To Jarod's surprise, he found himself ushered down the beach and into a speed boat. Suddenly his promise that neither he nor Parker would "sleep with the fishes" wasn't such a sure thing. "I thought you were taking me to Chase?"
Benny smiled, "I am. He's been out fishing since 5am. Aren't you glad he let you sleep in?" A knowing look beamed in Benny's eyes.
As Jarod thought about the way Parker had rested against his chest this morning, a smile pulled onto his face, "Very glad." But as Benny untied the boat and sent it skimming over the water, Jarod looked longingly back at the disappearing villa. His trap for Antonio and Jamie required one essential thing...that he actually be at the villa.
'And I told Parker to trust me?!' he rebuked himself even as he prayed that Antonio and Jamie were among Chase's fishing crew. If they weren't...Jarod swallowed down his fear. Parker wasn't just any woman. She was neither weak nor stupid. And, above all things, she was a survivor. But his reassurance failed to calm the growing terror that coursed through him. Yes, Parker was all that he had said she was. But she was also something else, something he had always left unspoken. Parker was the woman that he loved with all his heart and soul.
Even though doing Jarod's bidding ran against her grain, Parker had given her word and now put the promise into action. She found Chase's grandmother hard at work in the kitchen.
"Can I do anything to help?" Parker greeted, earning Anna's attention.
A smile sprang onto Anna's face and she removed her hands from the dough she had been kneading. "Good morning! Would you like some coffee?"
Caught off guard by the woman's genuine warmth, Parker found herself smiling back, "Yes, thank you."
"Alright. Now have a seat at the table," Anna gently ordered.
Taking a seat at the table Chase had sat at last night, Parker ran her hand over the smooth cherry wood table top, remembering the birthday celebration with jealousy and sadness.
Anna placed a fine china cup and saucer in front of Parker and claimed a seat at the table. She watched as Parker took a delicate sip of coffee before putting the cup back on the saucer.
"Thank you for the coffee, Anna," Parker said, breaking the silence that had settled in the kitchen. She almost jumped when Anna's hand rested atop hers.
"You seem so sad, dear. Is there anything I can do?" Anna kindly offered, her gentle eyes meeting Parker's startled look.
But Parker shook her head airily as if Anna's words hadn't pierced through her barriers. "No, I'm fine," her voice straining to be light.
Anna's look told Parker that she wasn't fooled but she simply patted Parker's hand, stood and offered, "You can help me make bread if you want to?"
Jarod climbed onto the yacht and headed to the bow even as his eyes sought out every crevice, praying to catch sight of Antonio and Jamie. Having reached the bow without sight of either man, Jarod's heart pounded in his chest as he saw that the two men were also not at Chase's side.
For the first time, Benny left Jarod's side and whispered in Chase's ear, "They weren't lying. They're lovers."
"Thanks Benny," Chase murmured, receiving the news half with regret and half with satisfaction. Chase now met Jarod's eyes with more trust. "You fish, Jarod?"
Seeing no advantage in demanding where Antonio and Jamie were, Jarod stepped into his role. "I do, though I haven't done it lately." He crossed to Chase's side and stared down at the fishing line that disappeared beyond the ocean's murky depths and then met Chase's look unflinchingly. "Have any luck so far?" his tone serious as he realized they were talking about more than fish.
"A few bites," Chase countered, searing his look into Jarod for a full minute. Then, as if coming to a decision, Chase smiled and with a wave of his hand, ordered his men to leave them. In moments, Chase and Jarod were alone.
Chase beckoned Jarod to a table laden with breakfast food. As they both claimed seats, Chase handed Jarod a glass of orange juice and a moment of silence fell again. "Your Miss Parker works security for a research company called The Centre, out of Delaware." Chase told Jarod, not questioned. Jarod remained silent. "I'm curious. How did you two meet?"
Jarod smiled, "Firing range."
"Who's the better shot?"
At that Jarod's smile grew cocky, "I am...but don't tell her that."
Laughter broke from Chase. But an instant later, he sobered and there was a new deadliness in his eyes. "You had nothing to do with Joey's murder, did you? Not you or your Miss Parker?" More statement than question.
