundred million when the plan comes off. How about that?”
“A hundred…” The blonde presses a hand to her forehead. “Zachery, that’s so generous!”
“So, you’ll agree to help me?”
“In any way I can!”
Parker smiles, his rubbery lips pulling apart like they’re on strings. “Good. Now, go home to your children. I’ll send you the two hundred thousand tonight and we’ll be in touch about what comes next.”
