“Be safe.” She called out before I shut the door.
“Always am.”
My black Lexus was parked at the front of the house, and Nate was waiting by his car, taking a phone call. I was eager to finish whatever tasks my father had for me, so I could spend the weekend with my girl.
The address my father sent me was in the old factory district near Oakland Ridge’s county border. Most of the buildings in the area were abandoned; there were still some businesses that housed their goods at the warehouses in the area. The drive tooklonger than usual since there was some traffic from the incoming guests for the Renaissance Faire this weekend.
When I arrived at the address, there were four cars parked outside the faded red brick warehouse. One of the cars belonged to my father, so I knew I was in the right place. The other belonged to the sheriff. Exiting the car, I jogged to the metal door with Nate at my back.
The place was dimly lit, and there was a table set up in the center of the floor surrounded by old pallets and crates. My father stood pointing at whatever was splayed on the table while Mayor Danforth, Judge McGrady, and Sheriff Strauss sat around him. Strauss was the first to acknowledge me as I walked to my father’s side.
“You didn’t mention the boy being involved.” He spoke through the toothpick in his mouth, raising an eyebrow at my dad.
“It is a family business after all, and he is my son.”
The moment was oddly tense; neither the Judge nor Mayor choosing to speak as my father and Sheriff Strauss stared at one another.
Strauss chuckled, winking at me. “Welcome to the boy’s club, Parker.”
I pulled at the cuffs of my sleeves, straightening out my suit, irritation bubbling at the surface.What is going on here?
“Let's get on with this.” Judge McGrady tsks as he looks at his watch. “I have a hearing in an hour.”
I glanced at the table and noticed that my father is leaning on a construction plan labeled Oakland Ridge Penitentiary.
A prison in Oakland Ridge? Those two words didn’t even belong in the same sentence. I opened my mouth to question it, but my father resumed speaking.
“We can start the build in three weeks' time, and construction should conclude in a year. With the contracts yousecured, we should be ready to be up and running in a year. Those government contracts should fill our pockets for years to come. This partnership keeps us all on the board. The Huxleys need a win – they’re going bankrupt, with the four of us squeezing them out, they won’t stand a chance.”
His voice was prideful and excited, almost. They all shook hands with the promise to play a round of golf soon. Judge McGrady and Mayor Danforth left the warehouse while the sheriff excused himself and took a phone call to the side.
My father began rolling up the plans and tucking them into the document tube.
“Since when are we involved in the private prison system? Why are you trying to squeeze out the Huxleys when our family has been involved with one another for generations?”
I struggled to keep the anger out of my voice. There were zero parts of me that wanted to bear the weight of carrying on the Woods legacy through Gentry Co. But I knew damn well this wasn’t my grandfather’s vision. The thought of Gentry Co contributing to the issue of mass incarceration made my skin crawl. I knew my grandfather was rolling over in his grave.
“In order for our family to stay successful, we have to grow as a business. This is us growing. Not all of us live in a fairytale, son. It’s just business.” Closing his briefcase and gathering his things, he started for the steel door. “Strauss, a moment before you leave.”
It's just business.Is this what would’ve become of me if I stayed? Would I have been molded by my father’s beliefs, shrouded in greed and envy? Aja and Janae didn’t seem any different. There was no way they knew what he was up to. I like to think I knew them better than that. What else was he hiding?
“I sent over the files. They should be in your inbox. Consider it to be pest control. Let me know if you change your mind aboutmy offer.” The sheriff said, clapping my father on the shoulder before getting into his car.
“Parker, do not forget dinner tomorrow night. Make sure Evelyn is present.” His driver opened the door for him, and he slid inside without another word.
When I reached my car, I sat down and leaned my forehead against the steering wheel. There were a few things at the office that I had to take care of, but once I was done, I’d be free to enjoy the rest of the day with Evelyn. I had the good sense to know that good days were far and few between. Soon enough, trouble would be knocking at our doorstep, and I couldn’t afford to get on my father’s bad side. Still, I wasn’t sure how much more of this I could take.
Chapter 30
Evelyn
Excitement rolled off of me in waves as I watched Parker’s car roll into the driveway.
Waking up in his arms this morning locked something into place for me. I didn’t want to hesitate when it came to him anymore. Parker was kidding about my sleep talking, but he might as well have been telling the truth. I wanted him in a way that I hadn’t craved a man before.
Once I unplugged from work, I found myself in the kitchen preparing lunch for us, making a few BLTs, some grapes, and something called cowboy caviar that I had seen on TikTok. The turquoise triangle bikini top, paired with the matching bottoms I found in one of the drawers, glowed against my brown skin. Throwing on a pair of shorts, I grabbed the food and our towels, heading out the door.
Parker and I were taking things slowly. We were enjoying each other’s company. Parker was one of the kindest people I had ever met. Underneath his playful exterior was someone who cared deeply for his family and friends. I found myself falling for him after a few weeks of spending time together. It was hard not to. There were times that I felt guilty for finding this happiness, especially at a time when my life was filled with suchuncertainty. My support system never hesitated to remind me that I deserved peace and love in my life, too.