"No, we didn't, but I think I know who did," Jarod replied, trying to gauge Chase's receptiveness to the truth.
A sad smile emerged on Chase's face, "I thought Miss Parker's trolling might have picked up a fish."
Jarod sat back in the chair, relief coursing through him. "She thought it best to find Joey's real killers. Just in case you weren't convinced of our innocence."
"Smart woman."
A proud smile sprang to Jarod's face, "Very."
'Jarod would be laughing if he saw me now,' Parker thought with a laugh as she kneaded more dough and let the flour remain on her silk skirt and Italian shoes.
"You made the mistake of offering to help Anna, didn't you?" a female voice full of humor brought Parker's eyes up to the brunette woman now at her side. Immediately, she knew this was the woman she had seen Jarod talking so earnestly with last night.
"Baking isn't really my specialty?" Parker offered as an excuse for her disheveled appearance.
But a twinkle came into the woman's eyes, "Oh, hang around Anna long enough and it will be. I'm Gina."
"Parker," Parker returned with a smile.
"Here, let me take a turn at that," Gina offered and Parker gratefully stepped back from the counter.
Gina worked the dough like a pro. "So where'd Anna sneak off to?"
"She went to her garden for some herbs." Parker took the opportunity to get another cup of coffee and sat a steaming cup on the counter for Gina.
"I know why you're here," Gina whispered, her eyes meeting Parker's with gratitude.
Parker remained silent. She didn't even know why she was here.
Gina continued, "I know my grandmother thinks I should leave Peter, get away from this family but I can't. Among all the ugliness there's goodness....love. I can help the other wives, can protect them against the worst of this lifestyle. I can do good here." Gina dropped her look, " I know you can't understand this, understand my choice to stay...."
Parker gently touched Gina's shoulder. "I do understand, more than I want to."
Gina eyes shot up to Parker's in surprise but before she could respond, Pauly walked into the kitchen and stopped in front of Parker. "Chase wants to see you. Now."
An anger grew in Chase's eyes as Jarod told him the conversation he and Parker had overheard between Antonio and Jamie. But to Jarod's relief, Chase didn't deny Jarod's words out of hand but instead ordered the yacht back to the villa. Jarod fervently prayed that nothing had happened to Parker in his absence.
Parker wasn't surprised when Pauly's guided tour led to the beach. She had casually asked Anna where Chase was this morning and the older woman had replied, 'Fishing since 5 this morning. He was going to drag Jarod out with him at that hour but I told him that was no way to treat a guest. Benny gladly offered to bring Jarod along later. Benny isn't a morning person...no matter what the occasion.' Parker had wondered then if Anna knew how Chase tended to treat his "guests". Now she wondered if she would get knowledge of Chase's true "generosity", up close and personal.
But as she climbed the sandy banks, she saw the docks were empty except for a boat that Parker wouldn't dignify calling anything but a dingy. And the yacht Anna had described was not even on the horizon. Decisively Parker swung around to face Pauly, ready to demand answers to her growing number of questions.
She found herself glaring in silence at the gun Pauly leveled at her head. "Delano must have deep pockets to bribe all three of you. Or do you just get whatever cut old scarface tosses your way," she sneered.
Put Pauly didn't react to the barb. "Little lady, you're quite a hell cat aren't you. And smart too."
"Smart enough to know Chase is going to be using your body parts for bait on his next fishing trip," Parker hissed as she stood tall, her eyes almost daring Pauly to pull the trigger.
All light left Pauly's eyes as he cocked the gun, "Get moving or I'll put a bullet between those gorgeous eyes."
Hesitating, Parker weighed her choices and chances but the look in Pauly's eyes made the decision for her. Turning on her heel, she marched down the beach with Pauly in tow.
Parker was roughly directed into the brush just off the beach and to a hidden cellar that was once home to pirates and their precious stolen cargo. The steps were uneven and the air was stale and close as she descended into the shadowy depths. At the bottom of the steps, a dark hallway lay before her, the only visible light coming from the room at the far end.
Without warning, one of Pauly's huge hands shoved her forward, causing her to stumble against the wall. Parker let herself fall to her knees.
"Get up!" Pauly growled even as he dropped his hand onto her shoulder, ready to yank Parker to her feet.
Instantly Parker twisted around as she surged to her feet, plowing the heel of her hand into Pauly's nose. Pauly staggered back with a cry of agony but Parker's forearm slammed into his head without mercy sending his head bouncing into the stone walls. Pauly slid to the cold floor, unconscious.
Parker searched the dark hallway for Pauly's gun but, sensing movement from the room behind her, she abandoned the search, leaped over Pauly and ran for the stairs. She was two steps from the top when she was tackled from behind. Slamming unmercifully into the steps, she lay dazed for a moment trying to shake off the pain as the weight of her attacker lifted. A hand ruthlessly grabbed onto her hair and a voice snarled in her ear, "Stand up! Now!"
Obediently she levered herself off the steps and stood, but the grip in her hair didn't ease but instead tightened. Once standing, she found herself eye to eye with scarface's young lackey, Jamie.
"Lackey number two. Right on time. Good boy. I'm sure your master will throw you a juicy bone," Parker sallied, earning her a backhanded slap to the left cheek that sent her tripping down the remaining stairs and unto the cellar floor.
An anger was stoked in Parker's soul, not just from the recent abuse but for all the cruelties fate had been heaped on her head so recently. When Jamie descended the stairs toward her, Parker unleashed a kick into his chest as if he were the embodiment of all her agony. Jamie slammed back into the stairs, stunned even as Parker regained her feet.
"Come get me," Parker snarled, tensing for any move Jamie would make. But his move, a right cross, sailed harmlessly by Parker's jaw as she drew back. However, her right cross found it's mark with cruel accuracy, snapping Jamie's head around. She followed with a punch into his stomach and an elbow to his temple. He joined Pauly in the ranks of the unconscious.
Not wasting any time, Parker again made her way up the stairs to the beckoning sunlight. She emerged from the depths of the cellar only to be stopped cold by a voice behind her. "Joey never saw the bullet coming." Scarface aka Antonio circled to face Parker, his gun aimed at her stomach. He leaned in close, his breath hitting her in the face, "You won't get off that easy."
For once Parker's acid tongue abandoned her in the face of such unchecked evil. In the pit of her stomach she knew Joey was the lucky one.
TBC
Benny smiled, "I am. He's been out fishing since 5am. Aren't you glad he let you sleep in?" A knowing look beamed in Benny's eyes.
As Jarod thought about the way Parker had rested against his chest this morning, a smile pulled onto his face, "Very glad." But as Benny untied the boat and sent it skimming over the water, Jarod looked longingly back at the disappearing villa. His trap for Antonio and Jamie required one essential thing...that he actually be at the villa.
'And I told Parker to trust me?!' he rebuked himself even as he prayed that Antonio and Jamie were among Chase's fishing crew. If they weren't...Jarod swallowed down his fear. Parker wasn't just any woman. She was neither weak nor stupid. And, above all things, she was a survivor. But his reassurance failed to calm the growing terror that coursed through him. Yes, Parker was all that he had said she was. But she was also something else, something he had always left unspoken. Parker was the woman that he loved with all his heart and soul.
Even though doing Jarod's bidding ran against her grain, Parker had given her word and now put the promise into action. She found Chase's grandmother hard at work in the kitchen.
"Can I do anything to help?" Parker greeted, earning Anna's attention.
A smile sprang onto Anna's face and she removed her hands from the dough she had been kneading. "Good morning! Would you like some coffee?"
Caught off guard by the woman's genuine warmth, Parker found herself smiling back, "Yes, thank you."
"Alright. Now have a seat at the table," Anna gently ordered.
Taking a seat at the table Chase had sat at last night, Parker ran her hand over the smooth cherry wood table top, remembering the birthday celebration with jealousy and sadness.
Anna placed a fine china cup and saucer in front of Parker and claimed a seat at the table. She watched as Parker took a delicate sip of coffee before putting the cup back on the saucer.
"Thank you for the coffee, Anna," Parker said, breaking the silence that had settled in the kitchen. She almost jumped when Anna's hand rested atop hers.
"You seem so sad, dear. Is there anything I can do?" Anna kindly offered, her gentle eyes meeting Parker's startled look.
But Parker shook her head airily as if Anna's words hadn't pierced through her barriers. "No, I'm fine," her voice straining to be light.
Anna's look told Parker that she wasn't fooled but she simply patted Parker's hand, stood and offered, "You can help me make bread if you want to?"
Jarod climbed onto the yacht and headed to the bow even as his eyes sought out every crevice, praying to catch sight of Antonio and Jamie. Having reached the bow without sight of either man, Jarod's heart pounded in his chest as he saw that the two men were also not at Chase's side.
For the first time, Benny left Jarod's side and whispered in Chase's ear, "They weren't lying. They're lovers."
"Thanks Benny," Chase murmured, receiving the news half with regret and half with satisfaction. Chase now met Jarod's eyes with more trust. "You fish, Jarod?"
Seeing no advantage in demanding where Antonio and Jamie were, Jarod stepped into his role. "I do, though I haven't done it lately." He crossed to Chase's side and stared down at the fishing line that disappeared beyond the ocean's murky depths and then met Chase's look unflinchingly. "Have any luck so far?" his tone serious as he realized they were talking about more than fish.
"A few bites," Chase countered, searing his look into Jarod for a full minute. Then, as if coming to a decision, Chase smiled and with a wave of his hand, ordered his men to leave them. In moments, Chase and Jarod were alone.
Chase beckoned Jarod to a table laden with breakfast food. As they both claimed seats, Chase handed Jarod a glass of orange juice and a moment of silence fell again. "Your Miss Parker works security for a research company called The Centre, out of Delaware." Chase told Jarod, not questioned. Jarod remained silent. "I'm curious. How did you two meet?"
Jarod smiled, "Firing range."
"Who's the better shot?"
At that Jarod's smile grew cocky, "I am...but don't tell her that."
Laughter broke from Chase. But an instant later, he sobered and there was a new deadliness in his eyes. "You had nothing to do with Joey's murder, did you? Not you or your Miss Parker?" More statement than question.
"No, we didn't, but I think I know who did," Jarod replied, trying to gauge Chase's receptiveness to the truth.
A sad smile emerged on Chase's face, "I thought Miss Parker's trolling might have picked up a fish."
Jarod sat back in the chair, relief coursing through him. "She thought it best to find Joey's real killers. Just in case you weren't convinced of our innocence."
"Smart woman."
A proud smile sprang to Jarod's face, "Very."
'Jarod would be laughing if he saw me now,' Parker thought with a laugh as she kneaded more dough and let the flour remain on her silk skirt and Italian shoes.
"You made the mistake of offering to help Anna, didn't you?" a female voice full of humor brought Parker's eyes up to the brunette woman now at her side. Immediately, she knew this was the woman she had seen Jarod talking so earnestly with last night.
"Baking isn't really my specialty?" Parker offered as an excuse for her disheveled appearance.
But a twinkle came into the woman's eyes, "Oh, hang around Anna long enough and it will be. I'm Gina."
"Parker," Parker returned with a smile.
"Here, let me take a turn at that," Gina offered and Parker gratefully stepped back from the counter.
Gina worked the dough like a pro. "So where'd Anna sneak off to?"
"She went to her garden for some herbs." Parker took the opportunity to get another cup of coffee and sat a steaming cup on the counter for Gina.
"I know why you're here," Gina whispered, her eyes meeting Parker's with gratitude.
Parker remained silent. She didn't even know why she was here.
Gina continued, "I know my grandmother thinks I should leave Peter, get away from this family but I can't. Among all the ugliness there's goodness....love. I can help the other wives, can protect them against the worst of this lifestyle. I can do good here." Gina dropped her look, " I know you can't understand this, understand my choice to stay...."
Parker gently touched Gina's shoulder. "I do understand, more than I want to."
Gina eyes shot up to Parker's in surprise but before she could respond, Pauly walked into the kitchen and stopped in front of Parker. "Chase wants to see you. Now."
An anger grew in Chase's eyes as Jarod told him the conversation he and Parker had overheard between Antonio and Jamie. But to Jarod's relief, Chase didn't deny Jarod's words out of hand but instead ordered the yacht back to the villa. Jarod fervently prayed that nothing had happened to Parker in his absence.
Parker wasn't surprised when Pauly's guided tour led to the beach. She had casually asked Anna where Chase was this morning and the older woman had replied, 'Fishing since 5 this morning. He was going to drag Jarod out with him at that hour but I told him that was no way to treat a guest. Benny gladly offered to bring Jarod along later. Benny isn't a morning person...no matter what the occasion.' Parker had wondered then if Anna knew how Chase tended to treat his "guests". Now she wondered if she would get knowledge of Chase's true "generosity", up close and personal.
But as she climbed the sandy banks, she saw the docks were empty except for a boat that Parker wouldn't dignify calling anything but a dingy. And the yacht Anna had described was not even on the horizon. Decisively Parker swung around to face Pauly, ready to demand answers to her growing number of questions.
She found herself glaring in silence at the gun Pauly leveled at her head. "Delano must have deep pockets to bribe all three of you. Or do you just get whatever cut old scarface tosses your way," she sneered.
Put Pauly didn't react to the barb. "Little lady, you're quite a hell cat aren't you. And smart too."
"Smart enough to know Chase is going to be using your body parts for bait on his next fishing trip," Parker hissed as she stood tall, her eyes almost daring Pauly to pull the trigger.
All light left Pauly's eyes as he cocked the gun, "Get moving or I'll put a bullet between those gorgeous eyes."
Hesitating, Parker weighed her choices and chances but the look in Pauly's eyes made the decision for her. Turning on her heel, she marched down the beach with Pauly in tow.
Parker was roughly directed into the brush just off the beach and to a hidden cellar that was once home to pirates and their precious stolen cargo. The steps were uneven and the air was stale and close as she descended into the shadowy depths. At the bottom of the steps, a dark hallway lay before her, the only visible light coming from the room at the far end.
Without warning, one of Pauly's huge hands shoved her forward, causing her to stumble against the wall. Parker let herself fall to her knees.
"Get up!" Pauly growled even as he dropped his hand onto her shoulder, ready to yank Parker to her feet.
Instantly Parker twisted around as she surged to her feet, plowing the heel of her hand into Pauly's nose. Pauly staggered back with a cry of agony but Parker's forearm slammed into his head without mercy sending his head bouncing into the stone walls. Pauly slid to the cold floor, unconscious.
Parker searched the dark hallway for Pauly's gun but, sensing movement from the room behind her, she abandoned the search, leaped over Pauly and ran for the stairs. She was two steps from the top when she was tackled from behind. Slamming unmercifully into the steps, she lay dazed for a moment trying to shake off the pain as the weight of her attacker lifted. A hand ruthlessly grabbed onto her hair and a voice snarled in her ear, "Stand up! Now!"
Obediently she levered herself off the steps and stood, but the grip in her hair didn't ease but instead tightened. Once standing, she found herself eye to eye with scarface's young lackey, Jamie.
"Lackey number two. Right on time. Good boy. I'm sure your master will throw you a juicy bone," Parker sallied, earning her a backhanded slap to the left cheek that sent her tripping down the remaining stairs and unto the cellar floor.
An anger was stoked in Parker's soul, not just from the recent abuse but for all the cruelties fate had been heaped on her head so recently. When Jamie descended the stairs toward her, Parker unleashed a kick into his chest as if he were the embodiment of all her agony. Jamie slammed back into the stairs, stunned even as Parker regained her feet.
"Come get me," Parker snarled, tensing for any move Jamie would make. But his move, a right cross, sailed harmlessly by Parker's jaw as she drew back. However, her right cross found it's mark with cruel accuracy, snapping Jamie's head around. She followed with a punch into his stomach and an elbow to his temple. He joined Pauly in the ranks of the unconscious.
Not wasting any time, Parker again made her way up the stairs to the beckoning sunlight. She emerged from the depths of the cellar only to be stopped cold by a voice behind her. "Joey never saw the bullet coming." Scarface aka Antonio circled to face Parker, his gun aimed at her stomach. He leaned in close, his breath hitting her in the face, "You won't get off that easy."
For once Parker's acid tongue abandoned her in the face of such unchecked evil. In the pit of her stomach she knew Joey was the lucky one.
TBC